Coast Guard Seeks Tech Solutions To Oil SpillCoast Guard Seeks Tech Solutions To Oil Spill

The Deepwater Horizon disaster cleanup effort in the Gulf of Mexico has escalated to such an extent that the Coast Guard is making a broad request for specialized technology to contain the oil spill.

The Coast Guard's Research and Development Center (RDC) is seeking white paper submissions on a variety of technologies for detecting oil and responding to oil that’s been spilled, according to a statement by the Deepwater Horizon Incident Joint Information Center.

Specifically, the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) posted on FedBizOpps.gov is calling for technologies to improve oil sensing, response and detection, as well as for oil wellhead control and submerged oil response.

The request also seeks traditional oil spill response technologies; alternative oil spill response technologies; and solutions to oil spill damage assessment and restoration.

All white papers must include a technical approach to the problem they aim to solve as well as an estimate of how much deploying the solution would cost, according to the BAA.

Agencies working to contain the spill that occurred April 20 when the oil rig Deepwater Horizon exploded and sank in the Gulf, predict the effort will extend into the autumn. Oil giant British Petroleum, which held the lease on the rig at the time of the explosion, has so far has been unable to cap the wellhead that continues to gush oil.

Experts and authorities are working to contain the spill mainly by siphoning the oil to the surface. It’s estimated that millions of gallons of oil have spilled into the Gulf so far.

Numerous government agencies -- including NASA, the Department of Homeland Security and the Navy -- have contributed technology and equipment to the Deepwater Horizon containment effort.

The Coast Guard RDC and the Interagency Alternative Technology Assessment Program (IATAP) workgroup -- recently established by the Deepwater Horizon’s National Incident Commander to explore new technologies to aid the effort -- will screen submissions based on how feasible it is to both develop and deploy them.

Submissions will be evaluated and given one of three determinations: one that has the potential for immediate benefit to the spill response effort; one that needs more detailed investigation or evaluation; or one that has no potential at all to be useful.