Recent Advances in Oil Spill Response Technologies

This paper discusses recent advances ExxonMobil has made in oil spill response technologies for large spills in dynamic ice conditions; however, much of the work has application in all environments. We have developed a new dispersant that is effective at much lower dosages than currently available products. For ice conditions, we have developed a concept to utilize the propellar wash of response vessels to supply the necessary energy to more effectively disperse dispersant-treated oil. In situ-burning has undergone extensive evaluation as an oil spill response option including a multi-year joint-industry research project evaluating a concept to enhance in situ burning in ice using chemical herders. Recent research indicates that chemical herders can also enhance in situ burning in open water. In addition, we have initiated research on a novel concept to use oleophilic skimmers in conjunction with mini floating incinerators to allow immediate in situ burning. We are also studying tools to enhance our ability to remotely detect and track oil slicks on the water surface as well as underneath ice. For oil under ice, we have been studying the use of a helicopter-mounted nuclear magnetic resonance sensor to detect, track, and map oil location and relative density. We are also studying methods to detect and determine the thickness of oil slicks using remotely controlled helicopters.