UK at-sea dispersant effectiveness
experiments were successfully conducted in June 2003, offshore the
Isle of
Wright, UK. MMS participated in these experiments. Results of these
experiments were used to design a dispersant effectiveness test
program at Ohmsett based on the UK sea trials. Effectiveness experiments
were
successfully done in October 2003 at Ohmsett facilities. Many
participants
observed the experiments. Identical oils (IFO-120, 180, and 380) and
dispersants (Agma DR 379, Corexit 9500, Superdispersant 25) as well
as
identical dispersant-to-oil ratios, water temperatures and salinity
were
used in the tests.
In addition, the USCG Atlantic Strike Team and Oil
Spill Response Limited, Southampton, UK used the experiments as training
exercise for their dispersant monitoring protocol. Texas AM brought in new
equipment to test and monitor equipment used by the response teams. Data
from the experiment are being analyzed and draft report should be out in the
spring of 2004.
MMS has shipped the test oils and dispersants
to other agencies and companies so test can be conducted in smaller wave
tanks and laboratory scale. When these experiments are completed, there
should be a better understanding of the correlation and scale with
dispersant performance under at-sea conditions.
This project is complete. The final results
were presented at the 2005 International Oil Spill Conference. The final
report is available from the Minerals Management Service in PDF on a CD that
also contains more than 80 video clips that documents each dispersant
experiment. The film clips are not imbedded in the final report that is
downloadable in PDF format from the MMS website.
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