SL Ross Environmental Research Ltd. has conducted over 50 studies specifically on the subject of oil spill dispersants, and training courses are given on the subject on a regular basis. Dozens of other studies have involved a dispersant-related component; these mostly related to the practical aspect of designing or evaluating countermeasures systems for specific areas or applications. Company projects that involved dispersants as the only subject are listed below with clients' names noted in parentheses.

The following is a list of projects conducted by the company in this area. Projects are presented chronologically and clients' names are shown in parentheses.

• Oil Spill Dispersant Course for Managers and Regulators (20 sessions conducted to date in U.S., Canada, Trinidad, Venezuela, Australia)
• Laboratory testing of dispersant effectiveness (large tank, Labofina, swirling flask tests) in warm and cold water on various crude oils, including: Hibernia, Terra Nova (Canada); Corocoro (Venezuela); Sakhalin Island, Chayvo, Chayvo Z-6, and Sokol (Russia); Northstar, Alaska North Slope, Endicott, Pt. McIntyre, Middle Ground Shoal (Alaska); Belida, Sembilang (Indonesia), Kairi (Trinidad) (various clients 2000 to present)
• Heavy Outer Continental Shelf Crude Oils - Dispersant Effectiveness Testing (Minerals Management Service, October 2010)
• Validation of Small-Scale Laboratory Test Dispersant Effectiveness Ranking (Minerals Management Service, September 2010)
• Wave Tank and Swirling Flask Dispersant Effectiveness Testing on Fresh Mississippi Canyon 252 Oil (BP, June 2010)
• Investigate the Effectiveness of ExxonMobil Gel and Corexit 9500 on a Number of Crude Oils (ExxonMobil Upstream Research, January 2010)
• Chemical Dispersant Opportunities at Ohmsett (Minerals Management Service, November 2009)
• Calm Seas Dispersant Testing (Minerals Management Service, November 2009)
• Prepare and Conduct Dispersant Training Course at Ohmsett (MAR, Inc, May 2009)
• Development of a Training Package on the Use of Chemical Dispersants for Ohmsett (Minerals Management Service, May 2009)
• Evaluation of Gel Dispersant (ExxonMobil Upstream Research, May 2009)
• Determination of Chemical Properties of Gel Dispersant (ExxonMobil Upstream Research, May 2009)
• Test Program to Identify the Best Chemical Dispersant for 17 ADNOC Crude Oils (Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., January, 2009)
• Update SMART Dispersant Effectiveness Monitoring Protocols (Minerals Management Service, September 2008) Investigation of the Ability to Effectively Recover Oil Following Dispersant Application (U.S. Minerals Management Service, February 2008)
• Investigation of the Ability to Effectively Recover Oil Following Dispersant Application (U.S. Minerals Management Service, December 2007)
• Changes in Dispersant Effectiveness with Extended Exposure in Calm Seas: Oseberg Oil (U.S. Minerals Management Service, December 2007)
• Identification of Window of Opportunity for Chemical Dispersants on Gulf of Mexico Crude Oils (U.S. Minerals Management Service, October 2007)
• Test Program to Identify the Best Chemical Dispersant for 17 ADNOC Crude Oils (Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., July 2007)
• Small-Scale Evaluation of the Dispersion of Chayvo Crude Oil after Extended Low-Energy Soak Times (ExxonMobil Upstream Research, December 2006)
• Dispersant Effectiveness Tests in the SL Ross Wave Tank using Corexit 9500 and ED5 dispersant (ExxonMobil Upstream Research, December 2006)
• Dispersant Effectiveness Testing with the Diversion-Boom Concept Using the Ohmsett Facilities (ExxonMobil Upstream Research, December 2006)
• NanoSol Tank Testing to Evaluate Potential for Use as Oil Spill Dispersant (ExxonMobil Research, December 2006)
• Spill Related Properties and Dispersant Effectiveness Testing for Two Belanak Crude Oils (ConocoPhillips Indonesia, November 2006)
• Dispersant for Viscous Oils (U.S. Dept of Energy, November 2006)
• Development of a Method for the Field Delivery of Encapsulated Dispersant (ExxonMobil Upstream Research, November 2006)
• Dispersibility Tests in SL Ross Wave Tank (ExxonMobil Upstream Research, November 2006)
