SL Ross Environmental Research Ltd.
SL Ross Environmental Research is one of the world's most experienced oil spill consulting
companies. Founded in 1980 the company includes five professionals (three engineers and one
biologist, three with advanced degrees) who have a combined experience of 100 person-years in
marine oil spill matters. The company has performed over 300 oil spills studies for government
and industry, mostly in Canada and the U.S.A., but also in Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Ecuador,
Egypt, Norway, Qatar, Somalia, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago and Venezuela.
About 50% of company activity involves consulting work in the areas of contingency planning,
countermeasures stategies/equipment, and training. The other 50% involves research and
development to improve oil spill control technologies (much of which is done in the company's test
tank facility).
Company professionals have provided services in three of the most important oil spill events that
have occurred in the world since 1979 (Ixtoc-1, Exxon Valdez and Gulf War) and are recognized
and respected by the major international groups that are involved in oil spill issues, such as the
UN International Maritime Organization, and International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation
Ltd., in London, England.
The firm has has been the main oil spill consultant for every offshore oil and gas venture in
Canada, starting with the Beaufort Sea activity in the Arctic in the early 1980s, the Hibernia
Project in the mid-1980s off Newfoundland, and the current activities off the east coast of Canada,
including Terra Nova, Sable, and Panuke/Cohasset/Deep Panuke. Within the oil spill control
community SL Ross has a particular reputation for being a 'technology' company that is in the
vanguard of developing new tools, contingency planning techniques and training packages for use
around the world.
SL Ross has two main facilities, both in Ottawa, Canada. The first is a regular office where paper
studies are done, and the second is a separate warehouse/laboratory where physical studies are
performed. The company also takes advantage of Canadian Government facilities around the city,
especially the Outdoor Ship Maneuvering Basin operated by the National Research of Canada
(NRC) and has done many engineering studies at Ohmsett, the U.S. MMS test tank in New
Jersey.
Company Details
Year Established:
1980
Total Sales ($CDN):
$200,000 - $500,000
Number of Employees:
10
Company Information
Steve Potter
Title:
Partner/Associate
Telephone:
(613) 232-1564
Fax:
(613) 232-6660
Email:
Click Here
Products
Environmental Products And Services
Integrated Approach For Spill Countermeasures Assessment.
We specialize in evaluating spill countermeasures preparedness and ability for specific areas, and making recommendations to upgrade existing capabilities to acceptable levels. This service has been successfully used by various organizations, such as oil companies and industry spill response co-operatives with marine oil production or transportation responsibilities. Assessment methods utilize a highly quantitative approach involving analysis of detailed spill scenarios based on the client's oil spill risks and concerns.
First, clean up efficiencies are estimated, assuming the operation were to involve best-practice, state-of-the-art capabilities used efficiently under prevailing spill and environmental conditions. The process is repeated for the existing or desired capability. By quantitatively comparing the two cases, correctable deficiencies are identified, leading to recommendations on equipment and vessel acquisitions, contingency planning and training. There is a high degree of client satisfaction with a quantitative approach to countermeasures capability assessment.
Oil Spill Models And Impact Assessment Systems.
Computer models describe the trajectory, behaviour and impact of marine oil spills as a function of type (blowout or batch spill), size, oil properties and prevailing environmental conditions. The oil spill behaviour models have been 'ground-truthed' on a number of experimental and real offshore spills.
Confident modelling of the behaviour of oil requires a good understanding of the spilled oil's properties (such as pour point, viscosity, density, etc.) and its weathering characteristics. In situations where oil types are known in advance of spills (such as at
offshore production sites and at tanker loading facilities), inexpensive analysis of these oils can be carried out to determine the oil-property and spill-weathering characteristics that are necessary for the model.
The behaviour model provides information on the spreading, evaporation, natural dispersion and emulsification of the spill at regular intervals and provides data on the spill's viscosity, density, water content, residual surface oil volume in area, dispersed and evaporated volumes, pour point and thickness. Impact is predicted by integrating data on spill conditions, oil properties, environmental conditions, oil toxicity and resource vulnerability. The system operates very quickly allowing defensible, and thoroughly documented decisions on spill response to be made without undue delay during an emergency situation.
Oil Spill Planning And Training Services.
Companies and governments need to prepare comprehensive contingency plans designed to manage various spill situations. These plans examine the entire spill scenario. Beginning with the initial response considerations, the plans identify strategies to be followed by various officials, indicate how the spill clean up is organized, and outline notification and communication procedures and logistical considerations. Clean up strategies are designed to extract the maximum benefit from clean up resources and to minimize the effects on the local environment and wildlife populations.
Training course development typically starts with a clear identification of the training needs of a particular organization. Working from a base curriculum, course content and delivery methods are modified to suit the range of spill types, the particular environment of concern, as well as the previous experience of trainees. Unique and particular popular courses today include our dispersant course and our course on in situ burning of marine oil spills.
Services
Consulting Engineer - Environment-impact Studies
Consulting Engineer - Environment-pollution Control
Consulting Engineer - Environment-environmental Standards
Environmental Consultant - Biological And Ecosystem Studies
Environmental Consultant - Consulting
Environmental Consultant - Engineering Design/Specifications
Environmental Consultant - Environmental Impact Assessments
Environmental Consultant - Equipment Or Instrument Development
Environmental Consultant - Facility/Equipment Operation
Environmental Consultant - Gis Applications
Environmental Consultant - Laboratory Testing And Analysis
Environmental Consultant - Mapping Of Resources/Land Types
Environmental Consultant - Research
Environmental Consultant - Remote Sensing & Image Analysis
Environmental Consultant - Risk Assessment
Environmental Consultant - Systems Modelling Or Design
Environmental Consultant - Training And Education
Environmental Consultant - Fisheries Management
Environmental Consultant - Natural Area Parks, Recreation And Tourism
Environmental Consultant - Coastal Areas And Shoreline Management
Environmental Consultant - Arctic Resources Management
Environmental Consultant - Contingency Planning For Spills
Environmental Consultant - Industry-petroleum And Coal Products
Environmental Consultant - Emergency Response And Spills Cleanup
Consulting Engineer - Petroleum & Natural Gas-exploration
Consulting Engineer - Forest/Fish/Agrltr-fisheries