Simulation and assessment of gas dispersion above sea from a subsea release: A CFD-based approach

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive simulation and assessment of gas dispersion above sea from a subsea release using a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach. A 3D CFD model is established to evaluate the behavior of flammable gas above sea, and a jack-up drilling platform is included to illustrate the effect of flammable gas cloud on surface vessels. The simulations include a matrix of scenarios for different surface release rates, distances between surface gas pool and offshore platform, and wind speeds. Based on the established model, the development process of flammable gas cloud above sea is predicted, and the dangerous area generated on offshore platform is assessed. Additionally, the effect of some critical factors on flammable gas dispersion behavior is analyzed. The simulations produce some useful outputs including the detailed parameters of flammable gas cloud and the dangerous area on offshore platform, which are expected to give an educational reference for conducting a prior risk assessment and contingency planning. Keywords: CFD simulation, Risk assessment, Gas dispersion, Dangerous area, Offshore platform