RAPID-DEPLOYMENT OIL SPILL CONTAINMENT BOOM AND METHOD OF DEPLOYMENT

摘要

A rapid-deployment system for containing oil spills and similar water contaminations comprises a pre-manufactured sleeve having air-inflatable or gas- inflatable compartments and water inflatable compartments. In some embodiments uninflated sleeve is stored as a reel of sleeve material, and the deployment system, optionally mounted in a small boat, comprises a machine for inflating the air and water compartments at the site of a spill. In some embodiments, air and/or water compartments may be self-inflating. The system is relatively inexpensive, light, and not bulky, so may easily be stored at potential spill sites (including vessels), and may be used to rapidly manufacture a floating oil boom around a spill, thereby containing the spill before it has a chance to spread. A variety of boom configurations which are efficient in blocking movement of oil even in turbulent water, and which are stable under conditions of wind and wave, are presented.