Apparatus and method for detecting and sampling dissolved hydrocarbons
AssigneeExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
InventorsWilliam P. Meurer, Michael G. Braun
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Detection and sampling of dissolved hydrocarbons of interest in an environment expected to have hydrocarbon molecules, such as a water column or interstitial water in sediment. An apparatus comprising at least one oleophilic film frame is deployed into the environment and the at least one oleophilic film frame is exposed thereto for a defined period of time, and thereafter isolated from the environment to cease exposure thereto. Hydrocarbon molecules scavenged by the oleophilic film may be analyzed to determine their type and/or concentration.
Claims16
An apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
- a film advance system integrated with the housing and configured to move a first frame of oleophilic film:
- from inside of the housing through at least one opening of the housing to outside of the housing in order to expose the first frame to an environment external to the housing;
- and
- after exposure from the environment into the housing through the at least one opening of the housing, wherein the film advance system includes a structure to prevent fluid in the environment from entering the at least one opening;
- and
- a control system configured to control the film advance system,
- wherein the at least one opening comprises a single opening through which the first frame exits the housing to be exposed to the environment and through which the first frame re-enters the housing after being exposed to the environment.
A method comprising:
- deploying an apparatus to an environment, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- a housing;
- a film advance system integrated with the housing and configured to advance and expose a first frame of oleophilic film;
- and
- a control system configured to control the film advance system;
- and
- exposing at least the first frame to the environment by:
- moving the first frame from inside the housing through a single opening to outside the housing in order to expose the first frame to an environment external to the housing;
- and
- after exposing the first frame to the environment external to the housing, moving the first frame through the single opening so that the first frame is back within the housing, with the film advance system including a structure to prevent fluid in the environment from entering the at least one opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.