Decision Making Support Tools

This project’s objective was to provide the Coast Guard aviation community, Coast Guard leadership, and BSEE with data that documents the capabilities of organic airborne sensors to detect, map, and report oil spills. The field testing was conducted in May 2015 and July 2016 in Santa Barbara. Data communications from the HC-144A using INMARSAT was tested to evaluate potential file configurations that are best suited for increasing dissemination speed and usability of priority information.

The goal of this project is to develop innovative, cost effective, and robust tagging devices and an automatic tracking system for use in tracking spilled oil under, or encapsulated within ice. This will be accomplished via the following key novel developments:

The goal of this project is to develop a small, cost-effective and robust Geo-Referencing Identification (GRID) technology package to tag and automatically track equipment and assets in real time. This will be accomplished via the following key development issues:

The objective of this project is to develop a framework that identifies capabilities critical to marine oil spill response readiness, and maps them to the design concepts and evaluation techniques for each capability within an exercise. GWU will research existing literature and couple that with their experience in other industries to develop a set of capabilities, exercise design concepts and evaluation techniques. GWU will observe four oil spill response exercises to collect data for analysis using Atlas.ti software.

The objective of this effort is to develop a set of methodologies and algorithms, and a computer model for the comparison and ranking of different spill scenarios to determine which one has the greater potential for damage to the environment or result in other significant impacts, and should be classified as the worst case discharge scenario.

The objective of this project is to evaluate the standardized Baffled Flask Test using fluorescence analysis and study the effects of pressure and various environmental conditions on oil when released in deep sea environments. This project will also bridge the gap between laboratory methodology and field analysis by incorporating the modified 1 liter Baffled Flask Test and fluorescence probe for determining dispersant effectiveness in the field.

The objective of this work is to further develop and prove a video based method and associate algorithms for calculating flow rates of subsea oil and gas leaks and blowouts. Video from an ROV can be used to measure the velocity of visible features at the boundary of an oil leak jet. Using the theory of turbulent jets, the velocity of visible features can be used to estimate the discharge rate of an oil leak jet.

The main goal of this research project was to adapt existing National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Emergency Response Division (NOAA/ERD) models to more accurately represent spills in a cold weather/arctic environment from potential well blowouts as well as shipping and oil transport accidents. The focus was on spills in cold waters where sea ice may be present, and blowouts in the US Arctic region.

Specifically, the objectives of the research were to:

This project reviewed currently existing applicable ASTM F20 Committee on Hazardous Substances and Oil Spill Response standards to determine those that may be applicable to assist in BSEE's regulatory mandate.

Suggestions were made to the ASTM committee to modify standards where appropriate. In addition, new standards were initiated and spearheaded though the ASTM committee workgroups. These new standards will continue to move through the ASTM approval process.

Nuka conducted an oil spill response gap analysis for three areas in the U.S. Arctic Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. This analysis quantified the frequency that oil spill response may not be feasible due to weather or environmental conditions. Conditions including wind, sea state, temperature, ice coverage, and visibility were considered in the analysis. Response options included mechanical recovery, in situ burn, and use of dispersants. Limits of air reconnaissance were also considered due to its importance in oil tracking.