FN Archimer Export Format
PT J
TI BP Gulf Science Data Reveals Ineffectual Subsea Dispersant Injection for the Macondo Blowout
BT 
AF PARIS, Claire B.
   BERENSHTEIN, Igal
   TRILLO, Marcia L.
   FAILLETTAZ, Robin
   OLASCOAGA, Maria J.
   AMAN, Zachary M.
   SCHLUETER, Micheal
   JOYE, Samantha B.
AS 1:1;2:1;3:1;4:1;5:1;6:2;7:3;8:4;
FF 1:;2:;3:;4:;5:;6:;7:;8:;
C1 Univ Miami, Rosenstiel Sch Marine & Atmospher Sci, Dept Ocean Sci, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, USA.
   Univ Western Australia, Fluid Sci & Resources Div, Dept Chem Engn, Perth, WA, Australia.
   Tech Univ Hamburg, Inst Multiphase Flows, Hamburg, Germany.
   Univ Georgia, Dept Marine Sci, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
C2 UNIV MIAMI, USA
   UNIV WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA
   UNIV HAMBURG, GERMANY
   UNIV GEORGIA, USA
IN DOAJ
IF 5.247
TC 16
UR https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00634/74617/74546.pdf
   https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00634/74617/74547.pdf
LA English
DT Article
DE ;oil spill;deep-sea blowout;chemical dispersants;water column;Macondo;subsea dispersant injection;petroleum;Gulf Science Data
AB After the Deepwater Horizon oil platform explosion, an estimated 172.2 million gallons of gas-saturated oil was discharged uncontrollably into the Gulf of Mexico, causing the largest deep-sea blowout in history. In an attempt to keep the oil submerged, massive quantities of the chemical dispersant Corexit (R) 9500 were deployed 1522 m deep at the gushing riser pipe of the Macondo prospect's wellhead. Understanding the effectiveness of this unprecedented subsea dispersant injection (SSDI) is critical because deepwater drilling is increasing worldwide. Here we use the comprehensive BP Gulf Science Data (GSD) to quantify petroleum dynamics throughout the 87-day long blowout. The spatio-temporal distribution of petroleum hydrocarbons revealed consistent higher concentrations at the sea surface and in a deep intrusion below 1000 m. The relative importance of these two layers depended on the hydrocarbon mass fractions as expected from their partitioning along temperature and pressure changes. Further, analyses of water column polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) of GSD extensively sampled within a 10-km radius of the blowout source demonstrated that substantial amounts of oil continued to surface near the response site, with no significant effect of SSDI volume on PAH vertical distribution and concentration. The turbulent energy associated with the spewing of gas-saturated oil at the deep-sea blowout may have minimized the effectiveness of the SSDI response approach. Given the potential for toxic chemical dispersants to cause environmental damage by increasing oil bioavailability and toxicity while suppressing its biodegradation, unrestricted SSDI application in response to deep-sea blowout is highly questionable. More efforts are required to inform response plans in future oil spills. 
PY 2018
PD OCT
SO Frontiers In Marine Science
SN 2296-7745
PU Frontiers Media Sa
VL 5
UT 000457536700001
DI 10.3389/fmars.2018.00389
ID 74617
ER

EF