Standard Guide for Collecting Skimmer Performance Data in Controlled Environments

4.1 This guide provides quantitative data in the form of oil recovery rates, throughput efficiencies, and oil recovery efficiencies under controlled test conditions. The data can be used for evaluating design characteristics of a particular spill removal device or as a means of comparing two or more devices. Caution must be exercised whenever test data are used to predict performance in actual spill situations as the uncontrolled environmental conditions that affect performance in the field are rarely identical to conditions in the test tank. Other variables such as mechanical reliability, presence of debris, ease of repair, ease of deployment, required operator training, operator fatigue, seaworthiness, and transportability also affect performance in an actual spill but are not measured by this guide. These variables should be considered along with the test data when making comparisons or evaluations of spill removal devices.