Ohmsett

This new project will test Type I sorbents efficacy when exposed to three - (3) categories of Dielectric fluids. These will include natural ester, synthetic ester, and mineral oil (hydrocarbon) based fluids. The work will be performed at Ohmsett with testing completed to BSEE Oil Spill Research and Response (OSRR) project specifications. It will compare the findings to a selected control conventional oil product and will provide performance data to stakeholders to facilitate decision making for oil spill preparedness and response operations. 

This project will develop a defined, repeatable test protocol for testing advancing skimmer systems. SL Ross will convene a workgroup of oil response subject matter experts who will develop a general test protocol suitable for use with a variety of advancing skimmers. The test protocol will be developed for use at the Ohmsett facility; however, large-scale tank facilities will be considered to broaden the protocol’s applicability.

Under OSRR Project 1091, the NRL performed preliminary experiments to assess pulsed laser light technology (Light Detection And Ranging - LiDAR) ability to detect oil and characterize oil thickness on water. Initial testing conducted at Ohmsett demonstrated the successful application of LiDAR remote sensing to detect and measure the presence of oil at the surface and underwater.

This project will continue the development of the LiDAR system's ability to detect and characterize oil on the surface and varying subsurface layers thickness values and depth in the water.

This project tested the Electrical Capacitance Tomography (ECT) sensor to detect oil in/under ice. For oil detection and thickness estimation under/in ice, where the access to the imaged region is limited to above its surface, the project team used a planar sensor design where the electrodes are mounted on a single plane and placed at a relatively close distance above the ice surface. 

The current NOAA's WebGNOME platform displays the modeling bounds with available operational forecast models for selected areas. These areas are typically in shoreline areas. This project will expand the availability of forecast models to cover offshore areas where BSEE's regulated facilities reside. This added feature will enable the ability to run WebGNOME more easily, using available operational forecast models.

The project team will use radar technology instead of optical or infrared methods in order to enable 24-hour, weather independent operation that can be deployed in inclement or difficult to access environments, and reduce dependence upon on-site personnel. The team will evaluate the capability of low noise L-band (1.26 GHz) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery acquired by the Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) sensor.
 

This project focused on enhancing Ohmsett’s capability to conduct testing in a drift ice environment. Goals included reduction of test costs and optimization of test time through faster setup of the ice environment. Other goals included enhancing safety and reducing manual labor.

The system was proven in February 2024, and Ohmsett is now fully equipped to effectively and efficiently conduct ice testing to meet ASTM F3350-18 “Standard Guide for Collecting Skimmer Performance Data in Ice Conditions.” 

This project will investigate towed oil containment boom systems to assess how computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and physical scaled model testing results may predict full-scale boom performance. The contractor will conduct CFD modeling and physical testing of scaled boom systems at multiple scales. Data obtained will be analyzed to determine their consistency when accounting for scale factors.

This project updated the Dispersant Effectiveness (DE) test protocol used at Ohmsett, the National Oil Spill Response Research and Renewable Energy Test Facility. Ohmsett is the largest facility of its kind and offers significant advantages for testing response technologies such as dispersants in simulated field conditions. The original DE test protocol was developed between 2000-2003.

This project developed oil thickness sensors to quantify the thickness of oil floating on water. Two unique sensors were developed to measure oil thickness greater than 3mm in real time. The first is a hand held unit that can be deployed from a vessel or used in a test environment. Measurements are read by the user directly from the sensor. The second is designed for mounting on a skimmer, buoy, or oil containment boom, and is designed to measure in wave conditions. This sensor transmits oil thickness measurements wirelessly to a user up to a distance of 200-250 meters.