Oil spill containment is critical in mitigating environmental damage after any type of release.
However, each oil spill requires targeted strategies by experienced environmental professionals. The oil spill containment techniques will depend on the specificities of what happened, available resources, and the conditions at the site.
In this blog, we will discuss various oil spill containment methods and their importance in environmental protection.
Table of Contents
What is Oil Spill Containment?
Oil spill containment is a process where oil leaks or spills are kept within a barrier. Its purpose is to minimize the risk of the oil spreading into ocean water, reaching inland waterways or shoreline waters, or being absorbed into the ground (if on land).
The primary objectives of containment in oil spill response efforts are to limit damage to the environment, wildlife, and any human beings in the spill area.
Below, we will detail how to contain oil spills and the type of equipment utilized, as well as answer frequently asked questions about oil spill containment and other key information.
Key Methods of Oil Spill Containment
The main oil spill recovery methods include booms, barriers, skimmers, sorbents, and containment domes. The sections below provide detailed explanations of each method and its applications.
Booms
Booms are physical, floating barriers made of metal, plastic, or other materials. They slow the spread of the oil and keep it contained within an area.
Common applications for booms include:
- Placed across a narrow entrance to the ocean, such as an inlet or stream outlet, to prevent the oil from passing through to a marsh or other sensitive habitat.
- Placed around a sensitive site to prevent contamination from the oil.
- Placed in areas around sensitive wildlife habitats to deflect the oil from spilling onto or into, for example, beaches where shore birds are nesting or oyster beds.
The different types of booms include:
- Hard booms — a floating plastic boom that is weighted at the bottom and has a cylindrical float at the top, making a “skirt” underneath the surface of the water. These can also be used to deflect oil in another direction if the winds or currents aren’t too strong.
- Sorbent booms — a floating boom made of absorbent material to absorb oil. The structure of the sorbent boom is in the form of a tube. It does not have a “skirt” underneath the water and does not contain oil for extraordinarily long. A quick fix for rapid response and/or for smaller spills.
- Fire booms — a floating boom made of metal with thin metal plates that make up the “skirt” and a floating metal cylinder on the top of the water. They are used for oil spill containment to allow the oil to be burned. This type of boom and method is not used very often.
Barriers
Different kinds of barriers are also used in oil spill containment. If other equipment is unavailable, temporary floating barriers can be improvised. Common materials, including wood, inflated fire hoses, empty oil drums, or automobile tires, can help keep the oil from spreading pending other oil spill containment techniques.
Another type of barrier is basic measures, such as using a bulldozer on a beach to push a wall of sand to divert oil from a sensitive area on the shoreline upon great need.
Oil spill containment berms are another type of barrier. These are engineered structures designed to prevent the spread of oil, hazardous liquids, and other potentially harmful substances. Berms act as temporary containment basins, a physical barrier that prevents the spill from causing harm.
Skimmers
Skimmers are another important resource in oil spill containment. Skimmers are boats (and other devices) that remove oil from the sea surface. They remove the oil from the water before the spill reaches the coastline.
Weir skimmers are devices that float on the water’s surface. They are typically used in areas with the highest oil or other contaminants concentration. While water flows through a weir skimmer, it collects the oil through a vacuum or pump system. Weir skimmers come in various designs and are adjustable for thin or thick layers of oil. They can be used for emergency response as well as for permanent needs.
Oleophilic (meaning “oil-attracting) skimmers are a type of skimmer that blots the oil from the water’s surface. These devices utilize belts, discs, or continuous mop chains of oleophilic materials to remove the oil. Once the oil is blotted (soaked into the material), it is squeezed out or scraped into a recovery tank.
Suction skimmers, as the name implies, work similar to a household vacuum cleaner. The primary operating components are wide, floating heads that suck the oil from the water. The oil is then pumped into a storage tank. Suction skimmers are efficient in helping to contain oil spills, but they do have a downside. They can be clogged by debris and need constant observation by a skilled professional.
Sorbents
Sorbents come in different types and are used to soak up liquids, including oil. The mechanism for this includes absorption and/or adsorption, allowing oil to penetrate the material’s pores and/or stick to the material’s surface.
