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US 8,894,325 B2Granted
Submerged hydrocarbon recovery apparatus
AssigneeOxus Recovery Solutions Inc.
InventorsBrian Wilson Varney, Thomas Joseph Kuelker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A submerged hydrocarbon recovery apparatus for the collection and conveyance of fluids from sub surface leaks to the water body surface. The apparatus comprises a hydrocarbon fluid collector having an opening for receiving and collecting fluids emanating from an underwater hydrocarbon leak; a floatation assembly located below the water surface at a depth not affected by surface disturbances; and a conduit extending between the fluid collector and floatation assembly. The apparatus includes components to prevent the formation of hydrates or accumulation of solids that would obstruct the conveyance of fluids.
Claims38
Apparatus for underwater hydrocarbon fluid spill containment, comprising:
- a submerged hydrocarbon fluid collector freely suspended above at least a plume from an underwater hydrocarbon leak, having an opening for receiving and collecting fluids emanating from the underwater hydrocarbon leak in the at least a plume;
- a flotation assembly positioned below surface, intermediate the surface and the submerged hydrocarbon fluid collector;
- a conduit extending between the hydrocarbon fluid collector and the flotation assembly for flowing fluids collected in the hydrocarbon fluid collector to the flotation assembly, for transport to the surface;
- and
- thrusters on at least the hydrocarbon fluid collector for moving the hydrocarbon fluid collector, wherein
- the hydrocarbon fluid collector is freely suspended without positioning cables and without being anchored;
- and
- the thrusters move at least the hydrocarbon fluid collector laterally, vertically or both to position the at least the hydrocarbon collector with respect to the at least the plume from the underwater hydrocarbon leak.
5 more elements
Apparatus for underwater hydrocarbon fluid spill containment, comprising:
- a submerged hydrocarbon fluid collector, freely suspended above an underwater hydrocarbon leak, the collector having an opening for receiving and collecting fluids from at least a plume of discharged fluids emanating from the underwater hydrocarbon leak, the collector being moveable therewith;
- a flotation assembly positioned below surface, intermediate the surface and the hydrocarbon collector;
- a conduit extending between the hydrocarbon fluid collector and the flotation assembly for flowing fluids collected in the hydrocarbon fluid collector to the flotation assembly, for transport to the surface;
- and
- a source of a hydrate dissipating medium within or below the hydrocarbon fluid collector or the conduit or both and immersed in the fluids therein for preventing hydrate formation or for dissipating hydrate, if formed therein.
2 more elements
Apparatus for underwater hydrocarbon fluid spill containment comprising:
- a submerged hydrocarbon fluid collector disposed over an underwater hydrocarbon leak, having an opening for receiving and collecting fluids emanating from the underwater hydrocarbon leak;
- a flotation assembly below surface;
- a conduit extending between the hydrocarbon fluid collector and the flotation assembly for flowing fluids collected in the hydrocarbon fluid collector to the flotation assembly, for transport to the surface;
- and
- a source of surfactant disposed to inject surfactant into the hydrocarbon fluid collector, the conduit or both,
- wherein the hydrocarbon fluids comprise at least liquids and gases and wherein the hydrocarbon fluid collector is configured to convey the hydrocarbon fluids to the conduit.
3 more elements
Apparatus for underwater hydrocarbon fluid spill containment, comprising:
- a submerged hydrocarbon fluid collector freely suspended over at least a plume emanating from an underwater hydrocarbon leak and moveable therewith, the collector having an opening for receiving and collecting fluids from at least the plume;
- a flotation assembly below surface, intermediate the surface and the hydrocarbon collector;
- a conduit extending between the hydrocarbon fluid collector and the flotation assembly for flowing fluids collected in the hydrocarbon fluid collector to the flotation assembly, for transport to the surface;
- and
- one or more openings in the conduit, the one or more openings having an adjustable opening size for controlling introduction of water therein or withdrawal of fluids therefrom, for varying fluid density in the conduit for controlling a rate of flow therein.
