GB2481372A

GB2481372A - Floating oil recovery boom/fence

Info

Publication number: GB2481372A
Application number: GB1010025.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roman Stoklosinski; Margaret Stoklosinski
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-06-16
Filing date: 2010-06-16
Publication date: 2011-12-28
Also published as: GB201010025D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a floating fence/barrier 1 comprising a fence/barrier made from a flexible material, with posts or sticks 2 attached to the fence/barrier, such that the length of the posts or sticks extend downwards below the fence/barrier. A weight 3 is connected to the end of the posts or sticks at the end which extends down below the fence/barrier. A float 4 is attached to the barrier at the weighted end of the posts or sticks. The posts/sticks assume a vertical position with the weights and floats below the surface of the water giving the fence/boom the required stability. Balloons 5 may be used to control the height of the fence/barrier which remains above the water. The balloons have the capability of being pressurised or depressurised. Two or more boats (7 figure 5) with tanks may be used to store the recovered oil and also store and handle the floating fence/barrier. Figure 1

Description

FLOATING OIL RECOVERY

This invention relates to the floating oil recovery The off shore oil production is relatively a new type of industrial activity worldwide.

Being new it encounters new problems which in most cases have to be attacked and solved using novel, untried and unproved methods especially when an unforeseen disaster occurs resulting in, say, leaking oil in water. This floating slick of oil requires to be quickly contained and recovered not only for the fmancial reasons which may be enormous but, also, from the ecological reasons when the flora and fauna become endangered. A solution which should be found in as short a time as possible should be aimed at finding a method by which the floating slick of oil could be recovered and brought to a safe place on the shore.

At present to deal with this problem various methods have been adopted in difficult conditions, in rather haphazard ways, with varying success, but hardly ever satisfactorily, with the resulting damage to the environment, large loss due to the wasted oil and to the large cost of the cleaning up operations and the various connected consequential losses.

The present invention deals with a relatively simple method wherein an uncomplicated construction is made using commonly available materials and it can be quickly made using commonly available tools. There does not seem to be a well documented, tried or proven successful method for this type of engineering activity.

The present, proposed water floating fence possesses some of the advantages over the presently used boom in that it is lighter, more flexible, easily manoeuvrable, ft has adJustable height when required and also basically greater height. With the beip Qflhe auxiliary equipment such as boats or tankers it can be used to contain and thus increase the depth of the floating oil to such an extent that the operation of the recovery of the oil becomes feasible.

According to the present invention there is provided a water/liquid floating fence embodying fence proper or barrier made from a suitable flexible flat material, posts, preferably made of bamboo sticks or any other suitable material, the posts being attached to the flat side of the fence at suitable distances, with the height of the posts being longer than the height of the fence proper thus one end of the post extending downwards below the surface of the water and of beyond the fence itself, to this end being attached a weight or ballast suitably consisting of stones and a float made of a light material attached to that edge of the fence nearer the weight, so that when the fence is placed in the water it assumes a vertical position with the weight immersed below the surface of the water giving the required stability and the float also being essentially below the surface of the water providing buoyancy effect.

Also there is provided means of controlling the height of the fence above the surface of the water, suitably shown as balloons or buoys having capability of being pressurised or depressurised as means of control.

In addition there are provided flexible roads attached to the posts with the view of ensuring that the posts maintain constant distances between themselves.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which; Figure 1 depicts the front view of the floating fence.

Figure 2 depicts the side view of the floating fence.

Figure 3 depicts the oil sealing device.

Figure 4 depicts an oil absorbing sponge.

Figure 5 depicts the two tankers with the floating fence ioop and the sealing device.

Referring to the drawing, the floating oil recovery equipment comprises a floating fence embodying a fence proper or a barrier 1, made of a flexible material, posts 2, conceivably made of bamboo sticks, stabilising weights 3, say, using small stones, floats 4 made of a light solid material, and optional height controllers 5, shown here in the form of balloons. Also, there is provided a sealing device 6, essentially comprising two rollers, made of a soft material, housed inside, say, a box and with possible cleaning arrangement such as brushes to prevent the contained oil in the floating fence loop to escape outside it. Also, there are provided at least two boats or tankers 7, having space to store the recovered oil and to keep the fence when it is not in use and, also, the specially designed oil absorbing sponges 8, according to the prevailing conditions when these are used instead of the pumps to transfer the recovered oil into the tankers.

At first, in order to recover the floating oil on the surface of the water the fence which has been kept of the tankers is unrolled and to each of the posts there are attached the stabilising weights, floats and height regulating balloons or buoys and then the fence is gradually let down into the water automatically, assuming the upright position.

After the required length of the fence is placed in the water the boats enclose the slick and close the loop. Now, with the help of the sealing device one of the boats draws the fence forwards and thus the loop becomes smaller and consequently the depth of the oil in the loop becomes higher until it is sufficiently high for the removal of the oil into the tankers either by pumping it or by using the absorbing sponges which are being squeezed on the tanker and then sent back into the water in rotation. This operation is continued until all the oil is removed from the surface the water.

Claims

CLAIMSI A water/liquid floating fence embodying fence proper or barrier made from a suitable flexible flat material, posts, preferably made of bamboo sticks or any other suitable material, the posts being attached to the flat side of the fence at suitable distances, with the height of the posts being longer than the height of the fence proper thus one end of the post extending downwards below the surface of the water and of beyond the fence itself, to this end being attached a weight or ballast suitably consisting of stones and a float made of a light material attached to that edge of the fence nearer the weight, so that when the fence is placed in the water it assumes a vertical position with the weight immersed below the surface of the water giving the required stability and the float also being essentially below the surface of the water providing buoyancy effect.
2 A water/liquid floating fence as claimed in claim 1, wherein means of controlling the height of the fence above the surface of the water are suitably shown as balloons having capability of being pressurised or depressurised..
3 A water/liquid floating fence as claimed in claim 1, wherein flexible roads are attached to the posts with the view of ensuring that the posts maintain constant distances between themselves.
4 A water/liquid floating fence as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sealing device is attached at one point to two section of the floating fence thus bringing them together to keep the contained floating oil slick within the loop and assisting to decrease the size of the loop.A water/liquid floating fence as claimed in claim 1, wherein a large number of sponges of suitable size and design having longitudinal passages inside to absorb the floating oil are supplied, -.5- 6 A water/liquid floating fence as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are provided two or more boats or tankers with means of storing the recovered oil and, also, storing and handling the floating fence. Also, there may be provided other, preferential methods of handing the recovered oil including the bucket and the crane.7 A water/liquid floating fence as described wherein with reference to Figures 1-5 of the accompanying drawing.*::r: INTELLECTUAL . ... PROPERTY OFFICE Application No: GB 1010025.3 Examiner: Mr Haydn Gupwell Claims searched: 1-7 Date of search: 25 October 2011 Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17 Documents considered to be relevant: Category Relevant Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance to claims A None US2002/056833A1 (FOOT CALVIN DOUGLAS) A None US5267813A (NEAL MICHAEL JAMES) A None US4738563A (CLARK STEPHEN E) Categories: X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive A Document indicating technological background and/or state step of the art.Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if P Document published on or after the declared priority date but combined with one or more other documents of before the filing date of this invention.same category.& Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.Field of Search:Search of GB, EP. WO & US patent documents classified in the following areas of the UKCX Worldwide search of patent documents classified in the following areas of the IPC EO2B; EO4H The following online and other databases have been used in the preparation of this search report EPODOC, WPI, TXTE International Classification: Subclass Subgroup Valid From EO2B 0015/04 01/01/2006 Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk