Subsea dispersant injection was a key response tool initiated during the 2010 Macondo incident. The API believes it played an important role protecting the environment and health and safety of workers attempting to contain the well. Industry plans to incorporate this tool in response strategies for future offshore drilling operations where appropriate.  The novelty of the concept did not allow it to be fully evaluated prior to the spill. For this reason, API initiated the subsea dispersant injection research program to conduct studies and controlled experiments on 1) effectiveness of subsea injection; 2) fate and effects of dispersed oil in deepwater;  3) upgrades to numerical modeling to better predict the fate of dispersed oil in deepwater; and 4) monitoring tools to determine the effectiveness of subsea injection.  The presentation provides evidence of the effectiveness of dispersants during the Macondo incident and an overview of the API subsea dispersant injection research program.

Industry-sponsored subsea dispersant injection research

245th National Meeting (2013)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.