Tech
nology
Ocean Visuals offer OWL™ LiDAR sensor systems for real-time detection and classification of oil and organics in the sea.
Ocean Visuals offer OWL™ LiDAR sensor systems for real-time detection and classification of oil and organics in the sea.
Detect, monitor and identify oil in water as it happens.
This technology is crucial for preventing environmental damage, as it allows for immediate response to oil leaks or spills from ships, pipelines, or offshore drilling activities. Using advanced sensors enables the system to detect changes in water composition or surface patterns.
Many believe that because oil is lighter than water it should stay at the top of the water surface, but unfortunately this is not the case for all hydrocarbons. Scientific reports* from some of the largest oil spills in history show that in fact up to 30-40% of an oil spill goes undetected by existing technologies like satellite radar or camera sensor systems. We are here to change that.
Our sensors combine the principles of lidar and fluorescence spectroscopy to provide detailed information about the composition and distribution of substances present in the water.
As oil is intrinsically fluorescent and emits light in the blue-green spectral range when illuminated by UV light it is easily distinguished from other substances in the water. Using the Hyper-spectral curve of the emitted light, we can spectrally “fingerprint” the data, and thus receive a real-time identification of oil category and type (crude oil, hydraulic oil etc) on the spot, with no samples or lab analysis required.
Hyperspectral laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) LIDAR sensor systems are powerful tools for real-time detection and classification of oil in water. By investing in real-time detection and classification systems, companies dealing with oil can save substantial costs, protect their reputation, and reduce their environmental impact. We provide real-time data gathering with our best-in-class photonics sensory and contextualize the data from the air, on the surface and subsea to extract insights.
Ownership of products and methods is a fundamental principle at Ocean Visuals, especially in the development of our groundbreaking laser sensor system, the Oil in Water Locator (OWL). We recognize the importance of safeguarding intellectual property and have actively pursued patent protection in both the USA and EU. Our commitment to creating the most advanced sensor equipment on the market is driven by the unique technology underlying real-time detection and classification of oil types in water environments. At the heart of this technology lies an extensive database of distinctive spectral images, serving as distinct signatures for various oil types. This advanced pattern recognition allows us to perform in-situ classification of oil, eliminating the need for costly sampling measures and subsequent laboratory analyses.
Our collaboration with Petrobras, the leading oil and gas company in Brazil, has been of significant importance. Through a close partnership, we have developed and refined methods for detecting, verifying, and classifying oil in water. This collaboration has resulted in the establishment of a comprehensive database of various oil compositions, forming the basis for our field analyses. By integrating geographic information systems (GIS), we can effectively distribute analyzed data for production monitoring.
The continuous flow of unique data can also be integrated with other datasets, such as AIS ship positions or meteorological data on ocean currents. This enables the development of predictive models that not only estimate oil quantity and type but also the expected movement of oil over time. Our real-time detection systems thus provide a unique opportunity for modeling oil pollution, including oil spills that have sunk below the water surface – a scenario that traditional satellite and airborne radar systems struggle to detect.
Our use of laser-based technology eliminates the problem of false alarms often associated with radar-based systems. Furthermore, our flexible sensor platform allows for autonomous measurement from various platforms, whether from ships, helicopters, drones, or aircraft. By controlling sensors via GPS or time synchronization, and with the ability to adjust measurement frequency from a central operations center thanks to cloud-based technology, we can effectively tailor monitoring to meet specific needs. Sensors can even be programmed to automatically increase measurement frequency upon oil detection, functioning as passive alert systems from various platforms, including ferries and supply vessels.
Although the patenting process has been time-consuming, with the US patent 10041882 - DEVICE FOR REMOTE OIL DETECTION secured in 2018 and the EU patent EP3074752 - DEVICE FOR REMOTE OIL DETECTION approved after nearly a decade, we believe that this investment of both time and resources is crucial. It not only grants us ownership but also control over the unique method enabled by our sensor system, ensuring our leadership and innovation advantage in this field
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“The operational use of this technology has the potential to improve the verification of suspicious oil features, the detection of oil in the water column, reducing the need for conventional laboratory analysis.”
Cristina Maria Bentz
Ocean Visuals AS
Oslo Science Park
Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo - Norway
+47 21 50 71 00
post@oceanvisuals.no