Presentation
Recent Advancements In Prince William Sound Open Water Response Capabilities
DescriptionIn 1990 a new planning standard was established for Prince William Sound contingency plan holders to address gaps in previous requirements. The planning standard requires 300,000 bbls of recovery within 72 hours of an incident (Alaska 18 AAC 75.400-495 and Federal 33 CFR Part 155). In response to the new planning standard contingency plan holders implemented an open water recovery program which included 4 skimming barges incorporating recognized proven oil spill containment and recovery equipment.
In 2007 the contingency plan holders for Prince William Sound commissioned a project to identify “Best Achievable Technology” to evaluate potential improvements for open water response. A literature review of existing technologies was conducted, and several technologies were chosen for testing at the Ohmsett test tank in New Jersey. For transparency, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) and United States Coast Guard (USCG) were invited to witness all testing and sea trials and provided project updates and test reports. Alaska North Slope (ANS) crude was shipped to the Ohmsett test tank for use in testing and time was scheduled at the facility to coincide with cold winter conditions to emulate climate and product consistent with a release in Prince William Sound. An oleophilic skimmer with an innovative “fuzzy” coating was selected for further evaluation and sea trials after achieving the established recovery performance criteria. Additional laboratory and Ohmsett tests to evaluate endurance, debris handling and cold climate performance of the selected skimmer were carried out by a third-party consulting group.
In 2009 sea trials were conducted in Kachemak Bay to determine the optimal configuration for feeding recovered oil to the selected skimmer. After testing several different containment boom options and configurations an advancing boom that incorporates a separator chamber in the apex was selected as the optimal configuration for the selected skimmer.
Over the next several years a series of modifications to one of the open water recovery barges in Prince William Sound took place as “Proof of Concept” for the selected skimmer and advancing boom. ADEC, PWSRCAC and USCG were involved and witnessed each evolution of the “Proof of Concept” modifications and sea trials.
In 2018, as a result of the ambitious project initiated in 2007 four new purpose-built Oil Spill Response Barges incorporating “Best Achievable Technology” were delivered in Prince William Sound marking a dramatic increase in oil spill response efficiency and capability.
In 2007 the contingency plan holders for Prince William Sound commissioned a project to identify “Best Achievable Technology” to evaluate potential improvements for open water response. A literature review of existing technologies was conducted, and several technologies were chosen for testing at the Ohmsett test tank in New Jersey. For transparency, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) and United States Coast Guard (USCG) were invited to witness all testing and sea trials and provided project updates and test reports. Alaska North Slope (ANS) crude was shipped to the Ohmsett test tank for use in testing and time was scheduled at the facility to coincide with cold winter conditions to emulate climate and product consistent with a release in Prince William Sound. An oleophilic skimmer with an innovative “fuzzy” coating was selected for further evaluation and sea trials after achieving the established recovery performance criteria. Additional laboratory and Ohmsett tests to evaluate endurance, debris handling and cold climate performance of the selected skimmer were carried out by a third-party consulting group.
In 2009 sea trials were conducted in Kachemak Bay to determine the optimal configuration for feeding recovered oil to the selected skimmer. After testing several different containment boom options and configurations an advancing boom that incorporates a separator chamber in the apex was selected as the optimal configuration for the selected skimmer.
Over the next several years a series of modifications to one of the open water recovery barges in Prince William Sound took place as “Proof of Concept” for the selected skimmer and advancing boom. ADEC, PWSRCAC and USCG were involved and witnessed each evolution of the “Proof of Concept” modifications and sea trials.
In 2018, as a result of the ambitious project initiated in 2007 four new purpose-built Oil Spill Response Barges incorporating “Best Achievable Technology” were delivered in Prince William Sound marking a dramatic increase in oil spill response efficiency and capability.
Authors
Event Type
Paper
TimeWednesday, May 15th1:50pm - 2:10pm CDT
Location298-299
Prevention