WO2000058564A1 - Method and device for the collection of underwater spills and for covering the sea bed - Google Patents

Method and device for the collection of underwater spills and for covering the sea bed Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000058564A1
WO2000058564A1 PCT/NO2000/000091 NO0000091W WO0058564A1 WO 2000058564 A1 WO2000058564 A1 WO 2000058564A1 NO 0000091 W NO0000091 W NO 0000091W WO 0058564 A1 WO0058564 A1 WO 0058564A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
canvas
oil
sack
covering
saddle
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NO2000/000091
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Bjørn GRINDE
Torbjørn ERGA
Original Assignee
Grinde Bjoern
Erga Torbjoern
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 Grinde Bjoern, Erga Torbjoern filed Critical Grinde Bjoern
Priority to AU33361/00A priority Critical patent/AU3336100A/en
Priority to EP00911495A priority patent/EP1192317A1/en
Publication of WO2000058564A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000058564A1/en
Priority to NO20013979A priority patent/NO20013979D0/en

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B15/00—Cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water; Apparatus therefor
    • E02B15/04—Devices for cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like floating materials by separating or removing these materials
    • E02B15/08—Devices for reducing the polluted area with or without additional devices for removing the material
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/01—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells specially adapted for obtaining from underwater installations
    • E21B43/0122—Collecting oil or the like from a submerged leakage
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B15/00—Cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water; Apparatus therefor
    • E02B2015/005—Tent-like structures for dealing with pollutant emissions below the water surface

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and a device which enable the covering and collection, with all the necessary precautions, of oil, chemicals, decomposed organic and mineral substances on the sea bed.
  • the invention is intended for the covering of effluents which it is not desirable to dump in an unrestricted manner, and for the collection of toxic substances.
  • the invention is intended for the collection, sealing under control, protection of waste tipping and storage, protection of existing landfills, dumping areas, wrecks, war remains of all types, such as gas containers, chemicals, ammunition, toxic substances.
  • Wrecked ships are the source of significant environment problems as they contain oil in their tanks, whether that oil is fuel oil for consumption on the vessel itself, or a product carried by the wrecked vessel in the case of an oil tanker. Wrecked ships lie on the bottom of the sea and, if they are damaged, they may leak oil in various quantities, such oil rising to the surface of the ocean. The oil will then present a danger to the marine fauna and must be collected and dealt with, taking all necessary precautions.
  • the object of the present invention is to cover, seal and if necessary collect liquids, gases and volatile products or particles released from spills on the sea bed or from sources on the sea bed or partially on it.
  • the method is suitable for the purpose of emptying the oiltanks of a wreck under controlled conditions and in a safe manner.
  • Figures la and b illustrate the device of the invention intended for the collection of oil leaking from shipwrecks, in perspective and in cross sectional view.
  • Figures 2a and b show the device of the invention intended for the collection of oil leaking from pipelines, in perspective and in cross sectional view.
  • a first canvas 1 is stretched over a shipwreck 2 which lies at the bottom of the sea.
  • the first canvas 1 can be given any appropriate shape suitable to cover a wreck of any shape.
  • the first canvas 1 is given a general saddle roof shape, with a variable curvature.
  • anchoring elements 3 such as mooring blocks or any other type of mooring to the bottom of the sea.
  • Several floating elements 4 are provided and attached to the first canvas 1 between its outer edges so as to create a roof over the wreck, and the oil which is leaking from the wreck will rise under this roof and slide up to a highest point.
  • an outlet 5 is provided at the level of this highest point.
  • a sack 6 is provided which fills up and can be closed off by tying together over its inlet 7.
  • the sack 6 can be replaced by an empty sack, while the full sack is taken to the surface where the oil can be dealt with in a safe manner, or alternatively the sack 6 is moored high up in the water and divers can effect the emptying manoeuvre without the necessity of a diver support vessel.
  • the sack 6 can also be emptied with the help of a hose connected to a boat or a barge.
  • the sack 6 must have some form of venting device so that gas or air which follows with the oil and collects in the sack 6 does not create undesirable buoyancy.
  • a level gauge must be provided in the sack 6 to indicate when optimal level has been reached. Such a device can for example give an acoustic signal.
  • a second canvas 8 can also be placed across the first canvas 1 , the second canvas 8 being anchored in the same manner as the first.
  • the canvases are saddle-roof shaped, and the curvature may vary.
  • the method of the invention for the collection of oil leaks can also be used in the cases when the leak occurs in a pipeline 9 running on the sea bed.
  • Figures 2a and b illustrate how the principle may be applied to such a case.
  • the material used for the canvas may be weaved material, fiber, polyester- weaved canvas with or without reinforcement, and coated with a rubber film. This provides the necessary strength and tightness for use as canvas material for the canvases 1 , 8 and for the sack 6.
  • the method and the device of the invention may be used to cover over sources of emission of liquids and/or gases, chemicals, decomposing organic or mineral substances at the bottom of the sea or from sources which are entirely or partially on the sea bed. Furthermore, it will possible not only to cover over such sources, but also to collect and contain collected products for a chosen period of time, as well as remove the collected products from the sea under controlled circumstances and transfer them for example to a boat or the like.

