From Australian Oceans Data Network
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Dispersion and fates of produced formation water (PFW) constituents in a North West Shelf shallow water ecosystem, Western Australia

Created 24/06/2025

Updated 24/06/2025

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This was a study of produced formation water (PFW) discharged into a shallow tropical marine ecosystem on the North West Shelf of Australia. A combination of oceanographic techniques, geochemical tracer studies, chemical and biological assessment methods, and dispersion modelling was used to describe the distribution and fate of petroleum hydrocarbons and added nutrients discharged from an offshore production platform. Using fine scale volatile hydrocarbon data, the horizontal and vertical diffusion parameters for a three dimensional dispersion model were calibrated under local conditions. Trace hydrocarbon chemistry studies and integration of the data into a mass balance model, facilitated a comprehensive description of dispersion and degradation pathways and rates. Bioaccumulation into bivalves and water column microbial growth inhibition studies confirmed the chemistry and model predictions that the area of potential biological impact extended to 0.5 nautical mile (~900 m) from the discharge with additional skewing in the direction of the predominant tidal flows. Impact would be expected to be concentrated in transient surface slicks and near surface seawater. Dispersion and degradation processes were fast enough to prevent any long term accumulation of contamination within the system. Trace levels of oil in the near field sandy sediments were directly related to the magnitude of the daily discharge. The study is a bench-mark to help predict the effects of further oil industry expansion in this pristine coastal region. This was one of the first studies to use chemistry data to verify and adjust the workings of a dispersion model.

Files and APIs

Additional Info

Field Value
Title Dispersion and fates of produced formation water (PFW) constituents in a North West Shelf shallow water ecosystem, Western Australia
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/e1be9297-b3cc-4ccd-824d-4efcd800ad49
Contact Point
Australian Ocean Data Network
reception@aims.gov.au
Reference Period 28/02/2023
Geospatial Coverage
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
{
  "coordinates": [
    [
      [
        115.59,
        -20.62
      ],
      [
        115.65,
        -20.62
      ],
      [
        115.65,
        -20.58
      ],
      [
        115.59,
        -20.58
      ],
      [
        115.59,
        -20.62
      ]
    ]
  ],
  "type": "Polygon"
}
Data Portal Australian Oceans Data Network

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Australian Oceans Data Network "Dispersion and fates of produced formation water (PFW) constituents in a North West Shelf shallow water ecosystem, Western Australia". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://catalogue.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/dispersion-and-fates-of-produced-formation-water-pfw-constituents-in-a-north-west-shelf-shallow1