Investigation of Self-Help Oil-Spill Response Techniques and Equipment
Abstract
This document describes a study conducted of 45 self-help response techniques and equipment for oceangoing tankers and inland tank barges to assess their potential effectiveness. The results will be considered by the Coast Guard to determine whether response requirements can be better met with shore-based equipment or vessel carried equipment. This study considers only vessel carried self-help equipment and techniques. The approach to this study included: (1) assessing time-dependent oil outflow in the cases of collision and grounding of both tankers and barges, (2) identifying environmental constraints on self-help countermeasure operation, (3) identifying human factor issues, and (4) assessing each self-help countermeasure with respect to its potential for minimizing oil loss to the environment. Results from the time-dependent oil outflow, environmental limitations, and human factors requirements were input into a simulation model. To set a base line, the first simulation run represents the case without any form of sen-help being applied. From the runs made in this study, no self-help countermeasure emerges as clearly superior to the others. However, the results do suggest that a pumping solution in conjunction with some form of containment has the most promise in the near term. In addition, this study produced results that are important to future modeling efforts, including the fact that ground plugging has a significant effect on oil outflow in the case of grounding.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA260881
Entities
People
- C. W. Enderlin
- J. P. Downing
- T. F. Sanquist
- W. I. Enderlin
- W. S. Pope
Organizations
- Battelle Memorial Institute