The Svalbard Shoreline Project was a full and realistic field scale experimental oil spill research program with optional supplementary studies including mesoscale beach basin studies at the Coastal Oil Spill Simulation System (COSS) facility in Texas. The project investigated the effectiveness of mainstream in situ shoreline cleanup techniques (tilling, surf-washing), as well as some of the scientific aspects of oil behavior and oil removal from shorelines by what was commonly referred to as the clay-oil flocculation process. The goal of the project was to deliver both operational and scientific information. This information helped optimize oil spill cleanup by selecting the best technique to suit the conditions and secondly increased knowledge of the best natural processes at work.

Initial results look excellent for the surf-washing treatment. Oil removal effectiveness was visually obvious. The differences between sites 2 (low energy) and 3 (high energy) gave good comparison on the   treatment scenarios. It also appears that the bioremediation approach was effective and initial results suggest that the addition of fertilizers, both soluble and slow release, was successful in delivering  nutrients to the intertidal water on the oil beaches and that the nutrients stimulated microbial activity on the beaches.

A one-year post-monitoring was conducted at Svalbard in July 1998 to satisfy permit requirements to monitor test sites until background hydrocarbon levels are reached. Researchers also examined changes in oil character due to biodegradation and photo-oxidation processes.