GB2591117A

GB2591117A - Undersea oil or gas leak mitigation device

Info

Publication number: GB2591117A
Application number: GB2000663.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hick Douglas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-01-16
Filing date: 2020-01-16
Publication date: 2021-07-21
Anticipated expiration: 2040-01-16
Also published as: GB2591117B; GB202000663D0

Abstract

A funnel apparatus 7 for the collection and containment of leaking undersea oil or gas comprising: a first tubular section 9 having a free end and a connected end, the tubular section having a first diameter; and a second conical section 8, extending away from the connected end of the first tubular section and widening to an open base end having a second larger diameter, wherein in use the second conical section covers an area surrounding a subsea leak and the free end of the first tubular section extends to the sea surface, guiding the leaking oil or gas to the sea surface

Description

Undersea oil or gas leak mitigation device [001] The present invention relates to a device for capturing and storing leaking undersea oil or gas.

Background of the invention

[002] Every year sees a number of oil spills or gas leakages in the sea, caused either by holes or cracks in undersea pipes or problems with drill heads. Such leakages can lead to ecological catastrophe, and can be very costly and difficult to clean up. The conventional method of dealing with oil leaks at sea dragging inflatable booms around the affected area and spraying detergents on the oil as it reaches the surface. This does not prevent the escape of oil, and it is impossible on heavy seas.

[3] Other solutions have been proposed but they are costly, difficult to deploy and vulnerable to inclement conditions.

[4] A cheap and easily portable solution which avoids the escape of oil and gas 15 into the sea and does not interfere with repair work is desirable.

Statement of invention

[5] A first aspect of the invention provides a funnel apparatus for the collection and containment of leaking undersea oil or gas comprising: a first tubular section having a free end and a connected end, the tubular section having a first diameter; and a second conical section, extending away from the connected end of the first tubular section and widening to an open base end having a second larger diameter, whcrein in use the second conical section covers an area surrounding a subsea leak and the free end of the first tubular section extends to the sea surface, guiding the leaking oil or gas to the sea surface.

[006] The open base end of the second conical section may comprise a folded hem around its circumference secured in the folded position, the fold defining a channel around the circumference of the open end.

[001 The funnel apparatus may further comprise a stainless steel cable located in the channel around the circumference of the open end.

[008] The folded hem may have unsecured sections providing an opening to the defined channel, suitable for accessing the steel cable located within said channel.

[009] The funnel apparatus may further comprise flat webbing secured around the base end of the second conical section of the funnel apparatus.

[010] The first and second sections may be made from a flexible material which is watertight. The flexible material may also be airtight. The flexible material may be sailcloth.

[011] The funnel apparatus may further comprise a length of flat webbing secured along an outer surface of the funnel apparatus, from the free end of the first section to the base end of the second section.

[12] The first tubular section may comprise two or more tubular sub-sections connected in series by one or more intermediate tube connecting parts, wherein a distal end of a first tubular sub-section of the two or more tubular sub-sections receives a proximate section of an intermediate tube connecting part and is clamped with a first pipe clamp to said proximate section of the intermediate tube connecting part, and the proximal end of a second tubular sub-section of the two or more tubular sub-sections receives a distal section of the intermediate tube connecting part, and is clamped with a second pipe clamp to said distal section of the intermediate tube connecting part.

[13] The intermediate tube connecting part may comprise an elongate cylinder having an outer diameter similar to the inner diameter of the first tubular section; the tube connecting part further comprising two annular grooves on opposing longwise halves of the connecting part, in use providing a secure attachment locations for the pipe clamps.

[14] The pipe clamps may be rubber lined pipe clamps.

[15] A second aspect of the invention provides a floating containment apparatus for the storage of recovered oil or gas from a subsea leak, the containment apparatus comprising; a main body in the form of a hollow elongate tube closed at a distal end and an inlet extending from a proximal end, the inlet having a substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the main body.

[16] The floating containment apparatus may further comprise a skeg on the outside of the main body, for maintaining the orientation of the containment apparatus while in use on the sea.

[17] The floating containment apparatus may further comprise fixing points on 10 both the proximal and distal ends of the main body, allowing for a chain of multiple floating containment apparatus to be made.

[18] The floating containment apparatus may further comprise a location indicating means attached to the outside of the main body.

[011 The apparatus may be made of sailcloth.

[020] A third aspect of the invention provides a system for the containment, collection and storage of oil or gas from a subsea leak comprising: a funnel apparatus according to the first aspect; a floating containment apparatus according to the second aspect; and, a valve unit having at least two hollow limbs, in use, the first limb being connected to the free end of the first section of the funnel apparatus, the second limb being connected to the inlet on the proximal end of the floating containment apparatus, allowing when the valve is open, collected oil or gas to flow from the funnel apparatus into the floating containment apparatus.

[021] The valve unit may a third hollow limb for connection to a second floating containment apparatus, the valve unit being able to close off flow to/from each 25 hollow limb independently.

Brief description of drawings

10221 The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, which are not to scale and in which: [023] Figure 1 depicts an oil leak from an undersea pipe; 10241 Figure 2 depicts a device deployed for capturing the leak according to the invention; 10251 Figure 3 depicts a funnel part according to the invention; [26] Figure 4 depicts a containment tube part according to the invention; [27] Figure 5 depicts an intermediate tube connecting part according to the 10 invention; and 10281 Figure 6 depicts an end valve unit for use with a funnel part and containment tubes according to the invention.

Detailed description of drawings

[29] Figure 1 depicts an oil pipeline 1 running along the seabed 2. A hole, crack or rupture 3, has formed in the body of the pipeline 1, causing oil 4 to spill into the sea 5. This can have disastrous consequences for wildlife 6 living in and on the sea 5.

[30] Figure 2 depicts a similar pipeline 1 having a leak. A funnel device 7 according to the in vention has been deployed. The funnel device 7 comprises two main sections: a conical section 8 and a tubular section 9. The conical section 8, when deployed, covers the section of pipeline 1 which is broken. The funnel device 7 is hollow, and open at both ends, and so leaking oil flows into the conical section 8 and is funnelled upwards to the narrowest part of the cone, which interfaces with the bottom of the tubular section 9. From there, the leaking oil flows to the surface as it normally would, while remaining contained within the tubular section 9. When it reaches the top, it can be stored in containment tube

S

sections 10, to be taken to shore later and the contents sold. The containment tubes 10 and funnel devices 8 are made primarily from sailcloth. Consequently, they are relatively lightweight and robust, and easy to store when not in use. This means they can be carried and deployed by most ordinary boats 11 employed by oil companies, and do not require expensive, specially designed deployment craft and storage facilities.

[031] The example depicts an oil leak, but the principles of the invention apply to gas leaks as well. Sailcloth is airtight, and so it will contain gas as well as oil.

* b * * * Rubberised cloth, or another suitable material with the necessary characteristics, 10 may also be used.

[32] Figure 3 shows the funnel device 7 in more detail. Assuming the 'in-use' orientation, the bottom or base of the conical section 8 has a folded and stitched hem 12, and inside the hem is a stainless-steel cable 13. The stainless-steel cable 13 provides sufficient flexibility to allow the conical section 8 to cover the damaged section of pipeline in use, and to be lifted to allow access to repair engineers, while also providing sufficient stiffness to allow the conical section 8 to keep its shape as it is manoeuvred into position.

[33] The hem is not stitched continuously, but is open in places spaced around the circumference of the base of the conical section 8, in order to expose portions ofthe stainless-steel cable 13. This is to allow the attachment, for example, of shackles to which ropes and/or anchors can be attached. Anchors are attached to the funnel device 7 in order to place and hold it over a damaged length of pipeline 1 in use.

[34] Flat webbing material 15 is fixed around the base of the conical section 8, although this is only depicted in outline to avoid obscuring the hem 12 and stainless-steel cable 13. This provides structural reinforcement. A length of flat webbing material 16 also runs from the base of the conical section 8 to the top of the tubular section 9. This provides structural reinforcement, which is particularly necessary when the funnel device 7 is being deployed under the weight of heavy anchors, and drawn back up to the surface after use. The webbing material 16 is not fixed to the funnel device 7 continuously along its length, but rather it is not fixed in places, to provide loops 17 between the webbing material 16 and the funnel device 7, for the attachment of shackles 14 and/or other necessary attachments.

[35] The tubular section is marked with coloured bands 18, which represent the distance from the base of the funnel device 7. The tubular section 9 is made as long as necessary, and it is easy to extend it by attaching additional sections, as will be explained below. The tubular section 9 needs to be long enough that the funnel device 7 extends from the seabed 2 to the surface. By observing the coloured bands 18 as the funnel device 7 is deployed, the user will know how much of the funnel device has been deployed, and therefore how deep the base of the conical section 8 is at any given time, and will therefore know when to stop deploying the device based on the known depth of the seabed. The coloured bands may be spaced every 100 metres, although other spacings are envisaged. A different colour may be provided every 100 metres. Thinner coloured bands 19 may be provided every 10 metres for more precise determination of the length deployed. The coloured bands 18, 19 need not be bands at all, and do not have to go all the way around the circumference of the tubular section 9. They may be any mark that is clearly visible during deployment. Rather than being on the surface of the tubular section itself, the marks 18, 19 may be on the webbing material 16.

[36] The funnel device 7 can be made in many different sizes according to need. In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the base of the conical section 8 is at 25 least 15 metres, and the diameter of the tubular section is at least 300 mm.

