EP2268889A2 - A collection device and method of using same - Google Patents

A collection device and method of using same

Info

Publication number
EP2268889A2
EP2268889A2 EP09725394A EP09725394A EP2268889A2 EP 2268889 A2 EP2268889 A2 EP 2268889A2 EP 09725394 A EP09725394 A EP 09725394A EP 09725394 A EP09725394 A EP 09725394A EP 2268889 A2 EP2268889 A2 EP 2268889A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
collection device
fluid
solids
plant
location
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP09725394A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2268889B1 (en
Inventor
Arne Incoronato
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ott Subsea Bag Tech AS
Original Assignee
Ott Subsea Bag Tech AS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ott Subsea Bag Tech AS filed Critical Ott Subsea Bag Tech AS
Publication of EP2268889A2 publication Critical patent/EP2268889A2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2268889B1 publication Critical patent/EP2268889B1/en
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B21/00—Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor
    • E21B21/06—Arrangements for treating drilling fluids outside the borehole
    • E21B21/063—Arrangements for treating drilling fluids outside the borehole by separating components
    • E21B21/065—Separating solids from drilling fluids
    • E21B21/066—Separating solids from drilling fluids with further treatment of the solids, e.g. for disposal
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B21/00—Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor
    • E21B21/001—Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor specially adapted for underwater drilling
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
    • E02F7/00—Equipment for conveying or separating excavated material
    • E02F7/005—Equipment for conveying or separating excavated material conveying material from the underwater bottom

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a collection device and a method for using same. More particularly it concerns a collection device for solids and fluid directed from a first lo- cation on a seabed, on an offshore installation or onshore, and to a second location, where the fluid directs the solids material in through an inlet portion in a solids collection device provided with one or more permeable portions arranged to retain solids material exceeding a predetermined size.
  • the collection device according to NO20076546 has shown itself to function very satisfactorily regarding collecting of solids material and solves to a great extent the problems pointed out in prior art represented by said Norwegian Patent NO 320113.
  • the applicant has however experienced that in some cases there is a need or a desire to be able to clean at least a portion of the fluid being used to direct the solids parti- cles into the collection devices according to the above prior art, before it is released to the surroundings.
  • the need for cleaning may for example be due to the fluid itself containing chemical additives or other components added to the fluid as this directs the solids particles into the collection de- vice and/or the need for cleaning may for example be due to the fluid in itself having added components believed to be pollutive or that it is being polluted by matter being released to the fluid from the solids.
  • the structure includes a generally closed tank adapted to be placed on the seabed near the drilling site.
  • the tank is provided with an upper inlet for supply of drill cuttings, and an outlet to the surrounding sea for water displaced during supply of drill cuttings.
  • the tank contains means for cleaning of the drill cuttings, and for storage of accumulated separated oil, fluids and other constituents separated out from the drill cuttings.
  • the structure further includes means for carrying off accumulated oil, fluids and other constituents that are lighter than wa- ter and that will gradually be released from the deposited drill cuttings.
  • the object of the invention is to remedy or reduce at least one of the prior art drawbacks .
  • a collection device for solids material and fluid directed from a first location on a seabed, on an offshore installation or onshore, and to a second location, where the fluid directs the solids material in through an inlet portion in a solids collection device provided with one or more permeable portions arranged to hold back solids material particles in excess of a predetermined size, characterised in that the collection device is further provided with a fluid collection device provided to be able to collect at least a portion of the fluid flowing out through the solids collection device, and that the fluid collection device is connected to a fluid processing plant.
  • offshore installation is in this document meant a fixed or floating installation such as a rig or a floating vessel such as a ship or a barge.
  • the fluid processing plant may, for example, but not limited to, consist of one of or a combination of a fluid sampling and analysis plant, a cleaning plant or a storage plant.
  • a fluid sampling and analysis plant By sampling the fluid contained in the fluid collection device, it may be decided if the fluid is clean enough to be returned to the surroundings, which may be such as the sea, or if the fluid must be directed to a cleaning plant to undergo cleaning before perhaps being returned to the surroundings. It may be relevant, in cases where for example the fluid is polluted to a particularly high degree, to lead the fluid into storage containers, which in turn may be brought to suitable cleaning plants .
  • the fluid processing plant is in one embodiment positioned adjacent to the collection device. In one embodiment the whole or parts of the fluid processing plant is positioned a distance apart from the collection device.
  • the fluid in the latter embodiment, is lead between the collection device and the fluid processing plant by means of a conduit.
  • the fluid collection device is in one embodiment made of an elastic material so that the fluid collection device will be able to undergo a volume change as fluid flows into it.
  • the fluid collection device is made from a decomposable material .
  • the fluid collection device is preferably made of a material which is fluid tight, even if it for some uses may be acceptable if some of the fluid may seep through the fluid collection device.
  • the solids collection device may be any device suitable for retaining solids being supplied, but is preferably of a sort as shown in said Norwegian Patent Publication NO320113 and preferably of the sort described in said Norwegian Patent Application NO 20076546.
  • the solids collection device is a container.
  • the container is preferably closed, at least at start, in the sense that it provides at least one compartment arranged to be able to retain solids material above a predetermined size from the surroundings outside the container.
  • the at least one permeable portion of the solids collection device has an increasing degree of permeability in a direction from the inlet portion and toward one or more portions spaced from the inlet portion of the collection device.
  • the increasing degree of permeability is in one embodiment provided by means of changing the size of openings in the wall portion of the collection device.
  • increasing the size of the permeable wall portions may provide the increasing degree of permeability.
  • the at least one permeable portion of the solids collection device is provided with openings having a first size, where at a distance from the inlet portion is provided at least one outlet opening having an opening of a second size, the first size being smaller than the second size.
  • an open portion arranged to be able to evacuate or flow substantially the same rate of fluid that is being pumped into the solids collection device constitutes the outlet opening. The fluid flowing out through the solids collection device, through the outlet opening and/or the permeable portions, flows into the fluid collection device.
  • At least one of the at least one permeable portions is provided with openings 100 ⁇ m or less, preferably 50 ⁇ m or less.
  • the above mentioned increasing degree of permeability and/or increase in outlet opening size(s), has the effect that the fluid carrying the solids material in through the inlet portion of the solids collection device, will encounter less and less resistance to evacuation or flow out of the solids collection device, the further away from the inlet portion the fluid is.
  • the fluid carrying the solids particles into the solids collection device may flow a furthest possible distance inside the solids collection device before being evacuated. Therefore, also substantially all of the fines may settle out in the solids collection device before the fluid flows out of it and into the fluid collection device.
  • the collection device might be placed packed together, such as folded or rolled up at the location where it shall receive the solids material.
  • a rolling up presupposes that the solids collection device is made from such as a fabric like material or is designed such that it may be unfolded from a rolled up condition and to a fully- raised condition.
  • the fluid being directed into the above-mentioned solids collection device made from such as a fabric like material will initially flow out through the one or more permeable portions being closest to the inlet portion. Some of the solids particles being retained by the permeable portion will gradually clog the openings therein. Consequently the fluid will move further away from the closest but now clogged portions. The result is that the fluid causes an inflation or extension of the collection device as fluid and solids particles are lead in through the inlet portion.
  • the solids collection device is provided with at least one internal flow restrictive device.
  • the at least one internal flow restrictive device contributes among other things to reduce the flow rate inside the solids collection device and contributes thereby to an increased degree of settling out of the solids particles in the fluid.
  • the at least one flow restrictive device may also contribute to in- crease the stability of shape and the mechanical strength of the solids collection device.
  • At least portions of the material of the solids collection device are made of a biologically decomposable material. This has the effect that the mass lead into the solids collection device will after some time be laid bare, and a natural fauna may develop on a seabed or onshore .
  • a method is pro- vided for collection of solids material and fluid being directed from a first location on a seabed or onshore to a sec- ond location, the method including placing a collection device that includes a solids collection device and a fluid collection device in said second location, where the solids collection device is provided with one or more permeable por- tions arranged to retain solids material larger than a predetermined size, and where the fluid collection device is arranged to collect at least a fraction of the fluid flowing out through the solids collection device, and where the fluid collected in the fluid collection device is lead to a fluid processing plant.
  • Fig. 1 shows a dredging operation taking place on a seabed, where the mud mass is pumped via a conduit from a dredging machine and into a collection device, where the collection device comprises a solids collection device enclosed by a fluid collection device.
  • the reference number 1 indicates a collection device according to the present invention where the collec- tion device 1 is made up of a solids collection device 1' being enclosed by a fluid collection device 1' ' .
  • the fluid collection device 1'' encloses the whole of the solids collection device 1'. It shall however be understood that the fluid collection device 1' ' in alternative embodiments only encloses portions of the solids collection device 1' .
  • the fluid collection device 1' ' need not for example, but may readily, enclose possible closed portions of the solids collection device or portions bearing against the ground.
  • a line 3 extends between an inlet portion 7 positioned on an upper portion of the solids collection device 1', and a dredging machine 5 known per se.
  • the line 3 extends in the embodiment shown through the wall portion of the fluid collection device 1' ' and down to the inlet portion 7.
  • the dredging machine 5 is provided with a suction line 5' sucking mud mass and water, where the mud mass and the water is pumped via the line 3 and into the solids collection device 1' of the collection device 1.
  • a suction line 5' sucking mud mass and water, where the mud mass and the water is pumped via the line 3 and into the solids collection device 1' of the collection device 1.
  • one or more pumping units may be connected to the line 3.
  • the solids collection device 1' shown is of a sort shown in said patent application NO 20076546 by the applicant, which is fully incorporated in this document, and will therefore not be discussed in any greater detail in this embodiment example .
  • the water driving the mud mass may evacuate or flow out through the permeable wall portions of the solids collection device 1' and into the fluid collection device 1' ' .
  • the solids collection device 1' is in an end portion distal or spaced from the inlet portion 7 provided with an outlet opening 11 as shown in an embodiment where a portion of the wall of the solids collection device 1' is provided with a hole.
  • the outlet opening may be provided by one or more por- tions having higher permeability than the whole or parts of the rest of the solids collection device 1'.
  • a collection device 1 of the invention may, according to needs, material strength and any statutory limitations such as limitations in height for so-called overtrawlability, be produced in very many different sizes. In seabed operations tests have shown that a collection device 1 having a length of 30 - 50 m, and a width or diameter of 10 - 2O m has turned out to be suitable.
  • the coarsest material settles out under or close to the inlet portion 7 in the solids collection device 1' , while the material carried inside the solids collection device 1', will become finer and finer in the direction toward the outlet opening 11.
  • a line 19, 20 extends up to a surface.
  • the line 19, 20 is arranged to be able to lead fluid to a not shown fluid processing plant.
  • the fluid processing plant may for example be one of or a combination of a fluid sampling and analysis plant, a cleaning plant, or a storage plant.
  • One or more transport containers may for example constitute the storage plant.
  • Samples of the fluid present in the fluid collection device 1'' may thus, by means known per se be lead to the fluid processing plant for analysis.
  • the fluid processing plant may in an alternative embodiment (not shown) be located at the collection device 1.
  • the results from the analysis may in ways known per se be communicated to such as a control room on an offshore installation, wherefrom further handling of the fluid present in the fluid collection device 1' ' , is controlled.
  • the fluid may be re-circulated by means of a pumping device 20' from the outlet portion 18 of the fluid collection device 1'' via line 19, 24 and 3 and back to the solids collection device 1' so that a further portion of the fines may be settled out in the solids collection device 1' .
  • binding agent may be added to the fluid a binding agent or precipitation agent contributing to particulate matter appearing dispersed in the liquid phase to flocculate so that the particles are gathered to larger and heavier particles thereby causing a quicker and more efficient separation and settling of the solids.
  • the binding agent is preferably an environmentally friendly chemical of a sort known per se. Most preferably is the binding agent an organic binding agent.
  • the binding agent is injected via a line 17 into the supply line 3 upstream of the inlet opening 7.
  • the binding agent may also be injected in the line 24.
  • the fluid may be lead in the lines 19, 20 by means of the pump 20' to a not shown cleaning plant located for example on an offshore installation. After cleaning on an offshore installation, the fluid may be returned to the sea.
  • the fluid is lead from the fluid collection device 1'' to containers (not shown) wherein the fluid is brought to a fluid processing plant onshore.
  • Samples of the fluid in the fluid collection device 1' ' may for example be collected continuously or at predetermined intervals.
  • the lines 3 and 19 are removed, for example by means of an ROV, from the inlet portion 7 and the outlet portion 18 respectively, and possibly be connected to a new collection de- vice in the way this is described in said Norwegian Patent Application NO20076546.
  • FIG. 1 In the figure is shown an embodiment of a solids collection device 1' where two transverse walls 13, 13', are provided internally in the collection device 1 and transverse of its longitudinal direction between the inlet portion 7 and the outlet opening 11.
  • transverse walls 13, 13' may be installed internally in the solids collection device 1', even if two are shown in Figure 1. It shall fur- ther be understood that the transverse walls 13, 13' may be located in any desired angle relative to said longitudinal direction.
  • the transverse walls 13, 13' have two objectives. Firstly, the transverse walls 13, 13' will act as bracing elements re- inforing the wall portions of the solids collection device 1'. Secondly the transverse walls 13, 13' may, depending on their permeability, act as a flow restriction and thereby define chambers in the solids collection device 1'. The chambers may simplify inflation of the collection device 1 and at the same time cause a reduced fluid throughput rate. A reduced fluid throughput rate will result in further increased retention time for the fluid in the solids collection device 1' and thereby settling of fines closer to the inlet opening 7 as compared to a collection device 1 without transverse walls 13, 13' .
  • transverse walls 13, 13' may cover all or only portions of a cross-sectional area of the solids collection device 1'.
  • the collection device 1 may be connected to already existing systems (not shown) provided to separate sand from well production, a so-called “Sub sea sand separator” .
  • the present invention thus provides a collection device 1 arranged both to filter solids particles from a fluid, at the same time as the fluid is collected and before it is released to the surrounding environment, possibly after a cleaning process .

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Sludge (AREA)
  • Cleaning Or Clearing Of The Surface Of Open Water (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to a collection device (1) for solids material and fluid being directed from a first location on a seabed, on an offshore installation, or onshore, and to a second location, wherein the fluid conducts the solids material in through an inlet portion (7) in a solids collection device (1') provided with one or more permeable portions arranged to retain solids material in excess of a predetermined size, wherein the collection device (1) is further provided with a fluid collection device (1'') arranged to be able to collect at least a portion of the fluid evacuating out through the solids collection device (1'). The invention also relates to a method for use of the collection device (1).

Description

A COLLECTION DEVICE AND METHOD OF USING SAME
The present invention relates to a collection device and a method for using same. More particularly it concerns a collection device for solids and fluid directed from a first lo- cation on a seabed, on an offshore installation or onshore, and to a second location, where the fluid directs the solids material in through an inlet portion in a solids collection device provided with one or more permeable portions arranged to retain solids material exceeding a predetermined size.
When excavating or drilling in the ground or on a seabed or onshore, masses, which must be removed from the excavating or drilling area, are released. The released masses may in handling represent a drawback as they may spread to the surrounding environment.
When drilling a top hole section in a petroleum well on the seabed, there is known from Norwegian Patent NO 320113, which owner is the same as the applicant for the present invention, a method and collection device for removal of water laden drill cuttings being returned from the top section of a bore- hole. The drill cuttings is pumped into a collection device, which thereafter is lifted to the sea surface and onboard a vessel. The collection device is provided with drainage properties such that fluid is drained from the collection device when it is lifted onboard the vessel .■ Even though the collection device and the method have proven themselves to function satisfactorily, they have certain drawbacks. One of these drawbacks is that during lifting of the collection device from the seabed and up to the vessel, fines present in the collection device together with the drill cuttings, may be drained from the collection device together with the liquid. The fines and the liquid being drained out may represent a pollution problem. Another drawback relates to the capacity of the collection device. Due to the (collection device being lifted onboard a vessel, its size is limited to typically 25 m3. The collection device must thus relatively often be connected to and disconnected from the pumping device and the lifting device bringing the collection device up to the surface. Such handling at the seabed is usually carried out by means of a so-called ROV (Remote Operated Vehicle), which is relatively costly in use. In addition it is costly to transport the drill cuttings to shore for further processing and depositing.
At such as dredging of such as a seabed, there is sometimes no need for, or there may be a requirement for the masses to be removed from the seabed. It is however in the nature of the case that the mass need to be moved from a first area and to a second area on the seabed. It is known to carry out this transfer of mass by pumping the mass away from the area wherefrom the mass is being removed. An essential drawback with this type of dredging operation is that large areas downstream of the dredging operation are covered by the mass. This mass may harm the seabed fauna. In some locations there are therefore requirements that dredged mass or mass having to be removed in other ways, to be pumped to shore for possible cleaning and depositing in special approved landfills. This is a very costly operation. When depositing residual waste from the mining or process industry, it is known to place this in open disposal sites on land or in the sea. In those cases where such residual waste includes fines, it turns out to be problematic to avoid spreading of the residual waste to surrounding areas. The problem is particularly great during transfer of the mass.
From Norwegian Patent Application NO 20076546 appurtenant to the present applicant, and which is wholly incorporated in the present application, there is known a collection device for solids material which by means of a fluid is transferred from a first location on a seabed, on an offshore installation or onshore and to a second location, and where the fluid directs the solids material in through an inlet portion to the collection device, and where the collection device is provided with one or more permeable portions provided to hold back solids material exceeding a predetermined particle size.
The collection device according to NO20076546 has shown itself to function very satisfactorily regarding collecting of solids material and solves to a great extent the problems pointed out in prior art represented by said Norwegian Patent NO 320113.
The applicant has however experienced that in some cases there is a need or a desire to be able to clean at least a portion of the fluid being used to direct the solids parti- cles into the collection devices according to the above prior art, before it is released to the surroundings. The need for cleaning may for example be due to the fluid itself containing chemical additives or other components added to the fluid as this directs the solids particles into the collection de- vice and/or the need for cleaning may for example be due to the fluid in itself having added components believed to be pollutive or that it is being polluted by matter being released to the fluid from the solids.
From the publication NO 173521 is known a subsea storage construction for handling and storage of drill cuttings from drilling operations in a seabed. The structure includes a generally closed tank adapted to be placed on the seabed near the drilling site. The tank is provided with an upper inlet for supply of drill cuttings, and an outlet to the surrounding sea for water displaced during supply of drill cuttings. The tank contains means for cleaning of the drill cuttings, and for storage of accumulated separated oil, fluids and other constituents separated out from the drill cuttings. The structure further includes means for carrying off accumulated oil, fluids and other constituents that are lighter than wa- ter and that will gradually be released from the deposited drill cuttings.
The object of the invention is to remedy or reduce at least one of the prior art drawbacks .
The object is achieved by features stated in the below de- scription an in the following Claims.
In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a collection device for solids material and fluid directed from a first location on a seabed, on an offshore installation or onshore, and to a second location, where the fluid directs the solids material in through an inlet portion in a solids collection device provided with one or more permeable portions arranged to hold back solids material particles in excess of a predetermined size, characterised in that the collection device is further provided with a fluid collection device provided to be able to collect at least a portion of the fluid flowing out through the solids collection device, and that the fluid collection device is connected to a fluid processing plant.
By offshore installation is in this document meant a fixed or floating installation such as a rig or a floating vessel such as a ship or a barge.
The fluid processing plant may, for example, but not limited to, consist of one of or a combination of a fluid sampling and analysis plant, a cleaning plant or a storage plant. By sampling the fluid contained in the fluid collection device, it may be decided if the fluid is clean enough to be returned to the surroundings, which may be such as the sea, or if the fluid must be directed to a cleaning plant to undergo cleaning before perhaps being returned to the surroundings. It may be relevant, in cases where for example the fluid is polluted to a particularly high degree, to lead the fluid into storage containers, which in turn may be brought to suitable cleaning plants .
The fluid processing plant, or at least a part of it, is in one embodiment positioned adjacent to the collection device. In one embodiment the whole or parts of the fluid processing plant is positioned a distance apart from the collection device. The fluid, in the latter embodiment, is lead between the collection device and the fluid processing plant by means of a conduit.
The fluid collection device is in one embodiment made of an elastic material so that the fluid collection device will be able to undergo a volume change as fluid flows into it.
Advantageously, the fluid collection device is made from a decomposable material . The fluid collection device is preferably made of a material which is fluid tight, even if it for some uses may be acceptable if some of the fluid may seep through the fluid collection device. Use of the fluid collection device in areas where there is a desire or a requirement for so-called "zero discharge", such as for the oil exploitation industry offshore in particularly vulnerable areas, a fluid tight collection device might be necessary.
The solids collection device may be any device suitable for retaining solids being supplied, but is preferably of a sort as shown in said Norwegian Patent Publication NO320113 and preferably of the sort described in said Norwegian Patent Application NO 20076546.
In a preferred embodiment, the solids collection device is a container. The container is preferably closed, at least at start, in the sense that it provides at least one compartment arranged to be able to retain solids material above a predetermined size from the surroundings outside the container.
In one embodiment, the at least one permeable portion of the solids collection device has an increasing degree of permeability in a direction from the inlet portion and toward one or more portions spaced from the inlet portion of the collection device.
The increasing degree of permeability is in one embodiment provided by means of changing the size of openings in the wall portion of the collection device. As an alternative or in addition to said changed sizes, increasing the size of the permeable wall portions may provide the increasing degree of permeability.
