GB1594698A

GB1594698A - Apparatus and methods of reclaiming floating oil

Info

Publication number: GB1594698A
Application number: GB23636/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Dopson J W
Current assignee: Dopson J W
Priority date: 1978-05-30
Filing date: 1978-05-30
Publication date: 1981-08-05

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO APPARATUS AND METHODS OF RECLAIMING FLOATING OIL (71) I, JOHN WILLIAM DOPSON, 13, Widley Court Drive, Cosham, Portsmouth, Hants, British, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to methods of reclaiming oil that has been split into the sea by oil carrying vessels such as tankers etc., to form what is commonly known as an "oil slick".

Hitherto a conventional method such as a boom for example, that can confine an oil slick whereby it may be disposed of or reclaimed, has so far met with a measure of success. However, the success achieved has largely been dependent upon the condition of the weather at the time and place, and operations are more favourably disposed to calmer seas close to shore, or harbour areas.

The main problem is that in a relatively heavy sea and wind the edges of the oil slick tend to escape by being washed over the top of the boom, or see underneath causing considerable difficulty when reciaiming it.

It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus that is unsinkable when inflated it being of such a cross-sectional shape as to form a barrier for confining an oil slick in adverse weather conditions wherein pollution, such as floating oil for example, may be cascaded into a gutter or passageway means via a slot provided by the barrier's construction, extending for the whole of the barrier length. Thus the device may be looked upon as a long flexible mobile "gutter" or giant skimming device, capable of collecting oil by the method of cascading, the said slot following the contour of the wave motion and draining oil from its surface to a relatively lower level where after it is transferred to oil containers or container vessels, thus substantially reducing the risk of oil reaching shore.

A secondary object of this invention is to make it cheaply by using readily available materials that can easily be worked and by employing known available machines and methods that can produce long lengths of the article at a relatively rapid rate, and at low cost.

A further feature of this improvement is to collapse the apparatus into a small volume in relation to its length so that a compact arrangement of it may be speedily transported to a polluted area by aircraft for example, to initially stem and confine the spread of oil.

According to this invention a barrier apparatus for confining and reclaiming oil from the surface of water, adapted to be unsinkable, comprises: a barrier made from flexible material forming an inflatablewalled system of multi-buoyancy chambers that extend throughout the whole of the length of the said barrier, disposed when inflated, to support and maintain a substantially closed hollow barrier cross-sectional shape along the said length wherein the inner surfaces of the said walls serve as a "gutter" or passage drainage means to receive cascading oil via a slot that extends the length of the said barrier and to support the said slot at a selected height relative to the surface of the water; a skirt joined to the lower region of the said barrier shape, a line and cable array extending along the whole of the length of the said barrier so that, in use, at least one said line is supported by the said barrier shape above the water line, and at least one said cable is immersed located within a folded end portion at the bottom of the said skirt; tubes made from flexible material arranged to supply fluid to the said multi-buoyancy chambers; barrier end pieces wherein buoyancy is provided and comprising holes to locate and house nonreturn pressure valves linked to the said tubes; connecting and fastening means for said lines and cables fixed to said end pieces; magnets suitably positioned on the said barrier end piece to form a part-coupling arrangement whereby cascaded oil may be drained from the said "gutter" or passageway means; straps adapted to adjust the size of the said slot opening; lights, located along the top of the barrier length positioned at regular intervals connected in circuit with a battery located within the said barrier end piece.

If two flat surfaces are joined together to resemble a letter L shaped figure, the upright surface being made buoyant along its length, if the figure is turned clockwise so that the tips of the figure are vertically in line and is then immersed about two-thirds in water, and moved slowly in a forward direction, any oil floating on the surface of the water will collect in the hollow of the angular shape. Should a wave containing oil on its surface travel towards it, due to the buoyancy incorporated within its length, it will, if flexible enough, rise with the wave and act as an inclined barrier to the crest of the wave containing oil, thus tending to turn it back into the slick.

