Innovation in Rutter’s Oil Spill Management System

Figure 1 (above) – A screen shot from the Rutter OSSR showing the system-generated oil spill outlines as well as the predictive future path of the oil.

Rutter’s role in the offshore oil and gas industry

Offshore oil and gas exploration has reached unprecedented levels in the past 50 years as industry has extended its reach further offshore and deeper into the world’s marine environments. As the focus on greater exploration has heightened, so too has the requirement for advanced technologies to facilitate the development of offshore oil wells.

Time and money

Industry has spent time and money developing technology that will not only expedite the clean-up of offshore oil spills, but also detect the location of slicks and anticipate their dispersion rate and path. For Rutter Technologies, a division of St. John’s-based Rutter Inc., that realization became a reality in 2003 when the company acquired the Sigma S6 radar-processing technology.

In seven short years, the capability and expertise of this technology has been developed into a renowned system worldwide, which meets the international compliance standard for oil-spill-radar detection requirements. In August 2010, Rutter’s Oil Spill Response Radar (OSRR) was formally recognized by the Norwegian Clean Seas Association for Operating Companies (NOFO) as certified to be used as oil-spill response technology for the Norwegian offshore.

Historical milestones in developing Rutter’s radar technology

Initially, the Sigma S6 radar technology was applied for several functions, including an ice navigation system for detecting icebergs and ice formations near marine-shipping channels and offshore installations. Research and development then began to refine the technology for application in enhanced maritime safety and security applications. Although the Sigma S6 had been primarily designed for ice and small target detection, there was increasing interest in its ability to detect oil slicks offshore.

Sigma S6 surveillance system

The Norwegian Coastal Administration, who initially purchased the Sigma S6 surveillance system for ice navigation, discovered in 2007-08 that it could also detect a small oil slick caused by sub-sea oil seepage.

In 2008, Rutter was invited by the Norwegian Clean Seas Association (NOFO) to participate in an exclusive offshore trial, testing their Sigma S6 technology against similar systems.

The Sigma S6’s capability to detect and monitor surface oil was evaluated during two oil-on-water trials. It was the success of these trials which led Rutter to eventually develop a refined Oil Spill Response Radar, culminating in a third trial in June 2010 and NOFO certification. The Rutter OSRR automatically detects oil over a large radar coverage area, and is capable of auto-outlining the suspected oil spill and alerting the operator with visual and audible alarms. It provides continuous real-time local surveillance and can be installed either on board a vessel or at a fixed site. The technology has consistently outperformed every competitor in subsequent trials, proving its reliability in 2008, 2009 and in 2010. To date Rutter is one of the only two companies in the world having met the NOFO compliance standard for oil-spill-radar- detection requirements.

Partnering with global resources

In June 2010, Rutter partnered with a Norwegian- based company, Aptomar AS, to integrate the OSRR with Aptomar’s infrared camera, real-time video, searchlight capabilities and chart-based display. The Integrated Oil Spill Response and Management System has flourished as one of the few systems in the world capable of automatic oil spill detection, area, thickness and volume estimations, in combination with oil spill drift prediction, detection of boom leakage and navigation of the oil-spill skimmer in low-light conditions.

The integrated system has become renowned for being able to identify and track oil slicks from a moving vessel to a stationary platform, as well as an onshore base. Rutter’s technology is currently being deployed in Brazil, Egypt, Italy, Norway and the United States.

Byron Dawe is the President, Business Development and Innovation of Rutter Technologies.