Abstract:

The dataset consists of output from a non-hydrostatic model of multiphase convection in a cross-flow. All standard oceanographic variables are included, as is oil volume fraction and methane mass density. A simple equation of state is used for seawater, so that the only active thermodynamic variable is temperature. This is a run WITHOUT rotation.

Suggested Citation:

Dewar, William K. and Nicholas Wienders. 2022. LES simulations of non-rotating gas-oil-seawater plumes. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/n7-9vyg-je28

Purpose:

We share here the results of simulations for multiphase plumes (water + oil + gas) in the context of the DeepWater Horizon Oil Spill (depth of the well head/source is 1500m and buoyancy flux is similar to what was observed). The purpose of the study is to study the dynamics of the plume in different regimes (with or without rotation) and to assess its impact on the background circulation.

Data Parameters and Units:

ETA (ocean surface elevation, [m]); PTRACER01 (Oil volume fraction, [dimensionless]); PTRACER02 (methane concentration, [moles/m^3]); T (potential temperature, [ºC]); U (zonal component of velocity field, positive eastward [m/s]); V (meridional component of velocity field, positive northward, [m/s]); W (vertical component of velocity field, positive upward [m/s]); PHL (bottom pressure potential anomaly, [m^2/s^2]); PH (total hydrostatic potential anomaly, [m^2/s^2]); PNH (non-hydrostatic pressure anomaly, [m^2/s^2]). Methods: The MITgcm model is used in a non-hydrostatic configuration. Oil and gas are considered active tracers, via the inclusion of slip velocities, and have an effect on the background circulation. The model resolution is 5 meters in all directions. This implies a small time step (0.25s) and overall short durations for the experiments o(days). Restart/checkpoint files are also provided at 4-hour intervals (979,200 time steps). Note: The original binary model output has been exported to Matlab data files using the MITgcm Matlab utility rdmds. Full two- or three-dimensional variable fields are stored in a Matlab structure, one timestep per file. Missing variables were assembled as NaN fields. The output includes 3.33 days of model run, but additional binary files are included for mean fields days 3-10. The original binary output has been reorganized into day and hour directories for improved manageability.

Methods:

We are using the MITgcm model in a non-hydrostatic configuration.

Individual Files: