Downwind dispersion of CO2 from a major subsea blowout in shallow offshore waters

Oldenburg, Curtis M.; Zhang, Yingqi

doi:10.1002/ghg.2144

Downwind dispersion of CO₂ from a major subsea blowout in shallow offshore waters

Journal Article · Thu Apr 07 00:00:00 EDT 2022 · Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ghg.2144· OSTI ID:1882847

^[1]; Zhang, Yingqi ^[1]

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Growing interest in offshore geologic carbon sequestration (GCS) motivates risk assessment of large-scale subsea CO₂ well blowouts or pipeline ruptures. For major leaks of CO₂ from wells or pipelines, significant fluxes of CO₂ may occur from the sea surface depending on water depth. In the context of risk assessment of human health and safety, we have used previously simulated coupled well-reservoir and water column model results as a source term for dense gas dispersion of CO₂ above the sea surface. The models are linked together by one-way coupling, that is, output of one model is used as input to the next model. These first-of-their-kind coupled flow results are applicable to assessing the hazard of CO₂ to people at and downwind of the sea surface location of emission. Hazard is quantified by plotting the downwind dispersion length (DDL), which we define in the study as the distances from the emission source to the point at which the emitted CO₂ has been diluted to 5% and 1.5% in air by volume. Here results suggest that large-scale blowouts in shallow water (10 m) may cause hazardous CO₂ plumes extending on the order of several hundred meters downwind. Details of the modeling show DDL has a maximum for windspeed (at an elevation of 10 m) of approximately 5 m/s, with smaller DDL for both weaker and stronger winds. This is explained by the fact that wind favors transport but also causes dispersion; therefore there is a certain wind speed that maximizes DDL.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-05CH11231; FE0031558

OSTI ID:: 1882847

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1862075

Journal Information:: Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Journal Name: Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 12; ISSN 2152-3878

Publisher:: Society of Chemical Industry, WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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