The Wendy Schmidt Oil Cleanup X CHALLENGE was Launched in July 2010 in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico with a $1.4 million prize to speed the pace of cleaning up seawater surface oil resulting from spillage from ocean platforms, tankers, and other sources. This one year competition will culminate in the fall of 2011, with competitive demonstrations taking place at OHMSETT, the National Oil Spill Response Research & Renewable Energy Test Facility.
A $1.4 million prize will be awarded to the teams that demonstrate the ability to recover oil on the sea surface at the highest Oil Recovery Rate (ORR) of over 2,500 GPM with an Oil Recovery Efficiency (ORE) of more than 70%.
(references: http://www.xprize.org/content/wendy-schmidt-oil-cleanup-x-challenge and http://www.iprizecleanoceans.org/ )
Summary:
1. The Challenge received some 350 applications to enter the Wendy Schmidt Oil Cleanup X-Challenge.
2. Only ten (10) finalists were selected to compete head-to-head in the Ohmsett 203 meter length salt-water tank without an elimination round of competition.
3. The Finalists had a year to perfect their cleanup technique, machinery and personnel.
4. Real world "in-the-tank' demonstrations were recently conducted and judged.
Results:
The winning teams were required to demonstrate the highest ability to recover oil on a sea-water surface at the highest Oil Recovery Rate (ORR) above 2,500 gallons per minute with an Oil Recovery Efficiency (ORE) of greater than 70 percent. The two winning teams were:
- $1 Million First Place Winner: Team Elastec/American Marine from Illinois, USA
Average ORR: 4670 gallons per minute
Average ORE: 89.5% oil to water recovered
Elastec/American Marine, a manufacturer of oil spill and environmental equipment known for innovation in machinery design, is a self-funded, privately held Midwest Corporation that has grown to become one of the largest manufacturers of oil spill equipment in North America. The company, which started over 20 years ago as just an idea, has grown into a 100+ workforce that has gained a global reputation for its technological innovations. Using local talent for nearly all of their fabrication, Elastec/American Marine is proof that small town values can transcend to a global market. In the competition, Elastec/American Marine reached more than 3 times the industry’s previous best oil recovery rate tested in controlled conditions.
- $300,000 Second Place Winner: Team NOFI from Tromsø, Norway
Average ORR: 2712 gallons per minute
Average ORE: 83.0% oil to water recovered
NOFI, an innovative industrial corporation located in Northern Norway, develops, manufactures, and sells its products and services around the world, primarily within the maritime sector. NOFI develops and produces world-class boom technologies, and has a range of products that cover most aspects of oil spill control. An ongoing focus on innovation and diversification as key strategies enables NOFI to offer quality products within several market areas. In the competition, despite contending with schedule delays caused by Hurricane Irene, NOFI reached more than two times the industry’s previous best oil recovery rate tested in controlled conditions.
There was no third place award because the other teams did not meet the minimum 2,500 gpm with 70% efficiency requirements.
WHAT DOES THE X-CHALLENGE REALLY SAY ABOUT OIL CLEANUP?
IS OIL CLEANUP SO TECHNICALLY CHALLENGING?
HOW MUCH MONEY DOES THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY SPEND EACH YEAR ON NEW INNOVATING OIL CLEANUP SOLUTIONS? WHAT PERCENT OF PROFITS GOES TO OIL CLEANUP RESEARCH? OR IS IT CHEAPER TO SPILL AND PAY A FINE THAN SOLVE THE SPILL AND CLEANUP MESS?
ONLY TWO (2) OUT OF 350 WORLD-WIDE APPLICATIONS RESULTED IN MEETING THE X-CHALLENGE MINIMUMS OF 2,500 GALLONS PER MINUTE WITH MORE THAN 70% EFFICIENCY.
SOMETHING IS WRONG - WITH ONLY TWO PARTICIPANTS DEMONSTRATING ACCEPTABLE NUMBERS IT CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THE NEED FOR THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY TO STEP UP AND FUND OIL CLEANUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. I'M SURE THE OTHER 340 APPLICATIONS WOULD LIKE TO SHOW HOW THEY WOULD SOLVE THE OIL CLEANUP X-CHALLENGE.
SHELL OIL SPONSORED THE X-CHALLENGE ALONG WITH WENDY SCHMIDT.
HOW ABOUT IT SHELL OIL - SHOW US YOU REALLY CARE - FUND A NEW X-CHALLENGE FOR THE OTHER 340 APPLICATIONS.
2 / 350 X 100 = 0.5%
ONE-HALF OF ONE PERCENT SUCCESS...HOW EMBARRASSING !!!
OIL SPILLS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE !!!
OIL SPILL CLEANUP MUST BE ADDRESSED AND MADE A PRIORITY !!!
PLEASE TELL YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES HOW YOU FEEL.
Online Directory for the 112th Congress
PLEASE TELL SHELL OIL THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR A NEW X-CHALLENGE WITH THE OTHER 340 APPLICATIONS.
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