Oil Spill Response Research Research Articles

A data-driven binary-classification framework for oil fingerprinting analysis

A marine oil spill is one of the most challenging environmental issues, resulting in severe long-term impacts on ecosystems and human society. Oil dispersants are widely applied as a treating agent in oil spill response operations. The usage of dispersants significantly changes the behaviors of dispersed oil and consequently challenges the oil fingerprinting analysis. In this study, machine learning was first introduced to analyze oil fingerprinting by developing a data-driven binary classification framework. The modeling integrated dimensionality reduction algorithms (e.g., principal component analysis, PCA) to distinguish. Five groups of biomarkers, including terpanes, steranes, triaromatic steranes (TA-steranes), monoaromatic steranes (MA-steranes), and diamantanes, were selected. Different feature spaces were created from the diagnostic index of biomarkers, and six ML algorithms were applied for comparative analysis and optimizing the modeling process, including k-nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector classifier (SVC), random forest classifier (RFC), decision tree classifier (DTC), logistic regression classifier (LRC), and ensemble vote classifier (EVC). Hyperparameter optimization and cross-validation through GridSearchCV were applied to prevent overfitting and increase the model accuracy. Model performance was evaluated by model score and F-score through confusion matrices. The results indicated that the RFC algorithm from the diamantanes dataset performed the best. It delivered the highest F-score (0.871) versus the lowest F-score (0.792) from the EVC algorithm from the TA-steranes dataset by PCA with a variance of 95%. Therefore, diamantanes were recommended as the most suitable biomarker for distinguishing WCO and CDO to aid oil fingerprinting under the conditions in this study. The results proved the proposed method as a potential analysis tool for oil spill source identification through ML-aided oil fingerprinting. The study also showed the value of ML methods in oil spill response research and practice.

Examination of Current BSEE Oil Spill Response Research Efforts

Abstract No.:1141265 In the decade following the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe, considerable research and development has been accomplished to address known research gaps to respond to offshore oil spills; however, opportunities to enhance spill response capabilities remain. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is the lead agency in the U.S. regulating energy production on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. BSEE's Oil Spill Response Research (OSRR) program is the principal federal source of oil spill response research to improve the detection, containment, treatment/cleanup of oil spills and strives to provide the best available information, science, research, and technology development to key decision makers, industry, and the oil spill response community. The paper will highlight several key collaborative projects with federal and industry stakeholders including System and Algorithm Development to Estimate Oil Thickness and Emulsification through an UAS Platform and Methods to Enhance Mechanical Recovery in Arctic Environments. Additionally, the paper will provide an update on the Development of a Low-emission Spray Combustion Burner to Cleanly Burn Emulsions where we partnered the Naval Research Laboratory and met with industry representatives to incorporate their needs in the final phases of the development effort.

Recent Research and Development Testing Conducted at Ohmsett – The National Oil Spill Response Research and Renewable Energy Test Facility

Abstract 2017-321 The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) National Oil Spill Response Research and Renewable Energy Test Facility, Ohmsett, plays a critical role in advancing oil spill response capabilities through research, development, testing, and training. Ohmsett’s 10 million liter (l) saltwater wave tank provides an independent venue to conduct research and development with full-size response equipment using real oil, in realistic, repeatable conditions. This paper will discuss recent research and development conducted at Ohmsett, including: Remote sensing of surface oil by BSEE, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the United States Army, the United States Coast Guard (USCG), and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA); using acoustics to measure oil slick thickness; creating large volumes of emulsions for Ohmsett tests; mechanical recovery of chemically treated, undispersed oil; skimmer testing in diminishing slick thickness; a USCG and BSEE test of a skimmer ice management system; and an autonomous skimmer development. This paper will summarize the setup and methodology used during recent testing, training, and research conducted at Ohmsett. Reports of BSEE funded oil spill response research can be found at https://www.bsee.gov/site-page/master-list-of-oil-spill-response-research.

