Feasibility and Impact Review for Emergency Intentional Wellhead Ignition & Safety Evaluation (FIRE-WISE)

Status: Ongoing

Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence, ADAC-Arctic

Abstract: 

Based on a 2020 United States Geological Survey (USGS) [1], there is an estimated 3.6 billion barrels of oil and 8.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the central North Slope of Alaska. In addition, oil and gas is the largest industry in the State of Alaska and contributes a significant portion of the state budget. Therefore, there is an increased need for continued oil and gas exploration in the Arctic to support the U.S. Department of Energy’s goal of energy independence and security. After the administration’s Executive Order ‘Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential’ in January 2026, the most recent lease sale for National Petroleum Reserve Alaska (NPR-A) by DOI received a record $163 million, indicating the federal government and industry’s interest in strengthening America’s energy security while fueling economic growth across Alaska. However, an increase in drilling in the Arctic could increase the risk of wellhead failure due to natural forces or geostrategic adversaries. An oil wellhead blowout could cause an uncontrolled release of oil and gas that could cause irreparable damage to the diverse ecology and ecosystems unique to the Arctic. The presence of sea ice can complicate a spill cleanup strategy during the winter season. The presence of icy conditions can alter the spread, movement, deposition of oil spills and cause the oil to linger in the environment for a long time [2]. Therefore, developing a spill response framework tailored to the Arctic region is necessary.

This framework can assess the overall impact of a wellhead blowout to assess the risk due to failure and ensure readiness and emergency preparedness; the spill response agencies must (1) develop a response framework to mitigate damage from an Arctic wellhead blowout and (2) develop an operational tool for evaluating intentional wellhead ignition (IWI) as a tactic for containing a wellhead blowout by comparing it with other conventional spill response measures used in the open waters. This project aims to develop a framework for assessing the risk to critical infrastructure and sensitive ecosystems due to a wellhead blowout. During Phase I (Years 1 and 2), the research team developed a numerical model to simulate the distribution of oil and gas fractions within the oil spill jet. The model was then combined with a combustion model to measure the burn efficiency of IWI. A downwind dispersion model was also developed to simulate the transport of combustion gases and particulates in the atmosphere. During Phase II (Year 3), the project team combined the models to establish a framework for evaluating the environmental impact and feasibility of IWI as an oil spill response strategy. This phase also included a feasibility assessment of decision tree frameworks to support comparative analysis of response tactics. In Phase III (Year 4), the primary focus will shift from model development to transition planning, operational integration, and identifying pathways to incorporate FIRE-WISE into the Homeland Security Enterprise as a decision-support capability for Arctic spill response.

Investigators: Dr. Jagadish Torlapati, PhD., Dr. Yusuf Mehta, PhD.

Links to Publications: FIRE-WISE Brief