Clint Bilhete works 17 hours a day, seven days a week. He hopes all that effort gives him a shot at cleaning up the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

"It would mean the world," Bilhete says. "We like helping out people."

Bilhete and his father, Luis, have invented a machine called the "Ashley 2000." The machine is named after Bilhete's daughter.

They spray a patented substance on belts, which then move through water. The substance attracts oil to the belts, which come out of the water covered with oil.


The oil is then scraped off the belts and is drained into a drum. The belts then cycle through the dirty water again and again.

Bilhete is confident the Ashley 2000 could clean up the Gulf spill.

"If you think small, you'll end small. If you think big, you'll end up big. We have the technology. With a little help, we can make a difference." says Bilhete. He says it would take weeks or even months to clean up the spill, but claims they could do it and salvage all the oil in the process.

Photos: 630CHED's Reid Wilkins

Bilhete showed off a small, demo version of the machine Wednesday afternoon. They have a 30-foot version that he says they have used effectively on lakes. It's powered by electricity and has no emissions.

He has contacted BP and sent the company video of the Ashley 2000 at work. He's still hoping they'll give him a shot at the clean-up.

Bilhete was born and raised in Edmonton and graduated from St. Joseph's High School in 1988. (jrw, ccg)

Article courtesy of 630 CHED