Oil spills are severe environmental disasters our planet faces. A minor leak from the ship or pipeline can devastate marine life. One commonly used tool to fight this growing threat is the oil boom. What’s interesting about these books is that they are not all the same. There are several types of oil booms, each varying in design and performance.
Understanding those types is crucial to choosing the right boom for the right environment. A boom that works well in calm water will fail in the open sea. That’s why it is essential to match the boom to the condition. Are you new to the oil boom concept and confused about its type? Worry not! This guide will walk you through some common oil boom types. So, let’s get started!
Importance of Oil Booms
Before discussing the types, let’s first have a bird’s eye view of the role and importance of oil booms.
Oil booms are floating barriers that stop oil from spreading in water. They look like long tubes and act as fences to trap oil spills in one area. One part of these booms stays above the water to block the oil on the surface. However, the second part remains below to stop the oil from going underneath.
Oil booms are mainly made with rubber or fabric that doesn’t sink. Some are also customized with weights or chains at the bottom to help them stabilize. However, remember that they are not meant to clean the oil themselves. They just help collect the oil in one place. Once oil is contained, it is much easier to remove it using skimmers.
This way, they help keep our environment’s special marine bodies safe and clean. HOW? As you know, oil is undissolved in water. Instead, it forms a layer on the water surface. This layer prevents sunlight and oxygen from entering the water. As a result, marine life, such as plants and fish, starts dying. That’s why they are mainly used in large water bodies.
Common Types of Oil Booms
As I mentioned above, not all oil booms are the same. They vary in design, shape, and size. So, each type is specific for certain conditions and needs. Let’s dive into this section and explore some common oil boom types.
1- Fence Booms
It is one of the typical types of oil boom used during oil spills. Fence booms are generally made from a series of connected sections. Those sections form a long fence made from durable plastic and rubber materials. When you anchor these booms on the water, they start floating.
The upper part of the fence boom prevents the oil from spreading. However, in the lower part, there is a skirt. This skirt extends into the water and traps the oil beneath the surface. Moreover, fence booms are ideal for areas with calm water. They are often used in earlier oil spills and trap the oil for a short time.
2- Curtain Booms
Curtain oil booms are another popular type used to contain oil spills on water. These rubber oil booms are somehow similar to fence booms. For example, they float on the water and have a skirt. But the difference lies in the size of the skirt. They have a long skirt that goes deep down into the water.
This makes them effective in controlling oil spills that reach deep enough to harm marine life. Their flexible design allows them to handle intense waves without breaking or tipping over. That’s why they are ideal for moderate to rough water conditions. For example, curtain booms are commonly used in coastal areas, rivers, and offshore water.
3- Inflatable Booms
Inflatable oil booms are designed to deploy quickly in an oil spill emergency. They are filled with air and sometimes water. Unlike regular oil booms, they are made with solid foam for flotation. When there is no oil spill, they stay flat. However, these oil booms are taken out from storage and filled with air using blowers in case of an oil spill.
Due to air filling, inflatable booms quickly become flat and anchor in place using chains and weight. In this way, inflatable booms are ideal for quick response in an emergency and are easy to handle. These booms are primarily used in open seas, harbors, and ports. Moreover, like other oil booms, they also have skirts that go deep down and prevent oil spread.
4- Solid Flotation Booms
Solid flotation booms are oil booms that use solid material like foam to stay afloat. Unlike inflatable oil booms, they don’t rely on inflation. As you know, inflation takes time, and oil can spread in that time. So, solid flotation booms are made with floating sections. Those sections are filled with foam instead of air to keep them above the water.
This means that these oil booms are always ready to use, making them ideal for emergencies. Moreover, they contain skirts and are anchored using weight. You can connect several solid flotation booms to make one large barrier for large water bodies. Furthermore, these oil booms are always in shape, don’t collapse, and are easy to maintain.
5- Fire Resistant Oil Booms
Fire-resistant oil booms are specially designed to resist high temperatures. They are mainly used in in-situ burning. Let me explain this term in simple words. Sometimes, cleaning an oil spill in the open sea becomes difficult. So, responders may decide to burn the oil on the water surface, which is known as in-situ burning.
