A model for deepwater oil/gas blowouts

When gas is released in deepwater, the high pressure and low temperature ca n convert the gases into hydrates, which are buoyant. As these hydrates tra vel upwards they will encounter regions of lower pressure and can decompose into free gas. The presence or absence of hydrates has a significant impac t on the behaviour of the jet/plume due to the alteration of the buoyancy. The free gas may dissolve in water. This paper describes a computer model d eveloped to simulate the behaviour of oil and gas released from deepwater l ocations in the ocean. The model integrates the hydrodynamics and thermodyn amics of the jet/plume with kinetics and thermodynamics of hydrate formatio n/decomposition. Model formulation and comparison of results with laborator y data for hydrates is presented. Scenario simulations show the behaviour o f oil/gas under different deepwater conditions. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science L td. All rights reserved.