skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Evaluation of brine disposal from the Bryan Mound site of the strategic petroleum reserve program. Final report

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6894082· OSTI ID:6894082

On March 10, 1980, the Department of Energy's Strategic Petroleum Reserve Program began leaching the Bryan Mound salt dome and discharging the resulting brine into the coastal waters off Freeport, Texas. During the months of March and April, a team of scientists and engineers from Texas A and M University conducted an intensive environmental study of the area surrounding the diffuser site. A pipeline has been laid from the Bryan Mound site to a location 12.5 statute miles (20 km) offshore. The last 3060 ft (933 m) of this pipeline is a 52-port diffuser through which brine can be discharged at a maximum rate of 680,000 barrels per day. Initially, 16 ports were open which permitted a maximum discharge rate of 350,000 barrels per day and a continuous brine discharge was achieved on March 13, 1980. The purpose of this report is to describe the findings of the project team during the intensive postdisposal study period of March and April, 1980. The major areas of investigation are physical oceanography, analysis of the discharge plume, water and sediment quality, nekton, benthos, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and data management.

Research Organization:
Texas A & M Univ., College Station, TX (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Policy and International Affairs (PO)
DOE Contract Number:
FC96-79P010114
OSTI ID:
6894082
Report Number(s):
DOE/PO/10114-2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English