This project's objective was to develop and test an in-line, flow through Oil Recovery Sensor (RE Sensor) to monitor in real time the percentage of oil and water in fluid recovered during oil spill response operations. This sensor was tested at Ohmsett in June, 2018 with multiple salinities and oil types. Average percentage error across all tests was 6%.
The standard test method for testing stationary oil skimmers is ASTM F2709 “Standard Test method for Determining a Measured Nameplate Recovery Rate of Stationary Oil Skimmers”. This standard is designed to measure a skimmer’s maximum performance. It specifies testing the skimmer in either pure oil or in a starting thickness of three inches of oil on water.
This project developed two sensors for measuring the thickness of oil on water. The first, a capacitive sensor, measures 3 to 100 millimeter (mm) thick oil layers while mounted to a skimmer, in the apex of a boom, or on a free-floating buoy and provides near real-time wireless communication of thickness information. This sensor can also be used during experimentation or testing to verify oil thickness. The second sensor measures very thin sheens of oil, between 100 micrometer to 3mm, and is designed as a free-floating sensor.
The objective of this project is to conduct an oil spill response viability analysis for the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Gulf of Mexico (GOM). This analysis will quantify the frequency and duration that a specific oil spill response strategy may not be feasible or ‘unduly’ impacted such that response effectiveness is judged to be degraded due to metocean conditions. Conditions to be considered in the analysis include wind, sea state, salinity, and visibility using available hindcast environmental data.
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…).
This project focused on improving oil spill recovery methods in arctic conditions by developing and accessing techniques to (1) herd oil under an ice sheet, (2) increase recovery efficiencies of a VAB skimmer, and (3) increase the pumping efficiency of an oil/water mixture in sub-freezing temperatures.
Task 1: Oil Herding Under Solid Ice using an ROV Mounted Air Applicator
The purpose of the study was assess the effectiveness of chemical emulsion breakers combined with rapid decanting and treatment of recovered oil when responding to an offshore oil spill. This effort builds upon previous project entitled 'Testing at Ohmsett to Determine Optimum Times to Decant to Temporary Storage Devices' Project 298, where S. L. Ross tested at Ohmsett, decanting at several different periods to determine the best time to separate excess water collected during oil spill clean-up operations.
A joint industry project (JIP) was formed between the MMS and 23 different oil companies to conduct this research. The project consisted of an experimental release of oil and gas conducted in June 2000 off the coast of Norway. Mixtures of crude oil and natural gas, diesel oil and natural gas, as well as only natural gas were released at approximately 800 meters water depth. The goal was to simulate a blowout or pipeline rupture in deep water and obtain data to verify the predictions of a deep water blowout model being developed under a separate contract.
Alaska Clean Seas (ACS) conducted an International Oil and Ice Workshop April 7-10, 2000 in Anchorage, AK. The workshop assembled experts on oil fate and behavior, Arctic oil spill response, ice environments, and Arctic oilfield development to present the leading edge technologies in a seminar and field setting. Conducting the workshop in the operating oilfields on the Alaskan North Slope added a level of realism to the key topics that cannot be duplicated elsewhere. The workshop provided a forum to showcase the results of MMS's Arctic oil spill response research.
These are laboratory studies of the break up of oil, gas, and gas/oil mixtures discharging into a pressurized water environment. The interaction between gas bubbles and oil droplets under dynamic conditions simulating buoyant rise of this mixture were calculated. These experiments will be conducted in a high pressure test vessel located at the University of Hawaii. The experimental design simulated the release of hydrocarbon gases and fluids from a well blowout or pipeline rupture in deep water. The atmospheric pressure experiments were performed at MIT.
