ES2230984A1 - Sunken tanker petrochemical cargo extractor has submersible tank with tubes fixed to and perforating cargo holds for drawing of oil - Google Patents

Abstract

Improvements in the subject Patent No. 200300328 and system for extraction of petrochemical tanks of a sunken vessel using a submersible tank (1) provided with tubular structures (3) comprising means of attachment to the hull or deck of the wreck sunk (2) for which either of removing the device and media perforation of the same attachment points, to inject hot fluid perforations and remove the product from inside the wreck (2) for other holes. Improvements in the subject Patent No. 200300328 and system for extraction of petrochemical tanks of a sunken vessel using a submersible tank (1) provided with tubular structures (3) comprising means of attachment to the hull or deck of the wreck sunk (2) for which either of removing the device and media perforation of the same attachment points, to inject hot fluid perforations and remove the product from inside the wreck (2) for other holes, the tubular structures (3) are equipped with telescopic systems for insertion into the shipwreck (2) through holes corresponding system incorporating telescopic structures (3) a tubular probe (5) for the injection of hot fluid inside the wreck (2), while the other telescope system structures (3) is fitted with a screw pump (6) for removing the device from inside the wreck (2) going provided the submersible tank (1) with a tube (7) that comes out and is related to tubular structures (3) whose system telescope has a screw pump (6).

Description

Refinements in the object of Patent No. 200300328 by: "Product extraction system petrochemicals from the tanks of a sunken ship. "

The present invention is related to the extraction of products housed in ship tanks sunk, particularly in the case of ships carrying petrochemicals, such as fuel or oil, in order to avoid that these products can flow and disperse in the sea, creating the serious consequences of contamination to which this gives place.

Background of the invention

In cases of loss of large ships transporters of petrochemicals, huge are created ecological risks due to the consequences of pollution that mentioned products cause if they are dispersed in the sea.

To avoid it, or in any case reduce in possible the consequences after the sinking of ships such characteristics, solutions of refloating, which are feasible in some cases, but of difficult application when the sinking depth is very large and when the conditions of the sunken ship or wreck do not They are suitable for mobility.

Other solutions that do not involve movement of the sunken ship or wreck, consist of:

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Pump up to marine surface the product contained in the cargo tanks of the sunken wreck, which in the case of great depths it requires acting with a submersible robot, to pierce the hull of the sunken wreck and suction the product inside pump it through a pipe to the surface. This solution It has the disadvantage of the difficulty of working at great depths as well as driving the product that Extract to the surface.

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Plug the cracks of the wreck through which the product of the tanks can escape, what which does not definitively solve the problem, since the product is housed in the wreck, with the risk that it may escape with time.

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Cause the exit mass of the product contained in the wreck, for example through a explosion, for the collection of said product when it emerges from the surface. This solution has the problem that as a result of currents and waves the product can disperse unpredictably, resulting in very difficult collection, without This is also complete.

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Cover the wrecks with a layer of concrete as a sarcophagus, so that the product be locked up definitively; which is very complicated to great depths and for large wrecks.

According to the main Patent No. 200300328, proposed a system capable of extracting and recovering products contained in sunken wrecks, allowing to operate in a way practical and effective at great depths without the problems of The known solutions.

This system of the main patent consists of  use a large submersible tank, provided with some tubular structures capable of attaching to the wreck's hull by means of electromagnets incorporated in large ball joints, in whose tubular structures are included means to pierce the wreck's hull, so that the tank is filled before its hot water immersion, then immersing it until it is fixed on the hull of the sunken wreck, in which he practices some perforations, to pump water through one of them heat from inside the tank to the corresponding tank of the wreck, causing the product contained in said tank to pass to through another perforation to the submersible tank.

The problem with this solution is that the deposit submersible must be of a large size, since it must have the sufficient capacity to accommodate the entire product of a sunken wreck tank, since the content of each tank of the The wreck must be completely emptied in a single operation.

