Containment unit, containment system and method for containing fluid leaks

Abstract

A containment unit for containing fluid leaks in an ambient liquid. The containment unit comprises a weighted base for being disposed around the fluid leak. The weighted base is positioned on top of one or more suction piles. Further, the containment unit comprises a curtain unit coupled to the weighted base. The curtain unit comprises a helical spring and facilitates containing the fluid leak in the ambient fluid. The containment unit further comprises a flotation unit coupled to the curtain unit. The containment unit also comprises thrust roller bearings to allow rotation of the curtain unit with respect to the weighted base and the flotation unit. The invention further discloses a containment system comprising multiple containment units as needed depending on the depth of ambient liquid and as a surface flotation unit comprising pumps, sensors and skimming units to allow for the fluid leaked to be transferred to a vessel.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.