Containment system and a method for using said containment system
AssigneeTotal SA
InventorsVan-Khoi Vu, Jean-Claude Bourguignon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A containment system for recovering hydrocarbon fluid from a leaking device comprising a wall extending from a base level to a first level for surrounding the leaking device, and a dome situated above the wall and forming a cavity for accumulating hydrocarbon fluid. The dome comprises an upper output opening for extracting the hydrocarbon fluid. The containment system further comprises a lower output opening extending up to a dome level. The wall and the dome are independent members so as the wall can be landed on the seafloor before the dome is installed.
Claims27
A containment system for recovering hydrocarbon fluid from a leaking device that is situated at the seafloor and that is leaking hydrocarbon fluid from a well, wherein the containment system is adapted to be landed at the seafloor corresponding to a base level of the containment system, and wherein the containment system comprises at least:
- a wall extending from the base level to a first level so as to completely surround the leaking device, said wall being substantially sealed to the seafloor around said leaking device, and
- a dome situated above the wall and forming a cavity under said dome, said cavity being adapted for accumulating hydrocarbon fluid coming upwardly from the leaking device, said dome comprising at least one upper output opening adapted to extract the hydrocarbon fluid for recovering, and
- wherein the containment system further comprises a lower output opening extending up to a dome level, and
- wherein the wall and the dome are independent members so the wall can be landed on the seafloor before the dome is installed, and
- wherein the dome comprises an upper portion extending in a radial direction from a centre vertical axis to an outer peripheral end, and a lateral portion extending the upper portion downwardly from said outer peripheral end at least down to the lower output opening, and
- wherein the lateral portion comprises:
- a lateral rigid structure extending from the upper portion to a lower end intended to be seated on the seafloor at the base level, said lateral rigid structure not closing the lateral portion, and
- an extendable device that is extendable from the upper portion to the lower output opening, so as to close partially the lateral portion of the dome.
A method for using a containment system for recovering hydrocarbon fluid from a leaking device that is situated at the seafloor and that is leaking hydrocarbon fluid from a well, and wherein the containment system comprises at least:
- a wall extending from a base level to a first level,
- a dome forming a cavity under said dome,
- said cavity being adapted for accumulating hydrocarbon fluid coming upwardly from the leaking device,
- said dome comprising at least one upper output opening, and
- wherein the wall further comprises a lower output opening, and
- wherein the wall and the dome are independent members, and
- wherein the method comprises the following successive steps:
- a) installing the wall around the leaking device on the seafloor, so as the base level corresponds to the seafloor, and said wall being substantially sealed to the seafloor around said leaking device,
- b) installing the dome above the wall,
- c) connecting the upper output opening to a pipe for extracting the hydrocarbon fluid from the cavity, and
- wherein the lower output opening is an over pressure valve that extracts fluid out from the cavity into an environment if a pressure difference between the cavity and the environment exceeds a predetermined pressure limit, and wherein after step b), the dome is sealed above the wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.