Object of the invention

According to the present invention, some are proposed improvements that solve the indicated problem, within the concept of the main patent system No. 200300328, that is using a submersible tank with tubular fixing means to the sunken wreck and drilling means incorporated in said fixing means

According to these improvements of the invention, the tubular means for fixing to the wreck's hull sunk incorporate telescopic systems to introduce into the sunken wreck tank driving fluid pumping warm from the submersible tank and driving with means extractors to bring the product from the wreck tank to the submersible tank, incorporated into the submersible tank, in relation with said conduction of the product to be extracted, a tube outside, with respect to which a hose is superimposed long-frown, which is likely to go out in  extension maintaining the coupling with the tube.

In relation to the extendable hose incorporates an axial tow, which extends to the surface marine, to act as an internal guide for the hose when it extends.

In this way the system allows to reach the wreck sunk, by submersible tank, to pierce the hull from the wreck and pump into the corresponding tank a hot fluid transported by the tank, extracting from the wreck tank the product contained in it, which passes to the extendable hose to stay in it. The own product buoyancy, due to its lower density than the of water, along with the drive to extract said product, make the housing hose extend upwards, guided by the axial tow that goes up to the surface.

The contents of the extended hose can be download to a collection device, which can be found in the surface or submerged at a certain depth where the waves affect it, the discharge being made in said deposit by the upward trend of the product housed in the hose and through the collaboration of aspiration means if necessary, after cutting the upper blind end of the hose, once the end of this end is in the tank pick up

The discharge of the product collected in the hose It can also be done by other systems, such as spilling over a collection or lifting net of the full hose, which does not alter the concept of product extraction through deposit submersible and its collection in a previously extendable hose pursed, which is the main object.

With this solution the submersible tank can be of a small size, since it does not need to accommodate inside the product that is extracted from the sunken wreck, so that the volume of said submersible tank does not need to have correspondence with the capacity of sunken wreck tanks; as the extendable hose, in the necessary length to great depths, with a relatively small diameter (for example of a meter), allows a capacity of accommodation amply enough to contain the product of a tank of the big ships that transport oil or products similar.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 represents, in perspective form transparent, a submersible tank according to the invention with two tubular structures for fixing to sunken wrecks.

Figure 2 is a perspective like the previous one, of a submersible tank with three tubular structures of fixation.

Figure 3 is a perspective like the above, of a submersible tank with four structures tubular fixing.

Figure 4 is a representation of the deposit submersible in the disposition to extract product through the helmet of a sunken wreck.

Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 show in successive views a sequence of product extraction from a wreck sunk, according to the invention, and the discharge of the product extracted in a collection deposit, having been represented in all In addition, the arrangement of the submersible tank in a second position on the sunken wreck.

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail of the swelling of the extendable hose in the collection tank, according to figure 7.

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail like the anterior, with the blind end of the hose cutting means acting in that function.

Figure 12 is a view of the discharge system  of the product extracted by throttling the hose collection by sections.

Figure 13 is an enlarged partial view of the strangulation system by sections of the collection hose product that is extracted from a sunken wreck.

Figure 14 is a view of the system of product collection hose lift by sections independent of said hose.

Figure 15 is an enlarged view of the tank of collection in which the product extracted from the wreck is unloaded sunken.

Description of the preferred embodiment

The invention relates to a system for extracting  petrochemicals, such as oil, fuel or similar, of deep sunken ships, using a reservoir submersible (1) that is likely to be sent to the ship or sunken wreck (2) and look at it, to perform perforations, through which the product that is extracted is extracted is contained in the tanks of said wreck (2).

For fixing on the wreck (2), the deposit submersible (1) is provided with tubular structures (3) that incorporate large ends at their ends (4) with means (electromagnets) for fixing, including said structures (3) also means to pierce the hull of the wreck (2).

The tubular fixing structures (3) can be two, three, four or more, as shown in figures 1, 2 and 3, being arranged on the side of the submersible tank (1) occupying two levels of height, so that those of the lower part incorporate a telescopic system to introduce a tubular probe (5) in the tank to be emptied from the wreck (2), through the perforation corresponding, while the tubular structures of the part top are provided with a telescopic system to introduce a spindle pump (6) in the tank to be emptied, through the respective drilling.

