Elastec introduced a new product for offshore and nearshore oil spill cleanup. The X150 Skimmer Launching System is an oil spill response system with the capability to recover light, medium and some heavy oils in incidents. Elastec’s conducted sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico near Port Fourchon, Louisiana.
The centerpiece of the new launching system is the X150 skimmer, the first commercial model Elastec developed incorporating grooved disc technology.
The X150 skimmer is capable of recovering extreme volumes of oil. It has a verified nameplate oil recovery rate of 660 gal of oil per minute (150cu m/hr) and an oil recovery efficiency (oil-to-water collection rate) of 87.6%, the company says.
Operated by three people, the launcher does all the heavy lifting by hydraulically telescoping the X150 skimmer from the stern of the vessel into the ocean. Attached to the X150 are two legs of a rugged, single-point, air-inflatable boom to sweep and guide the oil into the mouth of the skimmer. One leg of the boom is attached to the vessel, and the other leg is attached to an ELASTEC BoomVane to hold the boom in a “U” configuration as it is towed behind the vessel. The BoomVane takes the place of a second vessel which saves time and money and also reduces ship-to-ship communication issues.
The self-contained system is wirelessly remote controlled and includes the launcher, the X150 skimmer, boom and reel, BoomVane and power unit. Hydraulic and discharge hoses are built into the sweep boom, eliminating external umbilicals. The complete system fits into a 20ft (6m) high-cube shipping container for rapid global shipment.
Image: X150 Skimmer Launching System/Elastec
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