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Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. Applications of science and engineering to quantify and control the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
[Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences of the United States of America, full text: (LINK). Abstract, edited.]
Footnotes
<SUP>1</SUP>To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: mcnutt@usgs.gov.
<SUP>2</SUP>Retired.
<SUP>3</SUP>Present address: Office of Policy and International Affairs, US Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585.
<SUP>4</SUP>Present address: College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
Author contributions: M.K.M., S.C., T.H., S.A.M., and D.M.K. analyzed data; and M.K.M., S.C., J.L., T.H., G.D., and S.A.M. wrote the paper.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
This article is a PNAS Direct Submission.
This article contains supporting information online at www.pnas.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1073/pnas.1214389109/-/DCSupplemental.
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Applications of science and engineering to quantify and control the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Marcia K. McNutt<SUP>a</SUP>,<SUP>1</SUP>, Steven Chu<SUP>b</SUP>, Jane Lubchenco<SUP>c</SUP>, Tom Hunter<SUP>d</SUP>,<SUP>2</SUP>, Gabrielle Dreyfus<SUP>c</SUP>,<SUP>3</SUP>, Steven A. Murawski<SUP>c</SUP>,<SUP>4</SUP>, and David M. Kennedy<SUP>c</SUP>
<SUP></SUP>
Author Affiliations: <SUP>a</SUP>US Geological Survey, Department of the Interior, Reston, VA 20192; <SUP>b</SUP>US Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585; <SUP>c</SUP>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230; and <SUP>d</SUP>Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87111
Edited by Paul G. Falkowski, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Brunswick, NJ, and approved September 28, 2012 (received for review August 22, 2012)
Abstract
The unprecedented engagement of scientists from government, academia, and industry enabled multiple unanticipated and unique problems to be addressed during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. During the months between the initial blowout on April 20, 2010, and the final well kill on September 19, 2010, researchers prepared options, analyses of tradeoffs, assessments, and calculations of uncertainties associated with the flow rate of the well, well shut in, killing the well, and determination of the location of oil released into the environment. This information was used in near real time by the National Incident Commander and other government decision-makers. It increased transparency into BP?s proposed actions and gave the government confidence that, at each stage proposed, courses of action had been thoroughly vetted to reduce risk to human life and the environment and improve chances of success.
Marcia K. McNutt<SUP>a</SUP>,<SUP>1</SUP>, Steven Chu<SUP>b</SUP>, Jane Lubchenco<SUP>c</SUP>, Tom Hunter<SUP>d</SUP>,<SUP>2</SUP>, Gabrielle Dreyfus<SUP>c</SUP>,<SUP>3</SUP>, Steven A. Murawski<SUP>c</SUP>,<SUP>4</SUP>, and David M. Kennedy<SUP>c</SUP>
<SUP></SUP>
Author Affiliations: <SUP>a</SUP>US Geological Survey, Department of the Interior, Reston, VA 20192; <SUP>b</SUP>US Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585; <SUP>c</SUP>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230; and <SUP>d</SUP>Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87111
Edited by Paul G. Falkowski, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Brunswick, NJ, and approved September 28, 2012 (received for review August 22, 2012)
Abstract
The unprecedented engagement of scientists from government, academia, and industry enabled multiple unanticipated and unique problems to be addressed during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. During the months between the initial blowout on April 20, 2010, and the final well kill on September 19, 2010, researchers prepared options, analyses of tradeoffs, assessments, and calculations of uncertainties associated with the flow rate of the well, well shut in, killing the well, and determination of the location of oil released into the environment. This information was used in near real time by the National Incident Commander and other government decision-makers. It increased transparency into BP?s proposed actions and gave the government confidence that, at each stage proposed, courses of action had been thoroughly vetted to reduce risk to human life and the environment and improve chances of success.
- oil collection - science-based decision making - well control - Gulf of Mexico - spill of national significance
Footnotes
<SUP>1</SUP>To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: mcnutt@usgs.gov.
<SUP>2</SUP>Retired.
<SUP>3</SUP>Present address: Office of Policy and International Affairs, US Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585.
<SUP>4</SUP>Present address: College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
Author contributions: M.K.M., S.C., T.H., S.A.M., and D.M.K. analyzed data; and M.K.M., S.C., J.L., T.H., G.D., and S.A.M. wrote the paper.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
This article is a PNAS Direct Submission.
This article contains supporting information online at www.pnas.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1073/pnas.1214389109/-/DCSupplemental.
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