185
Despite differences in ocean circulation and ocean state condition in DB_FALL
and DB_control scenarios, oil content and differential oil values in the surface and
most of interior layers are qualitatively similar. The cumulative effect of the SSDI
treatment thus appears in reducing the oil marginally in the surface layer but shifting
significantly the bulk of oil to greater depths.
11.4.3 Modeled Oil Residue Sedimentation
The sinking of oil residues, such as weathered oil capable of sinking, may eventually be deposited on the ocean floor of the GoM or encounter a coast or a bathymetric slope. The oil application of the CMS model tracks and labels such “landed”
droplets that effectively indicate oil residue sediments. The oil mass sedimented
during the entire simulation period for each of the case studies is shown in Fig. 11.5.
Fig. 11.5 Sedimented oil mass on a 0.5° horizontal grid, in the end of the model simulations as
indicated in each lower left corner of each panel. The length of all simulations is 167 days, except
for DB_FALL (90 days)
11 Far-Field Modeling of a Deep-Sea Blowout: Sensitivity Studies of Initial…
Despite differences in ocean circulation and ocean state condition in DB_FALL
and DB_control scenarios, oil content and differential oil values in the surface and
most of interior layers are qualitatively similar. The cumulative effect of the SSDI
treatment thus appears in reducing the oil marginally in the surface layer but shifting
significantly the bulk of oil to greater depths.
11.4.3 Modeled Oil Residue Sedimentation
The sinking of oil residues, such as weathered oil capable of sinking, may eventually be deposited on the ocean floor of the GoM or encounter a coast or a bathymetric slope. The oil application of the CMS model tracks and labels such “landed”
droplets that effectively indicate oil residue sediments. The oil mass sedimented
during the entire simulation period for each of the case studies is shown in Fig. 11.5.
Fig. 11.5 Sedimented oil mass on a 0.5° horizontal grid, in the end of the model simulations as
indicated in each lower left corner of each panel. The length of all simulations is 167 days, except
for DB_FALL (90 days)
11 Far-Field Modeling of a Deep-Sea Blowout: Sensitivity Studies of Initial…