Project Number | 244 |
Date of Summary | April 09, 1999 |
Subject | Testing of Fire Resistant Booms in Waves and Flames |
Performing Activity | SL Ross Environmental Research |
Principal Investigator | Mr. Ian Buist, Mr. James McCourt |
Contracting Agency | Minerals Management Service |
Estimated Completion | April 1998 |
Description | Phase I: The objective of this
project was to develop a near full-scale screening test protocol for the effectiveness and
durability of fire resistant oil containment boom that incorporates simultaneous testing
in waves and flames. Realistic, inexpensive testing is needed in both waves and
high-temperature flames for extended time periods to evaluate any fireboom systems
capabilities and limitations before expensive testing at sea. The ability of a boom
exposed to fire to contain thick, hot oil and to survive extended exposure to wave action
prior to and after exposure to flames was also to be determined. Booms that survive the
fire tests without structural degradation would then be tested both for abilities to
contain thick oil slicks and to survive extended exposure to more energetic wave
conditions. Phase II of this project was conducted as a Joint Industry Project (JIP) with the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG). Based on the success of the 1996 field work, the CCG offered to co-fund the 1997 field work program. The objective of Phase II was to further develop the test protocols particularly in increasing the heat flux (through increased propane flow and air injection into the burn zone), improved heat flux and Temperature monitoring, and pre-tensioning the boom during the outdoor tank tests. |
Progress | Phase I was
completed in November 1996. A near full-scale test protocol was developed that evaluates a
fire resistant boom's durability and its ability to contain oil during an in situ burn
with the environmental problems of burning crude oil or the costs of testing offshore. The
screening test was comprised of four discrete stages:
It is recommended that the enhanced screening test protocol be further benchmarked by using it on another make of fire resistant boom. Portions of this test protocol were used to evaluate six different types of commercially available fire resistant booms at the U.C. Coast Guard Fire and Safety Test Detachment, Mobile, AL, September-October 1997. Results from this research project will be used by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) F-20 Committee to develop standards and guidelines for the performance and evaluation of fire resistant oil containment booms. Phase I was successful. The screening test protocol was benchmarked using a section of the fire resistant boom obtained from the CCG that was similar to the boom used in the Newfoundland Offshore Burn Experiment (NOBE). The tests were conducted at the Canadian Hydraulic Centre's Outdoor Ship Maneuvering Basin, Ottawa, Ontario. Comparing the damage suffered at NOBE with that produced by this test led to the conclusion that the protocol reproduced the correct stresses (both mechanical and heat) of an in situ burn operation, but that the intensity needed to be increased. Phase II was completed in October 1997. The revised fire exposure portion of the test protocol was again benchmarked using a section of the fire resistant boom in NOBE. The tests were conducted at the Canadian Hydraulic Centre's Outdoor Ship Maneuvering Basin, Ottawa, Ontario and involved four one-hour cycles of enhanced propane flames and waves and four one-hour cycles of waves alone. A final report was completed. The conclusions from this project are:
|
Reports |
|
AA (164 pages) | Development of a Protocol for Testing Fire resistant Oil Containment Boom in Waves and Flames, SL Ross Environmental Research Ltd. And Canadian Hydraulics Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, July 1997. |
AB (18 pages) | Screening Test for Fire Resistant Booms in Waves and Flames, SL Ross Environmental Research, Ltd, April 1998. |
Privacy | Disclaimers | Accessibility | Topic Index | FOIA Last Updated: 07/23/2008, 08:02 AM
|