An apparatus for confining and reclaiming oil from the surface of water constructed in accordance with the invention adapted to be unsinkable when inflated will now be described by way of example only. With reference to the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 shows a barrier end piece with a portion of barrier length. Fig. 2 shows a view of the cross-sectionabarrier shape with water ballast in a multi-buoyancy chamber. Fig. 3 is a part view of a multi-buoyancy chamber system that has been punctured in a fluid passageway to leak fluid from the passageway into an adjoining chamber at a low pressure.To keep manufacturing costs to a minimum as the technique of making flexible sheet plastics is well advanced, a barrier 1 in Fig. 1 is made say of height 1 m. of low density polythene suitably sandwich reinforced with 1 mm. diamond mesh glass fibre, having a material thickness say of 0.5 mm. and length of 40 m.

The principle upon which the inflatible walls of the barrier are formed is associated with the Christmas toy novelty whereby one blows into a small tube and a length of material uncoils and straightens out to become a rather stiff oval chamber. In a preferred method the barrier walls may be produced, normally in the flat state, by simultaneously joining the walls of a single sheath of the material together to form a regular pattern of vertically orientated complete chamber pockets along the length of the sheath, say about 0.5m. each pocket length, with short vertical weld runs intermediately placed to produce a single quilt-like wall which when inflated is about 12 cm. thick. It should be noted that the invention is void of all precision. Joining may be performed thermally by roller or ultrasonic methods well known to the skill of the art of industrial plastics.

Referring to the drawing in Fig. 2 tubular passageways 2a and 2b may be made for supplying air to the buoyancy chambers by simply turning over the two long edges of the flat sheath forming tubes say 8 cm. dia.

and making joins. The cross-sectional barrier shape Fig. 2 may be produced by making short horizontal weld runs along the chamber pockets, thus weakening them to form the corners of the shape, then bending the flat sheath round to form the hollow "gutter" passageway 3 bringing the two tubular passageways 2a and 2b almost together bridging them with straps, at regular intervals thus forming the slot along the barrier length. A lower passageway 4 may be fashioned in a similar manner as the other passageways 2a and 2b. This serves to provide ballast water to stabilise and select the height of the slot relative to the water line.

A skirt 5 is joined to the ballast passageway 4 to make up the height of the barrier and its angular shape whereby its lower edge is folded round a cable 6 and joined.

However, provision must be made for air or water to enter a chamber at a predetermined controlled rate so that should any chamber be torn or damaged the pressures in the fluid passageways will not significantly be reduced, this condition may be achieved by making small punctures 7. Fig.

3 in the walls of the adjoining chambers of the fluid passageways, (done with a needle for air passageways, small holes for water), thus fluid is leaked into all of the buoyancy chambers to keep them inflated, the passageway pressures being controlled to be substantially constant.

While forming the barrier shape, a flat nylon support rope 8. Fig. 2 is joined along the barrier length to form and locate the top corner N.B. air must be allowed to pass freely in the chambers. The end of the flat rope 8 is linked to holes provided by a metal plate 9. Fig. 1 located and fixed at the top of the barrier end piece. A hole 11, is provided by the plate 9 for the purpose of lifting or towing.

Buoyancy is provided within the barrier end piece 10 made from plastics material to substantially align its console construction with that of the barrier cross-sectional shape Fig. 2. Short lengths of flexible tubing are sealed into the fluid passageways 2a and 2b and 4, their remaining ends are linked to pressure valves 12 located on the outside upper sloping region of the barrier end piece 10, the said valves are adapted to be connected for the purpose of conveying fluid supplied by a helicopter or marine vessel via a supply line to the fluid passageways. A part magnetic coupling arrangement 13 located in the lower region of the barrier end piece (which joins the "gutter" passageway means), has magnets suitably positioned around the coupling hole and upper region of the said end piece, which are adapted to magnetically join other barrier end pieces, the hull of a ship or be coupled with an iron flanged drain hose. Magnets may also be positioned on the rear wall of the barrier end piece. A lower fastening plate 14 has a hole provided for the lower barrier cable 6 Fig. 2 to be fastened.

Thus from the above description and by referring to Fig. 2 it may be understood that when the apparatus is immersed in water by varying the pressures in the two air passageways 2a and 2b, in conjunction with the ballast fluid passageway 4 the stiffness of the barrier shape the angle of presentation to the waves, and a slot height relative to the water-line may be selected to cause the apparatus to cascade floating oil into the "gutter" passageway means.