• Chemical Dispersibility of U.S. Outer Continental Shelf Crude Oils in Non-Breaking Waves: (U.S. Minerals Management Service, September 2006)
• Dispersant Effectiveness Testing On Water-In-Oil Emulsions At Ohmsett (U.S. Minerals Management Service, September 2006)
• Calm Sea Application of Dispersants (U.S. Minerals Management Service, September 2006)
• Dispersant Effectiveness Testing on Chayvo Z-6 Crude Oil in Cold Water and Ice at Ohmsett (ExxonMobil, July 2006)
• Dispersant Effectiveness Testing in Cold Water on Four Alaskan Crude Oils (U.S. Minerals Management Service, July 2006)
• Dispersant Effectiveness Testing in Ice - Project Report (ExxonMobil Upstream Research, July 2006)
• Completion of Dispersant Effectiveness Testing on Terra Nova and White Rose Crude Oils at Ohmsett (Petro-Canada and Hunt Oil Co., May 2006)
• Combustion Efficiency Estimate for Blowout (AES Lynx Enterprises, March 2006)
• Vessel Assisted Dispersion in an Ice Field Using Scale Model Ice-Breakers at the AKER Helsinki Test Basin (BP Exploration, Sakhalin Developments, February 2006)
• Dispersant Effectiveness Testing On Viscous, U.S. Outer Continental Shelf Crude Oils (U.S. Minerals Management Service, January 2006)
• Complete Dispersant Effectiveness Testing on Chayvo Z-6 Crude (ExxonMobil Upstream Research, January 2006)
• Tank Tests to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Vessel Assisted Chemical Dispersion in Ice: Parts 1 & 2 (ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, 2005)
• Dispersant Effectiveness Testing: Relating the Results from Ohmsett to At-Sea Tests (U.S. Minerals Management Service, December 2005)
• Correlating Ohmsett Dispersant Tests with At-Sea Trials: Supplemental Tests to Complete the Matrix (U.S. Minerals Management Service, December 2005)
• Effect of Warming Viscous Oils Prior to Discharge on Dispersant Performance (U.S. Minerals Management Service, December 2005)
• Continuation of Encapsulated Dispersant Testing in the SL Ross Wave Tank (ExxonMobil Upstream Research, November 2005)
• Tank Tests to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Vessel Assisted Chemical Dispersion in Ice: Part 2 (ExxonMobil Upstream Research, October 2005)
• Test of Encapsulated Dispersant in SL Ross Wave Tank (ExxonMobil Upstream Research, June 2005)
• Vessel Assisted Dispersion Tests in SL Ross Test Tank (ExxonMobil, April 2005)
• Technical Assistance for Aker Arctic Vessel Assisted Dispersion Tests (ExxonMobil Upstream Research, April 2005)
• Tank Tests to Evaluate the Effectiveness of a Low-Energy Dispersant Application Method (ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, April 2005)
• Tank Tests to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Vessel-Assisted Chemical Dispersion in Ice (ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, April 2005)
• Development of a Draft ASTM Standard on the Use of Fire Monitors and Other Single-Nozzle Systems for Dispersant Application (Marine Spill Response Corporation, February 2005)
• Encapsulated Dispersant Effectiveness Testing (ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, December 2004)
• Dispersibility of Kairi-1 Crude Oil (BHP Billiton, September 2004)
• Dispersibility of Hibernia Crude Oil: Summary of Tests Results 1999 to 2002 (ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, October 2003)
• Cold-Water Dispersant Effectiveness Testing on Five Alaskan Oils at Ohmsett (U.S. Minerals Management Service, August 2003)
• Research into Techniques to Remove Dissolved Dispersant from Ohmsett Basin Water (U.S. Minerals Management Service, July 2003)
• Large-Tank Tests to Determine the Effectiveness of Corexit 9500 Dispersant When Applied to Terra Nova Crude Oil in Cold Water (Petro-Canada Inc., November 2002)
• Dispersant Effectiveness Testing in Cold Water at Ohmsett (U.S. Minerals Management Service, August 2002)
• Dispersant Effectiveness Testing in Cold Water and Broken Ice at Ohmsett (ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, August 2002)
• Effectiveness Testing of Dispersants in Cold Water and Broken Ice at OHMSETT (U.S. Minerals Management Service and ExxonMobil Research and Engineering, in progress)
• Technology Assessment of Dispersants on Marine Oil Spills in California (U.S. Minerals Management Service, March,2002)
