Project Number |
573 |
Date of Summary |
May 9, 2007 |
Subject |
Oil Recovery with Novel Skimmer Surfaces under Cold Climate Conditions |
Performing Activity |
University of California, Santa Barbara, Bren School of Environmental
Science and Management |
Principal Investigator |
Dr. Arturo Keller, Victoria Broje and Kristin Clark |
Contracting Agency |
Minerals Management Service |
Estimated Completion |
Complete |
Description |
The objective of this project is to perform a comprehensive analysis of the
adhesion processes between oil or ice-in-oil mixtures and various surface
patterns and materials that are being used or proposed for use in oil
skimmers, under cold climate conditions. This knowledge will help develop
mechanical response equipment that can be efficiently used under these
conditions. The work will include bench scale studies in our laboratory as
well as field testing. Following the laboratory tests, we will select the
materials and surface patterns that performed best under cold climate
conditions, and perform a full scale oil spill recovery test at the U.S Army
Corps of Engineers, Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, in
Hanover, NH. This will provide valuable information about the correlation
between the laboratory tests and full scale experiments, as well as
demonstrate the potential of the proposed skimmer modifications under
conditions similar to response operations.
|
Progress |
Oil adhesion experiments to novel
skimmer surfaces under cold climate conditions were conducted at the
University of California, Santa Barbara to examine surface geometry and
materials tailored to conditions present in cold climates. A series of
full-scale oil spill recovery experiments were conducted February 26-March
9, 2007 at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Cold Regions Research and
Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) in Lebanon, NH. The goal of the experiments
is to provide actual data as to the effects of oil adhesion on different
drums on oil skimmers under varying conditions (oil types, ice/no ice, drum
rotation speed, etc.). The final project
report has been accepted by MMS. This project is complete.
|
Reports |
AA (1.32 MB) |
Oil Recovery with Novel Skimmer Surfaces
under Cold Climate Conditions, A. Keller, K. Clark, Bren School of
Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa
Barbara, CA, 51 pp., August 1, 2007. |