This was a Joint Industry Project (JIP) with Environment Canada to evaluate and optimize the design of an innovative oil spill containment barrier. The barrier uses high pressure water and fine droplets above and parallel to the water surface resulting in a high velocity local wind. This wind drives the surface oil in front of it but the near surface water layer is not as affected as it would be with conventional mechanical containment booms. Phase I of the project focused on field testing of various nozzle configurations and jet velocities. Phase II of this project titled 'Optimization of an Innovative High Speed Waterjet Containment Boom for High Current/Ice Areas' redesigned and modified the system to achieve optimum performance and evaluated the product both as an oil containment device and for its effectiveness in reducing smoke emissions when contained oil is burned in place.
Complete. Testing of the waterjet barrier was conducted at the OHMSETT facility in New Jersey, to determine the extent of the barrier's containment performance and capabilities. Areas evaluated were the barrier's ability to contain different thicknesses of oil slicks and its ability to contain these slicks in varying wave conditions.