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Modeling the dispersion of drilling muds using the bblt model: the effects of settling velocity

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Abstract

The benthic boundary layer transport (bblt) model was widely used in the Atlantic Canadian offshore region to assess the potential impact zones from drilling wastes discharges from offshore oil and gas drilling. The current version of the bblt uses a single-class settling velocity scenario, which may affect its performance, as settling velocity is size, shape, and material dependent. In this study, the effects of settling velocity on bblt predictions were assessed by replacing this single-class settling velocity scenario with a multi-class size-dependent settling velocity scenario. The new scenario was used in a hypothetical study to simulate the dispersion of barite and fine-grained drilling cuttings. The study showed that the effects of settling velocity on bblt predictions are spatial, temporal, and material dependent.

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Acknowledgments

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada and the Petroleum Research Atlantic Canada (PRAC) provided financial support for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland, A1B 3X5, Canada

    Haibo Niu, Tahir Husain & Brian Veitch

  2. Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2Y 4A2, Canada

    Adam Drozdowski & Kenneth Lee

  3. Australian Maritime College, Launceston, Tasmania, 7250, Australia

    Neil Bose

Authors
  1. Haibo Niu
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  2. Adam Drozdowski
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  3. Tahir Husain
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  4. Brian Veitch
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  5. Neil Bose
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  6. Kenneth Lee
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Correspondence to Haibo Niu.

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Niu, H., Drozdowski, A., Husain, T. et al. Modeling the dispersion of drilling muds using the bblt model: the effects of settling velocity. Environ Model Assess 14, 585–594 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10666-008-9162-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10666-008-9162-6

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