Oil/gas collector/separator for underwater oil leaks
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorCarl D. Henning
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An oil/gas collector/separator for recovery of oil leaking, for example, from an offshore or underwater oil well. The separator is floated over the point of the leak and tethered in place so as to receive oil/gas floating, or forced under pressure, toward the water surface from either a broken or leaking oil well casing, line, or sunken ship. The separator is provided with a downwardly extending skirt to contain the oil/gas which floats or is forced upward into a dome wherein the gas is separated from the oil/water, with the gas being flared (burned) at the top of the dome, and the oil is separated from water and pumped to a point of use. Since the density of oil is less than that of water it can be easily separated from any water entering the dome.
Claims21
An apparatus for collecting and separating at least oil leaked from an underwater source comprising:
- a tank section having an open lower end and a closed upper end, said closed upper end being provided with at least one opening therein;
- a float section to which said tank section is secured and provided with means by which said tank section is maintained above and over an associate underwater oil leak;
- a skirt section secured to said float section and constructed so as to extend downwardly from said float section for allowing oil to flow upwardly into said lower open end of said tank section;
- and
- means for removing oil from said tank section.
An apparatus adapted for collecting and separating oil/gas being discharged from an offshore oil well into surrounding water, said apparatus comprising:
- a tank assembly for receiving oil/gas;
- a float assembly for maintaining said tank assembly positioned so as to receive oil/gas from an associated offshore oil well;
- a skirt assembly operatively connected to said float assembly for preventing oil/gas discharging from an associated offshore oil well from being forced away from said tank assembly;
- means for removing oil from said tank assembly;
- and
- means for removing gas from said tank assembly.
An oil/gas collector/separator for underwater oil leaks comprising:
- a cylindrical tank;
- a hollow float member for supporting said tank in a substantially upright position;
- a skirt assembly secured to said hollow float member and extending in a direction away from said float member opposite said tank;
- means for removing oil from said tank;
- and
- means for removing gas from said tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.