Subsea blowout containment method and apparatus

A method for containing a flowstream of hydrocarbons escaping from a subsea well blowout comprising:

• suspending a funnel on a fluid conduit from a support means at the sea surface, said support means allowing movement of said conduit and said funnel with respect to said support means;
• positioning the funnel over the subsea wellhead whereby at least a portion of said funnel captures a portion of said flowstream so that hydrocarbons from said blowout are directed by said funnel into a lower end of said conduit;
• allowing said funnel to be pulled into said flowstream to capture a substantial portion of said flowstream;
• and
• receiving hydrocarbons from an upper end of said conduit.

Apparatus for containment of hydrocarbons flowing from a subsea well blowout comprising:

• an elongated conduit;
• a funnel connected to the lower end of said conduit, said funnel having a large end directed downwardly toward the sea floor;
• support means including a first platform supported on the sea floor and extending to the sea surface, and a boom pivotally connected to said first platform and carrying said funnel on an end opposite said first platform, said boom being operative to pivot said conduit and said funnel into position over a wellhead for capturing a flowstream of hydrocarbons flowing from said wellhead upon placement of said first platform at a predetermined position adjacent to said wellhead;
• said conduit being carried on said boom and extending from said funnel to said platform;
• and
• said apparatus includes means connected to the small end of said funnel and extending vertically upward for supporting a snubbing unit, whereby tubing may be run into said wellhead through said funnel.

Apparatus for containment of well fluids flowing from an opening in a subsea wellhead, said apparatus comprising in combination:

• conduit means including a funnel having a small upper end and a large lower end facing downwardly over said wellhead for capturing well fluids emanating from said wellhead and conducting said well fluids away from said wellhead;
• a snubbing unit connected to said conduit means above said funnel and including a valve providing in an open position a passageway into the interior of said conduit means and said funnel;
• and
• a guide for a tubing string to be inserted into said wellhead through said valve and the interior of said funnel, said guide comprising a conical shaped member foldable into a collapsed condition for insertion through said valve and said interior of said funnel, said conical shaped member being opened upon entering the interior of said funnel by the action of well fluids impinging on said guide, said guide being operable to center a lower end of said tubing string over said opening in said wellhead in response to well fluids impinging on said guide.