International Activities

The workshop explored the current state-of- the-knowledge concerning the effects of pile driving on adjacent soil properties and determined areas where more research may be required. It is recognized that the properties of soils are sometimes changed by the installation of piles and that time- dependent effects are often part of these changes. The workshop sought to develop avenues of research to lead to the prediction of soil modification by pile driving so that altered properties can be considered in design of pile foundations.

This is a Joint Industry Project (JIP) between MMS and Environment Canada to investigate the performance of sorbent materials used in the remediation of oil spills. A database will be developed to provide responders with firsthand information during a spill. The objectives of this study include: (1) develop a test procedure for sorbents used for oil spill remediation; (2) test these products to ensure repeatable, reliable, and representative data; and (3) generate a database of information from testing results to determine certifiable criteria.

The objective was to conduct an international workshop on the design and requalification of offshore platforms. The workshop assessed the current state-of- the-practice and determined future research needs to close gaps in technology. The workshop discussed: methods used to make an assessment of the site seismicity and other characteristics of potential seismic sources;
methods used to predict strong ground motions, including the effects of basin geometry;
methods used to estimate the dynamic response of the structure/foundation/soil system to account for nonlinear effects; and

The objective was to organize and conduct an international workshop on current practices and future research requirements for safe operation of pipeline systems. The workshop focused on improving our understanding of offshore pipeline safety issues including an assessment of the current operating technology. The offshore pipeline infrastructure is aging, producing unknown risks that are difficult to assess or quantify. The workshop will provide a forum for representatives from industry, government, and the private sector to discuss these issues and make recommendations for improvements.

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.

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) initiated a cooperative effort with Environment Canada (EC) to participate in a joint evaluation of innovative skimming technology for oil spill cleanup offshore and in icy waters. Current skimmer technology for recovering oil in broken ice conditions was practically nonexistent. This project evaluated selected skimmers under both simulated and field conditions and produced performance data on which the adequacy of spill cleanup contingency plans can be assessed.

The Minerals Management Service initiated a cooperative effort with Environment Canada (EC) which has identified knowledge gaps in the application of cleanup techniques to the beaches characteristic of the Pacific coastline, from southern California to the Aleutian chain. This project evaluated the effectiveness of minimizing biological damage of spilled oil to such beaches and attempted to establish a correlation between cleanup effectiveness and environmental damage caused by various cleanup techniques.

This is a Joint Industry Project (JIP) between MMS, Environment Canada, Imperial Oil Resources Ltd., and the Industrial Materials Institute. This project was initiated to develop new oil slick thickness sensor technology for measurement of oil slick thickness on water. The objectives include: develop the technology of oil slick thickness sensor for the measurement of oil slick thickness on water from an airborne platform.

The Minerals Management Service initiated a cooperative effort with Environment Canada to participate in continuing evaluation of innovative oil spill response technology and procedures. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has suspended operation of the Oil and Hazardous Materials Simulated Environmental Test Tank (OHMSETT) facility at Leonardo, New Jersey, and alternative facilities and procedures are necessary to minimize the delay in testing innovative oil spill response technology and procedures.

The Minerals Management Service has initiated a cooperative effort with Environment Canada to participate in a study of improving existing remote sensing technology. Oil spill remote sensing is an important tool for both experimental and operational spills. Remote sensing applications to spills can be expanded if existing problems can be solved and if low cost instruments can be adapted for this purpose. Three approaches were taken:

1) the use of shipborne radar as a practical aid to spill control;

2) the study of Infra- red oil spill remote sensing;