Gulf Oil Spill: Spacebase Technology for Subsea Containment

Online, June 9, 2010 (Newswire.com) - PRESS RELEASE: 9 JUN 2010

GULF OIL SPILL CRISIS

SPACEBASE TECHNOLOGY FOR SUBSEA CONTAINMENT
- robotic self-assembling, self-sealing, self-repairing systems architecture

DEEPWATER HORIZON AFTERMATH

In light of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, government and industry now recognise that oil exploration, drilling safety and emergency response technology have not been keeping pace with developments in production technology and changed operating environments and conditions. It has been said the response teams do not have the 'Right Gear' and consequently there may now be renewed interest in deep sea containment systems.

ENGEN INSTITUTE

EnGen Institute of Melbourne Australia has designs for advanced self-assembling, self-sealing, self-repairing containment technology, originally developed for spacebases, which can be applied to the need for advanced hazardous material containment systems in remote locations and environments that are dangerous. EnGen Institute is also developing ocean energy technology to power such subsea construction and operations.

EnGen Institute, a non-profit applied research institute, was established in 1992 to develop core expertise in the design of closed cycle life support systems. The Institute has expertise in the systems architecture and systemics of spacebases. The Institute has twice been selected by NASA (in 1992 and 2004) for its expertise in this technology.

SPACEBASE TECHNOLOGY

The EnGen spacebase architecture is based on a programmable construction system and self-assembling structures which are self-sealing and monitor the integrity of containment. The construction systems can operate in environments that are unsafe for human beings.

A spacebase requires rapid automatic recovery of containment following any event compromising that containment. The architecture meets this requirement and can also adapt to irregular terrain or containment envelope.

NASA INTEREST

In 1990 following an international outreach selection round NASA investigated EnGen Institute's technology and development program in detail. The proposed development of a self-assembling, closed, sealed structure was to include subsea testing in order to simulate the low-gravity environment of the Moon. EnGen Institute was established in 1992 to undertake collaborative development with NASA. However this was not funded when Congress required a 'Peace Dividend' following the end of the cold war. NASA sought to assist in establishing development via commercialisation but no commercial partner funding was obtained.

In 2004 NASA again looked to planetary exploration and sought innovative solutions. EnGen Institute's technology was short-listed. However the institute was advised funding for planetary surface systems would not be available until the third five year cycle of the twenty five year Lunar Exploration program - that is not until 2014. Collaborative development with NASA has thus always been at a 'future date' because there has always been some other 'near-term requirement' for funds.

The new Obama Space Program places emphasis on breakthrough technology that is 'game changing' and may finally see the development of this dual-use technology.

The conceptual design commenced in 1984 around the time of the Bhopal industrial accident in a pesticide factory that killed thousands and exposed 500,000 people to poisoning. The basic design was completed, but technology not developed, by 1986 when the Chernobyl nuclear accident killed thousands and exposed 600,000 people to high levels of radiation.

Disasters such as Chernobyl (1986), Bhopal (1984), several oil refinery fires and now the Deepwater Horizon oil spill show the need for this technology to be developed and deployed at all hazardous material sites before it is next required.

While we can't change the past we can change the future.

CONTACT:
EnGen Institute
www.engen.org.au
[email protected]
Tel: +61 413 348 869