North Energy has together with Institute of Marine Research (Havforskningsinstituttet) carried out sea tests to verify if the Olex system can be used to measure and map sea currents.
North Energy has together with Institute of Marine Research (Havforskningsinstituttet) carried out sea tests to verify if the Olex system and software, widely used by fishing vessels for mapping the sea bottom, can be used to measure and map sea currents; information which is important related to simulation of an oil spill as well as to combat a potential spill.
Complicated surface currents make oil protection and clean-up a difficult task. This report describes the results from a test of the accuracy of a method that has the potential to be used both to get more detailed knowledge about surface currents in an area, and also to collect up to date information of surface current conditions during and after an oil spill event.
The method, called Olex SB, is connected to the Olex system and software widely used by fishing vessels for mapping the sea bottom. The reliability of the Olex SB method was tested against data from surface drifters that drift with the upper part of the water column, during a 4-5 hour long field survey with a boat equipped with Olex SB. The drifters were put into the sea from the boat about 1 km apart along a straight line and the boat then followed a track that passed each drifter seven times before all drifters were taken on board the boat again.
Comparisons were made between Olex SB data and each drifter when the distance between them was closer than 350 meters.
The conclusion of the report is that the Olex SB method is a reliable method for estimation of ocean surface current within reasonable accuracy.
Read more about North Energy's engagement in Coastal preparedness.
Contact Director HSE, Lars Tveter: lars.tveter@northenergy.no
