Mechanical systems like skimmers, centrifuges, and reverse osmosis machines can go a long way towards separating oil from water.

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There is no oil disaster to speak of in the body of water separating the U.K. and northern and central Europe, but BP 's outgoing chief executive Tony Hayward will nevertheless come under extra pressure from lawmaker Wednesday following a report that the oil giant had not been in full compliance with safety regulations for its North Sea operations.

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