In one embodiment, the at least one permeable portion of the solids collection device is provided with openings having a first size, where at a distance from the inlet portion is provided at least one outlet opening having an opening of a second size, the first size being smaller than the second size. In one embodiment, an open portion arranged to be able to evacuate or flow substantially the same rate of fluid that is being pumped into the solids collection device constitutes the outlet opening. The fluid flowing out through the solids collection device, through the outlet opening and/or the permeable portions, flows into the fluid collection device.
In one embodiment, at least one of the at least one permeable portions is provided with openings 100 μm or less, preferably 50 μm or less.
The above mentioned increasing degree of permeability and/or increase in outlet opening size(s), has the effect that the fluid carrying the solids material in through the inlet portion of the solids collection device, will encounter less and less resistance to evacuation or flow out of the solids collection device, the further away from the inlet portion the fluid is. Thus, the fluid carrying the solids particles into the solids collection device, may flow a furthest possible distance inside the solids collection device before being evacuated. Therefore, also substantially all of the fines may settle out in the solids collection device before the fluid flows out of it and into the fluid collection device.
Another important consequence of providing the above mentioned increasing degree of permeability and/or outlet openings, is that the collection device might be placed packed together, such as folded or rolled up at the location where it shall receive the solids material. Such a rolling up presupposes that the solids collection device is made from such as a fabric like material or is designed such that it may be unfolded from a rolled up condition and to a fully- raised condition.
The fluid being directed into the above-mentioned solids collection device made from such as a fabric like material will initially flow out through the one or more permeable portions being closest to the inlet portion. Some of the solids particles being retained by the permeable portion will gradually clog the openings therein. Consequently the fluid will move further away from the closest but now clogged portions. The result is that the fluid causes an inflation or extension of the collection device as fluid and solids particles are lead in through the inlet portion.
In one embodiment the solids collection device is provided with at least one internal flow restrictive device. The at least one internal flow restrictive device contributes among other things to reduce the flow rate inside the solids collection device and contributes thereby to an increased degree of settling out of the solids particles in the fluid. The at least one flow restrictive device may also contribute to in- crease the stability of shape and the mechanical strength of the solids collection device.
In one embodiment at least portions of the material of the solids collection device, which also the material of the fluid collection container may be, are made of a biologically decomposable material. This has the effect that the mass lead into the solids collection device will after some time be laid bare, and a natural fauna may develop on a seabed or onshore .
In a second aspect of the present invention a method is pro- vided for collection of solids material and fluid being directed from a first location on a seabed or onshore to a sec- ond location, the method including placing a collection device that includes a solids collection device and a fluid collection device in said second location, where the solids collection device is provided with one or more permeable por- tions arranged to retain solids material larger than a predetermined size, and where the fluid collection device is arranged to collect at least a fraction of the fluid flowing out through the solids collection device, and where the fluid collected in the fluid collection device is lead to a fluid processing plant.
In the following an example of a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing is described.
Fig. 1 shows a dredging operation taking place on a seabed, where the mud mass is pumped via a conduit from a dredging machine and into a collection device, where the collection device comprises a solids collection device enclosed by a fluid collection device.
In the figure the reference number 1 indicates a collection device according to the present invention where the collec- tion device 1 is made up of a solids collection device 1' being enclosed by a fluid collection device 1' ' . The fluid collection device 1'' encloses the whole of the solids collection device 1'. It shall however be understood that the fluid collection device 1' ' in alternative embodiments only encloses portions of the solids collection device 1' . The fluid collection device 1' ' need not for example, but may readily, enclose possible closed portions of the solids collection device or portions bearing against the ground.
A line 3 extends between an inlet portion 7 positioned on an upper portion of the solids collection device 1', and a dredging machine 5 known per se. The line 3 extends in the embodiment shown through the wall portion of the fluid collection device 1' ' and down to the inlet portion 7.
The dredging machine 5 is provided with a suction line 5' sucking mud mass and water, where the mud mass and the water is pumped via the line 3 and into the solids collection device 1' of the collection device 1. A person skilled in the art will recognise that one or more pumping units (not shown) may be connected to the line 3.
The solids collection device 1' shown is of a sort shown in said patent application NO 20076546 by the applicant, which is fully incorporated in this document, and will therefore not be discussed in any greater detail in this embodiment example .
