LASER IGNITION OF OIL SPILLS

A major oil spill in the Arctic, whether from a tanker or an oil rig, could result in large concentrations of oil among broken ice and/or thousands of oiled melt pools. The remoteness of the area and the inadequacy of other countermeasures make in-situ burning the only possible response. Helicopter-deployable igniters have been developed to ignite the oil, but studies have shown that use of these devices has severe logistical constraints. The use of a helicopter-borne laser system as an alternative to, or in conjunction with, the igniters has been pursued from conceptual development to completion of the engineering design phase. The concept was examined by theoretical analysis combined with laboratory studies. This work indicated that a dual-laser system would ignite both fresh and weathered crude oils at temperatures representative of an arctic spring or fall day. A series of outdoor experiments was carried out in Kanata, Ontario, Canada, in March 1985. These experiments, under climatic conditions very similar to those in the Canadian Arctic in June, demonstrated that a two-laser system would ignite both fresh and weathered crudes. An engineering feasibility and design study was undertaken. The study confirmed that a system having the required performance can be assembled from existing, proven hardware and operated effectively from a helicopter. The development of the laser ignition of oil spills from concept through engineering design is described.