Advances from Arctic Oil Spill Response Research

Abstract 2017-161 Over the past four decades, the oil and gas industry has made significant advances in being able to detect, contain and clean up spills and mitigate the residual consequences in Arctic environments. Many of these advances were achieved through collaborative research programs involving industry, academic and government partners. The Arctic Oil Spill Response Technology - Joint Industry Programme (JIP), was launched in 2012 and completed in early 2017 with the objectives of building on an already extensive knowledge base to further improve Arctic spill response capabilities and better understand the environmental issues involved in selecting and implementing the most effective response strategies. The JIP was a collaboration of nine oil and gas companies (BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Eni, ExxonMobil, North Caspian Operating Company, Shell, Statoil, and Total) and focused on six key areas of oil spill response: dispersants; environmental effects; trajectory modeling; remote sensing; mechanical recovery and in-situ burning. The JIP provided a vehicle for sharing knowledge among the participants and international research institutions and disseminating information to regulators, the public and stakeholders. The network of engaged scientists and government agencies increased opportunities to develop and test oil spill response technologies while raising awareness of industry efforts to advance the existing capabilities in Arctic oil spill response. The JIP consisted of two phases, the first included technical assessments and state of knowledge reviews resulting in a library of sixteen documents available on the JIP website. The majority of the JIP efforts focused on Phase 2, actual experiments, and included laboratory, small and medium scale tank tests, and field research experiments. Three large-scale field tests were conducted in the winter and spring months of 2014–2016 including recent participation of the JIP in the 2016 NOFO oil on water exercise off Norway. The JIP was the largest pan-industry programme dedicated to oil spill response in the Arctic, ever carried out. Twenty seven research projects were successfully and safely conducted by the world’s foremost experts on oil spill response from across industry, academia, and independent scientific institutions in ten countries. The overarching goal of the research was to address the differing aspects involved in oil spill response, including the methods used, and their applicability to the Arctic’s unique conditions. All research projects were conducted using established protocols and proven scientific technologies, some of which were especially adjusted for ice conditions. This paper describes the scope of the research conducted, results, and key findings. The JIP is committed to full transparency in disseminating the results through peer reviewed journal articles, and all JIP research reports are available free of charge at www.arcticresponsetechnology.org.

EVALUATION OF OLEOPHILIC SKIMMER PERFORMANCE IN DIMINISHING OIL SLICK THICKNESSES

ABSTRACT 2017-086 ASTM F2709-15 “Standard Test Method for Determining a Measured Nameplate Recovery Rate of Stationary Oil Skimmer Systems” has become the standard for testing the performance of stationary skimmers. This standard specifies testing the skimmer in “ideal conditions” in order to measure a skimming system’s maximum performance. These ideal conditions are created by testing the skimmer in calm conditions and allowing the skimmer to recover either in pure oil or in a thick layer of oil on water. When testing the skimmer in oil and water, the skimmer recovers oil in a starting oil thickness of 75mm and continues recovery until the oil thickness reaches 50mm. Performance values obtained from this test include measured nameplate recovery rate (NRR) which is the maximum rate at which the skimmer system can recover and process oil under ideal conditions, and the recovery efficiency (RE) which is the percentage of oil collected to total fluid collected. In actual oil spills it cannot be assumed that a skimmer will encounter enough oil to continuously conduct recovery operations in 50–75mm of oil. As these performance values are becoming a tool used by regulators to verify the capabilities of response equipment listed in oil spill response contingency plans, it is important to understand if and how a skimmer’s performance will vary as oil slick thickness changes. To explore this question, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and Ohmsett - The National Oil Spill Response Research and Renewable Energy Test Facility, recently conducted independent performance testing of two oleophilic skimming systems to better understand the relationship between oil recovery rate, recovery efficiency, and different oil slick thicknesses. Skimmers were tested in various oil slick thicknesses ranging from 75mm down to 6mm at the Ohmsett facility. Skimmers were tested in a type I refined test oil as defined by the ASTM F631-15 “Standard Guide for Collecting Skimmer Performance Data in Controlled Environments.” Testing results suggest that reduced oil thicknesses do indeed have a significant impact on the measured recovery capabilities of a skimmer. This paper outlines the final testing results, and discusses the potential implications of using ASTM F2709-15 performance values in conjunction with various oil spill response planning standards for mechanical oil recovery equipment.

