Background
China is investing heavily in Arctic marine assets such as icebreakers and scientific vessels. China is also seeking representation on the Arctic Council. In addition, CNOOC is engaged in offshore oil activity in Bohai Bay which freezes over in winter. There is no existing technology to mitigate oil spills successfully on the high seas and on frozen seas. In 2010 BP only recovered 3% of the spilled oil and created an ongoing, environmental nightmare by using chemical dispersants. The other industry tool, in-situ burning, damages Arctic albedo and aggravates global warming. It too may be banned in the Arctic. Professor Robert Bea, an American expert in catastrophic engineering failures and a former BP consultant, says that in-situ burning and dispersants are primitive tools. They don’t work on the ocean. BP only managed to burn 5% of the oil in 2010, and to spray chemicals on only 15% of it. Thankfully, BP was unable to spray toxic chemicals on all of the oil.
New Canadian Technology
Extreme Spill Technology (EST) has developed innovative technology for removing spilled oil from the high seas and from ice-covered seas typical of the Arctic and Bohai Bay. China and the USA granted our patent in 2012 and the Canadian patent is pending. The method EST utilizes in ice was demonstrated in the SL Ross test tank in Ottawa. Recovery rates as high as 90% were achieved.
- EST uses a gravity-based oil recovery system with no fragile parts.
- The only moving parts are off-the-shelf, rugged pumps.
- To successfully mitigate an oil spill on the high seas or in heavy ice requires very large, very strong equipment. Little skimmer gadgets, small vessels and floating booms have never worked on the ocean except in carefully controlled and completely unrealistic experiments.
- EST skimmers require almost no manual labour so the crew can wear bulky safety clothing and respirators. The crew work inside the vessel where it is safe.
- The EST patent includes unique features to lower the viscosity of the captured oil to facilitate pumping and decanting.
- The pumping system is fully automated so crew fatigue will not downgrade operations. All machinery can be controlled from the bridge using wireless microprocessors and control systems. In very cold or bad weather this is essential.
- The EST system separates the oil from the water before it is pumped to storage.
- For use on the ocean or in heavy ice, the EST technology is installed in very large, robust oil skimmer ships and barges that can carry large quantities of recovered oil, extensive crew accommodations and ample supplies to remain at sea for extended periods in all weather. There is no need to often halt activities and run for cover.
- The EST system takes up very little space in the oil recovery vessel which allows the vessel to be multipurpose. Maintenance and cleanup are extremely simple and require almost no labour. Toxic oil does not come on deck and the crew do not handle oily equipment.
- EST oil skimmer barges and ships incorporate Spill Green solidifier systems. This exceptional Canadian product was developed by Exxon and can neutralize the oil simply by coming into contact with it. Unlike sponges and absorbent pads, the oil is turned into
a harmless by-product that can be recovered by the EST system or left to turn to dust.
- The EST oil skimmer ships and barges can function as spill-site command centres even as they actively recover spilled oil. They do not get contaminated with oil and oily gear.
(EST, Edited by Topco)