This method removes large oil spills quickly and efficiently. These special oil-resistant booms are handy for this method. They are made with heat-resistant material such as ceramic. These oil bombs collect the water in one place, and the oil is burnt. They do not melt or break down in this situation, making the operation safe.
6- Sorbent Booms
Sorbent booms, also known as oil-absorbent booms, are another kind of oil boom. Sorbent comes from the word “absorb,” which means to soak up. This means these oil booms not only collect the oil but also absorb it. For this dual functionality, they are more popular than all other types. Sorbent booms are mainly made with polypropylene, peat moss, or sawdust.
All these materials can soak up oil. When you anchor these booms into the water, their upper part collects the water in one place. Once collected, the oil boom starts sucking up oil. When the entire oil boom is filled with oil, it is replaced with a new one. This process continues until the end of the oil spill cleaning operation.
7- Permanent Booms
As the name suggests, permanent booms are strong oil booms installed in one location for a long time. Even this duration can last for years or up to the life of the oil booms. Temporary booms are used only when oil spills happen. However, these oil booms are always ready to prevent oil spills when they happen. In this way, they act as constant safety barriers.
Due to constant use, permanent oil booms are made with durable material to withstand UV lights and harsh water conditions. Moreover, these oil booms are also equipped with features like tidal compensation. This allows them to rise and fall with water levels. So, permanent oil booms are commonly used in high-risk areas such as ports and marine oil terminals.
8- Ice Booms
Ice booms are special floating oil booms that control ice movement in the cold region. This ice can hinder the cleaning structure of oil spills, such as skimmers. Therefore, ice must be removed first for skimmers to work more efficiently. These booms are specifically made with steel cables. Along with these cables, there are large floating pontoons.
These pontoons are made of metal or sometimes wood. When you anchor them in an icy water body, they stretch across the surface of the river or lake. When ice starts to form or move, ice oil booms act as fences and guide the ice away from sensitive areas. This way, ice booms prevent ice jams that can hinder oil cleaning.
9- Self-Adjusting Booms
Self-adjusting booms are flexible oil booms that automatically adapt to changes in water levels. Regular oil booms are inefficient for the areas where the water level changes constantly. However, self-adjusting booms automatically adjust with rising or falling tides. They are mainly made with floating material and have a buoyant design.
The boom adjusts height as the water rises or falls to maintain the accurate barrier. Some types of self-adjusting booms also contain floatation chambers or hinge-like structures. This helps them bend and move with tides without losing shape. Therefore, these oil booms are ideal for coastal areas, tidal zones, and estuaries.
10- Weir Booms
Weir booms are special oil containment booms that collect and control oil spills. The word “weird” means “small dam.” These booms work like floating dams, collecting and controlling oil. Basically, they have two parts. The upper part floats on the water and gathers the oil.
Oil flows into the weir boom through an opening and lid. Then, these booms are connected with skimmers or hoses to pump out the oil. However, the lower part of these booms allows clean water to pass without hindrance. In this way, weir booms are handy when quick recovery is essential.
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Who uses oil booms?
Oil booms are used by several organizations and companies that deal with oil. They use oil booms to control and sometimes clean up oil spills. Some common industries include:
- Oil Companies
- Ports and Harbors
- Coast Guards and Marine Safety Agencies
- Environmental Protection Organizations like the EPA
Do oil booms remove oil from water?
The primary purpose of oil booms is to control oil spills and prevent them from spreading. However, some types, such as sorbent oil booms, also remove oil and trap it.
How long can an oil boom last?
The life span of oil booms depends on the type and material used. On average, they last for 1 to 5 years. However, you can increase their life with proper maintenance.
Are oil booms reusable?
Yes, some oil booms are reusable, especially those made for heavy-duty use. They are made with material that lasts long and withstand harsh conditions.
Conclusie
Oil spills are not just messy accidents. They are serious environmental threats that damage marine ecosystems and human health. To deal with those disasters, oil booms come onto the scene. However, not all oil booms are equal. Their design, shape, and performance differ, leading to their types.
In this article, we have seen how all those types are specific for certain purposes. Some oil booms just collect the oil and stop it from spreading. However, some are specially designed to absorb and collect oil. Understanding this contrast helps companies choose the right oil boom for the right condition.