Factors that effect deep plume evolution

Simulating the effects of droplet size, high pressure biodegradation, and variable flow rate on the subsea evolution of deep plumes from the Macondo blowout

In a recent study by C-IMAGE researchers from the University of Miami and the Technical University of Hamburg at Harburg, the effect of droplet size, high-pressure biodegradation and variable flow rate on deep plume evolution is evaluated.  Lindo-Atichati et al. use measurements from the Macondo blowout to evaluate how sensitive far field models are to these parameters.  Consideration of high pressure biodegradation and variable flow rate into the model allow for a significant in oil residence time to the southwest of the blowout site which agree with field observations. 

 Ref: Lindo-Atichati, D., Paris, C. B., Le Henaff, M., Schedler, M., Valladares-Juarez, A. G., Muller, R. Simulating the effects of droplet size, high pressure biodegradation, and variable flow rate on the subsea evolution of deep plumes from the Macondo blowout, Deep Sea Research, Special Issue “The Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem: Before During, and After the Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill”, in press