Automatic Oil Spill Detection by Marine X-Band Radars -New System Based on Processing of Digitized Radar Images

Abstract

The OSD (Oil Spill Detection) system's main objective is to detect oil spills on the sea surface, and to track the oil spill over time. The system provides help both for those supervising oil fields, and those in charge of clean-up operations. The OSD system has been thoroughly tested during several field trials in the North Sea. During these trials the spill size, sea state and wind conditions varied throughout, thus enabling realistic real time testing. The OSD system may operate in complete darkness or fog, and for 24 hours per day. This greatly enabling recovery and skimming operations when visibility is poor.The Miros AS Company has developed the OSD system in close co-operation with the Norwegian Clean Seas Association for operating companies, thus complying with the NOFO practical and operational requirements. To identify an oil spill, the OSD system uses advanced image-processing algorithms on radar images and extracted by the Miros Wavex System. The OSD system is based on the fact that areas covered with oil will reflect less microwave power. This is due to the damping of capillary waves on the sea surface.