Oil Spill Response Risk Judgments, Decisions, and Mental Models: Findings from Surveying U.S. Stakeholders and Coastal Residents

ABSTRACTThis study applies a mental models survey approach to assess public thinking about oil spills and oil spill response. Based on prior interdisciplinary oil spill response research, the study first applies qualitative interview results and a response risk decision model to the design of a survey instrument. The decision model considers controlled burning, public health, and seafood safety. Surveying U.S. coastal residents (36,978 pairs of responses) through Google Insights identifies beliefs and gaps in understanding as well as related values and preferences about oil spills, and oil spill responses. A majority of respondents are concerned about economic impacts of major oil spills, and tend to see ocean ecosystems as fragile. They tend to see information about chemical dispersants as more important than ecological baseline information, and dispersants as toxic, persistent, and less effective than other response options. Although respondents regard laboratory studies as predictive of the effects of oil and of controlled burning, they are less confident that scientists agree on the toxicity and effectiveness of dispersants. The results illustrate opportunities to reframe discussions of oil spill response in terms of tradeoffs between response options, and new possibilities for assessing public opinions and beliefs during events.

Advancing Oil Spill Response in Arctic Conditions: The Arctic Oil Spill Response Technology - Joint Industry Programme

ABSTRACT The oil and gas industry has made significant advances in being able to detect, contain and clean up spills in arctic environments. To further build on existing research and improve the technologies and methodologies for arctic oil spill response, nine oil and gas companies (BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Eni, ExxonMobil, North Caspian Operating Company, Shell, Statoil, and Total) established the Arctic Oil Spill Response Technology Joint Industry Programme (JIP). The 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. Officially launched in January 2012 at the Arctic Frontiers Conference in Tromsø, Norway, the JIP has six technical working groups (TWG) each focusing on a different key area of oil spill response: dispersants; environmental effects; trajectory modeling; remote sensing; mechanical recovery and in-situ burning (ISB). There is also a field research TWG to pursue opportunities for field releases for validation of response technologies and strategies. Each TWG is led by recognized subject matter experts with years of experience in oil spill response research and operations. This JIP is bringing together the world's foremost experts on oil spill response research, development, and operations from across industry, academia, and independent research centres. Research integrity will be ensured through technical peer review and public dissemination of results. This paper describes the scope and current progress of this Joint Industry Program (JIP).

BioBind - Airborne clean-up of oil pollution at sea with biogenic oil binders

ABSTRACT The success of oil spill response operations is mainly dependent on the response time and the weather and sea state conditions. That's where the research project “BioBind” is setting the focus: To develop an oil spill response system fast to apply and sea state independent. Within this project a network of eight different partners from universities, research institutes and medium sized companies work from summer 2011 to summer 2014. The paper provides an overview on the oil spill response research project “BioBind” and focuses on a large scale field experiment carried out in summer 2013 with the RV “E.M.Borgese” at the Baltic Sea.

Testing of Oil Recovery Skimmers in Ice at Ohmsett The National Oil Spill Response Research & Renewable Energy Test Facility

