Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

This project partners with the United States Coast Guard Research and Development Center to test oil recovery skimmer systems to gain insight on the capabilities, limitations, and applicability of using these systems to recover dielectric fluids. The research will focus on types of skimmers referenced for use in the expanding offshore wind energy sector's oil spill response plans. The project will investigate and report on noted differences between recovery of a synthetic mineral oil, a synthetic ester fluid, and a standard test oil.

BSEE is participating in a lab protocol study investigating the development of water-in-oil emulsions (emulsions) using a common set of oils and predefined conditions to compare the variability of emulsion properties based on lab protocols. Ultimately, the results will inform numerical models. BSEE is working with Applied Research Associates at its Ohmsett facility to further its capability to produce customizable, repeatable emulsions at the lab-, drum-, and tank-scales. BSEE's Ohmsett protocol involves characterizing the stability of the emulsions based on particle size analysis.

The purpose of Sweet Spot in Burning Emulsions project is to study how emulsions break and boil during in situ burning (ISB), which is a multi-physics process that includes radiative and convective heat transfer to the slick, any mechanical work that is driving emulsion formation, hydrocarbon and water evaporation, and internal heat transfer as the water either flash evaporates or separates and sinks. Previous work under OSRR 1085 resulted in a potential trend indicating an increase in burning efficiency in emulsions with 20% water content.

This new project will test Type I sorbents efficacy when exposed to three - (3) categories of Dielectric fluids. These will include natural ester, synthetic ester, and mineral oil (hydrocarbon) based fluids. The work will be performed at Ohmsett with testing completed to BSEE Oil Spill Research and Response (OSRR) project specifications. It will compare the findings to a selected control conventional oil product and will provide performance data to stakeholders to facilitate decision making for oil spill preparedness and response operations. 

BSEE Response Research Branch is undertaking the DSD Instrument Evaluation project to better understand how surface water dispersant monitoring, as specified by the NCP SubPart J Monitoring Rule, can be practically implemented with existing technology, with specific emphasis on detection of oil and dispersed oil droplets in depths of 1 to 5 meters. The three main objectives of this project are:

The proposed study would provide the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) with a continuation of the research efforts conducted since 2009 regarding the conditions that occur during the annual freeze-up season in the US Beaufort and Chukchi seas. Additionally, the study would provide BSEE with the observations and analysis during the break-up of Arctic sea ice in the US Beaufort and Chukchi Seas (first evaluated by BSEE in 2016-2017).

The proposed study would provide the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) with a continuation of the research efforts conducted since 2009 regarding the conditions that occur during the annual freeze-up season in the US Beaufort and Chukchi seas. Additionally, the study would provide BSEE with the observations and analysis during the break-up of Arctic sea ice in the US Beaufort and Chukchi Seas (first evaluated by BSEE in 2016-2017).

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the available options for conducting remote inspections on offshore wind turbines (above and below the water line) by; identifying commercially available technologies can be used for remote inspections, maintenance, testing, and repair; determining the types of inspections, testing, maintenance, and repairs that can be conducted remotely, developing a list of the critical components that can be inspected, tested maintained and/or repaired through remote capabilities; identify current and future remote capabilities; and identify best practices for doc

The objective of this study was to identify test facilities capable of performing shearing tests under flowing well conditions. Typical flow rates and pressures observed in subsea drilling operations were requested from oil companies by the Contractor. The Contractor identified shearing test facilities, and evaluated if these facilities were capable of shearing under the determined flow conditions. Cost information for identified shearing were obtained from the facilities and submitted in the report to BSEE.

The objective of the study is to provide the Alaska OCS Region with research and cost estimating regarding decommissioning of a typical arctic gravel island-based, oil and gas exploration/production facility. The work considered standard industry practice, available technology, current regulations (e.g. 30 CFR 250 Subpart Q) and market conditions.