GOBLIN (Global Ocean modelling Builds Links with INdustry)
Lead Research Organisation:
National Oceanography Centre
Department Name: Science and Technology
Abstract
As a component of their commitment to operate both safely and environmentally responsibly, oil and gas stakeholders investigate the potential impacts of normal and emergency conditions at their facilities. An important tool to achieve this is high resolution simulation modelling of chronic and acute contamination. While the overheads involved in building and running such models are largely beyond SMEs involved in such work, NERC has invested strongly in ocean modelling and this presents an opportunity for collaboration and the extracting of added value from our research. Within GOBLIN, we propose - in conjunction with our industrial partners - to develop existing simulation output into a format that is both appropriate for and available to industrial stakeholders. To achieve this, we will produce data visualisations of our fine-scale global ocean model, and create a data portal that will allow access to the underlying simulated circulation. These outputs of GOBLIN will be showcased at the international "Ocean Business" exhibition in 2015, and supported by a parallel workshop that will introduce them to potential new partners in industry. In conjunction with these activities, GOBLIN proposes to learn from engaging with this sector to adopt protocols for simulations and model output that best map to industry requirements. The intention of GOBLIN is, firstly, to show stakeholders what NERC is able to provide, and, secondly, to provide a forum for engagement to adapt future NERC efforts to best complement industry needs.
Publications
Main CE
(2017)
Simulating pathways of subsurface oil in the Faroe-Shetland Channel using an ocean general circulation model.
in Marine pollution bulletin
| Description | The paper is under review in Marine Policy summarising the following findings: Although oil blowouts from deep water drilling happen very rarely, they can cause catastrophic damage to the wildlife and environment in both coastal and deep sea systems. Despite the high impact of such events, only little research effort has gone into understanding subsurface pathways of oil plumes in the deep ocean. With ongoing deep sea drilling and with recent technological advancements in offshore oil and gas exploration and production allowing to access ever deeper and more remote locations, there is a pressing need to have the capability to assess the expected pathways of oil spills from any existing or potential future deep ocean drilling sites. In the present project we concentrated on the Atlantic Ocean, to demonstrate the significance of the problem and to offer potential solutions. Using a leading edge, high resolution numerical global ocean circulation model we present examples demonstrating (a) the importance of the ocean circulation in the propagation of potential oil spills; (b) likely circulation footprints for oil spills at four key locations in the Atlantic Ocean off the shelves of Brazil, the Gulf of Guinea, the Gulf of Mexico and in the Faroe Shetland Channel. We show that high seasonal and inter-annual variability of the ocean circulation means that for a blowout occurring at a given location in the ocean, the oil spill trajectory can vary substantially - both in terms of direction and spatial extent of the oil spill. The approach utilised in this study was developed as a result of ongoing collaboration between academia and industry within a dedicated knowledge exchange project. The methodology we adopted in this study complements the oil spill modelling preparedness studies usually performed by environmental consultancies by addressing the uncertainty in oil spill spread and footprint resulting from the variability of the ocean circulation. If adopted more widely, such an approach would lead to reduced risk and a better response through improved situational awareness. |
| Exploitation Route | If adopted more widely, the approach we developed would lead to reduced risk and a better response to oil spills through improved situational awareness. |
| Sectors | Chemicals,Environment |
| Description | We developed a methodology which would lead to reduced risk and a better response to oil spills through improved situational awareness. We are working together with Oil Spill Response LTD to develop ways we can improve response to oil spills. The methodology was successfully applied in 2018 for the emergency response to Sanchi Oil Spill |
| Sector | Environment |
| Impact Types | Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | Emergency responce to teh sanchi oil spill http://noc.ac.uk/news/sanchi-oil-spill-contamination-could-reach-japan-within-month-update |
| Geographic Reach | Asia |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| Impact | The emergency response model applied to sanchi oil spill caused media coverage around the world and the results were used by the oil spill response planning. The URL given below gives a link to the one of the media examples: https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-china-shipping-spill/how-sanchis-spill-could-spread-idUKKBN1FF1AK |
| URL | https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-china-shipping-spill/how-sanchis-spill-could-spread-idUKKBN1FF1AK |
| Title | Probabilistic analysis of oil spill impact |
| Description | The methodology we developed in this study complements the oil spill modelling preparedness studies usually performed by environmental consultancies by addressing the uncertainty in oil spill spread and footprint resulting from the variability of the ocean circulation. If adopted more widely, such an approach would lead to reduced risk and a better response through improved situational awareness. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2015 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | If adopted more widely, such an approach would lead to reduced risk and a better response through improved situational awareness. We are working together with Oil Spill Response LTD in applying this methodology to real life scenarios. |
| Description | Modelling of teh Sanchi oil spill. Media coverage |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | An emergency ocean model simulations run by scientists at the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and the University of Southampton assessed the potential impact of local ocean circulation on the spread of pollutants. These simulations were run using the leading-edge, high-resolution global ocean circulation model, NEMO. The Sanchi tanker collision occurred on the border between the Yellow and East China seas, an area with complex, strong and highly variable surface currents. These latest predictions have been made possible by new information about where the Sanchi oil tanker finally sank. Based on this update, the team of scientists from the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) have run new ocean model simulations to assess the potential impact of local ocean circulation on the spread of pollutants. These simulations were run on the leading-edge, high-resolution global ocean circulation model, NEMO. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://noc.ac.uk/news/sanchi-oil-spill-contamination-could-reach-japan-within-month-update |