Innovative machine to revolutionise oil cleanup

An innovation could transform the clean up of oil spills in the future, it has been revealed.

The Grooved Disc Skimmer, developed by Elastec, won first prize at the X Prize Cleanup Challenge and could dramatically change the way organisations deal with oil spills on open water.

Development of the machine was prompted by the Deepwater Horizon disaster when it was noted that very little of the oil that had made its way into the Gulf of Mexico was burned or collected by skimmers.

In an interview with the Courier Press, Donnie Wilson, co-founder and chief executive officer of Elastec/American Marine, revealed that the innovative machine works faster than other skimmers and recovers just the oil.

"It also leaves the water behind so we're not doing additional separation. We want to pick up the oil and leave the water behind with the groove technology," he explained.

Second prize went to Norwegian group NOFI for their Current Buster 6 which can remove an average of 10,266 litres of oil per minute.

Posted by Claire Manning