Oil spill detection system - results from field trials

The OSD system was thoroughly tested at a field trial carried out in October 2004 off the West Coast of Norway nearby the Troll field. The Norwegian Clean Seas Association for Operating Companies (NOFO) especially arranged the trial for this purpose. 6 small releases of oil equivalents were discharged, and they could be detected and followed by the system during various wind and wave conditions. Images providing an average of the back-scattered intensity from various parts of the sea surface were shown to be useful for the system operator. Continuous surveillance of local areas is particularly helpful during the hours of darkness. Later, the data were reprocessed with a new and completely automatic oil detection algorithm using methods of image segmentation and object classification and the oil was automatically detected. This algorithm is implemented in the real-time system and tested out in field trials carried out in June 2005. After the successful trials in June 2005 NOFO has bought five OSD systems. During the field trials arranged in May 2006, the Oil Spill Detection System was mounted on three different oil recovery vessels and the trials were located off the West Coast of Norway near the Frigg field. The object of this trial was for the oil detection radar, which is only one element in an oil recovery operation, to gain further operative experience in various conditions. The preliminary results of the field trials are presented in this article. Future trials should preferably include testing during weather conditions with higher wind speeds and waves