Oil in Water Monitors Shipped to USA

Chelsea Technologies Group (UK) was asked by BP to provide sensors to monitor the amount of oil in the water, following the disaster in April which is continuing to blight the American coastline.

The firm, which employs 38 people, has already produced anti-warfare equipment for submarines and has been tasked by the UK and United States governments to help tackle terrorism.

Managing director Brian Phillips said: "We were contacted directly by BP and some of the companies working for them. They are very concerned that when most of the oil is removed from the surface there will still be some in the water and on the beaches. They want to know that all the oil is gone and this technology can detect down to very low levels."

Dr Brian Phillips, Managing Director, Chelsea Technologies group pictured with two of the submersible fluorimeters used for the detection of crude and refined oil.

The instruments, known as hydrocarbon fluorimeters, work by shining light at a material and taking a reading by the amount that bounces back. They are likely to be used for some time as monitoring for oil companies becomes a legal requirement, and staff from the firm are set to fly out to Texas in the next four to six weeks to help. Dr Phillips estimated it would be more than 12 months before levels are brought down but is confident the area will eventually return to normal.