Modelling Sediment Diffusion during the construction of the EAST-MED POSEIDON Natural Gas Pipeline.

Abstract: We apply the CORMIX model to simulate the behavior of the Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) plumes that are released into the water column during dredging for the installation of the EAST-MED POSEIDON Natural Gas Pipeline. We performed calculations in 4 investigation areas that included two flow conditions for the minimum and maximum flow velocities and 32 sensitivity analysis scenarios to investigate the effect of current velocity near the bottom and the composition of sediments. Calculations showed that for all scenarios the SPM plumes are characterized by strong buoyancy being classified in CORMIX as flow class NV2. Calculated Suspended Sediment Concentrations (SSC) at distances shorter than 20 m from the discharge location are generally lower than the threshold value of 35 mg/L, while at distances longer than 50 m SSC range from 0.8 to 18.2 mg/L for the maximum current velocity and from 0.0 to 7.6 mg/L for the minimum current velocity.     «

Abstract: We apply the CORMIX model to simulate the behavior of the Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) plumes that are released into the water column during dredging for the installation of the EAST-MED POSEIDON Natural Gas Pipeline. We performed calculations in 4 investigation areas that included two flow conditions for the minimum and maximum flow velocities and 32 sensitivity analysis scenarios to investigate the effect of current velocity near the bottom and the composition of sediments. Ca...     »