Rise Velocity of Dispersed Oil Droplets by Underwater Application of Dispersants

Abstract

  The application of underwater injection of dispersants against discharged oil and gas has been carried out during the ‘Deep Water Horizon’ incident that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Research on the effect of underwater injection of dispersants has been done both experimentally and theoretically after the incident.

  The authors have investigated the dispersive performance of dispersants using a pre-mixed sample of oil and dispersant on the diffusion and rise velocity of oil droplets in a previous study. The oil droplet distribution was measured using the laser diffraction method, and experiments on the rise velocity were conducted. The rise velocity was estimated using a modified Weber number derived from the Weber number, viscosity number, and experimental constants.

  Experiments on dispersant injection against an upright rising oil flow using a duct installed at some distance above the exit were also conducted. The effect of reduced rise velocity on improving the mixing efficiency of oil and dispersants is shown.