US EPA

461175 

Journal Article 

Near-field dispersion of produced formation water (PFW) in the Adriatic Sea: An integrated numerical-chemical approach 

Cianelli, D; Manfra, L; Zambianchi, E; Maggi, C; Cappiello, A; Famiglini, G; Mannozzi, M; Cicero, AM 

2008 

1 

Marine Environmental Research
ISSN: 0141-1136 

65 

4 

325-337 

English 

18289661 

10.1016/j.marenvres.2007.12.001 

Produced formation waters (PFWs), a by-product of both oil and gas extraction, are separated from hydrocarbons onboard oil platforms and then discharged into the sea through submarine outfalls. The dispersion of PFWs into the environment may have a potential impact on marine ecosystems. We reproduce the initial PFW-seawater mixing process by means of the UM3 model applied to offshore natural gas platforms currently active in the Northern Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Sea). Chemical analyses lead to the identification of a chemical tracer (diethylene glycol) which enables us to follow the fate of PFWs into receiving waters. The numerical simulations are realized in different seasonal conditions using both measured oceanographic data and tracer concentrations. The numerical results show the spatial and temporal plume development in different stratification and ambient current conditions. The analytical approach measures concentrations of the diethylene glycol at a maximum sampling distance of 25 m. The results show a good agreement between field observations and model predictions in the near-field area. The integration of numerical results with chemical analyses also provides new insight to plan and optimize PFW monitoring and discharge. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 

produced formation waters; dispersion; modelling; chemical tracer; analysis; Adriatic Sea; environmental monitoring; ionization-mass-spectrometry; mussels mytilus-edulis; north-sea; diethylene glycol; liquid-chromatography; general-circulation; coastal; environment; discharge model; dream model; ooc mud