Ocean Oil Spill and Contaminated Sea Ice Containment, Separation and Removal System
OwnerJames M. Cobbinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for containing and cleaning up oil or other contaminants from an area of water containing mixture of ice and water is disclosed. A net having at least one folded extension is deployed into an area of water and ice to encircle at least a portion of the contaminant spill. The ends of the net are attached to each other in contaminant resistant way to contain the contaminant in the net. The folded extension is deployed to an unfolded configuration. The net is the then pursed up using the extension to control the contaminant in the net. The contaminant is pumped out of the net as needed to allow the net to continue to be pursed up to a smaller and smaller area.
Claims18
A method for containing and removing an contaminant spill in conditions of mixed ice and water, the method comprising:
- a. setting an contaminant and water resistant net using a main boat, said net having a length, a deployed depth and a means for monitoring oil depth around a portion of the oil spill;
- b. closing the net to enclose a first enclosed area of oil and water in the net;
- c. using rigging on the main boat to purse the net to reduce the size of the enclosed area
- d. pursing the net until the contaminant has reached a chosen depth as detected by the means for monitoring oil depth in the enclosed area;
- e. pumping the contaminant out of the area into a container;
- f. repeat steps c, d and e if needed until mostly contaminant and ice are in the net;
- g. drawing the net on board the main vessel as much a possible while reducing the size of the enclosed area;
- h. pumping contaminant out of the net while the net is being drawn on board.
A net for use in containing contaminant spills in water, the net comprising:
- a body having a top edge, a bottom edge, two ends, length and a depth;
- a first cork line extending along the top edge of the body and a first lead line extending along the bottom edge of the body;
- a cork line extension attached along the body above the first cork line;
- a lead line extension attached along the body below the first lead line;
- the body, cork line extension and lead line extension being formed of a oil and water resistant material having sufficient strength to hold an amount of oil and ice in the net;
- a first purse line attached to the cork line extension;
- a second purse line attached to the lead line extension;
- and
- a drain tube attached along the bottom edge of the body functioning to allow fluid out of an area enclosed by the net.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.