There are several ways in which the apparatus may be transported and applied to confine an oil slick. This will invariably depend on the circumstances. If, for instance, a situation arises where a vessel is seeping oil from her side at a fast rate and is in or near a coastal area, one preferred method of operating would be to deploy two helicopters to "air-lift" a length of the apparatus (releasably rigged in "swiss roll" pipe form) with the barrier lights exposed, the two aircrafts sharing the load, one trailing behind the other to the distressed vessel.

The lights along the barrier length may be lit for this operation by connecting the plug and socket provided by the barrier end piece carried by the leading aircraft. When the vessel is reached, the barrier end piece is lowered to the water-line in the region of the stern and docked on to the hull via its magnetic coupling arrangement whereafter inflation of the apparatus is commenced.

Meanwhile the other helicopter lowers and trails the barrier around the oil slick in a horse-shoe configuration, docking the remaining barrier end piece to the bow of the vessel at the water-line.

When the apparatus is fully inflated and fluid passageway pressures adjusted to maintain a selected slot height above the water-line, the oil is confined, whereafter oil carrying vessels may be deployed to carry out a reclaiming operation.

It is of extreme importance to confine an oil spillage before it has time to become a large slick. The said barrier apparatus is disposed in its deflated or collapsed condition to be made substantially flat, then folded to form a three dimensional package. At least one length of the apparatus may be kept in a suitable container on the deck of a vessel of a tanker for instance, or on the platform of a drilling rig whereby only one helicopter need be called upon to dock or manoeuvre the apparatus into position, the vessel may itself be equipped to supply fluid and operate the apparatus to initially confine the oil.

In the case of pollution occurring because of a "blow-out" on an oil drilling rig, the ready available length of the apparatus may be speedily manoeuvred either by helicopter or suitable standby vessel to completely encircle the rig, leading a short length of barrier and end piece at a tangent to the circle for the purpose of draining and reclaiming. By inserting an iron flanged flexible hose into the part-magnetic coupling joining the "gutter" passageway and by adjusting the pressures of the fluid passageways 2a, 2b and 4, substantially all the floating oil that has been emitted from the drilling rig is made to cascade into the surrounding slot of the "gutter" passageway, whereby it is then pumped into a suitable container or tanker vessel.

It will be appreciated that in calmer conditions at sea where long lengths of the barrier are required, standby vessels may keep it in position by using a line at various vantage intervals along its length to prevent drift etc.

For night operations lights attached along the top of the barrier length positioned at regular intervals are connected in circuit with a battery. Means of reflection may also be provided for night operations along the barrier lengths such as reflective strip, or material for example, to define the barriers position.

Barrier lengths of the apparatus may be laid at right angles to the line of path of a moving oil slick, thus acting as a "gutter" for it to drift into. Oil can then be drained by pumping from both barrier end piece coupl ing holes.

It may be appreciated circumstances may arise where inflation difficulties may be experienced such as in hazardous conditions for instance, in which case barrier lengths may be employed wherein the buoyancy is provided by buoyant material such as urethane foam for example positioned substantially continuously or at intervals along the barrier length, it being disposed to cause the said slot or slots to cascade oil at a best tried rate. N.B. slot height is herein defined as height of entrance above the water-line.

An alternative example of slot entrance constructed for cascading oil is made more flexible to assist in following the contour of wave motion. By squeezing together two oppositely disposed points of the walls of each passageway (carried out in the vertical plane) at regular short intervals, and suitably spot welding them together, two series of buoyancy-like chambers are formed.

Each upper passageway chamber is brought together and aligned with each lower chamber as in Fig. 4 and further spot welded (carried out in deflated condition to substantially form an arrangement of chambers and entrances. Air must however be allowed to pass through each passageway restriction made between each chamber to obtain the desired effect.

At times wind conditions may cause con siderable build-up of oil at the slot entrance.

The oil may tend to creep down the base of the barrier and rise up the rear of the inflated wall. Referring to the drawings Figs.

4 and 5 show a similar arrangement of the barrier construction, but the skirt 5 has been joined to the upper rear region of the barrier, and horizontal slots have been formed in the rear inflated wall along the length of the barrier to cascade oil which the skirt has trapped into the gutter means.