[37] Figure 4 depicts the containment tubes 10 in more detail Each containment tube comprises a main body 20, formed of a hollow tube, for receiving and storing leaked oil or gas once it reaches the surface through the funnel device 7. The containment tubes may be made from sailcloth like the funnel device 7, for reduced cost and increased portability. Any material suitable for a floatable container for oil or gas may be used, such as rubberised cloth.

10381 Protruding from the main body is a skeg 21, which helps keep the containment tube 10 the right way up when in use at sea. The skeg 21 may be a solid attachment or, more preferably, integral to the main body 20 so that it fills with gas or oil in use, thus providing greater stability to the containment tube 10.

10391 The containment tube 10 is filled by means of an inlet 22. This may take the form of a tube section narrower than the main body 20, protruding from an end face of the containment tube 10. When the containment tube 10 is being filled, the inlet 22 is connected to the valve unit 23 of the invention, as will be described later. When the containment tube 10 has been filled, the inlet is sealed with a clamp 24 or other suitable sealing means. Connection means 25 are disposed at both ends of the containment tube 10. This may comprise a shackle connected between two fixing points, one on each containment tube 10. This enables multiple containment tubes 10 to form a chain, to which each newly filled containment tube 10 is added during a repair operation on a leak, until the leak is fixed. They can then be towed to shore and their contents sold.

10401 I1ach containment tube 10 is provided with a location indicating means 26 for use when the containment tube 10 is afloat on the sea. This reduces the risk of collision with the containment tube 10. In a preferred embodiment, the location indicating means comprises a flag 27 with a flashing light. Other means may be used, such as a bell or a whistle, and or a constant light which may be a rotating lamp.

10411 Figure 5 depicts an intermediate tube connecting part 28 according to the invention. The intermediate tube connecting part 28 comprises an elongate hollow tube 29 with outer diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the tubular section 9 of the funnel device 7. The inner diameter should not be too much smaller, selected to provide adequate strength without constricting the flow of fluid through the join section in use. The intermediate tube connecting part 28 may be made from, for example, stainless steel.

[042] 'Iwo annular grooves are formed around the circumference of the elongate hollow tube 29, the first annular groove 30 being on a first length-wise half of the elongate hollow tube 29 and the second annular groove 30 being on the other length-wise half of the elongate hollow tube 29. These grooves are dimensioned to be covered with the material of the tubular section 9 of the funnel device 7 and then receive rubber lined pipe clamps 31.

[043] in use, an end of a first length of tube 32 to form part of the tubular section 9 of the funnel device 7 receives the first length-wise half of the elongate hollow tube 29, and an end of a second length of tube 33 to form part of the tubular section 9 of the funnel device 7 receives the second length-wise half of the elongate hollow tube 29. A rubber lined pipe clamp 31 is then clamped around each groove 30. In this way, the two lengths of tube 32, 33 are sealed in a way that does not permit leakage in use, and is strong enough to withstand the forces of deployment and withdrawal of the funnel device 7.

[044] Figure 6 discloses an end valve unit 34 for use at the top of the funnel device 7 at the surface of the water in use. The end valve unit 34 has three hollow limbs 35-37: a funnel device connecting limb 35 and two containment tube connecting limbs 36, 37. These interface in the centre, allowing the flow of fluid between the limbs. The end valve unit 34 may be made, for example, from stainless steel.

10451 The funnel device connecting limb 35 is formed like one lengthwise half of 25 an elongate hollow tube 29 of an intermediate tube connecting part 28, having the same diameter and a groove 38 for a rubber lined pipe clamp.

10461 The containment tube connecting limbs 36, 37 are dimensioned to fit tightly within the inlets 22 of the containment tubes 10. They are provided with grooves 39, 40 to receive rubber lined pipe damps to seal their respective connections to containment tubes 10 in use. Each containment tube connecting limb 36, 37 is further provided with a lockable lever valve 41, 42 to selectively open or dose the limb to the flow of fluid.

[047] In use, when a leak is detected, a funnel device 7 with a tubular section 9 sufficiently long that the funnel device 7 can extend from the surface of the sea to the charted depth of the seabed at the point of the leak is deployed on a vessel or vessels (e.g. boats) to the surface of the sea above the leak. If a funnel device 7 of sufficient length is not readily available, a shorter funnel device 7 can be provided with additional lengths of tubing and a supply of intermediate tube connecting parts in order to assemble a funnel device 7 of sufficient length. The funnel device 7 is then lowered into the sea, weighed down, for example, by anchors connected to the stainless-steel cable around the base of the conical section 8. The crew paying out the funnel device 7 from the surface may convcniendy use the coloured marks 18, 19 to gauge the depth of the base of the conical section 8. When it reaches the seabed, an undersea crew, robot or remotely controlled device move the conical section 8 into position over the point of the leak in the pipe to capture any further leaking material.

