Integrated autonomous oil-slick sampler and storage preservation device

A method of obtaining hydrocarbon samples, comprising:

• deploying an autonomous surface vessel (ASV) onto a body of water, the ASV including a sampling system having one or more sampling devices, wherein each sampling device includes:
• a housing including a storage container;
• a sampling material receivable within the storage container;
• an actuation system operatively coupled to the sampling material via a lead line;
• and
• an end cap operatively coupled to the lead line and matable with an open end of the storage container;
• operating the actuation system to deploy the sampling material from the storage container of one of the sampling devices;
• dragging the sampling material across a surface of the body of water and thereby capturing a sample of a waterborne hydrocarbon on the surface of the body of water;
• operating the actuation system to retrieve the sampling material back into the storage container;
• and
• sealing the sampling material within storage container with the end cap sealingly engaged to the open end.

A hydrocarbon sampling system, comprising:

• one or more sampling devices, each sampling device including:
• a housing including a storage container;
• a sampling material receivable within the storage container;
• an actuation system operatively coupled to the sampling material via a lead line, the actuation system comprising a motor and a spool operatively coupled to the motor via a drive shaft;
• and
• an end cap operatively coupled to the lead line and matable with an open end of the storage container, wherein the lead line is wound around the spool and actuation of the motor progressively winds the lead line onto the spool or feeds the lead line from the spool and thereby acts on the sampling material and the end cap,
• wherein each sampling device is actuatable between a stowed state, where the sampling material is received within the storage container and the end cap sealingly engages the open end, and a deployed state, where the end cap is disengaged from the open end and the sampling material is drawn out of the storage container.