Oil drilling rig legs if not made of steel may be adapted with vertically orientated rectangular steel plates at the water-line whereby barrier end pieces can be attached, the pollution operation being carried out as in said method for tanker vessel operation.

The apparatus may be coloured or marked along its length to indicate the Company or Nationality carrying out the confining and reclaiming operation.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A barrier apparatus for confining and reclaiming oil from the surface of water, adapted to be unsinkable, comprising: a barrier made from flexible material forming an inflatable-walled system of multibuoyancy chambers that extend throughout the whole of the length of the said barrier, disposed when inflated to support and maintain a substantially closed hollow barrier cross-sectional shape along the said length wherein the inner surfaces of the said walls serve as a "gutter" or passage drainage means to receive cascading oil via a slot that extends the length of the said barrier and to support the said slot at a selected height relative to the surface of the water; a skirt joined to the lower region of the said barrier shape, a line and cable array extending along the whole of the length of the said barrier so that, in use, at least one said line is supported by the said barrier shape above the water-line, and at least one said cable is immersed located within a folded end portion at the bottom of the said skirt; tubes made from flexible material arranged to supply fluid to the said multi-buoyancy chambers; barrier end pieces wherein buoyancy is provided and comprising holes to locate and house non-return pressure valves linked to the said tubes; connecting and fastening means for said lines and cables fixed to said end pieces; magnets suitably positioned on the said barrier end pieces to form a part-coupling arrangement whereby cascaded oil may be drained from the said "gutter" or passageway means; straps adapted to adjust the size of the said slot opening; lights, located along the top of the barrier length positioned at regular intervals connected in circuit with a battern located within the said barrier end piece.

2. A modification of the barrier apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the skirt is joined to the rear upper region of the barrier and extends beneath said barrier and a plurality of slots are formed in the rear inflatible wall along the whole of the barrier length to permit oil trapped between the skirt and the barrier to cascade into the said "gutter"/passageway means.

3. A barrier apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein one said line consists of a flat rope and one of the said cables capable of conducting electricity, is connected in circuit with a battery located within a said barrier end piece.

4. A barrier apparatus according to Claims 1 to 3 whereby the part-coupling located within the barrier end piece is adapted to be magnetically coupled with other barrier part-couplings, or a drain hose, or to be attached to the hull of a ship.

5. A method of constructing a barrier apparatus according to Claims 1 to 4 by joining plastics material using thermal or ultrasonic means to form said buoyancy chambers and tubes.

6. A barrier apparatus as claimed in the preceding claims whereby the slot entrance is adjustable.

7. A barrier apparatus as claimed in the preceding claims wherein the said air passageways are made more flexible by spot joining the walls of each airway to form a series of buoyancy chambers and entrances.

8. A method of transporting a barrier apparatus as claimed in the preceding claims to confine an oil slick by deploying at least one helicopter to airlift a length of the said apparatus to a distressed vessel, attaching the barrier end pieces to the hull of the vessel at the water-line and supplied with fluid.

9. A method of deploying a barrier apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, 6 or 7 comprising storing a ready available length of the apparatus in a suitable container on the deck of a tanker vessel whereby in said use apparatus is attached to the distressed vessel at the water-line, supplied with fluid, and manoeuvred into position to confine the oil spillage either by a helicopter or suitable manoeuvring vessels.

10. A barrier apparatus according to Claims 1 to 4, 6 and 7 whereby the said apparatus is adapted to encircle an oil drilling rig and supplied with fluid.

11. A barrier apparatus as claimed in Claims 1 to 4, or 6 and 7 wherein lights located along the top of the barrier are connected in circuit with a battery, and means of reflection are provided to define the barrier position for night operations.

12. A modification of the barrier apparatus as claimed in 1 to 4, 6, 7 or 12 wherein the means of buoyancy is provided by buoyant material, positioned substantially continuously or at intervals, along the

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Claims

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siderable build-up of oil at the slot entrance.

The oil may tend to creep down the base of the barrier and rise up the rear of the inflated wall. Referring to the drawings Figs.

4 and 5 show a similar arrangement of the barrier construction, but the skirt 5 has been joined to the upper rear region of the barrier, and horizontal slots have been formed in the rear inflated wall along the length of the barrier to cascade oil which the skirt has trapped into the gutter means.

