Design of a low-cost oil spill tracking buoy

Abstract

With the rapid development of offshore oil exploitation, risk of oil spill accidents increases. Environment impact could be reduced if we can locate and forecast the diffusion area of oil slick in real-time for quick accident rescue measurement. We have designed an oil spill tracking buoy (OSTB), which could track oil slick and transfer its latitude and longitude location periodically by Beidou satellite communication system to monitor terminal. Oil slick tracking ability relies on wind/water sail design which based on hydrodynamic equilibrium model and ocean dynamic analysis. Machinery structure is designed for both air deployment and ship deployment. Laboratory test and field experiment in Jiaozhou Bay, Qingdao, China, have proved the spilled oil tracking ability and easy-deployment of the buoy. With novel construction and a total materials cost of about $140USD, this buoy could monitor offshore area oil spill accidents continuously and provide a potential monitor solution for marine activities.