Overview of the American Petroleum Institute (API) Joint Industry Task Force Subsea Dispersant Injection Project

Abstract

ABSTRACT The American Petroleum Institute has sponsored research on subsea dispersant injection since 2011. The research is studying issues related to subsea injection of dispersant as a response to a deep water oil release. This information will be used to develop and communicate acceptable methods for implementing this technology to ensure its availablity both within the U.S. and internationally. Project teams are looking into all aspects of subsea dispersant injection including its effectiveness, fate and effects, subsea plume monitoring, and numerical modeling. As a result of this research, the body of knowledge regarding subsea dispersant injection has grown. Laboratory studies have demonstrated the utility of directly injecting dispersants at the source of a blowout. Work has begun to understand the biodegradation potential and toxicity of a subsea plume to deepwater organisms. Additionally, progress has been made on enhancing numerical models to predict the fate of oil dispersed subsea. This paper provides the scope of the project and preliminary results.