The word oilgassing is often misunderstood. A majority of people believe that it refers to the use of oil to clean and lubricate moving mechanical parts, such as engines and bearings. However, oilgassing actually referred to an entirely different process.
Oilgassing was originally used in World War II as a method of calming waves created by the explosions of torpedoes and depth charges launched by enemy ships. The oil acted as a surfactant, helping to reduce the surface tension of the water, which helped to absorb and disperse the energy of the explosions. The oil allowed the detonations to slow down and move away harmlessly.
Oilgassing would be sprayed by ships or planes onto an area where the explosions were occurring in order to disperse them. The oil would be sprayed with nozzles for a steadier and more even dispersal and to make sure that the explosions would spread further. The more oil that was used, generally the more effective the technique would be.
With the invention of sonar, oilgassing lost its usefulness as a method of slowing down the explosions of torpedoes and depth charges. However, volunteers continued to use oilgassing to help clean up oil spills and to help dissipate other pollutants and contaminants in the ocean.
Oilgassing is accomplished through a combination of spraying oil from special nozzles and beginning a spreading pack which is made up of booms, skimmers, and towboats. The oilgassing is usually done in stages. First, the boom is used to contain and push the oil towards the shore or another area. Once the boom has been used, the skimmers and towboats enter the water and begin to collect the oil as it rises to the surface.
The collected oil is then transferred to vessels or containers and the area where the oil spill occurred is then sprayed with the oil, either nozzles or sprayed directly from the vessels themselves. The oilgassing helps disperse the oil, cleaning it from the water, making it possible to remove the pollutant from the water.
Oilgassing is an incredibly important technique that saves millions of gallons of water from being polluted every year. The process helps keep the oceans, seas, and waterways clean and free of hazardous pollutants, helping to protect living things in it and reducing the negative impact that these pollutants can have on the environment.
