Draft Canine Oil Detection SOW.pdf

Statement of Work

Canine Oil Detection – Using Odor Signatures to Improve Training Detection Proficiency on Land and Water

Research objective Oil detection canines have proven to be an effective tool in oil spill remediation, and are currently used for field surveys to locate subsurface oil or to inspect and clear large areas with low or no oil contamination. The first goal of this research is to determine the odor profile associated with spilled and obscured petroleum products used by the canine for detection, and then use this knowledge to probe current canine detection limitations. Based on results from analytical and canine testing, best practices and certification standards for future canine/handler teams will be established with the goal of creating a more proficient detector. The second goal is to develop a novel device and protocols for training canines to detect sunken oil in water. The underwater training device will utilized crude oil dissolved in water, releasing the water-soluble volatile components by bubbling air through the liquid and pushing the volatiles out through a pipe placed within a secondary water source. Volatiles can then be sampled from the surface of the water source. Initial canine training and testing will utilize buckets of water containing either bubbled air (negative control) or bubbled air with volatile components. Further testing and evaluations will then be moved to a body of water using a boat or from shore.

Approach Phase 1 – Determination of active odorants for canine detection of crude oil

Establish the active odorants that canines use for the detection of fresh crude oil. Trained canines will be given the opportunity to search NRL-prepared filters which contain either target odor (i.e.

oil odor signatures) or distractors. The filters will be held in either a 12-arm carousel or filter stands. All trial materials will be provided by NRL personnel and will be composed of filters containing full or partial odor profiles from several oil sources, in addition to blanks and distractors.

Phase 2 – Develop canine training device and protocols for water-sequestered oil

Researchers will develop a novel device and protocols for training canines to detect sunken oil in water. The underwater training device will utilized crude oil dissolved in water, released the water-soluble volatile components by bubbling air through the liquid and pushing the volatiles out through a pipe placed within a secondary water source. Volatiles will then be detected at the surface of the water source. Initial canine training and testing will utilize buckets of water in containing either bubbled air (negative control) or bubbled air with volatile components. Further testing and evaluations will then be moved to a body of water using a boat or from shore.

Laboratory headspace measurements of sunken oil will support the development.

Major goals/Milestones Phase 1:

Determine the samples (prepared by NRL) containing the key odorants for canine detection using double-blind canine testing

Use the knowledge of odor profiles to probe canine detection limitations

Create canine training protocols and best practice standards to maximize canine detection proficiency

Phase 2:

Develop novel device for training canines to detect sunken oil in water Complete headspace analysis of sunken oil Complete canine testing and evaluations of the device both in a controlled environment on land and in field (on water)