Abstract: An apparatus for recovering oil from an oil spill on the surface of a body of water includes a skimmer unit for recovering an oil-water mixture from the surface of the body of water, a three stage coalescer unit for separating the oil in the oil-water mixture from the water therein and a solvent injection assembly for injecting solvent into the coalescer unit after the first and second stages in order to reduce the viscosity of the oil entering the second and third stages. The first, second, and third stages of the coalescer unit comprise interceptors having a surface area ratios between 27 and 65 ft.sup.2 /ft.sup.3 ; 65 ft.sup.2 /ft.sup.3 and 2500 ft.sup.2 /ft.sup.3 ; and 500 ft.sup.2 /ft.sup.3 and 4200 ft.sup.2 /ft.sup.3, respectively.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering oil from an oil spill on the surface of a body of water. The method is operative for recovering an oil having a viscosity in excess of 80 centipoise and it includes the steps of drawing an oil-water mixture from the surface of a body of water, adjusting the viscosity of the oil in the oil-water mixture to a level below approximately 80 centipoise and passing the resultant adjusted oil-water mixture through an oil-water coalescer to separate the oil in the adjusted oil-water mixture from the water therein. The viscosity of the oil in the feed oil-water mixture is preferably adjusted by adding a low viscosity hydrophobic hydrocarbon solvent to the oil-water mixture.