Oil drilling rig legs if not made of steel may be adapted with vertically orientated rectangular steel plates at the water-line whereby barrier end pieces can be attached, the pollution operation being carried out as in said method for tanker vessel operation.

The apparatus may be coloured or marked along its length to indicate the Company or Nationality carrying out the confining and reclaiming operation.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A barrier apparatus for confining and reclaiming oil from the surface of water, adapted to be unsinkable, comprising: a barrier made from flexible material forming an inflatable-walled system of multibuoyancy chambers that extend throughout the whole of the length of the said barrier, disposed when inflated to support and maintain a substantially closed hollow barrier cross-sectional shape along the said length wherein the inner surfaces of the said walls serve as a "gutter" or passage drainage means to receive cascading oil via a slot that extends the length of the said barrier and to support the said slot at a selected height relative to the surface of the water; a skirt joined to the lower region of the said barrier shape, a line and cable array extending along the whole of the length of the said barrier so that, in use, at least one said line is supported by the said barrier shape above the water-line, and at least one said cable is immersed located within a folded end portion at the bottom of the said skirt; tubes made from flexible material arranged to supply fluid to the said multi-buoyancy chambers; barrier end pieces wherein buoyancy is provided and comprising holes to locate and house non-return pressure valves linked to the said tubes; connecting and fastening means for said lines and cables fixed to said end pieces; magnets suitably positioned on the said barrier end pieces to form a part-coupling arrangement whereby cascaded oil may be drained from the said "gutter" or passageway means; straps adapted to adjust the size of the said slot opening; lights, located along the top of the barrier length positioned at regular intervals connected in circuit with a battern located within the said barrier end piece.
2. A modification of the barrier apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the skirt is joined to the rear upper region of the barrier and extends beneath said barrier and a plurality of slots are formed in the rear inflatible wall along the whole of the barrier length to permit oil trapped between the skirt and the barrier to cascade into the said "gutter"/passageway means.
3. A barrier apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein one said line consists of a flat rope and one of the said cables capable of conducting electricity, is connected in circuit with a battery located within a said barrier end piece.
4. A barrier apparatus according to Claims 1 to 3 whereby the part-coupling located within the barrier end piece is adapted to be magnetically coupled with other barrier part-couplings, or a drain hose, or to be attached to the hull of a ship.
5. A method of constructing a barrier apparatus according to Claims 1 to 4 by joining plastics material using thermal or ultrasonic means to form said buoyancy chambers and tubes.
6. A barrier apparatus as claimed in the preceding claims whereby the slot entrance is adjustable.
7. A barrier apparatus as claimed in the preceding claims wherein the said air passageways are made more flexible by spot joining the walls of each airway to form a series of buoyancy chambers and entrances.
8. A method of transporting a barrier apparatus as claimed in the preceding claims to confine an oil slick by deploying at least one helicopter to airlift a length of the said apparatus to a distressed vessel, attaching the barrier end pieces to the hull of the vessel at the water-line and supplied with fluid.
9. A method of deploying a barrier apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, 6 or 7 comprising storing a ready available length of the apparatus in a suitable container on the deck of a tanker vessel whereby in said use apparatus is attached to the distressed vessel at the water-line, supplied with fluid, and manoeuvred into position to confine the oil spillage either by a helicopter or suitable manoeuvring vessels.
10. A barrier apparatus according to Claims 1 to 4, 6 and 7 whereby the said apparatus is adapted to encircle an oil drilling rig and supplied with fluid.
11. A barrier apparatus as claimed in Claims 1 to 4, or 6 and 7 wherein lights located along the top of the barrier are connected in circuit with a battery, and means of reflection are provided to define the barrier position for night operations.
12. A modification of the barrier apparatus as claimed in 1 to 4, 6, 7 or 12 wherein the means of buoyancy is provided by buoyant material, positioned substantially continuously or at intervals, along the

said length of barrier.
13. A method of deploying a barrier apparatus as claimed in Claims 1 to 4, 6, 7, 11 or 12, comprising attaching its barrier end pieces to legs of an oil drilling rig.
14. A barrier apparatus and methods of reclaiming floating oil or pollution substantially as described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.