2 more elements
Apparatus for underwater hydrocarbon fluid spill containment, comprising:
- a submerged hydrocarbon fluid collector disposed over an underwater hydrocarbon leak, having
- an opening for receiving and collecting fluids emanating in a plume from the underwater hydrocarbon leak;
- and
- a chain of plume concentrators disposed between the underwater hydrocarbon leak and the hydrocarbon fluid collector, the chain of plume concentrators collimating the plume of fluids emanating from the underwater hydrocarbon leak;
- a flotation assembly at or below surface;
- and
- a conduit extending between the hydrocarbon fluid collector and the flotation assembly for flowing fluids collected in the hydrocarbon fluid collector to the flotation assembly, for transport to the surface,
- wherein the chain of plume concentrators increase in size from smallest adjacent the leak to largest adjacent the flotation assembly.
5 more elements
A method for containing an underwater spill, comprising
- freely suspending a hydrocarbon fluid collector from a flotation assembly positioned at or below surface, the flotation assembly positioned intermediate the surface and the collector for moveably positioning the hydrocarbon fluid collector above at least a plume emanating from an underwater hydrocarbon leak discharging fluids;
- positioning the hydrocarbon collector laterally and or vertically with respect to the at least the plume emanating from the underwater hydrocarbon leak using thrusters on at least the hydrocarbon fluid collector;
- collecting the fluid discharged from the underwater hydrocarbon leak with the hydrocarbon fluid collector;
- and
- flowing the hydrocarbon fluids through a conduit extending between the hydrocarbon fluid collector and the flotation assembly.
2 more elements
A method for containing an underwater spill, comprising
- freely suspending a hydrocarbon fluid collector from a flotation assembly below surface for moving the hydrocarbon fluid collector over at least a plume of discharged fluids emanating from an underwater hydrocarbon leak;
- collecting the fluid discharged from the at least plume with the hydrocarbon fluid collector;
- flowing the hydrocarbon fluids through a conduit extending between the hydrocarbon fluid collector and the flotation assembly;
- and
- preventing hydrate formation or dissipating hydrate, if formed, in the hydrocarbon fluid collector or the conduit or both.
2 more elements
A method of containing an underwater spill, comprising:
- freely suspending a hydrocarbon fluid collector from a flotation assembly below surface for positioning the hydrocarbon fluid collector over an underwater hydrocarbon leak discharging fluids;
- collecting the fluid discharged from the underwater hydrocarbon leak with the hydrocarbon fluid collector;
- flowing the hydrocarbon fluids through a conduit extending between the hydrocarbon fluid collector and the flotation assembly;
- and
- injecting surfactant into the hydrocarbon fluid collector, the conduit or both.
2 more elements
A method of containing an underwater spill, comprising:
- freely suspending a hydrocarbon fluid collector from a flotation assembly below surface for moving the hydrocarbon fluid collector above at least a plume emanating from an underwater hydrocarbon leak discharging fluids;
- collecting the fluid discharged from the underwater hydrocarbon leak with the hydrocarbon fluid collector;
- flowing the hydrocarbon fluids through a conduit extending between the hydrocarbon fluid collector and the flotation assembly;
- and
- controlling the size of one or more openings in the conduit for controlling introduction of water to the conduit or withdrawal of fluids from the conduit for varying the fluid density in the conduit for controlling a rate of flow therein.
2 more elements
A method of containing an underwater spill, comprising:
- freely suspending a hydrocarbon fluid collector from a flotation assembly below surface for moving the hydrocarbon fluid collector above at least a plume emanating from an underwater hydrocarbon leak discharging fluids;
- collecting the fluid discharged from the underwater hydrocarbon leak with the hydrocarbon fluid collector;
- flowing the hydrocarbon fluids through a conduit extending between the hydrocarbon fluid collector and the flotation assembly;
- and
- disposing a series of intermediate hydrocarbon fluid collectors having a conduit extending upwardly therefrom to form a chain of plume concentrators between the underwater hydrocarbon leak and the hydrocarbon fluid collector, each plume concentrator gathering fluid;
- and
- refocusing the fluid to a smaller cross-sectional area in the conduit to rise in a plume to a next plume concentrator.
