In assembling reports to develop this publication, the US Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service was able to find and provide single copie of many test reports - copies that were available no where else but in government archives - to use for analysis. This never-before published information is now available in condensed form to the user. The data is analyzed, summarized, and presented in a way that will permit the user to make her/his own conclusions quickly. Fifteen chapters cover the following skimmer types: broom; brush (chain and drum brush); disc; drum; paddle belt; stationary rope mop; suspended rope mop; ZRV rope mop; sorbent belt; fixed submersion plane; submersion moving plane; suction; air conveyors; weir and induced flow weir; and advancing weir.