Back to results
US 9,315,963 B2Granted
Offshore atoll system and related methods of use
AssigneeDeep Down, Inc.
InventorRon Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An offshore atoll system includes a continuous barrier, the continuous barrier having one or more modular sections coupled together, wherein each of the one or more modular sections have at least one concave surface positioned at a sea surface. The continuous barrier also includes one or more thrusters disposed along a length thereof. The continuous barrier is provided to reduce a magnitude of incoming waves on at least one side of the continuous barrier.
Claims18
An offshore atoll system comprising:
- a continuous barrier, the continuous barrier including:
- one or more modular sections coupled together, wherein each of the one or more modular sections comprises:
- at least one concave surface positioned at a sea surface;
- a shell having an inner chamber therein;
- and
- a passive skimming system having a plurality of slots positioned about an inflection point of the at least one concave surface, wherein liquid from the sea surface is allowed to enter the inner chamber through the plurality of slots;
- and
- one or more thrusters disposed along a length of the continuous barrier,
- wherein the continuous barrier is configured to reduce a magnitude of incoming waves on at least one side of the continuous barrier.
6 more elements
A method of providing an offshore working area, the method comprising:
- coupling two or more buoyant modular sections together and forming a continuous barrier;
- positioning at least one concave surface of the continuous barrier at a sea surface, wherein the at least one concave surface is configured to reduce a magnitude of incoming waves colliding with the at least one concave surface;
- passively skimming oil from the sea surface with the buoyant modular sections of the continuous barrier by allowing liquid from the sea surface to enter into an inner chamber of the continuous barrier through a slot positioned proximate an inflection point of at least one concave surface of the continuous barrier positioned at the sea surface;
- and
- using thrusters to affect a position of the continuous barrier.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.