4 more elements
Apparatus for underwater hydrocarbon fluid spill containment, comprising:
- a submerged hydrocarbon fluid collector, freely suspended without positioning cables and without being anchored, above at least a plume from an underwater hydrocarbon leak, having an opening for receiving and collecting fluids emanating from the underwater hydrocarbon leak in the at least a plume;
- a flotation assembly positioned below surface, intermediate the surface and the submerged hydrocarbon fluid collector;
- a conduit extending between the hydrocarbon fluid collector and the flotation assembly for flowing fluids collected in the hydrocarbon fluid collector to the flotation assembly, for transport to the surface;
- thrusters on at least the hydrocarbon fluid collector for moving at least the hydrocarbon fluid collector laterally, vertically or both to position the at least the hydrocarbon collector with respect to the at least the plume from the underwater hydrocarbon leak;
- and
- a chain of plume concentrators disposed between the underwater hydrocarbon leak and the hydrocarbon fluid collector, the chain of plume concentrators collimating the plume of fluids emanating from the underwater hydrocarbon leak,
- wherein the chain of plume concentrators increase in size from a smallest concentrator adjacent the leak to a largest topmost concentrator adjacent the hydrocarbon collector.
4 more elements
Apparatus for underwater hydrocarbon fluid spill containment, comprising:
- a submerged hydrocarbon fluid collector, freely suspended above an underwater hydrocarbon leak, the collector having an opening for receiving and collecting fluids from at least a plume of discharged fluids emanating from the underwater hydrocarbon leak, the collector being moveable therewith;
- a flotation assembly below surface, intermediate the surface and the hydrocarbon collector;
- a conduit extending between the hydrocarbon fluid collector and the flotation assembly for flowing fluids collected in the hydrocarbon fluid collector to the flotation assembly, for transport to the surface;
- a source of a hydrate dissipating medium within or below the hydrocarbon fluid collector or the conduit or both and immersed in the fluids therein for preventing hydrate formation or for dissipating hydrate, if formed therein;
- and
- a chain of plume concentrators disposed between the underwater hydrocarbon leak and the hydrocarbon fluid collector, the chain of plume concentrators collimating the plume of fluids emanating from the underwater hydrocarbon leak,
- wherein the chain of plume concentrators increase in size from a smallest concentrator adjacent the leak to a largest topmost concentrator adjacent the flotation assembly.
4 more elements
A method for containing an underwater spill, comprising
- freely suspending a hydrocarbon fluid collector from a flotation assembly positioned below surface, the flotation assembly positioned intermediate the surface and the collector for moveably positioning the hydrocarbon fluid collector above at least a plume emanating from an underwater hydrocarbon leak discharging fluids;
- moving the hydrocarbon collector laterally and or vertically with respect to the at least the plume emanating from the underwater hydrocarbon leak using thrusters on at least the hydrocarbon fluid collector;
- disposing a series of intermediate hydrocarbon fluid collectors to form a chain of plume concentrators between the underwater hydrocarbon leak and the hydrocarbon fluid collector, each plume concentrator gathering fluid and refocusing the fluid to a smaller cross-sectional area to rise in a plume to a next plume concentrator;
- increasing a size of the plume concentrators from smallest adjacent the leak to largest adjacent the flotation assembly;
- collecting the fluid discharged from the underwater hydrocarbon leak with the hydrocarbon fluid collector;
- and
- flowing the hydrocarbon fluids through a conduit extending between the hydrocarbon fluid collector and the flotation assembly.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.