When the fluid from the dredging machine 5 is supplied to the collection device 1, the water driving the mud mass may evacuate or flow out through the permeable wall portions of the solids collection device 1' and into the fluid collection device 1' ' .
In the embodiment shown the solids collection device 1' is in an end portion distal or spaced from the inlet portion 7 provided with an outlet opening 11 as shown in an embodiment where a portion of the wall of the solids collection device 1' is provided with a hole. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the outlet opening may be provided by one or more por- tions having higher permeability than the whole or parts of the rest of the solids collection device 1'.
A collection device 1 of the invention may, according to needs, material strength and any statutory limitations such as limitations in height for so-called overtrawlability, be produced in very many different sizes. In seabed operations tests have shown that a collection device 1 having a length of 30 - 50 m, and a width or diameter of 10 - 2O m has turned out to be suitable.
As a person skilled in the art will recognise, the coarsest material settles out under or close to the inlet portion 7 in the solids collection device 1' , while the material carried inside the solids collection device 1', will become finer and finer in the direction toward the outlet opening 11.
The fluid flowing out through the outlet opening 11 and/or through the permeable wall portions of the solids collection device 1', will flow into the surrounding fluid collection device 1' ' .
From an outlet 18 in the fluid collection device 1'' a line 19, 20 extends up to a surface. The line 19, 20 is arranged to be able to lead fluid to a not shown fluid processing plant. The fluid processing plant may for example be one of or a combination of a fluid sampling and analysis plant, a cleaning plant, or a storage plant. One or more transport containers may for example constitute the storage plant.
Samples of the fluid present in the fluid collection device 1'' may thus, by means known per se be lead to the fluid processing plant for analysis.
The fluid processing plant, or parts of it, may in an alternative embodiment (not shown) be located at the collection device 1. In such an embodiment the results from the analysis may in ways known per se be communicated to such as a control room on an offshore installation, wherefrom further handling of the fluid present in the fluid collection device 1' ' , is controlled.
If the analyses show that the fluid present in the fluid col- lection device 1'' is sufficiently clean to be drained out into the water outside the collection device 1, such drainage is done through an outlet line 22 placed in connection with the fluid collection device 1''.
If the analyses of the samples show that the fluid is not sufficiently clean to be drained out into the water, e.g. because the fluid contains too much fines, or that other conditions requires that the fluid can not be drained out into the water, the fluid may be re-circulated by means of a pumping device 20' from the outlet portion 18 of the fluid collection device 1'' via line 19, 24 and 3 and back to the solids collection device 1' so that a further portion of the fines may be settled out in the solids collection device 1' .
It is to be understood that the fluid flow to the lines 19, 20, 22, 24 is controlled by valves known per se which are not shown in the figure for clarity.
To increase the precipitation of fines, there may be added to the fluid a binding agent or precipitation agent contributing to particulate matter appearing dispersed in the liquid phase to flocculate so that the particles are gathered to larger and heavier particles thereby causing a quicker and more efficient separation and settling of the solids. The binding agent is preferably an environmentally friendly chemical of a sort known per se. Most preferably is the binding agent an organic binding agent.
The binding agent is injected via a line 17 into the supply line 3 upstream of the inlet opening 7. A person skilled in the art will recognise that the binding agent may also be injected in the line 24.
If the analyses of the samples show that the fluid is not sufficiently clean to be drained out into the water, e.g. due to a content of an unacceptable level of environmentally un- friendly matter, the fluid may be lead in the lines 19, 20 by means of the pump 20' to a not shown cleaning plant located for example on an offshore installation. After cleaning on an offshore installation, the fluid may be returned to the sea.
It may also be considered that the fluid is lead from the fluid collection device 1'' to containers (not shown) wherein the fluid is brought to a fluid processing plant onshore.
Samples of the fluid in the fluid collection device 1' ' , may for example be collected continuously or at predetermined intervals.
When the solids collection device 1' is sufficiently filled, the lines 3 and 19 are removed, for example by means of an ROV, from the inlet portion 7 and the outlet portion 18 respectively, and possibly be connected to a new collection de- vice in the way this is described in said Norwegian Patent Application NO20076546.
In the figure is shown an embodiment of a solids collection device 1' where two transverse walls 13, 13', are provided internally in the collection device 1 and transverse of its longitudinal direction between the inlet portion 7 and the outlet opening 11. The transverse wall 13 which is nearest the inlet portion 7, extends from the bottom portion of the solids collection device 1' and about half way up toward the top portion. The transverse wall 13' nearest the outlet open- ing 11 covers the whole of the internal cross-section of the solids collection device 1' .
