Wind Tunnel Investigation of the Effect of Platform-Type Structures on Dispersion of Effluents from Short Stacks

Abstract

This paper is directed to those persons interested in predicting concentrations downwind of platform-type structures associated with oil or gas facilities that operate on the Outer Continental Shelf. The specific purpose of this study was to determine the effect of platform-type structures on the dispersion of pollutant plumes and to assess the adequacy of the building wake algorithm included in the Offshore and Coastal Dispersion (OCD) Model. To meet the study objectives, a comprehensive wind-tunnel modeling study was conducted. Scale models of three typical oil platforms were positioned in an open-circuit wind tunnel and various source and meteorological conditions were simulated. Concentration and visual measurements were then obtained so that the dispersion characteristics could be quantitatively and qualitatively defined. Prior to conducting the platform wake evaluation, wind tunnel tests were conducted simulating two cases from tracer field experiments conducted in the Gulf of Mexico. The simulations demonstrated that the wind tunnel can adequately simulate dispersion over water.