ABSTRACT The mechanical recovery of oil in ice-infested water presents unique and difficult clean-up challenges. Ice can impede the movement of spilled oil making it less available for removal by the active components of oil recovery skimmers. Ice and slush that is recovered with oil can jam the skimmer, pump inlets and hoses and can provide an environment for enhanced emulsion formation. Low temperatures increase oil viscosity, further complicating processing and pumping of recovered product. In response to these challenges, the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) recognized the need for comprehensive programs of testing and research in the area of oil spill response in icy waters. BSEE has supported and sponsored a number of testing and research programs at the Ohmsett facility involving oil in cold water and ice. During the winter of 2013, BSEE sponsored an oil-in-ice spill test at Ohmsett titled Skimmer Tests in Drift Ice: Ice Month 2013 at Ohmsett. The tests involved ten commercially available skimmers that represented a range of skimmer types. Testing was done in the Ohmsett test basin using a controlled test area with fabricated ice. To the best extent possible, test variables such as water temperature, oil characteristics, oil slick thickness, ice coverage and size distribution, and skimmer operations were controlled. Performance determinations were made for oil recovery rate and oil recovery efficiency as per the general principles and guidelines of ASTM F2709. Tabulated results for the same are presented. At lower ice coverage (30% ice), there was no significant mechanical impediment for most skimmers. However, ice can interfere with the flow of oil to the skimmer periodically even in this coverage. At higher ice coverage (70% ice), there was significant impediment to skimming, with most skimmers having dramatically lower rates and efficiencies. It was also observed that with longer exposure to skimming under these conditions, operators became more proficient with regard to recovery performance. This indicates the importance of training and practice for effective skimming operations.

Bureau of Ocean Management, Regulation, and Enforcement Arctic Oil Spill Response Research and Development Program “Two Decades of Achievement”

ABSTRACT Oil and gas exploration, development, production, and transportation in the Arctic have increased dramatically in recent years. Oil spill response in cold environments must take into accou...

Herding surfactants to contract and thicken oil spills in pack ice for in situ burning

Abstract In situ burning is an oil spill response option particularly suited to remote, ice-covered waters. The key to effective in situ burning is thick oil slicks. If ice concentrations are high, the ice can limit oil spreading and keep slicks thick enough to burn. In drift ice conditions and open water, oil spills can rapidly spread to become too thin to ignite. Fire-resistant booms can collect and keep slicks thick in open water; however, even light ice conditions make using booms challenging. A multi-year research project was initiated to study oil-herding surfactants as an alternative to booms for thickening slicks in light ice conditions for in situ burning. Small-scale laboratory experiments were completed in 2003 and 2005 to examine the idea of using herding agents to thicken oil slicks among loose pack ice for the purpose of in situ burning. Encouraging results prompted further mid-scale testing in 2006 and 2007 at the US Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) in Hanover, NH; at Ohmsett, the National Oil Spill Response Research & Renewable Energy Test Facility in Leonardo, NJ; and, at the Fire Training Grounds in Prudhoe Bay, AK. The non-proprietary hydrocarbon-based herder formulation used in these experiments proved effective in considerably contracting oil slicks in brash and slush ice concentrations of up to 70% coverage. Slicks in excess of 3 mm thick, the minimum required for ignition of weathered crude oil on water, were routinely achieved. Herded slicks were ignited, and burned equally well in both brash and slush ice conditions at air temperatures as low as − 17 °C. The burn efficiencies measured for the herded slicks were only slightly less than the theoretical maximums achievable for equivalent-sized, physically contained slicks on open water. Successful meso-scale field trials of the technique were carried out in the Barents Sea off Svalbard in the spring of 2008 as one facet of a large joint industry project on oil spill response in ice co-ordinated by SINTEF. The larger field experiment involved the release of 630 L of fresh Heidrun crude onto water in a large lead. The free-drifting oil was allowed to spread for 15 min until it was far too thin to ignite (0.4 mm), and then the hydrocarbon-based herder was applied around the slick periphery. The slick contracted and thickened for approximately 10 min at which time the upwind end was ignited. A 9-minute long burn ensued that consumed an estimated 90% of the oil. From 2007 to 2009 experiments were carried out in the laboratory and at CRREL comparing the efficacy of herding agents formulated with silicone-based surfactants, herding agents formulated with second-generation fluorosurfactants, and the hydrocarbon-based herder. The results showed that the fluorosurfactant-based herders did not function better than the hydrocarbon-based herder; however, the new silicone surfactant formulations considerably outperformed the hydrocarbon-based herder. Most recently, experiments were conducted to determine if herding agents could: 1) improve skimming of spilled oil in drift ice; 2) clear oil from salt marshes; and, 3) improve the efficiency of dispersant application operations.

