subject: A Floating Boom Can Help in Oil Spill Fight [print this page] BP has apparently capped the broken well that has been spewing oil into the Gulf of Mexico for more than 80 days, causing a terrible disaster that is threatening beaches as well as wildlife. However, that does not mean the beaches are out of danger. There is still work to be done and weapons are needed in order to protect beaches from the oil slick that is already coming onshore. A floating boom is one thing that can be effective and has proven such in the past. They float on water, as their name indicates, just as the oil does and can usually absorb oils from just about any hydrocarbon spill. A floating boom, also called an absorbent boom, can be laid out in either calm or rough waters. There are some designed to take the punishment waves can dish out, so they will not wear out after a period of time and become ineffective. Also, they can be placed in a manner where they will not be in the way of any ship traffic that might go where they are laid. Having a floating boom is a great tool in the oil spill cleanup effort because they can soak in a lot of the oil that floats on top of the water, preventing it from reaching beaches and ruining them or killing off wildlife.
A floating boom can be reused in some cases. This saves money on having to buy new ones for multiple oil spills. Also, agents such as Enviro-Armour can be added to them and the oil can be encapsulated by transforming it into a floating solid. Then, the oil can be removed a lot easier and even recycled. Enviro-Bond 403 is one agent that can be added to a floating boom and act as a protective barrier against hydrocarbon oil spills. It is listed on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Contingency Plan Product Schedule as a solidifier and is used in oil spills in navigable waters in the U.S. Once the oil is recycled, it can be used as a raw material for products such as rubber, asphalt, plastics and fuel. A floating boom should also meet EPA's standards.
One of the oil spill clean up companies that use a floating boom for situations like the BP oil spill is Integrated Protection Systems (IPS). Using their preferred installers, Sterling Building Specialists, IPS will place absorbent booms strategically along the Gulf Coast and lessen the impact of the oil slick. They are already using this method in Dauphin Island, AL and it is working. For more information on how to get a floating boom, log on to info@bp-oil-spills.com.
