Comparing 3d and 2d computational modeling of an oil well blowout using MOHID platform - A case study in the Campos Basin

The oil well blowout releases hydrocarbons into the marine environment as an oil droplets and gas bubbles dispersion. The oil trajectory is strongly influenced by physical, chemical and biological processes. In general, the ocean oil drift studies are based on a two-dimensional approach, whereas the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Science of the total environment 2017-10, Vol.595, p.633-641
Main Authors: Paiva, P.M., Lugon Junior, J., Barreto, A.N., Silva, J.A.F., Silva Neto, A.J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Blowout
Computational modeling
Dispersants
Oil leak
Three-dimensional model
Trajectory
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Summary:The oil well blowout releases hydrocarbons into the marine environment as an oil droplets and gas bubbles dispersion. The oil trajectory is strongly influenced by physical, chemical and biological processes. In general, the ocean oil drift studies are based on a two-dimensional approach, whereas the whole oil from a well blowout can be represented by a surface oil leak in the same geographical coordinates. This work is a case study, where MOHID software is used at the Campos Basin region, in which the Lagrangian results of the surface oil leaks were confronted to their well blowout scenarios in different conditions of depth, seasonality (summer and winter), and use of dispersants at the source of the leak. The research results reinforced the importance of the three-dimensional approach to the scenario of deep and ultra-deep waters, especially for cases in which the dispersant injection into the source of the leak was considered. [Display omitted] •Environmental studies and response plans should consider the use of 3D modeling if deep water blowout scenarios are simulated•Two norms were used to compare blowout simulations, one measured the particles central position and the other the dispersion•The use of dispersants was evaluated with respect to the droplets' diameters, velocity and plume trajectory•Different 3D and 2D results were compared for oil well blowout simulating ocean drift in Campos Basin at Brazilian coast•When the well is near the continental platform 3D and 2D results are similar, but are very different if the source is deeper
ISSN:0048-9697
1879-1026
DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.04.007