In-situ comparison of high-order detonations and low-order deflagration methodologies for underwater unexploded ordnance (UXO) disposal

Journal Article

Title: In-situ comparison of high-order detonations and low-order deflagration methodologies for underwater unexploded ordnance (UXO) disposal

Author:

Lepper, P.; Cheong, S.; Robinson, S.; Wang, L.; Tougaard, J.; Griffiths, E.; Hartley, J.

Publication Date:

February 1, 2024

Journal:

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Volume:

199

Publisher:

Elsevier

Affiliation

Loughborough University, National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Aarhus University, Hartley Anderson

Technology:

Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind

Stressor:

Noise

Receptor:

Marine Mammals

Language:

English

Document Access

Website:

External Link

Attachment:

Access File

Citation

APA
BibTex
RIS

Lepper, P.; Cheong, S.; Robinson, S.; Wang, L.; Tougaard, J.; Griffiths, E.; Hartley, J. (2024). In-situ comparison of high-order detonations and low-order deflagration methodologies for underwater unexploded ordnance (UXO) disposal. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 199 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115965

@article{Lepper-2024-,
author = {Lepper, P and Cheong, S and Robinson, S and Wang, L and Tougaard, J and Griffiths, E and Hartley, J},
title = {In-situ comparison of high-order detonations and low-order deflagration methodologies for underwater unexploded ordnance (UXO) disposal},
journal = {Marine Pollution Bulletin},
year = {2024},
month = {feb},
publisher = {Elsevier},
volume = {199},
doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115965},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X23014005},
keywords = {Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Noise, Marine Mammals},
}

Export Citation to BibTex

TY - JOUR
TI - In-situ comparison of high-order detonations and low-order deflagration methodologies for underwater unexploded ordnance (UXO) disposal
AU - Lepper, P
AU - Cheong, S
AU - Robinson, S
AU - Wang, L
AU - Tougaard, J
AU - Griffiths, E
AU - Hartley, J
T2 - Marine Pollution Bulletin
AB - The unexploded ordnance (UXO) on the seabed off Northwest Europe poses a hazard to offshore developments such as windfarms. The traditional removal method is through high-order detonation of a donor explosive charge placed adjacent to the UXO, which poses a risk of injury or death to marine mammals and other fauna from the high sound levels produced and is destructive to the seabed. This paper describes a sea-trial in the Danish Great Belt to compare the sound produced by high-order detonations with that produced by deflagration, a low-order disposal method that offers reduced environmental impact from noise. The results demonstrate a substantial reduction over high-order detonation, with the peak sound pressure level and sound exposure level being around 20 dB lower for the deflagration. The damage to the seabed was also considerably reduced for deflagration, although there was some evidence for residues of explosives related chemicals in sediments.
DA - 2024/02//
PY - 2024
PB - Elsevier
VL - 199
UR - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X23014005
DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115965
LA - English
KW - Wind Energy
KW - Fixed Offshore Wind
KW - Noise
KW - Marine Mammals
ER -

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Abstract

The unexploded ordnance (UXO) on the seabed off Northwest Europe poses a hazard to offshore developments such as windfarms. The traditional removal method is through high-order detonation of a donor explosive charge placed adjacent to the UXO, which poses a risk of injury or death to marine mammals and other fauna from the high sound levels produced and is destructive to the seabed. This paper describes a sea-trial in the Danish Great Belt to compare the sound produced by high-order detonations with that produced by deflagration, a low-order disposal method that offers reduced environmental impact from noise. The results demonstrate a substantial reduction over high-order detonation, with the peak sound pressure level and sound exposure level being around 20 dB lower for the deflagration. The damage to the seabed was also considerably reduced for deflagration, although there was some evidence for residues of explosives related chemicals in sediments.