Nuka Research was contracted by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) to conduct an oil spill response viability analysis for the US Gulf of Mexico. The study provides BSEE with information regarding the frequency with which wind, wave, and visibility conditions may be favorable, marginal, or not favorable to the use of different mechanical recovery, in situ burning, and the surface application of dispersants. This analysis can be utilized to influence the location and types of response planning resources that are staged around the Gulf of Mexico and the types of response techniques that are deployed in the event of an oil spill.
This analysis indicates that conditions in the Gulf of Mexico are favorable for dispersant application at least 50% of the time, for mechanical recovery occurs 29% of the time, and in-situ burning 19% of the time.
Client: The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
Project Dates: September, 2016 – January, 2019