A lightweight, bioplastic, mobile, floating oil spill mechanical/biological recovery system is dimensionally compact, and quick to assemble. The floating platform can be readily positioned within any waterborne oil/contaminant spill area. After assembly, this platform or apparatus can be directed by either a hand-held digital radio control transmitter or GPS directed mechanism. A lower, multi-roller slip-on belt is designed to be mounted over a circular base support aeration hub assembly with alternating/spaced slotted ring water drainage separators. The belt and aeration assemblies dip bioaugmentation product into the contaminant site thereby exposing microorganisms to both oxygen and target contaminant for treatment and metabolism. Various mechanisms for enhancing metabolic activity of the bioaugmentation product operate in tandem with the primary belt and aeration assemblies to promote effective contaminant metabolism and overall treatment regimes.

Provided is an oil-water separation structure, a method of manufacturing the same, an oil-water separator including the oil-water separation structure, and an oil-water separation method using the oil-water separator. The oil-water separation structure includes a porous substrate including a plurality of protrusions forming a nano-pattern on at least one surface; and an inorganic particle disposed at an end of at least some portions of the protrusions. The oil-water separation structure has hydrophilic or superhydrophilic surface properties to selectively filter out water and easily separate and retrieve oil from a mixture of water and oil. A manufacturing process of the oil-water separation structure is environmentally friendly and the oil-water separation structure may be manufactured into a large surface area. The oil-water separator including the oil-water separation structure may be repeatedly used and prevent additional environmental pollution.

Provided is a method and a system for removal of oil under ice through an opening made into ice. The system includes oil booms extending under ice in two different directions from the opening so as to constitute an angle of less than 180 degrees between each other; an oil collection device placed in the opening; and a propulsion device placed on the level of the lower surface of ice at a distance from the opening in the area of the angle so as to provide a flow directed towards the opening between the oil booms in the area of the angle.

A method of containing a spill in an aqueous environment, comprises the steps of: placing a polymeric pipe under the surface level of the aqueous environment in the vicinity of a site of potential spillage; and raising the pipe from under the surface level to a containment level; wherein the pipe forms, when raised, at least a partial boundary around the spill for containing the spill.

An agent and a method for dispersing spilled oil, particularly on a body of water. The compound is a viscous dispersant liquid comprising a mixture of surfactants and a viscosifying agent that may be stored, shipped, mixed, and delivered on site using standard equipment and methods. The compound is released as a cohesive, persistent, visible, gel-like or paste-like liquid that floats on water. At least one method includes delivering the viscous dispersant liquid onto an oil spill in a body of water utilizing a jet airplane flying at over about 100 feet and spraying the liquid in large, pea-sized droplets.

A floating oil containment boom is comprised of boom sections connected end to end. Each boom section is of a tubular member or pipe section. The pipe or tubular member is buoyant, either closed at its ends and/or filled with foam or other buoyant material. Plates extend above and below the tubular member or pipe section for each section of boom. A specially configured connecter joins each boom section to the other, the connecter extending above and below the pipe or tubular member. An elastomeric block forms an interface between connectors on each boom section while simultaneously sealing the area between boom sections to flow of oil.

An oil skimming device for the removal of oil located at the surface of a body of water includes a float, at least one skimming surface, a sorbent material, at least one scraper, and a motor. The float is arranged such that the device rests on the surface of the body of water from which the oil is to be removed. The at least one skimming surface is rotatable about an axis such that when the device is floating in the water a portion of the ridged skimming surface is above and a portion of the skimming surface is below the water surface. The sorbent material is removably attached to and substantially covers the skimming surface. The sorbent material is configured to rotate with the skimming surface and to sorb oil as the skimming surface is rotated.

Provided is a device for collecting oil contained in ice. The device includes a lifting device fixed for example to a vessel, a cage of separation adapted to be lowered into the water between the ice blocks by means of the lifting device and formed by a box which lets water and oil but substantially no ice, and an oil collector for collecting the oil on the water surface in the space defined by the separation of cage.

An oil spill recovery vessel (10) is provided that comprises a catamaran bow section (12) with twin hulls between which an oil skimmer unit (11) is arranged for displacement between a lowered, operating, position in oil-polluted water and a raised, non-operational, position clear of the water. Aft of the catamaran bow section (12) is a trimaran main section (13) made up of a central hull interposed between two outer hulls formed by aft continuations of the twin hulls of the catamaran bow section (12); the three hulls of the trimaran main section have conjoined upper portions. A propulsion unit (53) is operative to move the vessel (10) forward at slow speed for skimming operations, and, with the skimmer unit (11) in its raised position, at a fast speed in which the vessel planes on its trimaran main section (13).

Apparatus for containing oil and/or gas leakage from a drilling operation (off-shore or on-shore) comprised of an expandable membrane surrounding a central spline, an apparatus adapted to the removal of the captured oil or gas, and a blowout-handling fuse capability. The bottom section of the off-shore version includes operator-controlled extension members to expand the membrane to fully surround the drill site. Any further leakage from the well site will further expand the membrane from the spline sections as it moves upward. When the leaked material reaches the top an extraction apparatus included allows it to be extracted safely.