Oil Spills in Arctic Conditions

Figure 3: Lamor Oil and Ice Separator Deployed on the Finnish Oil Recovery Vessel Linja

The Lamor Oil and Ice Separator (LOIS), the first advancing skimmer system in the world, is a breakthrough in the development of oil-spill recovery in Arctic conditions, where recovering oil among ice is extremely difficult due to the immense technical requirements on the equipment’s strength and function.

Figure 4: The Lamor Oil and Ice Separator Deployed in Icy Conditions

• The Coated Disc skimmer by Crucial provides a fabric covering over a smooth-disc surface with up to a 500% increase in recovery over conventional smooth-disc surfaces.

Mechanical Containment and Recovery Tactics

Oil must be collected in the thickest layer possible for the most efficient skimming to occur. This generally involves longer lengths of ‘deflection’ booms into a collection pocket where the skimmer is located. In Arctic regions the use of these deflection booms is only possible during ‘open-water’ conditions with ice coverage ~1–2/10 or less. This is due to the ice being deflected and concentrated along with the oil.

As the amount of ice increases, shorter lengths to no ‘deflection’ boom can be used. As the ice further increases, the ice itself acts as a natural containment boom and ‘pocket’ recovery tactics in areas of oil trapped by the ice become feasible.

Non-mechanical Response

The non-mechanical methods of combating spilled oil in the offshore arena are the application of oil spill dispersants and the burning of the oil (in situ burning). Both of these non-mechanical spill response

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