Modelling potential effects of drilling wastes on George's Bank scallop stocks

Moratoria on oil and gas activities on Georges Bank are currently in place until 2000 (Canada) and 2012 (USA). If not extended, exploration drilling could take place with the attendant risks to the marine ecosystem and aquatic resources. A numerical benthic boundary layer transport model (bblt) was developed to provide estimates of the suspension, drift, dispersion and concentration of water-based drilling mud which could be released from a hypothetical 92-day exploration well at different sites on Georges Bank. Simulations predict that highest near-bottom concentrations of drilling mud would occur in the relatively deep Side region (>100 m) as a result of relatively low suspension, dispersion and drift. Lowest concentrations would occur in the central Mixed region (