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Spill response tests use Ohmsett tank Recent research projects include testing techniques for dealing with submarine oil plumes to the use of an oil slick absorbent Alan Bailey Petroleum News
The federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s Ohmsett on-water oil spill response test facility in New Jersey has reported in its latest gazette some recent and current research projects aimed at improving offshore oil spill response capabilities. The facility has a large tank with a wave generator: Oil can be put into the water in the tank to test spill response technologies without risk of environmental damage. Dealing with oil plumes In one project, the U.S. Coast Guard has developed an optical and sonar based system for detecting a subsea oil plume. The focus of this project has moved to developing a technology that would prevent detected submerged oil from impacting the marine environment or manmade structures. In 2016 and 2017 Ohmsett staff working with the U.S. Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory and Dynaflow Inc. tested two possible approaches for mitigating oil plume impacts. The Argonne National Lab tested the use of a chemically treated foam in the form of sponges, to absorb submerged oil, while Dynaflow tested the use of micro-bubble generators to lift the oil to the sea surface for removal.
To simulate a subsurface oil plume the Ohmsett staff developed a manifold system with nozzles that atomize oil being injected into the water.
The researchers are still analyzing the results of the tests.
“The demonstrations gave us valuable insights about their current capabilities,” Coast Guard project manager Alex Balsley commented about the techniques. “Our goal with this project and prototype demonstrations is not to achieve commercialization of the technologies but to assist the vendors in the development of the technologies.”
Use of absorbent A researcher from Pennsylvania State University has been using the Ohmsett tank to test an absorbent material for cleaning up oil spills, the gazette says. When spread on an oil slick, the material combines with the oil to form a floating gel that can be recovered from the water surface.
A test in December 2016 in the Ohmsett tank involved an improved version of this material and used Alaska North Slope crude oil. The oil deposited in the tank in the absence of the absorbent material quickly spread across the water surface. However, oil dispensed in conjunction with the absorbent material spread to a lesser extent. And, if the oil was treated overnight with the absorbent, a homogeneous shiny black gel formed which was separate from the water. Further testing demonstrated success in removing the gel from the water using a drum skimmer, with completely clear water being left behind.
In another project Canadian company WindTrans Systems Ltd. was able to test a new pumping system that it has developed for lifting and separating mixed media fluids.
A project involving the use of the Ohmsett wave generator measured spray production and surface foam from breaking waves, with the ultimate potential to understand how spray and foam can impact oil spill detection in the open ocean. And a project not particularly connected with oil spills involved the testing of the cultivation of seaweed in the open ocean, as a form of aquaculture that can help absorb carbon dioxide and excess nutrients in the water.
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