scholarly journals Oil pollution in the North Sea—a microbiological point of view

1995 ◽  
Vol 49 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 143-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Minas ◽  
W. Gunkel
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
Oil Pollution ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Sea

Prediction of Relative Motion and Probability of Contact Between FPSO and Shuttle Tanker in Tandem Offloading Operation

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haibo Chen ◽  
Torgeir Moan ◽  
Sverre Haver ◽  
Kjell Larsen
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
Extreme Values ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Simulation Code ◽  
The North ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
The North Sea ◽  
Sensitivity Studies ◽  
Tandem Offloading

Tandem offloading safety between FPSO and shuttle tanker is under concern. A few collisions between the two vessels have happened in the North Sea in recent years. In these incidents, excessive relative motions (termed as surging and yawing in this paper) between FPSO and tanker are identified as “failure prone situations” which have contributed to the initiation of most collision incidents. To quantitatively assess the probability of surging and yawing events, and more importantly, to effectively reduce their occurrence in tandem offloading operation, we present a simulation-based approach in this paper, which is carried out by a state-of-the-art time-domain simulation code SIMO. The SIMO simulation models are setup and calibrated for a typical North Sea purpose-built FPSO and a DP shuttle tanker. This 2-vessel system motion in tandem offloading is simulated. The simulated relative distance and relative heading between FPSO and tanker are analyzed by fitting their extreme values into statistical models. This gives out probabilities of surging and yawing events. Sensitivity studies are performed to analyze contributions from various technical and operational factors. Measures to minimize the occurrence of surging and yawing from design and operational point of view are proposed.

“SLIKTRAK”—A COMPUTER SIMULATION OF OFFSHORE OIL SPILLS, CLEANUP, EFFECTS AND ASSOCIATED COSTS

1977 ◽  
Vol 1977 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. Blaikley ◽  
G. F. L. Dietzel ◽  
A. W. Glass ◽  
P. J. van Kleef
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Oil Pollution ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Cumulative Probability ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
Well Location ◽  
The North Sea ◽  
Input Variables

ABSTRACT The reasons are introduced for the development of a simulator sufficiently simple to enable weather data normally acquired for E & P operations to be used. “SLIKTRAK,” developed by Shell, applies a slick description and combat concept, developed within the E & P Forum for well blowouts in the North Sea, but applicable to other areas. This concept includes costs for cleanup, damages and the effect of phenomena such as evaporation and natural dispersion. These factors are based on industry experience and vary primarily with sea conditions. The computer programme simulates the continued creation of an oil spill and applies weather data to predict movements of each day's spillage for successive days at sea and quantities of oil left after each day until the oil either disappears or reaches a coastline. Cumulative probability curves for the oil volumes cleaned up, oil arriving at specified shores, total costs, etc., are produced by random selection of input variables such as well location, weather data, the possibility of well bridging etc., and repetition of simulated spill incidents over a large number of cycles. Trace-plots of individual spills may also be generated. In association with the E & P Forum's position as technical advisers to the North West European Civil Liability Convention for Oil Pollution Damage from Offshore Operations, a study based on the North Sea areas has been made. These results and further developments of the program are discussed.

Danish–German–Dutch Wadden Environments

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacobus Hofstede
Keyword(s):  
Present State ◽  
North Sea ◽  
Energy Input ◽  
Wadden Sea ◽  
Wind Waves ◽  
Tidal Energy ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Energy Impact ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Sea

The Wadden Sea environment is a coastal tidal environment situated between the North Sea and the northwestern European Lowlands. It stretches over a distance of about 450 km from Den Helder in The Netherlands to the peninsula of Skallingen in Denmark. The approximately 10,000 km2 large Wadden Sea is a coastal sediment sink that developed in the course of the Holocene transgression. It resulted from a specific combination of sediment availability (mainly from the North Sea) and a hydrodynamic regime of tides and waves. In its present state, the Wadden Sea environment consists of extensive tidal flats (the wadden), tidal gullies and inlets, salt marshes, and about twenty-four sandy barrier islands. Further, four estuaries exist that discharge into the Wadden Sea. The Wadden Sea may best be characterized by the words ‘dynamic’ and ‘extreme’; dynamic from a geo-morphological point of view, extreme in its biology. According to Spiegel (1997), with each flood phase a tidal energy input in the order of 2.2 thousand MW occurs in the Wadden Sea of Schleswig-Holstein (Germany). This energy input, combined with the energy impact of wind, waves, and storm surges, results in strong morphological processes. Flora and fauna in the Wadden Sea have to adapt to these intense morphodynamics. Further, they have to endure the permanent change of flood and ebb and fluctuations in salinity, as well as high water temperatures during summer and occasional ice cover during winter. As a result of these extreme environmental conditions, a highly specialized biosystem with about 4,800 species has developed (Heydemann 1998). In its present state the Wadden Sea is one of the last remaining near-natural large-scale ecosystems in central Europe. Its ecological significance is underlined by the fact that 250 animal species live exclusively here (Heydemann 1998). Furthermore, nowhere else in Europe is an ecosystem of this size visited by more birds per surface area for the purpose of feeding. However, the Wadden Sea is subjected to considerable human influences, e.g. the input of nutrients and pollutants, fisheries, dredging, boat traffic, and tourism (de Jong et al. 1999).

Seabirds and North Sea oil

1987 ◽  
Vol 316 (1181) ◽  
pp. 513-524 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
Oil Pollution ◽  
The North ◽  
Offshore Production ◽  
Bird Survey ◽  
Large Populations ◽  
Moray Firth ◽  
History Of ◽  
The North Sea ◽  
Tanker Accidents

The history of large and well-publicized incidents of seabird mortality resulting from oil pollution from tanker accidents (such as the Torrey Canyon in 1967) and from unattributed oil slicks at sea, gave rise to real fears that the development of North Sea oilfields would result in serious mortality and declines in the large populations of seabirds breeding and wintering in and around the North Sea. The oil industry recognized the problem and attempted to minimize pollution risks in all exploration, production and transport operations. Preliminary maps were prepared showing the distribution of vulnerable concentrations of breeding and wintering birds to facilitate contingency planning, and, particularly in Shetland, Orkney and the Moray Firth, extensive and long-term programmes are established to monitor: (1) the numbers of breeding birds; (2) wintering concentrations (particularly of sea ducks); (3) the distribution and abundance of seabirds at sea; (4) the numbers, and percentage oiled, of birds found dead on beaches. The feared increase in oil pollution incidents has not materialized. The few accidents associated with offshore production have had little effect on seabirds. Tanker accidents have been few, but have had large, temporary and local effects (e.g. the Esso Bernicia at Sullom Voe in 1978-79). Breeding seabird populations in the area have increased, although in recent years, in some places, some species may have declined, but these declines cannot be attributed to oil activities in the North Sea. The Beached Bird Survey suggests that chronic oil-induced mortality is at a relatively low level.

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