Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company

Exxonmobil Technology and Engineering Company

Timothy A Thornton

Timothy J Nedwed

David A Palandro

Douglas A Mitchell

A remote survey system includes an unmanned surface vehicle that includes a body, a propulsion system coupled to the body to provide mobility to the unmanned surface vehicle to traverse a surface of a waterbody, and a thickness detection assembly mounted to a hull of the body and including one or more thickness detection cameras. A central computer system is located at a command center and in wireless communication with the unmanned surface vehicle via a communication module. The one or more thickness detection cameras are positioned to obtain one or more images or videos of an air-oil-water interface on the surface of the waterbody, and a thickness of a released substance present on the surface of the waterbody is determined based on the one or more images or videos of the air-oil-water interface.

Unmanned surface vehicles, survey systems, and methods for using the same

Methods and systems described herein are useful for determining a thickness of a substance on a surface of a body of water, in particular through the use of a thickness detection apparatus that includes a body and at least one camera. The body has a plurality of sides with at least a portion of one of the sides comprising a light transmitting material. At least one camera is disposed within the body and configured to generate at least one image through the light transmitting material of the substances extending a depth below an air-substance interface.

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Tulsa, OK, United States of America

Timothy A Thornton