Oil Spill Detection and Monitoring

RBR data loggers (sonde, recorder) are available for crude oil detection and associated environmental monitoring in deep and coastal waters either optically or through conductivity measurements .

Optical detection

Crude oil has a broadband fluorescence that can be detected at low levels (well below 1ppm) with fluorometers and turbid oil emulsion plumes can be detected with light scattering turbidity sensors. We package optical sensors for both of these together with dissolved oxygen and other customer-specified sensors on the RBR XR-420 or XR-620 system with a depth rating of up to 6,000m.  Our Dissolved Oxygen sensor is accurate to +/- 2 % and up to 200% saturation.  The turbidity sensor is auto-ranging and can read between 0 and 2500 FTU and has an accuracy of +/- 2% up to 750 FTU. The UV sensor (Fluorometer) is also auto-ranging and is accurate to +/- 2%.  Contact RBR for more information and visit the Seapoint website for additional information on the sensor performance, www.seapoint.com.

	Seapoint Oil spill detection results

Inductive Conductivity measurement

The RBR inductive conductivity cell can detect oil plumes in the water column by rapidly decreasing conductivity or lower derived salinity values or by detecting density anomalies.  Additionally the inductive conductivity cell can withstand deterioration produced by the crude oil, this is a huge advantage when comparing to contact cell technologies. RBR XR series loggers can be configured for real time output and interfaced to RF, GSM or Satellite modems.