APPLYING OHMSETT DATA TO SPILL CONTINGENCY PLANS1

ABSTRACT This report describes a simple approach for using skimmer test data from the Oil and Hazardous Materials Simulated Environmental Test Tank (OHMSETT) to estimate and project performance in oil spill contingency planning. Example calculations tables are used to illustrate how a planner may choose to use test tank data. The data presented in this report are based on the several million gallons of test oil distributed to skimmers during OHMSETT tests since July 1974. A planner may have skimmers in his inventory that have been tested at OHMSETT but not rigorously tested and documented in actual spills. The planner thus is forced to use the skimmer manufacturer's rated data, thus incorporating in contingency plans an overly optimistic projected oil spill cleanup capacity. The use of OHMSETT test data can provide a lower bound estimate of the expected performance. Using the two projections together may produce a worst and a best case for the planner. These data can be used to quantify the need for backu...