This project is a JIP between Environment Canada and Minerals Management Service. The research was to ensure that a proper correlation of oil properties to effectiveness is made.
To conduct an assessment of the operational and environmental factors associated with the use of chemical dispersants to treat oil spills in California Marine waters, with a view toward expediting dispersant use decision-making and planning for such spills.
The study examined various ways that dispersant testing might be accomplished at Ohmsett and evaluated the feasibility and costs. Four issues were evaluated: effect of dispersant in the tank water after multiple tests on the results of subsequent dispersant tests;
effect of residual dispersant in the tank water on slick behavior and equipment buoyancy during subsequent mechanical clean up equipment tests;
effect of turbidity from clouds of dispersed oil on underwater viewing and photography during subsequent tests;
The objective is to determine if the application of dispersants in a dilute form reduces their effectiveness when compared with neat application.
The objective was to conduct an assessment of the operational and environmental factors associated with using chemical dispersants to treat oil spills from MMS-regulated OCS facilities. The report for the Gulf of Mexico was received in December 2000.
This project will evaluate the tendency of oils to emulsify at sea into unstable, meso-stable, or stable emulsions. Until now there were only laboratory scale tests of emulsification and some analysis of emulsions collected at sea during clean up operations. The proposed work will extend the laboratory work into the Ohmsett tank and evaluate the factors that affect emulsification, such as oil slick thickness and wave energy in a controlled, reproducible environment like Ohmsett.
Determine the fate and effects of chemically-dispersed oil in the context of an ecosystem approach. It will compare the effects caused by exposure of several trophic levels to naturally and chemically dispersed oil as a function of time. It will also provide a more complete assessment of the net environmental effects of using dispersants in different temperature environments to refine the dispersant use policy.
The Objective of this study is to conduct full-scale tests of recovered oil/emulsion/water separation rates at OHMSETT in order to predict the optimum time for decanting separated water in temporary storage devices.
Contributing to the development of appropriate risk assessment protocols.
This is a Joint Industry Project (JIP) between MMS and Environment Canada to: (1) develop tests for oil spill chemical treating agents and apply these lessons to develop more effective and improved products; (2) to test commercial products for efficacy and toxicity; (3) to test oil spill dispersants to understand effectiveness and how they might be improved; and (4) to test new product ideas.
