OHMSETT
PURPOSE
The main goal of this experiment was to gain some experience with taking underwater measurements in a controlled, yet realistic, marine environment. To do so, we used a (heavily modified) commercially-available ROV carrying three different fluorescence sensors specifically tuned to detect crude oil in seawater. We owe a huge thank-you to ExxonMobil for inviting us to the Ohmsett Oil Spill Response Research & Renewable Energy Test Facility in New Jersey, where we were able to run our ROV alongside their tests.
PHOTO GALLERIES
Please click on the galleries below to learn more.
Many thanks to Tom Coolbaugh (ExxonMobil), who took these photos for us.
surface slicks
underwater plumes
Credit: T. Coolbaugh
Credit: T. Coolbaugh
Credit: T. Coolbaugh
Credit: T. Coolbaugh
Credit: T. Coolbaugh
Credit: T. Coolbaugh
Credit: T. Coolbaugh
Credit: T. Coolbaugh
dispersed oil
miscellany
Credit: T. Coolbaugh
Credit: T. Coolbaugh
Credit: T. Coolbaugh
Credit: T. Coolbaugh
Credit: T. Coolbaugh
Credit: T. Coolbaugh
Credit: T. Coolbaugh
Credit: T. Coolbaugh
VIDEOS
Footage from both above and underwater!
above water
Exploring an oil containment boom
Surfacing
underwater
Through a dispersed plume
Under a dispersed plume
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We owe a great many thanks to the following groups and individuals:
EXXONMOBIL
Tim Nedwed, Tom Coolbaugh, Doug Mitchell
DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY
Aaron MacNeill, Mike Vining, Ian MacIntosh, Haibo Niu, Jim Eddington
BEDFORD INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY (BIO)
Brian Robinson
US NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA)
Lisa Dipinto
US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)
Robyn Conmy
OHMSETT
everyone at Ohmsett, but especially:
Mike Brennan, Alan Guarino, and Paul Panetta

2019 ExxonMobil Ohmsett Dispersants Workshop
Photo credit: T. Schmidt








REFERENCES
-
Ohmsett Oil Spill Response Research & Renewable Energy Test Facility. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ohmsett.com/
Last revised: May 2, 2020