AFE 2022: Oil and Ice: Spill Response Technologies for Cold Climates

The presence of ice has often hampered responses to marine and freshwater oil spills. However, advanced technologies are enabling responders to better detect and recover oil in the water during icy conditions. These new innovations include the Arctic Domain Awareness Center’s marine-induced polarization methods that can remotely detect and map oil under the water, in broken ice fields, and under and in ice. It can also detect oil in sediment, freshwater, and seawater at all depths. Additionally, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement funded the development of the BOWHEAD technology, which can deflect ice during the collection of oil from the water’s surface, leaving an ice-free zone for oil recovery. This session is for anyone interested in the latest spill response technologies.

Presenters:
Scott Socolofsky, Texas A&M University
Kari Walker, IntelliSense Marine
Kristi McKinney, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
Gregory Johnson, Serco Inc

Moderator: Bridget Crokus, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service