Oil Production Standstill, Pipeline Repair in the Gulf

With the nation still feeling the effects of the recent hurricanes, Dr. Shari Dunn-Norman, associate professor of geological and petroleum engineering in the geological sciences and engineering department at the University of Missouri-Rolla, can offer an expert insight into the oil production standstill due to platform and pipeline repair taking place in the Gulf of Mexico.

“The problem is that the hurricanes hit major deepwater production platforms and pipelines that combine flow from multiple facilities,” says Dunn-Norman. “Some pipelines are buried under 20 to 30 feet of mud from mud slides.”

Much of Dunn-Norman’s research revolves around oil production and how pipelines react when placed in extreme situations. Her areas of expertise include:

• Sub-sea pipeline leaks and repairs
• Offshore production facilities
• Critical offshore infrastructure assessment