Content:
Matthew Quinney
Pagemasters:
OEMM Web Team
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Ohmsett - The National Oil Spill Response Test Facility
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Aerial view of the
Ohmsett facility located
in Leonardo, NJ approximately one
hour south of New York City”.
(Click on the photos for larger views.) |
Ohmsett
provides oil spill response testing, training, and research opportunities to government, industry, academia, and private organizations on a reimbursable basis. Ohmsett is the only facility that can test full sized oil spill response equipment with a variety of crude oils and refined petroleum products under reproducible marine conditions.
Ohmsett assists MMS to fulfill oil spill regulatory responsibilities under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90). Responsibility to manage Ohmsett came from OPA 90. Funding for operation and maintenance costs of Ohmsett are covered by the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSTLF). The OSTLF derives its funds from a tax on companies that produce or transport oil.
The Ohmsett tank is 667 feet long, 65 feet wide and 11 feet deep. The tank is filled to a depth of 8 feet with 2.6 million gallons of crystal clear water. Three different wave forms up to 3 feet high can be created by the wave generator. The tank water is drawn from nearby Sandy Hook Bay and filtered. Salt is added to bring the salinity up to open ocean values. Oil spill response equipment can be towed at speeds up to 6.5 knots.
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Oil containment boom
being tested
with oil in waves. |
Standard test protocols are used at Ohmsett to evaluate oil spill containment booms and skimmers. Ohmsett provides the intermediate step between small scale and open water testing of equipment. It is estimated that 95% of the performance data on mechanical equipment was obtained at Ohmsett.
MMS continues to expand the capabilities at Ohmsett. In 1998, in situ burning was added. An air-injected underwater propane burner system simulates the temperatures associated with burning oil at sea. The system is used to evaluate the performance and survivability of fire resistant booms. In 1999, the capability to measure dispersant effectiveness over a wide range of conditions was added. MMS is now collaborating with partners to test renewable wave energy devices. Additional information about this capability is available in this
fact sheet.
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Breaking waves generated
at Ohmsett. |
The Ohmsett staff has extensive experience in oil spill
response testing and training. The engineers are available to assist in
equipment design, manufacture, and evaluation procedures. For further
information on the Ohmsett facility or to order brochures, newsletters and
videos, please visit the Ohmsett website at
http://www.ohmsett.com/.
To arrange a tour, or to discuss testing,
training or research opportunities at Ohmsett contact:
Matthew Quinney
Project Manager, Ohmsett Facility
Phone: (703) 787-1580
Email:
matthew.quinney@mms.gov
FAX: (703) 787-1549
Address:
Minerals Management Service
Engineering Research Branch
381 Elden Street, MS 4021
Herndon, VA 20170-4817
Ohmsett Projects |
109 |
Oil Spill Response Equipment Performance
Verification |
121 |
Water Jet Barrier Containment of Oil in the
Presence of Broken Ice |
155 |
Identification of Substitute Test Facilities
for OHMSETT |
163 |
Preparation a Test Protocol for Offshore Oil
Skimmers and Containment Booms |
240 |
Development of a Frequency Scanning Radiometer
to Measure Oil Slick Thickness, Phase II |
247 |
Numerical Modeling of Oil Boom Behavior and
Rapid Current Boom Development |
289 |
Re-Engineering of a Stainless Steel Fireproof
Boom for Using in Conjunction with Conventional Firebooms |
298 |
Testing at Ohmsett to Determine Optimum Times
to Decant to Temporary Storage Devices |
299 |
Estimation of Towing Forces on Oil Spill
Containment Booms |
309 |
Development of an OHMSETT Activity Summary
Report |
310 |
Mechanical Oil Recovery in Ice Infested Waters (MORICE) |
333 |
Field Experiments at the Ohmsett Facility,
Especially for a Newly Designed Boom System |
375 |
Development of Dispersant Test Protocol at
Ohmsett |
391 |
Fire Boom Testing at Ohmsett |
395 |
Extending Temporary Storage Capacity Offshore
with Emulsion Breakers |
427 |
Dispersant Effectiveness Test
Protocol Development for Ohmsett |
428 |
Procedures for Reporting Tests of Oil Spill Containment Booms and Skimmers |
450 |
Dispersant Effectiveness Testing in Cold Water |
456 |
Techniques
to Remove Dissolved Dispersant from Ohmsett Basin Water |
457 |
Effect of
Oil Spill Containment Boom Characteristics on Boom Performance |
458 |
Process for the Removal of Spent Oil Spill Dispersants from
Test Water at Ohmsett |
476 |
Ohmsett 2003 Cold Water Dispersant Effectiveness Experiments |
477 |
Correlating Results of Dispersants Effectiveness at Ohmsett with Identical
At-Sea Trials: Effects of Oil Viscosity and Dispersant to Oil Ratio |
478 |
Development of a Standard Method for Measuring the Buoyancy-to-Weight Ratio
for Oil Spill Containment Boom |
486 |
Fate
of Emulsion Breakers Used for Decanting |
493 |
Understanding Oil Spill Dispersants: Efficacy and Effects |
507 |
Correlating Results of Ohmsett Dispersant Test with At-Sea Trials: Workshop
to Coordinate Publications and Prioritize Follow-up Dispersant Studies at
Ohmsett |
511 |
Tailored Polymeric Materials for Oil Spill Recovery in Marine Environments |
514 |
Dispersant Effectiveness Testing on Heavy OCS Crude Oils at Ohmsett |
515 |
Wave Field Characterization at
the Ohmsett Wave Test Basin |
520 |
Summary Report of Activities at the Minerals Management
Service Ohmsett Facility |
526 |
Correlate Ohmsett Dispersant Tests with At Sea Trials; Supplemental Tests to
Complete Test Matrix |
528 |
Optimization of Oleophilic Skimmer Recovery |
542 |
Dispersant Effectiveness Testing on Realistic Emulsions at
Ohmsett |
544 |
Real-time Detection of Oil Slick Thickness Patterns with a Portable
Multispectral Sensor |
545 |
Calm Sea Application of Dispersants |
546 |
Chemical Dispersibility of OCS Crude Oils in Non-Breaking
Waves, Part 1 Determining the Limiting Oil Viscosity for Dispersion in
Non-Breaking |
554 |
Mid-Scale Test Tank Research on Using Oil
Herding Surfactants to Thicken Oil Slicks in Broken Ice |
568 |
Research at Ohmsett on the Effectiveness of
Chemical Dispersants on Alaskan Oils in Cold Water |
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Last Updated:
11/25/2008,
05:09 PM
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