• Large-Tank Tests to Determine the Effectiveness of Corexit 9500 and Corexit 9527 Dispersants When Applied to Sakhalin Island Chayvo-6 Crude Oil on Cold and Warm Water (ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, February 2002)
• Development of a Protocol for Dispersant Effectiveness Testing at Ohmsett (with MAR Inc. for U.S. Minerals Management Service, January 2002)
• Large-Tank Tests to Determine the Effectiveness of Corexit 9500 Dispersant When Applied to Hibernia Crude Oil on Cold Water (ExxonMobil Research and Engineering, December 2001)
• Single Nozzle Drop Size and Fallout Pattern Comparisons: Water and Corexit 9500 Dispersant (ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, September 2001)
• Clean Bay Dispersant Application System Options (Clean Bay Cooperative, California, August 2001)
• Response Strategies for Major Oil Spills in Offshore Newfoundland Waters (Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, July 2001)
• Ehime Maru Recovery Operation - Analysis of Dispersant-Use (PCCI/U.S. Navy, June 2001)
• Laboratory Study to Compare the Effectiveness of Chemical Dispersants When Applied Dilute versus Neat: Phase II (Exxon Research and Engineering Company, February, 2001)
• Evaluation of the Concept of High Pressure - Low Flow, Single Nozzle, Application of Chemical Dispersants. ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, Florham Park, N.J.,December 2000)
• Laboratory Study to Compare the Relative Effectiveness of Corexit 9500 and 9527 on Viscous Oil. (ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, Florham Park, N.J., December 2000)
• Technology Assessment of the Use of Dispersants on Spills from MMS-Regulated OCS Facilities (U.S. Minerals Management Service, December, 2000)
  • Download the report (zipped PDF - 1.33 meg)
  • Read the report (PDF - 1.46 meg)
  • Go to MMS TARP citation
• Laboratory Study to Compare the Effectiveness of Chemical Dispersants When Applied Dilute versus Neat: Part 3. (ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, Florham Park, N.J., November 2000).
• Developing a Protocol for Dispersant Effectiveness Testing at Ohmsett (with MAR Inc. for U.S. Minerals Management Service, September 2000)
• Laboratory Study to Compare the Effectiveness of Chemical Dispersants When Applied Dilute versus Neat: Part 2. (ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, Florham Park, N.J., June 2000)
• Feasibility of Dispersant Use for Spills in Ice Infested Waters (Alaska Clean Seas, April 2000)
• Analysis and Dispersant Testing of White Rose Crude Oil (Husky Oil Operations Ltd., April 2000)
• Feasibility Study of Using the Ohmsett Facility for Dispersant Testing and Research (U.S. Minerals Management Service, April 2000)
• Development of a Dispersant Test Protocol for Ohmsett (MMS, March, 2000)
• MMS citation: 375-Development of Dispersant Test Protocol at Ohmsett
• Laboratory Study to Compare the Effectiveness of Chemical Dispersants When Applied Dilute versus Neat (U.S. Minerals Management Service, January 2000)
• MMS citation: 350-Laboratory Study to Compare the Effectiveness of Chemical Dispersants when Applied Dilute versus Neat
• Laboratory Examination of the Properties, Behavior and Chemical Dispersibility of Hibernia Crude Oil and Emulsions (Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd., May 1999)
• Analysis and Dispersant Testing of Hebron D-96 Crude Oil (Jean d'Arc Basin Operators Group, May 1999)
• Capability Analysis of Existing Ship-Based Dispersant Systems (Exxon Research and Engineering Co. and Marine Industry Group, February 1999)
• Testing and Development of Fire Nozzles for Vessel-based Dispersant Delivery (Exxon Research and Engineering Co. and Marine Industry Group, January 1999)
• Evaluation of Dispersant Use Potential for the North Slope (Alaska Clean Seas, November 1998)
• Coordinated the program of an international conference, “Dispersant Application in Alaska: A Technical Update”, Anchorage, Alaska, March 18 and 19, 1998 (Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation; Alyeska Pipeline Service Company; Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council; USCG Marine Safety Office, Valdez; Prince William Sound Oil Spill Recovery Institute, Cordova, March 1998)