Here are common types of sorbents:
- Natural organic — peat moss, straw, hay, sawdust, ground corncobs, feathers, and other carbon-based products. These are typically readily available and relatively inexpensive.
- Natural inorganic — clay, perlite, vermiculite, glass, wool, sand, and volcanic ash. Also available and inexpensive.
- Synthetic materials — man-made materials similar to plastics, such as polyurethane, polyethylene, and nylon fibers.
Synthetic materials absorb the most. However, each type has its benefits and challenges. When choosing a type of sorbent, professionals typically consider the absorption rate, oil retention, and ease of application.
Containment Domes
Containment domes are structures used for underwater oil spill situations. These are particularly targeted for utilization in deepwater drilling operations.
The domes are often quite large, up to 40 feet or more. The structure is installed over the broken pipe/well to corral the oil. A funnel-like top to the chamber is connected to pipes to take the oil to the surface and into a container for processing and disposal, such as a drillship.
Importance of Effective Oil Spill Containment
Effective oil spill containment has a critical role in minimizing environmental damage. Containing and reducing the spread of the spilled oil will significantly reduce the harm inflicted on marine and coastal ecosystems.
Best Practices for Oil Spill Containment
In a discussion on how to contain oil spills, it is important to discuss best practices for effectively and appropriately containing them. Here are some best practices, as well as tips and strategies for successful containment efforts:
Rapid Response
It is crucial to respond swiftly to an oil spill. The more areas the oil reaches, the faster the damage compounds. Whether booms or barriers are put in place or skimmers or other oil spill methods are deployed, the more rapidly the oil can be contained.
Rapid responses improve containment outcomes, reducing the amount of damage sustained to wildlife and the marine environment, including shorelines.
Proper Equipment
A key to effective oil spill containment is carefully selecting and using the equipment and materials most suited to the type of oil and the conditions at the spill site. Sea conditions, water currents, and wind will affect decision-making and should be evaluated with care and expertise.
Training and Preparedness
Proper compliance training and preparedness are important for effective and efficient containment of oil spills. Personnel should conduct regular drills, honing their skills and understanding their roles and responsibilities.
Update training programs to ensure all personnel have the information and training required to perform their duties.
Regulatory Compliance in Oil Spill Containment
Federal and state governments have laws and regulations that must be complied with during oil spill containment efforts. Adherence to these key regulatory requirements ensures effective containment, providing guidelines for operations while supporting and propelling protections for the environment and marine life.
Regulatory compliance legislation includes:
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Rule
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
- State and Local Regulations, including those enforced by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
Frequently Asked Questions About Oil Spill Containment
What equipment is essential for oil spill contamination?
Key equipment for effective oil spill containment includes boats, booms, barriers, skimmers, sorbents, safety equipment, and storage containers.
How long does it take to contain an oil spill?
Multiple factors influence the time it takes to contain an oil spill. These include the spill’s size/scope and location, weather/wind, ocean currents, and overall conditions at sea. The larger the spill and the more difficult the conditions at the site, the longer it will take to contain.
Necessary safety measures involving protecting marine life in the area may also be a factor in the timeline.
Can oil spill containment methods be used in all environments?
Containment methods are quite versatile, but they have limitations. Booms and barriers can contain and deflect oil and protect sensitive areas in various environments. Certain types should be chosen based on site conditions. Skimmers can remove oil to keep it from reaching sensitive areas and coastlines, but they are less effective in choppy seas and strong winds.
In situ burning should be used on a limited scale and when sea conditions are calm. The effectiveness of sorbents varies and should be carefully chosen, including factoring in site conditions. Flotation devices, such as empty drums, can be used with sorbents (like hay bales) to keep them from sinking after being soaked with oil.
Experienced professionals evaluate the multiple factors involved to determine the appropriate oil spill containment method for individual oil spills.
Contact Us for Your Oil Spill Containment Requirements
Take action today and contact AOTC for assistance with your oil spill containment requirements. With the stakes involved in oil spill containment, it is necessary to work with experienced professionals. AOTC is experienced and committed to excellence in environmental response. Contact us today.