Deployable oil dispersant system for fixed wing aircraft

Abstract

The global energy demand has led to an increased level of oil and gas production activities in remote and harsh environments, including the Grand Banks off the coast of Newfoundland. The increase in exploration, production, and shipment of oil near the shores of Newfoundland poses an increasing risk of a potential oil spill. Due to the particular vulnerability of the delicate Newfoundland coastline, and proximity to the fast moving Gulf Stream, it is imperative that any emergency response is immediate. One proposed method is the use of chemical dispersants applied via aircraft, which can cover large areas in a relatively short amount of time. This paper outlines the structural design of an oil dispersant system on a Dash 8 Q300 aircraft, which can be deployed during flight. The system can be installed and ready within 6 hours of the accident, and the boom deployment via mechanism will take less than two minutes.