Development of an Integrated Mechanical Recovery and Oil Spill Response System for Heavy Oil in Cold and Ice Prone Marine Environments

Lead Proponent:   Centre for Cold Ocean Resources Engineering (C-CORE)
Location:  St. John’s, NL
OSRS Contribution: $ 991,505
Project Total: $ 1,896,905
Strategic Area:  Oil Spill Response Science

Project Objectives:

The project aims at increasing the efficiency of existing mechanical recovery systems in collecting heavy oil disperse in water column below the water surface. Operating parameters such as temperature, oil density, and oil to water ratios are among the most important parameters to be analyzed during the primary scope of the project.

The challenging aspects of heavy crude and bituminous oil clean-up will be addressed by introduction of an advanced hybrid phase separation and spill collection system.

The project will improve the mechanical recovery processes for heavy oil clean up in marine and cold ocean environments and will provide an effective and practical solution for an oil spill incident.

Physical tests and state-of-the-art simulation techniques will be utilized in order to test, simulate, and optimize the system for a wide range of spill scenarios.

Expected Results:

The main intermediate outcome of this project consists of an improved oil spill collection and separation system that can be integrated in an efficient response technique including a specially designed vessel.  The system will be based on the established concepts and proven technologies for recovery of heavy oil spills from sea water in cold and ice prone ocean environments.

The long term outcome of the project will include specialized vessels with the required detection, storage, and spill removal systems, tested and proven in the real life conditions.

Project Partners:

Elastec
Eastern Canada Response Corporation Ltd. (ECRC)
InnovatechNL

Find out more:

Centre for Cold Ocean Resources Engineering