[048] At the surface, an end valve unit 34 is clamped to the top of the tubular section 9, and a containment tube 10 is clamped to a first one of the containment unit connecting limbs 36 and deployed onto the surface of the sea. The lockable lever valve 41 of the connected limb 36 is opened, and leaking fluid is collected in the containment tube 10. Meanwhile, a second containment tube 10 is clamped to the other containment unit connecting limb 37 and deployed to the surface of the sea, with its lockable lever valve 42 closed. When the first containment tube 10 is full, the first lockable lever valve 41 is closed and the second lockable lever valve 42 is opened. The first containment tube inlet 22 is removed from the end valve unit 34 and clamped shut. The first containment tube is then tied to a vessel, such as a boat, ready to form the first link in a chain of full containment tubes 1. As the second containment tube 10 is filling with leaked fluid, a third containment tube 10 is attached to the first containment unit connecting limb 36, and so the cycle continues.

[049] Beneath the surface, a repair crew or device enters under the conical section 8 and effects the necessary repairs.

[0501 When the leak is fully contained, the last containment tubes 10 are disconnected from the end valve unit 34 and added to the chain of containment tubes. The funnel device 7 is then pulled from the water, the crew of the deploying vessel cleaning it with detergent as it leaves the water.

[0511 The invention has been described by means of a preferred embodiment, as an example. The scope of the invention is limited only by the claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A funnel apparatus for the collection and containment of leaking undersea oil or gas comprising: a first tubular section having a free end and a connected end, the tubular section having a first diameter; and a second conical section, extending away from the connected end of the first tubular section and widening to an open base end having a second larger diameter, wherein in use the second conical section covers an area surrounding a subsea leak and the free end of the first tubular section extends to the sea surface, guiding the leaking oil or gas to the sea surface.
2. A funnel apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the open base end of the second conical section comprises a folded hem around its circumference secured in the folded position, the fold defining a channel around the circumference of the open end.
3. A funnel apparatus according to claim 2 comprising a stainless steel cable located in the channel around the circumference of the open end.
4. A funnel apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the folded hem has 20 unsecured sections providing an opening to the defined channel, suitable for accessing the steel cable located within said channel.
5. A funnel apparatus according to any preceding claim comprising flat webbing secured around the base end of the second conical section of the funnel 25 apparatus.
6. A funnel apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the first and second sections are made from a flexible material which is watertight.
7. A funnel apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the flexible material is also airtight.
8. A funnel apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the flexible material is sailcloth.
9. A funnel apparatus according to any preceding claim comprising a length of flat webbing secured along an outer surface of the funnel apparatus, from the free end of the first section to the base end of the second section.
10. A funnel apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the first tubular section comprises two or more tubular sub-sections connected in series by one or more intermediate tube connecting parts, wherein a distal end of a first tubular sub-section of the two or more tubular sub-sections receives a proximate 5 section of an intermediate tube connecting part and is damped with a first pipe clamp to said proximate section of the intermediate tube connecting part, and the proxiMal end of a second tubular sub-section of the two or more tubular subsections receives a distal section of the intermediate tube connecting part, and is clamped with a second pipe clamp to said distal section of the intermediate tube 10 connecting part.
11. A funnel apparatus according to claim 10 where the intermediate tube connecting part comprises an elongate cylinder having an outer diameter similar to the inner diameter of the first tubular section; the tube connecting part further comprising two annular grooves on opposing longwise halves of the connecting part, in use providing a secure attachment locations for the pipe clamps.
12. A funnel apparatus according to either one of claims 10 or 11 wherein the pipe clamps arc rubber lined pipe clamps.
13. A floating containment apparatus for the storage of recovered oil or gas from a subsea leak, the containment apparatus comprising; a main body in the form of a hollow elongate tube closed at a distal end and an inlet extending from a proxiMal end, the inlet having a substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the main body.
14. A floating containment apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising skeg on the outside of the main body, for maintaining the orientation of the containment apparatus while in use on the sea.
15. A floating containment apparatus according to any one of claims 13 or 14, further comprising fixing points on both the proximal and distal ends of the main body, allowing for a chain of multiple floating containment apparatus to be made.
16. A floating containment apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 15 further comprising a location indicating means attached to the outside of the main body.
17. A floating containment apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 16 wherein the apparatus is made of sailcloth.
18. A system for the containment, collection and storage of oil or gas from a subsea leak comprising: a funnel apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12; a floating containment apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 17; and, a valve unit having at least two hollow limbs, in use, the first limb being connected to the free end of the first section of the funnel apparatus, the second limb being connected to the inlet on the proximal end of the floating containment apparatus, allowing, when the valve is open, collected oil or gas to flow from the funnel apparatus into the floating containment apparatus.
19. A system according to claim 18 wherein the valve unit comprises a third hollow limb for connection to a second floating containment apparatus, the valve unit being able to close off flow to/ from each hollow limb independently.