In relation to tubular structures (3) of the lower part has a motorcycle pump capable of  boost a flow from inside the submersible tank (1) to through the corresponding tubular probes (5), while in relation to the tubular structures (3) of the upper part a tube (7) that comes out of the submersible tank (1) is included determining on the outside two outlets (8) perpendicular.

Regarding any of the openings (8) of the  tube (7) a tubular support element (9) is incorporated on the which is likely to incorporate a gathered hose (10) of large length closed at its free end, as represented by the Figure 4, so that on a tubular support (9) in length relatively small (for example ten meters) you can incorporate a gathered hose (10) of several thousand meters of length (for example with a hose 0.8 millimeters thick almost nine thousand meters of hose can be arranged on the wall the ten meter tubular support).

Product extraction from a sunken wreck (2)  can be carried out, both with respect to the side tanks thereof, on the side, as with respect to the tanks central, by the cover; provided, as appropriate, the support (9) for incorporating the gathered hose (10), with respect of the mouth (8) of the corresponding tube (7) facing towards above, while the other mouth (8) is kept closed with a lid.

For the product extraction process housed in a sunken wreck (2), before the dive is placed with respect to the tube (7) of the submersible tank (1) the support tubular (9) with the hose gathered (10) and the submersible tank (1) is filled with a hot fluid, which can be water, oil or any other. In relation to the tubular support (9) of the a gathered hose (10) is also axially arranged a tow (11) which is taken from a reel (12) that will remain on the surface and it is fixed by the end inside the support (9), going to through the blind free end of the puckered hose (10).

Once the deposit (1) is prepared, you will be submerge until it reaches the sunken wreck (2) of which remove the product, looking at the side or on the cover of the same, as appropriate, through tubular structures (3).

With the means incorporated in those mentioned tubular structures (3) the hull or the deck of the wreck (2), entering through said perforations, by means of the corresponding telescopic systems, the probe or tubular probes (5) of structures (3) and the pump or pumps spindle (6) of other structures (3), to the inside of the tank to empty the wreck (2), according to figures 4 and 5.

Then, through the probe or probes tubular (5) the hot fluid transported by the submersible tank (1), into the wreck tank (2), whereby, the product contained in the tank is softened,  favoring the fluidity of said product.

Under these conditions, the spindle pumps (6) that are inserted into the tank a empty, so that the product contained in it passes through the o the corresponding tubular structures (3) towards the tube (7), to exit through the support (9) pushing the gathered hose (10)

As the extracted product pushes the hose (10), this extends progressively detaching from the support (9), so that due to the buoyancy of the product collected inside, the hose part (10) extended and full of product ascends guided by the tow (11).

To avoid too intense effort towards up in said tendency to ascend from the full part of product of the hose (10), it is foreseen, if necessary, the incorporation of ballasts that partly compensate for the upward force.

On the other hand, the tow (11) can be simple, to do only the guide function, but it can also be double, to make the hose guide function (10) with one section, while with the other section the ascension of said hose (10), pulling up if necessary.

With this solution, the extendable hose itself (10) acts as a collection container for the product that is extracted from the wreck (2) sunk, so that lifting said hose (10) to the surface, once the extraction is finished, you can download the product in a transport vessel. To avoid tensions excessive due to the full weight of the hose (10) filled with product, this can be divided into sections, which can be automate establishing means (16) of throttling and cutting in the desired areas, as shown in figures 12, 13 and 14.

The discharge of the product lodged in the hose (10), it can also be done, for example, on an arranged network on the surface, to pick up the product later on said net From a boat.

Apart from those systems before indicated, a practical discharge system is preferably provided in a collection tank (13), which can be placed floating in the surface, or preferably at a certain depth where not the waves affect it, as shown in figure 5.

