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

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  • Curtis M. Oldenburg
  • Yingqi Zhang

Abstract

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. 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. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • Curtis M. Oldenburg & Yingqi Zhang, 2022. "Downwind dispersion of CO2 from a major subsea blowout in shallow offshore waters," Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 12(2), pages 321-331, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:greenh:v:12:y:2022:i:2:p:321-331
    DOI: 10.1002/ghg.2144
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Antonio P. Rinaldi & Victor Vilarrasa & Jonny Rutqvist & Frédéric Cappa, 2015. "Fault reactivation during CO 2 sequestration: Effects of well orientation on seismicity and leakage," Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 5(5), pages 645-656, October.
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    3. Alberto Mazzoldi & David Picard & Papagudi G. Sriram & Curtis M. Oldenburg, 2013. "Simulation‐based estimates of safety distances for pipeline transportation of carbon dioxide," Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 3(1), pages 66-83, February.
    4. Curtis M. Oldenburg & Lehua Pan, 2020. "Major CO2 blowouts from offshore wells are strongly attenuated in water deeper than 50 m," Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 10(1), pages 15-31, February.
    5. T.A. Meckel & A.P. Bump & S.D. Hovorka & R.H. Trevino, 2021. "Carbon capture, utilization, and storage hub development on the Gulf Coast," Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 11(4), pages 619-632, August.
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