• White Paper on Dispersant Use In Prince William Sound, Alaska (Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, January 1998)
• Laboratory Testing to Determine Spill-Related Properties and Chemical Dispersibility of Nang Nuan “B” Crude Oil (Shell Thailand, September 1997)
• A Review of Dispersant Use on Spills of North Slope Crude Oil in Prince William Sound and the Gulf of Alaska (Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council, May 1997)
• Handbook for Oil Spill Dispersant Operations and Planning (In-house, February 1997)
• Guide for Estimating the Chemical Dispersibility of Oil Spills (In-house, March, 1997)
• Laboratory Analysis, Spill Modeling and Dispersant Effectiveness Testing of Thaipo Crude Oil (Labrador Petro-Management, May 1996)
• Engineering Specifications for Application of Dispersant by Fire Monitor (Exxon Production Research Co., December 1995)
• Environmental Impact Analysis for Dispersant Preapproval in Chevron's Lightering Area Off Pascagoula, Mississippi (Chevron Corporation, February 1992)
• Dispersant Toxicity, Environmental Impact and Dispersant Decision-Making (Presentations made at "Technical Seminars on Dispersant Use and Effects", Regions I, II, III, IV, Alaska Region 1990-1992)
• The Effectiveness of Dispersants on Thick Oil Slicks (Amoco Research Center, July 1992)
• Development of a Computerized Oil Spill Impact Assessment System for Bahrain (Arabian Gulf) (Canadian Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, April 1991)
• Dispersant Response Plans for Prince William Sound (Contingency Plan, with others, for Alyeska Pipeline Services Company, January 1990)
• Environmental Impact Assessment Concerning the Use of Chemical Oil Spill Dispersants for Treating Oil Spills in Coastal Waters of Washington/Oregon (with Woodward-Clyde Consultants for Clean Sound Corporation, October 1990)
• An Oil Spill Impact Assessment System and Guide to Dispersant-Use Decision-Making for the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and the East Coast of Florida (Marine Industry Group, January 1989)
• Rapid Test for Dispersant Effectiveness at Oil Spill Sites (American Petroleum Institute, January 1989)
• Guide to Dispersant-Use Decision-Making for Oil Spills in the Southern Beaufort Sea (Environmental Studies Research Funds, Publ. No. 092, February 1988)
• Mid-Scale Experiments to Determine the Effectiveness of Oil Spill Dispersants (Environmental Studies Revolving Fund, Publ. No. 068, January 1987)
• Drop-Size and Dispersant Effectiveness: Small Scale Laboratory Testing (Environmental Studies Research Funds, Publ. No. 082, July 1987)
• Workbook on Dispersant-Use Decision-Making: The Environmental Impact Aspects (Canadian Department of the Environment, April 1986)
• Development of a High Pressure Water Mixing Concept for Use with Ship-Based Dispersant Application (Environmental Studies Research Funds, Publ. No. 034, May 1986)
• The Use of Hovercraft in Dispersant Application (Environmental Studies Revolving Fund, October 1986)
• An Experimental Study of Oil Spill Treating Agents that Inhibit Emulsification and Promote Dispersion (Canadian Department of the Environment, December 1986)
• An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Repeat Application of Dispersants on Offshore Oil Spills (Environmental Studies Revolving Fund, Publ. No. 006, January 1985)
• Preliminary Studies on the Development of Dispersant-Use Strategies for the Fraser Estuary and Adjacent Waters of British Columbia (Environment Canada, March 1984)
• Laboratory Testing and Design of Ship-Based Dispersing Systems (Canadian Offshore Oil Spill Research Association, December 1983)
• Workshops on Dispersant-Use Decision-Making (numerous workshops since 1981 for various industry and government clients in Canada and the U.S.A.)
• Management of 1983 Offshore Dispersant Trial (Canadian Offshore Aerial Application Task Force, October 1983)
• A Model of the Impact of Chemically-Treated and Untreated Oil Spills on Seabird and Fish Populations (Canadian Offshore Oil Spill Research Association, May 1982)
• 1981 Canadian Offshore Dispersant Trial (Offshore Dispersant Field Trial Task Force, December 1981)