In this case, the end of the hose (10) ascends as said hose (10) is filled with product, as depicted in figure 6, said end reaching on the collection deposit (13) when it arrives there, as represents figure 7.

When the end of the hose (10) is found in the warehouse (13), by means of cut (14) included in the inner part of it is made a blind end of the hose (10), according to figures 8, 10 and 11; whereby the end of the hose (10) is open, the product (15) flowing through it from inside the hose (10), as shown in Figure 9, to be said product (15) housed in the warehouse (13), which when the operation ends It can be hoisted and transported. The collection tank (13) is provides with means of absorption, to help the output of the product (15) from the hose (10).

The unloading process in the warehouse (13) of collection is the same when the hose (10) is divided into sections, such as represent figures 12 and 14, with the difference in this case of that the sections ascend independently without having to endure the entire remaining part of the hose filled with product located by  below, which facilitates lifting to the tank (13).

As Figure 15 shows, the tank (13) is provides with susceptible water filling, to favor your situation submerged where it is not affected by the waves, so that as the product (15) is discharged from the hose (10) to said deposit (13), thanks to the flotation of said product  (15) on the water, it occupies the upper part of the reservoir (13), by draining water through ducts (17) of the bottom.

With this solution, now recommended, the deposit  Submersible (1) can be small, since it does not need lodge inside the product that is extracted from the sunken wreck (2), which facilitates the process of maneuvers that is necessary perform to lift said submersible tank (1) to the wreck sunk (2) and fix it on it in the area and position that corresponding to the emptying of each tank of the same.

Claims (5)

1. Refinements in the object of Patent No. 200300328 by System for the extraction of petrochemical products from the tanks of a sunken ship, using a submersible tank (1) provided with tubular structures (3) comprising means for fixing to the hull or cover of the sunken wreck (2) from which the product is to be extracted and drilling means thereof in the fixing points, to inject a hot fluid through some perforations and extract the product from inside the wreck (2) by others perforations, characterized in that the tubular structures (3) are provided with telescopic systems for insertion into the sunken wreck (2) through the corresponding perforations, incorporating the telescopic system of structures (3) a tubular probe (5) for injection of the hot fluid into the wreck (2), while the telescopic system of other structures (3) is provided with a spindle pump (6) p to extract the product from inside the wreck (2); The submersible tank (1) is provided with a tube (7) that goes outside and is related to the tubular structures (3) whose telescopic system has a spindle pump (6). 2. Improvements in the object of Patent No. 200300328 by System for the extraction of petrochemical products from tanks of a sunken ship, in all according to the first claim, characterized in that with respect to the tube (7) it is coupled outside a tubular support (9), on which a gathered hose (10) is incorporated, in which the product that is extracted from the sunken wreck (2) is collected, which hose (10) is capable of gradually detaching itself from the support ( 9) by the action of the product that enters it, heading by flotation towards the sea surface. 3. Refinements in the object of Patent No. 200300328 by System for the extraction of petrochemical products from the tanks of a sunken ship, in all according to the first and second claims, characterized in that the tube (7) determines two openings ( 8) perpendicular, with respect to which the support (9) of the gathered hose (10) can be incorporated, according to the working position of the submersible tank (1), so that the hose (10) is facing upwards. 4. Improvements in the object of Patent No. 200300328 by System for the extraction of petrochemical products from tanks of a sunken ship, in all according to the first and second claims, characterized in that it is attached to the support (9) and axially passing through the blind free end of the puckered hose (10) a tow (11) is provided that extends from the surface of the sea, to guide the rise of the hose (10). 5. Refinements in the object of Patent No. 200300328 by System for the extraction of petrochemical products from tanks of a sunken ship, in all in accordance with the first and second claims, characterized in that according to a preferred embodiment a deposit is provided ( 13), on the surface or submerged at a certain depth where the sea waves do not affect, with respect to which tank (13) the end of the hose (10) is routed when it rises full of product, incorporating said tank (13) inside, cutting means (14), which cut the blind free end of the hose (10) to let the product (15) from said hose (10) to the tank (13) in which it is collected.