Sheen Will Be Seen by Floating Oil Spill Detector

The Ionics Leakwise WL from Manchester based Ionics UK Ltd is designed to be installed offshore close to oil tanker buoy terminals and loading jetties to detect spills during tanker unloading or discharge. The device can detect sheens as small as 0.3 mm thick or measure the build up of oil layers to 25 mm.

The Leakwise WL uses the latest floating detector technology based on electromagnetic energy absorption, a technique that has proven extremely reliable (no false alarms), is unaffected by dirt or coating and can measure not merely oil presence but build up over time.

The detector is mounted on a stable wave-rider buoy with mooring appropriate to the location and water depth. The buoy also contains a solar panel with rechargeable battery, digital signal processor, electronics for the bi-directional data link and antennas for satellite and cellular communications. The buoy is built to withstand extreme sea conditions and to maintain the sensor position at the liquid/air interface despite fluctuations due to waves or tide. The standard system is rated for 4 knot currents and 2m wave heights.

Users can set five fieldadjustable alarms, the first when any oil is detected, the other four when the layer has reached a pre-determined thickness.

A switchable satellite ground station transfers alarm messages to users whenever oil is detected, together with an indication of the oil layer thickness.

Other messages give regular confirmation that the sensor is ‘alive’ or indicate that the sensor has failed or been taken from the water. Users of cellular communications receive the same data in SMS messages.

MJInformation No: 17400