The Iceland Enquirer: BP looking into employing Icelandic technology to help with cleanup effort

BP looking into employing Icelandic technology to help with cleanup effort

Posted by Max Naylor on Monday, June 28, 2010

A device designed and developed by an Icelandic inventor to remove oil from the sea and lakes is under consideration by oil company BP. The company, who is responsible for the catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, is looking into employing the technology in its cleanup effort. Inventor Ólafur Ögmundsson says that he is honoured that the technology is being considered.

“This is a tremendous source of pride for me [to have such a large company considering the technology],” said Ólafur in an interview with mbl.is. He has worked for Swedish and Norwegian oil companies and chemical carriers for a number of years.

The device is called ELI 2000, and according to its inventor, the idea is around 15 years old. A contractor that is carrying out the cleanup operation for BP, O’Brien’s, is looking into using the device.

“It’s based on the so-called ‘vortex effect’, where a surface stream which draws in the surface of the sea or a lake is formed,” Ólafur says. The effect would appear something like a whirlpool in the water. The surface water is then pumped straight up into a ship or tanker. The liquid is then left to stand, and after about half an hour, the oil becomes separated from the water. According to Ólafur, the device process approximately 1,500 cubic metres of water an hour.

Ólafur received a two million króna grant from the Alþingi some years ago to help with the development of the technology. The idea was later sent to BP, who recently informed Ólafur that they would like to explore the technology further.

“This is like being in the semi-finals,” the excited inventor says. He goes on to add that many thousands of ideas reach the company each year, and that it is a great honour to him to have got so far.

Ólafur says that his device is simply built yet very effective at doing what it needs to do. It is possible to use the technology almost anywhere it would be required—it can be mounted onto a ship or plant machinery, for example. There is no need for a generator as the device uses no electricity.

The machine has been tested in Iceland in co-operation with the Capital Area Fire Brigade, as well as in the UK by the company Oil Spill Response Limited, with positive results. Ólafur says he will shortly find out whether BP will make him an offer or not.

Source and image: mbl.is

Labels: Innovation

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