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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Analysis of brine disposal in the Gulf of Mexico. (4) Big Hill

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7175283

To implement the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) Program, the Federal Energy Administration (FEA) proposes to use storage caverns leached out of a salt dome known as Big Hill on the coast of Texas 15 miles west of Sabine Pass. Discharge into the Gulf of Mexico is being considered for disposal of the saturated brine to be produced as a result of creating these solution-mined caverns. This report will assist FEA in fully examining the potential environmental impact of this brine disposal option. It includes: an extensive summary of physiographic, meteorological, oceanographic, and water quality conditions along the Texas coast adjacent to the Big Hill site; a comprehensive review of ecological conditions in the area; analysis of the dispersion of salt brine to be discharged at the two locations offshore, under various environmental conditions; general considerations for a brine diffuser at the Big Hill site; and the potential impact of brine due to osmotic stress.

Research Organization:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, D.C. (USA). Center for Experiment Design and Data Analysis
OSTI ID:
7175283
Report Number(s):
PB-275417
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English