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Behavior of Oil

Advancing ICEHORSE proof-of-concept to make it more useful in an operational environment

Recently, under a BSEE contract, Alion integrated its previously designed ROV-based submersible sled technology with a commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) skimmer technology to develop and test a prototype system. A prototype of this system was successfully tested at Ohmsett. (BSEE Project Number 1053, http://www.bsee.gov/Technology-and-Research/Oil-Spill-Response-Research…).

Deepwater Horizon Lessons Learned - Methodology and Operational Tools to Assess Future Oil Spills

BSEE has teamed up with NOAA to provide control and validation for surface oiling characterization efforts. The ultimate goal was to validate and quantify the capabilities of various remote sensing systems and sensors, provide BSEE and NOAA the needed methodology and operational tools to assess future oil spills, and the ability to monitor and measure more accurately the thickness of surface oil slicks in the marine environment.
 

Combining Mineral Fines with Chemical Dispersants to Disperse Oil in Low Temperature and Low Mixing Energy Environments

The objective of this research is to assess the feasibility of a cold water and Arctic marine oil spill countermeasure strategy based on the stimulation of OMA formation in the presence of a chemical dispersant. Evaluations will be conducted on both laboratory and wave tank systems under controlled conditions to evaluate the potential effectiveness of treatment of oil spills from shipboard and rig operations.

TAP-287-Fate and Behavior of Deepwater Subsea Oil Well Blowouts in the Gulf of Mexico

To analyze the behavior of oil spilled during a deep water blowout. The study will focus on three questions: What properties and behavior are expected of the oil on the surface, such as slick thickness, area, and dispersibility?;
what cleanup measures, if any, are available and appropriate to deal with the spill?; and
are there any major differences in oil spill behavior and countermeasures between a blowout.

TAP-120-Physical Behavior of Oil in the Ocean

This is a Joint Industry Project (JIP) between MMS and Environment Canada to study oil behavior and oil properties, particularly those of heavy oils. The study includes: buoyancy behavior, solubility, evaporation, dispersion, photo-oxidation, and emulsification. Several information gaps were identified on the behavior of oils where more experimental work is needed: 1) the kinetics of oil emulsification; 2) the rate of solubilization; and 3) the rate of dispersion.

Development of acoustic methods to measure oil droplet size and slick thickness on ROV and AUV platforms

ARA (Applied Research Associates, Inc.) has developed and tested acoustic techniques and sensors mounted in free-swimming platforms [Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) /  Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)] for field applications to measure: (a) slick thickness on the surface of the water, and (b) oil droplet size distribution at the wellhead for subsurface releases of crude oil and dispersants in the presence of natural gas.

OSRR-1038-Biodegradation Following Dispersant Usage in a Cold, Stratified, Deep Sea Setting

PNNL will conduct a set of controlled laboratory experiments simulating environments of the US Outer Continental Shelf characterized by high pressure, low temperature, and low mixing to first characterize the performance of dispersants and second, to characterize subsequent biodegradation. Four sets of experiments are detailed that will characterize;

OSRR-1029-Environmentally Benign Oil Simulants to Mimic the Behavior of Oil Droplets in the Ocean

This project developed a method to fabricate an environmentally benign, optically active particle that can simulate oil droplets in the water column. The synthesis technique of the oil simulant uses an innovative process to allow for tuning of the molecule size.  This flexibility in defining the simulant oil droplet size allows for better understanding of oil behaviors ranging from floating to sinking in the water column.

OSRR-1017-Literature Synthesis of Oil Properties and Their Impact on Spill Response Options

The range of oil products transported through, explored for, and produced in U.S. waters has increased dramatically over the last two decades. With these increases, the potential for spills of new materials, in new locations, or in severe climates brings into question the efficacy of traditional cleanup and spill response options.

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