SUTRA model simulations used to evaluate heat flow from microbial activity at a crude oil-contaminated site.

A steady-state, two-dimensional, heat transport model was created using SUTRA, version 2.2, modified to allow for spatially-variable thermal properties and density and viscosity variation with temperature. The model includes physical and hydrologic characteristics of the Bemidji Research Site, a crude-oil contaminated research site, along with previous-published parameter values for physical, chemical and biodegradation properties. Pipeline infrastructure temperatures were calibrated using a background model and measured average annual temperatures. The model was constructed to test whether temperature measurements can be used at field sites to measure microbial activity and to calculate the heat from microbial degradation and site [...]