Seep Tents Seep Tents Masters ProjectMasters Project

Fall PresentationFall Presentation

Bren School of Environmental Science & Management

Group Members & Group Members & AdvisorsAdvisors

Ali Ger, Misty Gonzales, Erin Ali Ger, Misty Gonzales, Erin Mayberry, Farah ShamszadehMayberry, Farah Shamszadeh

Christopher Costello, Natalie Christopher Costello, Natalie MahowaldMahowald Spring: Mel WillisSpring: Mel Willis

Bren School of Environmental Science & Management

BackgroundBackground

Unique geological formations allow Unique geological formations allow natural gas, other hydrocarbons, natural gas, other hydrocarbons, and oil to seep from the ocean and oil to seep from the ocean floor in the SB channelfloor in the SB channel

Bren School of Environmental Science & Management

Study AreaStudy Area

Bren School of Environmental Science & Management

Area studied by the UCSB Hydrocarbon Seeps Research Group

Maps courtesy of the UCSB Hydrocarbon Seeps Project http://seeps.geol.ucsb.edu/

BackgroundBackground In 1982, ARCO installed 2 concrete In 1982, ARCO installed 2 concrete

and steel pyramids to capture the and steel pyramids to capture the gasgas

These are the only tents in the These are the only tents in the worldworld

The tents are currently operated The tents are currently operated by Venoco, Inc.by Venoco, Inc.

Bren School of Environmental Science & Management

BackgroundBackground

Santa Barbara County Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control Air Pollution Control District is exploring District is exploring additional seep tents additional seep tents as a method to as a method to reduce hydrocarbon reduce hydrocarbon emissionsemissions

Bren School of Environmental Science & Management

Gas emitted is 90% methaneGas emitted is 90% methane The seeps are considered a natural The seeps are considered a natural

source of air pollution by the countysource of air pollution by the county

Purpose of our projectPurpose of our project Methane is a potent global Methane is a potent global

warming agentwarming agent Captured methane is an energy Captured methane is an energy

source APCD and other source APCD and other stakeholders are interested in tentsstakeholders are interested in tents

Seep VOCs create air pollutionSeep VOCs create air pollution

Bren School of Environmental Science & Management

Should more seep tents be Should more seep tents be installed?installed?

Research QuestionResearch Question

Is it environmentally advantageous Is it environmentally advantageous to install additional seep tents to to install additional seep tents to capture naturally released capture naturally released hydrocarbons? hydrocarbons?

Further, is it economically and Further, is it economically and legally feasible to install additional legally feasible to install additional seep tents?seep tents?

Bren School of Environmental Science & Management

ScopeScope

Four areas of research:Four areas of research: Economic practicality Economic practicality Legal feasibilityLegal feasibility Water quality & ecologic impactsWater quality & ecologic impacts Air quality & climate impactAir quality & climate impact

Bren School of Environmental Science & Management

Important IssuesImportant Issues

Seep rates have been decliningSeep rates have been declining Natural variation in seep Natural variation in seep

location and rateslocation and rates Uncertain regulations regarding Uncertain regulations regarding

additional tentsadditional tents Future natural gas prices are Future natural gas prices are

uncertain, makes revenues uncertain, makes revenues uncertainuncertain

Bren School of Environmental Science & Management

Final Project ReportFinal Project Report

We will deliver a final document We will deliver a final document detailing our findings and detailing our findings and recommendations for additional recommendations for additional seep tent installation by April, 2002seep tent installation by April, 2002

The report will provide valuable The report will provide valuable information on the question of information on the question of whether or not more tents should whether or not more tents should be installedbe installed

Bren School of Environmental Science & Management

Questions?Questions?

Thank you for your feedbackThank you for your feedback