Repository logo

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
  1. Home
  2. Academic and Research Output
  3. Journal articles
  4. Simulating gas-liquid-water partitioning and fluid properties of petroleum under pressure: Implications for deep-sea blowouts
 
research article

Simulating gas-liquid-water partitioning and fluid properties of petroleum under pressure: Implications for deep-sea blowouts

Gros, Jonas  
•
Reddy, Christopher M.
•
Nelson, Robert K.
Show more
2016
Environmental Science & Technology

With the expansion of offshore petroleum extraction, validated models are needed to simulate the behaviors of petroleum compounds released in deep (>100 m) waters. We present a thermodynamic model of the densities, viscosities, and gas-liquid-water partitioning of petroleum mixtures with varying pressure, temperature, and composition based on, the Peng-Robinson equation-of-state and the modified Henry's law (Krychevsky-Kasamovsky equation). The model is applied to Macondo reservoir fluid released during the Deepwater Horizon disaster, represented with 279-280 pseudocomponents, including 131-132 individual compounds.. We define >n-C-8 pseudocomponents based on comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC) measurements, which enable the modeling of aqueous partitioning for n-C-8 to n-C-26 fractions not quantified individually. Thermodynamic model predictions are tested against available laboratory data on petroleum liquid densities, gas/liquid volume fractions, and liquid viscosities. We:find that the emitted petroleum mixture was similar to 29-44% gas and similar to 56-71% liquid) after cooling to local conditions near the broken Macondo riser stub (similar to 153 atm and 4.3 degrees C). High pressure conditions dramatically favor the aqueous dissolution of C-1-C-4 hydrocarbons and also influence the buoyancies of bubbles and droplets. Additionally, the simulated densities of emitted petroleum fluids affect previous estimates of the volumetric flow rate of dead oil from the emission source.

  • Details
  • Metrics
Type
research article
DOI
10.1021/acs.est.5b04617
Web of Science ID

WOS:000380295700015

Author(s)
Gros, Jonas  
Reddy, Christopher M.
Nelson, Robert K.
Socolofsky, Scott A.
Arey, J. Samuel  
Date Issued

2016

Publisher

Amer Chemical Soc

Published in
Environmental Science & Technology
Volume

50

Issue

14

Start page

7397

End page

7408

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
LMCE  
Available on Infoscience
March 30, 2016
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/125160
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
  • Contact
  • infoscience@epfl.ch

  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Follow us on LinkedIn
  • Follow us on X
  • Follow us on Youtube
AccessibilityLegal noticePrivacy policyCookie settingsEnd User AgreementGet helpFeedback

Infoscience is a service managed and provided by the Library and IT Services of EPFL. © EPFL, tous droits réservés