The Minerals Management Service Cutting-Edge Oil Spill Response Research

ABSTRACT The Minerals Management Service (MMS), is the principal U.S. government agency funding offshore oil spill response research. The MMS, a bureau of the Department of the Interior, maintains a comprehensive Oil Spill Response Research program in support of oil spill prevention and response. Through funding provided by MMS, scientists and engineers from the public and private sectors worldwide are working to address outstanding gaps in information and technology concerning the cleanup of oil spills. Joint research projects with Environment Canada (EC) continue to focus on determining the physical and chemical properties of crude oil, the fate and behavior of spilled oil, remote sensing and mapping of oil slicks, chemical treating agents including dispersants, and innovative shoreline cleanup strategies. In joint projects with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), MMS continues to assess the capabilities of in situ burning as an oil spill response tool. Also discussed is OHMSETT, the national Oil Spill Response Test Facility. OHMSETT is the only facility in the world where government agencies, universities, and private companies can conduct full-scale oil spill response equipment testing, research, and training with oil under controlled conditions.

A Perspective on the Application of Chemistry to Oil Spill Response

It might seem incongruous that a research focused organisation such as the International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry would pay attention to an issue as pragmatic as oil spills. After all, an oil spill tends to be viewed as a very practical matter, its issues characterised by loss of a valuable commercial product, damage to the environment, high costs of clean up, high legal liabilities, and very much media attention. Oil spills are not generally considered a pure or even applied chemistry issue. However, this would be a very short-sighted interpretation. Effectively every element of an oil spill, whether environmental, physical, operational or legal, is related to the complex chemistry of the oil and its breakdown products released to the environment. Indeed, it would be safe to say that if petroleum were a simple chemical product, the difficulties inherent in clean up of an oil spill would be much reduced, no matter what the origin or cause of the spill.

OIL SPILL RESPONSE RESEARCH: A GOOD INVESTMENT?1

ABSTRACT The Nation's commitment to oil-spill response research can be measured by comparing research expenditures with response planning and oil spill costs. Total response planning and preparedness costs are estimated at $295 million to $440 million per year. Total costs for an oil spill can be as high as $570 per gallon, with spills such as the Valdez spill costing an estimated $6 billion. These costs vastly exceed the estimated 1996 industry and government research expenditures of $1 million and $5 million, respectively. Other significant national costs could possibly be reduced by improving spill response capabilities. Sustained research funding accompanied by careful planning and coordination could substantially reduce the national costs associated with oil spills and increase the benefits of response planning programs.

Recent Results from Oil Spill Response Research

ABSTRACT Recent large oil spills from tankers have reaffirmed the need for continuing technology assessment and research to improve oil-spill response capabilities. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) remains a lead agency in conducting these studies. This paper discusses MMS concerns, as reinforced by the acceleration of its research program in 1990. It briefly assesses the current state-of-the-art technology for major aspects of spill response, including remote sensing, open-ocean containment, recovery, in-situ burning, chemical treating agents, beach-line cleanup, and oil behavior. The paper reports on specific research projects that have begun to yield information that will improve detection and at-sea equipment performance. The first detection project, for which MMS has patent pending, involves the use of shipboard navigational radar to track slicks at relatively long range. The second project involves the use of conventional containment and cleanup in a downwind mode, which is contrary to the traditional procedures. The paper also discusses current research projects, including the development of an airborne, laser-assisted fluorosensor that can determine whether apparent slicks contain oil. Additional projects involve the development of improved strategies for responding to oil in broken-ice conditions, for gaining an improved understanding of the fate and behavior of spilled oil as it affects response strategies, and for reopening and operating the oil and hazardous materials simulated environmental test tank (OHMSETT) facility in Leonardo, New Jersey. Recent progress on the development of safe and environmentally acceptable strategies to burn spilled oil in-situ is also discussed. The OHMSETT facility is necessary for testing prospective improvements in chemical treating agents and to develop standard procedures for testing and evaluating response equipment.