Author(s): Koh Izumiyama; Shigeo Kanada; Haruhito Shimoda; Daisuke Wako; Tadanori Takimoto
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: No keywords
Abstract: Ice-covered waters in the arctic and sub-arctic regions are regaining a growing interest as the fields for the exploitation and transportation of hydrocarbon resources. Ice-covered waters, meanwhile, are sensitive and vulnerable to pollution. Oil spilling at sea from ships or other facilities can cause disastrous damages to the ocean environment. Recognizing the sensitive and vulnerable environment of ice-covered waters, there have been studies done on the fate and behavior of spilled oil in ice and on the response measures to the pollution. However, our understanding of these problems is still significantly limited compared with of those in open water conditions. This paper presents the results of an R & D study at National Maritime Research Institute (NMRI) of an oil recovery device to be used in ice-covered waters – NMRI-ORDICE. Oil recovery in ice-covered waters has to go through two different processes of oil-ice separation and then oil recovery from water. NMRI-ORDICE uses air-bubbling to separate oil from ice. A new design of NMRI-ORDICE was made in 2006. This paper describes two major elements in the design. Based on the design a model was manufactured. A series of model testing was performed in 2007 in the ice model basin of NMRI. The model was tested in various ice conditions. Two machine oils with different viscosity were used in the test. Data obtained in the test are presented. Test results are discussed in terms of recovery rate, which is the ratio of recovered oil volume to that released, oil fraction, which is the ratio of oil volume to the total liquids volume recovered, the effects of brash and slush ice and oil viscosity.
Year: 2008