OSS traveled to Lafayette, LA with the initial intent of starting an Alpha Test for our ASTM Method D7575 ‘Standard Test Method for Solvent-Free Membrane Recoverable Oil and Grease by Infrared Determination’.  The goal of this study  is to get real-time feedback from an end-user perspective.  This feedback will be invaluable as we prepare our technology for a commercial launch.  As part of our installation procedure we ran our method side-by-side with the current EPA Method 1664.  Comparison studies showed the methods to give the same results.   The independent lab will continue to perform our method for a 90 day period.

With the recent disaster event in the Gulf, the scope of the trip expanded vastly.  Since our method can provide real-time measurement of Oil and Grease in water, we felt it was appropriate to see how our technology could assist in monitoring and cleanup operations in the Gulf.  We spent the next two weeks traveling all over the Louisiana coast, collecting over 100 water samples.  Pictures from these trips can be found below.  Here is a map of our sampling sites:

View Louisiana Gulf Sampling Trip in a larger map

From rigorous analysis of the collected samples, as well as comparisons to standard test methods, we were able to show that our ASTM method D7575 can be used to provide fast and accurate analysis of ocean samples from the Gulf.  We also were able to demonstrate our concept for a field portable system.  We ran tests at several sites from the the back of our van using just a generator for power.   With a modified sampling technique we have also been able to use our method to detect oil deposits in sediment samples from the sea floor.  This procedure will be studied in detail over the coming months.

OSS is committed to providing any assistance we can as monitoring and cleanup efforts continue in the Gulf.  We are confident that our test method can be used to accurately measure oil and grease content in seawater samples.  We will continue to volunteer our services for this cause.

When we got everything set up, we were able process the last group of samples we had taken over the weekend.   This data, along with data that had been collected in the field, was compared to data generated using EPA standard methods.   These comparison studies are extremely valuable as we go forward with the EPA method approval process.

Our sampling efforts were successful, and were were able to get some good sediment samples.

Upon analysis, we were able to detect oil in the sediment.  This shows that our technique gives us the ability to test for oil that has settled to the bottom.

Later in the day, we assembled the mobile lab near the water.

We were able to rerun all of the samples we had collected using only a generator.

Tomorrow we will head further east, to attempt to do some sampling in marsh areas.  Check back for more updates.

This morning, we found a long strip of crude oil coming into the bay.

We were able to get a few really good samples, but our trip was cut short due to some rough weather.

Back on the island, there was a benefit party being held at the Bridge Side Marina.  Organized by chefs from New Orleans, there was music, fun, and tons of great food.  The purpose of the picnic was to lift the spirits of a community that hasn’t had many positive things to think about lately.

After we could not eat another bite, we headed back to the camp to process samples.

Tomorrow is our last day of sampling on Grand Isle.  We are shipping several dozen of the samples we have collected back to our lab in Maine.   We will continue to study how our technology can be used to provide valuable information as the cleanup efforts continue.  From here we will head further east, to hopefully do more sampling.  Keep checking for more updates.

Operating out of our new Field Office in Port Fourchon, we set off this morning on another sampling trip.  The amount of oil that is being drawn into shore varies throughout the day, so we started early to gain a new perspective.  Oil levels were again lower than they had been in the previous week.  Our first stop was the island that served as a sanctuary for thousands of birds.  We were pleasantly surprised to find that the two layers of boom had been totally replaced.

This trip, we decided to take surface samples with the intent of capturing the slick and sheen that can been seen on top of the water.  Analysis of the surface oil can allow us to better determine what is going on below the surface.

Today’s trip was quick, and we barely avoided some fierce thunderstorms.  After we got off the water, we headed to Grand Isle State Park, where we got our first look at the beach cleanup efforts.

The cleanup crews had done an impressive job of cleaning the oil off of the beach.  From the pier more sheen was clearly visible washing onto shore.

After a long morning, we escaped the heat and returned to our camp.  We were able to set up our lab in the kitchen and process all of the samples we had taken in the past two days.

Tomorrow we will collect more surface water in addition to sediment samples.  More updates to come.

As we got closer to the coast, the sentiment of the local residents was clear.

We arrived at our destination of Port Fourchon, LA.  We were able to secure a place to stay over the weekend that would allow us easy access to the water.

From Port Fourchon, we are able to take boats out of Grand Isle several times a day.  Over the weekend we will be sampling at the same locations that we did in our last cruise.  The goal will be to monitor daily changes in the oil that is coming to shore.

In addition to monitoring, we will also be testing new equipment and sampling procedures.

The amount of visible oil was considerably lower at our sampling sites than it was on the first trip.  We were able to capture some crude oil in our samples.

More sampling to come tomorrow.  We are planning two trips tomorrow to compare change in oil levels during the day.  More updates to come.

Working in the lab gave us the unique opportunity to run the samples with validated methods and compare the results to the data we had collected over the weekend.  The EPA standard results correlated well with our preliminary results.

Today a reporter from the Portland Press Herald came to interview us.  She is in the area covering Maine people who have traveled south to participate in Gulf Spill cleanup and support projects, so naturally we were perfect candidates.

Tomorrow is the last day that we will be working in the lab.  Thursday we will head back to the coast to continue in our sampling efforts.  Keep checking back for more updates.

We were able to process all of the water samples we collected in the field, and compared them to other sampling techniques that we are evaluating.

The hotel provided us with a cool and dry environment to analyze the samples we had collected.  It also gave us the opportunity to prepare the equipment for the Alpha Site installation that was to begin on Monday.  We were able to process over 30 samples in just a few hours.

On Monday, we began our Alpha Site installation.  The purpose of this process is to install our equipment and train an independent party to use and evaluate our technology.  The independent user will run our method side-by-side with other validated test methods, and provide us with feedback.

Installation and training went smoothly.  Over the next few days, we will compare our results from samples we collected over the weekend to the findings of other validated test methods.  We will also test samples that have been collected by the Alpha Site lab with our method to show our correlation to accepted test methods.

We were able to charter a small boat to take us around Grand Isle and the adjacent barrier islands.  This was the first time we were able to see the effects of the spill first hand.

Below is a map of our trip.

View Louisiana Gulf Sampling Trip in a larger map

At the first site, we were able to see some of the boom that had been placed to contain the spill.  The boom had washed ashore, and oil was collecting on the rocks.

The second site was just off the beach of Grand Isle.  From here we could see the beach, with a significant amount of oil washed ashore, and the cleanup workers.

The third site was east of the first site, on the other side of the island.  This area was full of boats dragging skimmers to collect oil.  On the west side of the area, we found a line of dark, heavy oil coming into the cove.  We focused on this for our sampling.

The fourth site was the furthest we went east on this trip.  The cleanup crews hadn’t made it to this area, so the oil was thick.  It stuck to our sampling gear, making it very difficult to collect samples.

Our final destination was a small island just north of Grand Isle.  It had been identified as an important refuge for birds, so it was surrounded completely by several rows of protective boom.  Oil was visible on the boom and oil had clearly penetrated the containment barrier.  The shoreline was covered with oil, including the birds that perched there.

After a long afternoon in the sun, we returned to the port.  As we got off of the boat, we were approached by a crew from a French news program.  They asked us to come back out and show our technology and sampling techniques.  We showed them where we had sampled, and how our technology could be used to assist with the spill cleanup.

We returned to Lafayette after our adventure on the sea.  750 miles and 24 hours of travel in two days.  We will spend the next few days analyzing the samples we have taken, and plan for future testing.  Below are more pictures from our trip to Grand Isle.  Check back here for more updates.