Operational mapping of the DWH deep subsurface dispersed oil

Harvey E. Seim; Richard Crout; Glen Rice

doi:10.1117/12.884220

16 May 2011 Operational mapping of the DWH deep subsurface dispersed oil

Harvey E. Seim, Richard Crout, Glen Rice

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8029, Sensing Technologies for Global Health, Military Medicine, Disaster Response, and Environmental Monitoring; and Biometric Technology for Human Identification VIII; 802916 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.884220
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2011, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

Mapping of the deep dispersed oil feature from the blowout of the MC252 wellhead was organized by the subsurface mapping unit within the Unified Area Command starting in early August, 2010. The operational process employed and the challenge presented by the response situation are reviewed. Colored dissolved organic matter fluorescence, used to establish existence of the subsurface oil prior to this time, had largely fallen below background levels for the sensors by this time. Dissolved oxygen (DO), deficits in which were assumed to be related to consumption of oil by microbes, was the only routinely observed variable in vertical profiles that displayed a persistent and obvious anomaly. The DO anomaly was therefore used to identify the presence and magnitude of the dispersed oil impact. An adaptive sampling plan employing daily review of DO profiles to provide vessel guidance was established and permitted a coarse mapping of the feature within 4 weeks. The DO anomaly extended from the wellhead to the WSW for more than 350 km, bounded to the north by the upper slope (approximately 1000 m isobath), with a cross-slope extent of 60-100 km, and was also present to the ENE of the wellhead out to 60 km.

Citation Download Citation

Harvey E. Seim, Richard Crout, and Glen Rice "Operational mapping of the DWH deep subsurface dispersed oil", Proc. SPIE 8029, Sensing Technologies for Global Health, Military Medicine, Disaster Response, and Environmental Monitoring; and Biometric Technology for Human Identification VIII, 802916 (16 May 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.884220

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

;

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE