Apparatus and method for containing fluids around a wellhead

Apparatus associated with an oil and gas well rig for catching and containing leaked fluids from a wellhead, said rig having a platform and a derrick with extensible legs for supporting the derrick;

• said apparatus comprising:
• a tank structure surrounding the wellhead at a location beneath the rig platform to receive fluids leaked from the well and having a portion positioned adjacent the rig, said tank structure having a bottom on a supporting surface and a plurality of connected sides extending upwardly from the bottom;
• a pipe support mounted within said tank structure adjacent one side thereof with said extensible legs of said derrick being mounted within said tank structure adjacent an opposite side thereof;
• and
• a waterproof skirt removably connected in surrounding relation to the wellhead about said tank structure and sloping downwardly to the tank structure to direct fluids to said tank structure from said wellhead.

A tank structure for receiving and containing leaked fluids from a wellhead having a well rig positioned adjacent the wellhead;

• said tank structure comprising:
• at least a pair of generally parallel portable tank sections of a generally rectangular shape positioned on opposed sides of said wellhead, each tank section having a bottom on a supporting ground surface and four connected sides extending upwardly from said bottom;
• and
• means detachably connecting said tank sections to each other for surrounding said wellhead.

A method of catching and containing leaked fluids from a wellhead for an oil and gas well and having a well rig with a derrick having extensible legs positioned adjacent the wellhead for drilling or workover operations;

• said method comprising the following steps:
• positioning a portable tank structure about the wellhead for surrounding the wellhead beneath the rig platform to receive fluids leaked from the wellhead;
• positioning a pipe support within the tank structure on a side thereof opposite the well rig;
• and
• positioning the extensible legs of said derrick within said portable tank structure.

A method of positioning a portable tank structure on the ground surface about a wellhead for an oil or gas well adjacent a well rig for catching and containing leaked fluids from the wellhead;

• said method comprising the following steps:
• providing at least a pair of tank sections with each tank section having a bottom supported on the ground surface and connected sides extending upwardly from the bottom;
• placing the tank sections on opposite sides of said wellhead in generally parallel relation to each other beneath the rig platform;
• and
• detachably connecting said tank sections to each other for surrounding the wellhead.

Apparatus associated with an oil and gas well rig for catching and containing leaked fluids from a wellhead comprising:

• a tank structure surrounding the wellhead at a location beneath the rig platform to receive fluids leaked from the well and having a portion positioned adjacent the rig;
• a pipe support for pipe sections removed from the well positioned within the tank structure on a side thereof opposite the well rig to support pipe sections removed from the well;
• and
• a splash board extending from the tank structure on the side thereof adjacent said pipe support for deflecting fluids draining from the lower open ends of the pipe sections into the tank structure;
• said tank structure comprising a pair of generally parallel tank sections on opposed sides of said wellhead, and a pair of cover sections extending between and connecting said tank sections on other sides of said wellhead adjacent said opposed sides thereby to permit said tank structure to surround said wellhead.

Apparatus associated with an oil and gas well rig for catching and containing leaked fluids from a wellhead comprising:

• a tank structure surrounding the wellhead at a location beneath the rig platform to receive fluids leaked from the well and having a portion positioned adjacent the rig;
• a pipe support for pipe sections removed from the well positioned within the tank structure on a side thereof opposite the well rig to support pipe sections removed from the well;
• and
• a splash board extending from the tank structure on the side thereof adjacent said pipe support for deflecting fluids draining from the lower open ends of the pipe sections into the tank structure;
• said tank structure including a pair of generally parallel tank sections positioned in spaced side-by-side relation on opposed sides of said wellhead, and means detachably connecting said tank sections to each other.

A tank structure for receiving and containing leaked fluids from a wellhead having a well rig positioned adjacent the wellhead;

• said tank structure comprising:
• at least a pair of generally parallel portable tank sections positioned on opposed sides of said wellhead;
• and
• means detachably connecting said tank sections to each other for surrounding said wellhead, said means detachably connecting said tank sections to each other being adjustable in a lateral direction to connect tank sections spaced at various lateral distances from each other to permit utilization of said tank sections with wellheads of various shapes and sizes.