Oil Spill Control Technologies The Characteristics of Booms

Booms are among the most effective ways to contain and concentrating floating oil prior to removal by

specialized skimmers. However, there are a number of factors to consider and limitations understood in

order to run an efficient cleanup operation in the event of oil spills. Spill of low viscosity oil such as light

or medium crude oil can spread over a large area in a few hours. In addition to containment equipment

such as booms and skimmers, an entire containment and recovery operation at sea require extensive

logistical support using aircraft equipped with air to sea communications.

Booms for effective containment operations

When it comes to oil containment and recovery it is essential to select equipment based on the type of

oil and prevailing weather and sea conditions. Oil spill boom and skimmers need to be deployed in areas

with the heaviest oil concentrations to reduce the chance of oil reaching shorelines and sensitive

resources. Even during cleaning up operations, constant evaluation of the equipment used needs to be

conducted. In many operations the types of skimmers and pumps used need frequent changing.

The basics of boom design

While booms play an integral role in containing oil spills, there are a variety of designs suited for

different environments. Basic boom design includes a freeboard to prevent and reduce any splashover

of oil and water. It also features a sub-surface skirt to prevent the escape of and a floatation device

made from a buoyant material. Containment boom also come with a longitudinal tension member of

chain or wire that helps maintain the structure of the oil containment boom and its ability to withstand

strong winds, currents, and waves. It also acts as a ballast to keep the boom upright during operation.

Type of booms

Booms range from small, lightweight models that are suitable for manual deployment in harbors to large

units that require the use of cranes and large vessels to operate then efficiently. Large booms are

designed for deployment in the open sea. The most important feature of a boom is its oil containment

and deflection capabilities. Booms and DOT Silt Curtain need to be rigid enough to retain the maximum

amount of oil and at the same time require flexibility to conform to wave motion. The speed limit at

which they can be towed is less than 0.5 knots since they cannot contain oil against currents greater

than 0.7 knots at right angles to the boom. Other characteristics to consider are ease of deployment,

weight, strength, reliability and cost. A number of manufacturers specialize in a wide range of booms

that includes all these characteristics and are designed for use in different conditions.

Booms need to be robust in order to withstand handling even by untrained personnel. They must also

possess enough strength to withstand the forces of water and wind. Most importantly, they must be

easy to deploy in the least amount of time. Specialized vessels are usually required to tow booms in U or

J configurations at sea. Many specialized ships have been built with sweeping arms and skimming

devices in order to operate multiple boom systems.

Enviro-USAS core business is manufacturing dewatering bags and Fast Deployment Oil Containment

Booms. We have the knowledge to provide you with a quality Barriers, Oil spill booms, etc and yet offer

the lowest price in the USA.