Droplet and bubble formation of combined oil and gas releases in subsea blowouts

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2017

Abstract

Underwater blowouts from gas and oil operations often involve the simultaneous release of oil and gas. Presence of gas bubbles in jets/plumes could greatly influence oil droplet formation. With the aim of understanding and quantifying the droplet formation from Deepwater Horizon blowout (DWH) we developed a new formulation for gas-oil interaction with jets/plumes. We used the jet-droplet formation model VDROP-J with the new module and the updated model was validated against laboratory and field experimental data. Application to DWH revealed that, in the absence of dispersant, gas input resulted in a reduction of d50 by up to 1.5 mm, and maximum impact occurred at intermediate gas fractions (30–50%). In the presence of dispersant, reduction in d50 due to bubbles was small because of the promoted small sizes of both bubbles and droplets by surfactants. The new development could largely enhance the prediction and response to oil and gas blowouts.

Identifier

85018920041 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Marine Pollution Bulletin

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.05.010

e-ISSN

18793363

ISSN

0025326X

PubMed ID

28511939

First Page

203

Last Page

216

Issue

1-2

Volume

120

Fund Ref

Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS