Oil Spill Response Technology
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- Incentivizing Spill Response Innovation Marine News, Oct 2016 #38
Researchers tackle the tough problems despite a lack of funding and official incentives to move forward. Progress, in particular for Arctic spill response equipment and techniques, is being made.
Even in the messy but now seemingly distant wake of such environmental disasters such as the Exxon Valdez grounding and the Deepwater Horizon accident, domestic oil spill response requirements still provide little or no incentive for responders in the U.S. to develop and deploy new equipment. Elsewhere, other countries (especially Norway) have better options for testing and approving systems using an intentional spill. Here at home, this approach has been recommended especially for the Arctic by many stakeholders, to no apparent avail.Similarly, the BSEE issued a Request For Proposal (RFP) a few years ago but received none to investigate a ‘research spill’ and then perform one. That possibility, according to Kurt A. Hansen, a professional engineer at the U.S. Coast Guard Acquisition Directorate Research & Development Center in New London, CT, has nevertheless been a frequent topic of discussion for several years at the Interagency Coordinating Committee for Oil Pollution Research (ICCOPR).That’s not to say that industry stakeholders haven’t tried to pitch in. They have. A very large project also directly addressing the Arctic response issue, funded to the tune of $25 million – money that Hansen says the federal government simply doesn’t have) – has been launched by the Arctic Oil Spill Response Technology Joint Industry Program (JIP). In a nutshell, the project hopes to further build on existing research and improve the technologies and methodologies for Arctic oil spill response. With nine oil and gas companies participating, the stated goal of the JIP is to advance Arctic oil spill response strategies and equipment as well as to increase understanding of potential impacts of oil on the Arctic marine environment.Last but certainly not least, Hansen says that the Research and Development Center (RDC), located in New London, CT, is the U.S. Coast Guard’s sole facility performing research, development, and test and evaluation in support of the service’s major missions. It has been in existence since 1972 having moved into its current home in New London in 2009. There are 18 military and 76 civilians at this location plus a staff of 7 (2 military) at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC. The RDC is responsible for evaluating the feasibility and affordability of mission execution solutions and providing operational and risk-management analysis at all stages of the acquisition process. Those evaluations sometimes involve spill response equipment.One particular issue that troubles spill responders is that in 30% concentration, ice is not a significant impediment for most skimmers. Conversely, however, in 70% concentration, ice is a significant impediment, with most skimmers experiencing dramatically poorer efficiencies in the dense ice. In real practice, recovery rates for 70% ice conditions were found to be about half of the 30% runs and in some cases, that recovery rate dipped to less than 10 percent of 70% ice condition runs. Accordingly, RDC and its partners recently looked into the matter.
RDC & Partners in ActionProving that there are people actively at work to improve domestic spill response capabilities and technology, the Coast Guard recently demonstrated some advances in cold weather oil response technology. Specifically, the RDC demonstrated conceptual systems that could improve recovery of oil in cold climates including New England, the Great Lakes and Alaska.RDC, in cooperation with the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), evaluated an ice cage designed to keep ice pieces from impacting skimmer performance. The design was based on the results of BSEE’s “Ice Month” testing at the National Oil Spill Response Research & Renewable Energy Test Facility (Ohmsett) in 2013. According to a report on the matter, “The results showed that most skimmers could not pick up oil in pack ice of over 70 percent coverage because pieces of ice interfered at the weir, brush or belt interface with the water that kept the oil from reaching the collection point. A system was tested at Ohmsett in March 2014 and for the Coast Guard’s Helix skimmer it appears to improve the collection capability.”In this case, RDC collaborated with Marine Pollution Control (MPC) of Detroit to develop an ice cage system which permits oil to flow into the skimmer and keeps ice away from that critical area near the skimmer opening. The system was tested in ice in 2015 and the data showed an increase in recovery rates (from about 4 gallons per minute (GPM) to about 18 pgm at ice coverages of 50-63 %) for the Coast Guard’s existing Helix skimmer.Kurt Hansen explains further, “RDC had a contract with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), one of our delivery order contractors, to assess the current decontamination procedures and provide recommendations that RDC could evaluate during the Newport test. Contracts were awarded to Marine Pollution Control (MPC) for the ice cage and Elastec American Marine (Winner of the Wendy Schmidt Oil Spill X-Prize) for the temporary storage device. Both of these contractors set up and operated the equipment during the evaluation. The Coast Guard provided the ship, CGC JUNIPER, and lifting capability using the CGC JUNIPER’s crane.”Crewmembers from Coast Guard Cutter Juniper conducted a test of a prototype ice cage, which is designed to keep ice away from the skimmer but permit oil to still be recovered. The system is designed for use in broken ice when oil pools between pieces of ice. The ship would maneuver and dip the ice cage/skimmer into each pool successively, picking up and moving carefully, trying not to push the ice so that the oil does not go over or under it.Tested with two existing devices – a brush skimmer and a drum skimmer – the device could possibly be made available for commercial response cooperatives to purchase, but, says Hansen, “This is still being determined.” Indeed, the prototype system that still needs refinement. Also according to Hansen, RDC is gathering recommendations from the evaluation to make setup and use easier and better; which will be written into a report available later this year.The Coast Guard owns the equipment; which will be temporarily stored in a warehouse in Newport News, VA where Coast Guard personnel are available to handle storage and maintenance issues. Policy and decision makers at the CG Headquarters level will be provided the report and make decisions about future use. Separately, William E. (Bill) Hazel III, Director of Marine Services at Michigan-based Marine Pollution Control (MPC), told MarineNews last month that “Ice Management System designed by MPC is in patent pending status. The company is considering the potential to offer a version for commercial users based on its evaluation of market opportunities.” MPC, according to Hazel, is a spill response provider, but also has robust manufacturing capabilities.Attention was given to determining how and what the minimum size of workboat or ‘vessel of opportunity’ could handle the equipment, if deployed. Together, the ice cage, skimmer, and hoses weigh about 2,000 pounds, so a crane would be needed with a reasonable lift distance of 30-40 feet at that weight. The amount of deck space needed would depend upon what is being used for temporary storage. The largest temporary storage tank for this demonstration was 6 feet wide by 30 feet long with straps reaching 3-5 feet out for supports.As a general statement, the ice cage has been found to improve recovery efficiency for skimmers as long as the operator has the time, patience and the skill to both move the cage around and effectively manage the ice.
Encouraging InnovationFueled by the kind of success achieved at RDC, both industry and the federal government continue to promote avenues for innovation. BSEE, for example, has also developed software that could possibly be used to foster a more systems-based approach, which would in theory result in a better selection of equipment and encourage innovation. At the same time, BSEE has also sponsored multiple projects to address simulants and how to get innovation into the field.And, not to be left out of the process, the Oil Spill Recovery Institute (OSRI) of Alaska, funded by the Oil Spill Liability Trust fund (OSLTF) set up after the Exxon Valdez spill, recently sponsored a workshop about how to introduce innovation. Issues range from funding to the lack of incentives for commercial stakeholders to move forward.As the Arctic becomes more and more accessible to commercial traffic – in more places and in volumes that grow – the need for viable spill response capabilities, equipment and techniques is only going to become more critical. Despite impediments to that effort, both government and commercial stakeholders are making progress. Clearly, we need more.(As published in the October 2016 edition of Marine News) -
- Arctic Spill Response Heats Up Maritime Logistics Professional, Q2 2013 #48
the technologies and methodologies for arctic oil spill response, the oil and gas industry established the Joint Industry Program on Arctic Oil Spill Response Technology (JIP). According to the US Geological Survey, the Arctic holds 13% of the world’s undiscovered petroleum and 30% of its undiscovered
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March 2024 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 45ronments. The new agreement will address speci? c techni- cal gaps in the UUV defense and offshore energy markets especially for long duration, multi-payload mission opera- tions where communications are often denied or restricted. As part of the new alliance, Metron’s Resilient Mission Autonomy portfolio
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March 2024 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 43Image courtesy Kongsberg Discovery Image courtesy Teledyne Marine New Products Teledyne Marine had its traditional mega-booth at Oi, busy start to ? nish. Image courtesy Greg Trauthwein offers quality sub-bottom pro? ling capability without the need tion of offshore windfarms. GeoPulse 2 introduces new
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March 2024 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 42versions Image courtesy Kongsberg Discovery are featured in the series, and all withstand reverse pressure, too, and can be installed into both dry and oil-? lled canisters. MacArtney introduced a space and weight-saving ø12.7 mm SubConn Nano, a Nano connector which offers a versatile and robust performance
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March 2024 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 41Image courtesy Outland Technology Image courtesy Exail Image courtesy Submaris and EvoLogics Vehicles The ROV-1500 from Outland Technology represents a leap forward in underwater robotics, a compact remotely operated vehicle (ROV) weighing in at less than 40 lbs (19kg) the ROV- 1500 is easy to transport
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March 2024 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 40NEW TECH OCEANOLOGY INTERNATIONAL 2024 All photos courtesy MTR unless otherwise noted NEW TECH, PARTNERSHIPS LAUNCH IN LONDON With Oceanology International now one month in the rear-view mirror, MTR takes a look at some of the interesting technologies launched before, during and after the London event.
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March 2024 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 397 A 35Ah AGM lead-acid battery is tested using the West Mountain Radio CBA to show the effect of simply ? lling the battery voids with mineral oil as a compensating ? uid. The CBA is programmed to cut-off at a voltage of 10.50v. The top line (red) shows the unmodi? ed AGM battery capacity of
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March 2024 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 37miscible barrier ? uid heavier than seawater (sg=1.026) and lighter than the battery electrolyte (sg=1.265). The original cell vent cap was screwed into the top of the riser pipe to vent the gases associated with charging. Wires were soldered to the lead (Pb) posts. The lead-acid battery was additionall
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March 2024 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 36, Thus, there are no implodable spaces, and so are candidate and UPS, have speci? c guidelines available on their websites. cells for pressure-balanced, oil-? lled (PBOF) assemblies. This author has personally tested pouch LiPos to 20,000 psi im- Lead-Acid: The venerable lead-acid battery comes in three
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March 2024 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 35.com/BPD.htm). have been tested ? Alkaline (alkaline-manganese dioxide): These prima- ry cells are available in the widest number of standard sizes, in oil-? lled bags and are commonly available around the world. This is handy to pressures of 20,000psi without if you are in a remote port and need
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March 2024 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 33in the world.” How- ever, commercial success depends on many factors, not least a predictable OPEX. Over the past four years, SMD has worked with Oil States Industries to calculate cost per tonne ? gures for prospective customers. Patania II uses jet water pumps to Oil States’ Merlin riser systems
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March 2024 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 32and buoyant syntactic foam. The collec- tion plan on nodules by March 2024. tion vehicle uses sonar to identify the position of the nodules UK-based Soil Machine Dynamics (SMD) designed, devel- and has attained collection ef? ciency rates of at least 97% in oped and delivered the mining machinery planned
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March 2024 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 30FEATURE SEABED MINING bilical. It has passive heave compensation which nulli? es the necott. “The focus since then has been on scaling while en- wave, current and vessel motions that in? uence loads in the suring the lightest environmental impact,” says The Metals power umbilical. The LARS can
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March 2024 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 29n January, Norway said “yes” to sea- bed mining, adding its weight to the momentum that is likely to override the calls for a moratorium by over 20 countries and companies such as I Google, BMW, Volvo and Samsung. Those against mining aim to protect the unique and largely unknown ecology of the sea?
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March 2024 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 27SEA-KIT USV Maxlimer returning from HT-HH caldera in Tonga. © SEA-KIT International data and further assess ecosystem recov- ery. What is known, noted Caplan-Auer- bach, is that the impact of submarine vol- canoes on humans is rare. “The HT-HH eruption was a tragedy, but it was very unusual. It let us
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March 2024 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 26FEATURE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTRUMENTATION & SENSORS Kevin Mackay, TESMaP voyage leader and Center head of the South and West Paci? c Regional Centre of Seabed 2030. Kevin in the seismic lab at Greta Point looking at the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano 3D map completed with data from the TESMaP voyage
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March 2024 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 25Auerbach explained that ideally, “one ? ed layers of geothermal activity,” noted changes over an area of 8,000 km2. They would have both instruments: seismom- Skett, “and the change in salinity and dis- found up to seven km3 of displaced ma- eters to detect and locate subsurface ac- solved particles for
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March 2024 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 23elatively inactive since 2014, the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha‘apai (HT-HH) submarine volcano began erupting on December 20, 2021, reaching peak intensity on January 15, 2022. This triggered tsunamis throughout the Pa- R ci? c, destroyed lives and infrastructure, and generated the largest explosion recorded
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March 2024 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 202024 Editorial Calendar January/Februay 2024 February 2024 March/April 2024 Ad close Jan.31 Ad close March 21 Ad close Feb. 4 Underwater Vehicle Annual Offshore Energy Digital Edition ?2?VKRUH:LQG$)ORDWLQJ)XWXUH ?2FHDQRJUDSKLF?QVWUXPHQWDWLRQ 6HQVRUV ?6XEVHD'HIHQVH ?6XEVHD'HIHQVH7KH+XQWIRU ?0DQLS
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March 2024 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 19About the Author vey with the pipe tracker is not required, resulting in signi? - Svenn Magen Wigen is a Cathodic Protection and corrosion control cant cost savings, mainly related to vessel charter. expert having worked across The major advantage of using FiGS on any type of subsea engineering, design
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March 2024 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 18TECH FEATURE IMR There are also weaknesses in terms of accuracy because of FiGS Operations and Bene? ts signal noise and the ability to detect small ? eld gradients. In Conventional approaches to evaluating cathodic protection this process there is a risk that possible issues like coating (CP)
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March 2024 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 17• Integrity assessment, and otherwise covered, e.g., by rock dump. As for depletion of • Mitigation, intervention and repair. sacri? cial anodes, this can be dif? cult or even impossible to Selecting the best method for collecting the data these work- estimate due to poor visibility, the presence of
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March 2024 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 16TECH FEATURE IMR Image courtesy FORCE Technology OPTIMIZING CATHODIC PROTECTION SURVEY USING NON-CONTACT SENSORS By Svenn Magen Wigen, FORCE Technology he principle behind sacri? cial anodes, which are water structures, reducing the need for frequent repairs and used to safeguard underwater pipelines