The Detection of Oil Under Ice and Water by Oil Detection Canines – Presented by Paul Bunker

The effective detection of oil spills in aquatic environments, particularly under ice, poses a significant challenge for environmental monitoring and response. Traditional methods can be resource-intensive and limited in rapidly locating submerged or ice-covered oil. This research study explores the application of specially trained oil detection canines as an innovative and efficient tool for identifying submerged and ice-encased oil deposits.

In October of 2024, a research study conducted in Canada assessed the capabilities of canines to detect petroleum-based compounds under controlled conditions. Canines were trained to recognize the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with crude oil and were tested on samples submerged at varying depths and underwater. Preliminary results indicate that oil detection canines can reliably identify oil presence with high sensitivity and specificity, even under challenging environmental conditions. Their performance demonstrated significant potential to enhance oil spill detection efforts, offering rapid and accurate location identification in scenarios where traditional technologies may falter. In early 2025, a research study will investigate the potential for using canines to detect oil under ice.

This presentation will discuss the training and deployment methodology, results, and implications of deploying detection canines for environmental monitoring.

Coming soon.