It shall be understood that any number of transverse walls 13, 13' may be installed internally in the solids collection device 1', even if two are shown in Figure 1. It shall fur- ther be understood that the transverse walls 13, 13' may be located in any desired angle relative to said longitudinal direction.
The transverse walls 13, 13' have two objectives. Firstly, the transverse walls 13, 13' will act as bracing elements re- inforing the wall portions of the solids collection device 1'. Secondly the transverse walls 13, 13' may, depending on their permeability, act as a flow restriction and thereby define chambers in the solids collection device 1'. The chambers may simplify inflation of the collection device 1 and at the same time cause a reduced fluid throughput rate. A reduced fluid throughput rate will result in further increased retention time for the fluid in the solids collection device 1' and thereby settling of fines closer to the inlet opening 7 as compared to a collection device 1 without transverse walls 13, 13' .
It is to be understood that the transverse walls 13, 13' may cover all or only portions of a cross-sectional area of the solids collection device 1'.
It is to be understood that the collection device 1 may be connected to already existing systems (not shown) provided to separate sand from well production, a so-called "Sub sea sand separator" .
The present invention thus provides a collection device 1 arranged both to filter solids particles from a fluid, at the same time as the fluid is collected and before it is released to the surrounding environment, possibly after a cleaning process .

Claims

C L A I M S
1. A collection device for solids material and fluid directed from a first location on a seabed, on an offshore installation or onshore to a second location
5 where the fluid directs the solids material in through an inlet portion (7) in a solids collection device (1') provided with one or more permeable portions arranged to retain solids material exceeding a predetermined size, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the io collection device (1) is further provided with a fluid collection device (l';) arranged to be able to collect at least a portion of the fluid flowing out through the solids collection device (l')# and that the fluid collection device (1'') is connected to a fluid proc- i5 essing plant.
2. A collection device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid processing plant is constituted by one or a combination of a fluid sampling and analysis plant, a cleaning plant or a storage plant.
20 3. A collection device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the fluid processing plant is located at a distance from the collection device (1) , and that the fluid is directed between the collection device (1) and the fluid processing plant by a conduit (19, 20) .
25 4. A collection device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid collection device (I' ' ) is made from an elastic material .
5. A collection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid collection device 30 (1'') is made from a decomposable material.
6. A collection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid collection device (I' ' ) is fluid tight.
7. A method for collection of solids material and fluid 5 being directed from a first location on a seabed or onshore, to a second location, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the method including placing a collection device (1) that includes a solids collection device (1') and a fluid collection device (1'') at io said second location, wherein the solids collection device (1') is provided with one or more permeable portions arranged to retain solids material exceeding a certain size, and wherein the fluid collection device (I'') is arranged for collecting at least a por- i5 tion of the fluid flowing out through the solids collection device (1'), and wherein the fluid collected in the fluid collection device (l'#) is directed to a fluid processing plant.
8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the fluid in 20 the fluid processing plant undergoes a cleaning.
9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the method further comprises to lead the cleaned fluid back to the surroundings .
10. A method according to claim 7, wherein the method fur- 25 ther comprises to re-circulate the fluid back to the fluid collection device (I'') .
EP09725394.2A 2008-03-28 2009-03-25 A collection device and method of using same Not-in-force EP2268889B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NO20081530A NO329529B1 (en) 2008-03-28 2008-03-28 Collection device and method using the same
PCT/NO2009/000109 WO2009120090A2 (en) 2008-03-28 2009-03-25 A collection device and method of using same

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2268889A2 true EP2268889A2 (en) 2011-01-05
EP2268889B1 EP2268889B1 (en) 2014-04-16

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EP (1) EP2268889B1 (en)
CA (1) CA2722617C (en)
DK (1) DK2268889T3 (en)
NO (1) NO329529B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2009120090A2 (en)

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CN112457968B (en) * 2020-12-10 2023-10-03 浙江师范大学 Water microorganism sampling device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO20081530L (en) 2009-09-29
DK2268889T3 (en) 2014-07-21
CA2722617A1 (en) 2009-10-01
EP2268889B1 (en) 2014-04-16
NO329529B1 (en) 2010-11-08
CA2722617C (en) 2016-02-09
WO2009120090A3 (en) 2010-05-06
WO2009120090A2 (en) 2009-10-01

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