# US 9,038,734 B1 · Underwater oil and gas leak containment systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,734 B1 - Document ID: US9038734B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 14/543,633 - Filed: 2014-11-17 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2010-07-02 - Applicants: Jeffrey L. Beck - Inventors: Jeffrey L. Beck - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038734B1 ## CPC - E21B 43/0122: {Collecting oil or the like from a submerged leakage (cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or the like E02B15/04)} - B01D 19/0057: {the centrifugal movement being caused by a vortex, e.g. using a cyclone, or by a tangential inlet} - Y10T 137/2087: Means to cause rotational flow of fluid [e.g., vortex generator] - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A system and method are disclosed for containing an underwater gas or oil leak. The system and method may include a vortex device comprising a vortex chamber, a high pressure inlet tangentially engaging the vortex chamber, a low pressure inlet axially engaging the vortex chamber, and a low pressure outlet axially engaging the vortex chamber opposite the low pressure inlet. The vortex device may be positioned underwater proximate an underwater leak. A vortex may be generated within the vortex device. The vortex device may then collect a leak flow issuing from the underwater leak. The vortex device may collect the leak flow via the low pressure inlet, the high pressure inlet, or both. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: identifying an underwater leak issuing a leak flow; obtaining a vortex device comprising a vortex chamber, a high pressure inlet tangentially engaging the vortex chamber, a low pressure inlet axially engaging the vortex chamber, and a low pressure outlet axially engaging the vortex chamber opposite the low pressure inlet; generating a vortex within the vortex chamber; ingesting at least a portion of the leak flow into the vortex chamber via the low pressure inlet; and conducting, by a conduit, the at least a portion of the leak flow from the low pressure outlet to a surface location. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the vortex device further comprises a shroud encircling the at least a portion of the leak flow and conducting the at least a portion of the leak flow into the low pressure inlet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the shroud directly connects to and extends from an aperture forming the low pressure inlet. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the generating comprises pumping, from a surface vessel or platform, a drive fluid into the high pressure inlet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the generating comprises injecting a drive fluid into the vortex chamber through the high pressure inlet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein: the drive fluid comprises ambient water surrounding the vortex device; and the injecting comprises driving, by ambient pressure, the ambient water into the high pressure inlet. ### Claim 7 A method comprising: identifying an underwater leak issuing a leak flow; obtaining a vortex device comprising a vortex chamber, a high pressure inlet tangentially engaging the vortex chamber, a low pressure inlet axially engaging the vortex chamber, and a low pressure outlet axially engaging the vortex chamber opposite the low pressure inlet; generating a vortex within the vortex chamber; encircling, by a shroud, the leak flow; conducting, by the shroud, the leak flow into at least one of the high pressure inlet and the low pressure inlet; ingesting, by the vortex chamber, at least a first portion of the leak flow through the low pressure inlet; and conducting, by a conduit, the at least a first portion of the leak flow from the low pressure outlet to a surface location. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the shroud directly connects to and extends from an outer perimeter of the vortex chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising ingesting, by the vortex chamber, a second portion of the leak flow through the high pressure inlet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising conducting, by the conduit, the second portion of the leak flow from the low pressure outlet to the surface location. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the generating comprises injecting a drive fluid into the vortex chamber through the high pressure inlet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein: the drive fluid comprises ambient water surrounding the vortex device; and the injecting comprises driving, by ambient pressure, the ambient water into the high pressure inlet. ### Claim 13 A method comprising: identifying an underwater leak issuing a leak flow; obtaining a plurality of vortex devices connected together to form a two-dimensional array of vortex devices, each vortex device of the plurality of vortex devices comprising a vortex chamber, a high pressure inlet tangentially engaging the vortex chamber, a low pressure inlet axially engaging the vortex chamber, and a low pressure outlet axially engaging the vortex chamber opposite the low pressure inlet; generating a vortex within each vortex chamber corresponding to the plurality of vortex devices; ingesting, by each vortex chamber corresponding to the plurality of vortex devices, at least a portion of the leak flow through a low pressure inlet corresponding thereto; and conducting, by one or more conduits, the at least a portion of the leak flow ingested by each vortex chamber from the low pressure outlet corresponding thereto to a surface location. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein each vortex device of the plurality of vortex devices is connected to one or more adjacent vortex devices of the plurality of vortex device via one or more flexible tethers. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of vortex devices comprises a laminate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein a first layer of the laminate comprises a plurality of vortex chambers, the plurality of vortex chambers comprising one vortex chamber corresponding to each vortex device of the plurality of vortex devices. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein a second layer of the laminate comprises a manifold collecting, from the low pressure outlet corresponding thereto, the at least a portion of the leak flow ingested by each vortex chamber of the plurality of vortex chambers. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein a third layer of the laminate comprises a manifold distributing a drive fluid to the high pressure inlet of each vortex chamber of the plurality of vortex chambers. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the first layer is positioned between the second and third layers. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the low pressure inlet of each vortex device of the plurality of vortex devices comprises a conduit extending from the first layer, through the third layer, to an ambient environment.