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US 8,986,548 B2Granted
Oil containment recovery dome
OwnerThomas T. K. Zunginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An oil containment recovery dome including an upper containment portion and at least one bladder. The upper containment portion has an enclosure defined therein that is adapted to receive equipment used in conjunction with a well and to retain therein oil or gas that escapes from the well. The at least one bladder is attached to the upper containment portion.
Claims18
An oil containment recovery dome for use in conjunction with an oil or gas well, wherein the oil containment recovery dome comprises:
- an upper containment portion having an enclosure defined therein that is adapted to receive equipment used in conjunction with the oil or gas well and to retain therein oil or gas that escapes from the well, wherein at least part of the upper containment portion has a geodesic shape, wherein the upper containment portion comprises an inner dome section and an outer dome section, wherein the inner dome section is attached to the outer dome section and wherein the inner dome section and the outer dome section each have a frame assembly that comprises:
- a plurality of elongated elements;
- and
- a plurality of connectors that interconnect the plurality of elongated elements to form an array;
- an inner cover material that extends over at least a portion of the upper containment portion, wherein the inner cover material is substantially impermeable to at least one of oil and gas;
- at least one conduit attached to the upper containment portion for removing oil or gas from the enclosure;
- and
- at least one bladder attached to the upper containment portion.
5 more elements
A method of containing and recovering oil or gas that leaks from a well that is located beneath a surface of a body of water, wherein the method comprises:
- constructing an oil containment recovery dome comprising an upper containment portion, an inner cover material and at least one conduit, wherein the upper containment portion has an enclosure defined therein that is adapted to receive equipment used in conjunction with a well and to retain therein oil or gas that escapes from the well, wherein the upper containment portion comprises an inner dome section and an outer dome section, wherein the inner dome section is attached to the outer dome section, wherein the inner dome section and the outer dome section each have a frame assembly that comprises a plurality of elongated elements and a plurality of connectors that interconnect the plurality of elongated elements to form an array, wherein the inner cover material extends over at least a portion of the user containment wherein the inner cover material is substantially impermeable to at least one of oil and gas and wherein the at least one conduit is attached to the upper containment portion for removing oil or gas from the enclosure;
- transporting the oil containment recovery dome to a location where a well is located;
- and
- positioning the oil containment recovery dome over the well.
1 more element
An oil containment and recovery system comprising:
- an oil containment recovery dome comprising an upper containment portion, an inner cover material and at least one conduit, wherein the upper containment portion has an enclosure defined therein that is adapted to receive equipment used in conjunction with a well and to retain therein oil or gas that escapes from the well, wherein the upper containment portion comprises an inner dome section and an outer dome section, wherein the inner dome section is attached to the outer dome section, wherein the inner dome section and the outer dome section each have a frame assembly that comprises a plurality of elongated elements and a plurality of connectors that interconnect the plurality of elongated elements to form an array, wherein the inner cover material extends over at least a portion of the upper containment portion, wherein the inner cover material is substantially impermeable to at least one of oil and gas and wherein the at least one conduit is attached to the upper containment portion for removing oil or gas from the enclosure;
- and
- a transport vehicle that is capable of moving the oil containment recovery dome to a location where the oil containment recovery dome is used.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.