What are Oil Skimmers?

Oil skimmers are specialised devices engineered to separate oil from water during spill incidents, thereby playing a pivotal role in protecting our aquatic environments. Their primary function is to efficiently remove oil from water, mitigating potential environmental harm from spills. This rapid separation process is crucial in minimising the spread of contaminants and preserving marine life and eco systems.

Beyond their functional purpose, oil skimmers stand as a testament to innovative technology in environmental stewardship. A robust design is essential for an effective recovery operation and ensuring reduced operational downtime during spill responses, ensuring that clean-up processes are both swift and effective. This blog will explore the operational principles of oil skimmers and highlight the significant benefits they offer in terms of sustainability and efficiency.

How Oil Skimmers Function

At the most fundamental level, oil skimmers operate on the principle that oil, being less dense than water, naturally floats to the surface. Skimmers recover the oil using physical and mechanical methods effectively separating the oil from the water. This effective method forms the cornerstone of oil recovery.

Modern oil skimmers incorporate advanced technological features that enhance their performance significantly. These technological advancements not only accelerate the recovery process but also ensure that the equipment remains robust and reliable, even in challenging conditions.

Numerous examples demonstrate the efficacy of oil skimmers under adverse conditions, ranging from harsh offshore environments to turbulent coastal waters. Their ability to operate in various scenarios, from calm inland water bodies to extreme marine conditions, underlines their adaptability and durability. As a result, oil skimmers remain an essential tool for managing spills in even the most demanding and unpredictable settings.

Skimmers for light to medium oils

Skimmers incorporating oleophilic discs offer a very efficient recovery of oil in a spill of light to medium oils.  With 98% oil in the liquid recovery and only 2% water, storage requirements are kept to a minimum keeping costs down too.  A good quality skimmer is important to ensure efficiency and long lasting use.  Similarly a skimmer supportable by spares together with technical support extends the working life keeping costs and environmental impact down too.  Vikoma’s offers a leading range of oleophilic skimmers with it’s Komara range which offers a range of sizes and recovery capacities ranging from pick rates of 4m3  to 50 m3 of oil recovery per hour.

Skimmers incorporating brushes can also be used in medium thickness oils, however these are less efficient than discs with the oil content in the liquid recovered being lower and water content higher.  Vikoma’s Komara range of skimmers can be specified with a brush module or with interchangeable modules.

Consideration should also be given to the area the skimmer will be used in.  In an offshore scenario with rough sea a heavy duty skimmer may be appropriate.  Vikoma’s Sea skimmer is an incredibly robust skimmer with a greater recovery capacity than other skimmers detailed above.  It can recover up to 70 m3 of oil recovery per hour with a high efficiency of just 2% water in the oil recovered.

Skimmers for medium to heavy oils

Heavier oils require a different recovery method.  A star disc, which is a disc shaped like a star is particularly effective with heavy oils combining oleophilic action with mechanical recovery.  Vikoma’s Star Disc skimmers are suited to medium, heavy and ultra heavy oils and are very efficient with 98% oil content and just 2% water in it’s recovery.

Multi purpose skimmers

For maximum cost effectiveness and for those want a flexible stockpile of oil spill recovery equipment, multi purpose skimmers provide an excellent solution.

Vikoma’s Komara and Star disc range of skimmers offer skimmers where the recovery modules are interchangeable, so for instance oleophilic discs and be inter changed with brush modules depending on the characteristics of the oil being recovered. 

Vikoma also offers a 3 in 1 skimmer, the Komara Multi which as well as interchangeable disc and brush modules, also offers a weir recovery system with very high recovery rates over 100 m3 of oil recovery per hour.

Alternative skimmers

In shallow waters there may not be enough depth to deploy a traditional skimmer.  In these cases a lightweight flat skimmer may be a suitable choice, such as Vikoma’s Delta skimmer which is a self contained free floating oil recovery system.

In areas that are difficult to reach or to shallow, another option is to use a mop skimmer such as Vikoma’s Vikomop.

Environmental and Operational Benefits

By effectively removing oil from water, oil skimmers contribute significantly to reducing the overall environmental impact of spills. Their precise operation limits the spread of pollutants, safeguarding marine ecosystems and protecting the diverse life that inhabits these environments. In doing so, they actively support our global commitment to environmental stewardship.

The efficient recovery capabilities of oil skimmers substantially minimise response times following a spill, which in turn reduces operational downtime. Fast-acting clean-up not only prevents further environmental damage but also helps maintain efficient spill clean up operation. 

From an operational perspective durable construction and good quality oil skimmers lead to long equipment life and low maintenance costs.   Robust design ensures fewer faults and extends working life for a cost-effective solution for spill management. Ultimately, the blend of operational efficiency and cost effectiveness reinforces the value of oil skimmers.

Integration with Spill Management Solutions

Oil skimmers are most effective when integrated with complementary oil containment and storage systems, forming a cohesive spill management solution.  When deployed alongside boom packages, and storage tanks the overall response to spills becomes efficient providing integrated containment, recovery and storage. This integration not only streamlines emergency operations but also helps meet stringent environmental regulations by establishing a unified, robust clean-up strategy.

A coordinated approach reduces delays and improves recovery rates, thus minimising both environmental damage and financial impact.
By adopting a complete oil spill management framework, organisations are better equipped to face environmental challenges while maintaining operational continuity.

Contact Vikoma International Ltd

To learn more about our innovative oil recovery solutions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We pride ourselves on pioneering sustainable innovation and offering reliable solutions that meet demanding needs.

Get in touch with us today to discuss bespoke strategies that will enhance your environmental stewardship and operational efficiency.