Abstract

A first canvas (1) stretched over the source of a spill or an emission on or from the sea bed, with mooring elements (3) attached to the outer edges, and floating elements (4). Outlet (5) with sack (6). A second canvas (8) stretched over the first canvas (1).

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE COLLECTION OF UNDERWATER SPILLS AND FOR COVERING THE SEA BED
The present invention relates to a method and a device which enable the covering and collection, with all the necessary precautions, of oil, chemicals, decomposed organic and mineral substances on the sea bed. In addition, the invention is intended for the covering of effluents which it is not desirable to dump in an unrestricted manner, and for the collection of toxic substances. The invention is intended for the collection, sealing under control, protection of waste tipping and storage, protection of existing landfills, dumping areas, wrecks, war remains of all types, such as gas containers, chemicals, ammunition, toxic substances.
Wrecked ships are the source of significant environment problems as they contain oil in their tanks, whether that oil is fuel oil for consumption on the vessel itself, or a product carried by the wrecked vessel in the case of an oil tanker. Wrecked ships lie on the bottom of the sea and, if they are damaged, they may leak oil in various quantities, such oil rising to the surface of the ocean. The oil will then present a danger to the marine fauna and must be collected and dealt with, taking all necessary precautions.
Oil spills from wrecks present a serious problem for the environment and for people. In many cases, the choice is made not to empty the oil remaining in the tanks of the wreck due to the prohibitive costs which such an operation entails.
From a number of wrecks, only small quantities of oil will leak over a year, and such leakage occurs mainly in special circumstances such as heavy weather with very rough seas.
In wrecks containing oil in undamaged tanks, it is in certain cases possible to empty the tanks under controlled conditions by connecting new valves to the tanks and pumping the oil up to a vessel on the surface. In the cases when the tanks are damaged and the oil seeps out and rises to the surface, it must then be collected on the surface and removed. Oil booms and other equipment such as skimmer and the like are used to this effect. A method of collecting oil which requires that leaking oil must first rise to the surface in order to be collected is at best a makeshift solution. A small quantity of leaking oil will mix with the water and pollute it before it reaches the surface. In addition, this requires a continuous monitoring of wrecks in order to be ready to place oil booms to contain the oil when the leakage finally occurs. There is a real risk that such oil spills will cause damage to sea birds or other creatures on the surface before there are discovered and contained. There also exist other potential sources of contamination on the sea bed itself or partially on it, which can release gas, liquids or particles of organic or mineral origin, which it is desirable to control, contain and remove. Examples of such sources may be ammunition depots, special waste dumps and the like.
The object of the present invention is to cover, seal and if necessary collect liquids, gases and volatile products or particles released from spills on the sea bed or from sources on the sea bed or partially on it. In addition, the method is suitable for the purpose of emptying the oiltanks of a wreck under controlled conditions and in a safe manner.
This is achieved with the help of a least one canvas which covers an oil spill and is attached at certains points to the sea bed and at other points to floating elements, so that the shape given to the canvas provides at least one collection point for the oil.
Further details of the invention appear from the following description with reference to the illustrations of a preferred embodiment of the invention. Figures la and b illustrate the device of the invention intended for the collection of oil leaking from shipwrecks, in perspective and in cross sectional view.
Figures 2a and b show the device of the invention intended for the collection of oil leaking from pipelines, in perspective and in cross sectional view. A first canvas 1 is stretched over a shipwreck 2 which lies at the bottom of the sea.
The first canvas 1 can be given any appropriate shape suitable to cover a wreck of any shape. The first canvas 1 is given a general saddle roof shape, with a variable curvature. Along the outer edge of the first canvas 1, are provided anchoring elements 3 such as mooring blocks or any other type of mooring to the bottom of the sea. Several floating elements 4 are provided and attached to the first canvas 1 between its outer edges so as to create a roof over the wreck, and the oil which is leaking from the wreck will rise under this roof and slide up to a highest point. At the level of this highest point, an outlet 5 is provided. Above this outlet 5, a sack 6 is provided which fills up and can be closed off by tying together over its inlet 7.
The sack 6 can be replaced by an empty sack, while the full sack is taken to the surface where the oil can be dealt with in a safe manner, or alternatively the sack 6 is moored high up in the water and divers can effect the emptying manoeuvre without the necessity of a diver support vessel. The sack 6 can also be emptied with the help of a hose connected to a boat or a barge.
The sack 6 must have some form of venting device so that gas or air which follows with the oil and collects in the sack 6 does not create undesirable buoyancy. In addition, a level gauge must be provided in the sack 6 to indicate when optimal level has been reached. Such a device can for example give an acoustic signal.
To increase the oil-capturing surface and therefore ensure that all the oil will be collected, a second canvas 8 can also be placed across the first canvas 1 , the second canvas 8 being anchored in the same manner as the first. The canvases are saddle-roof shaped, and the curvature may vary.
The method of the invention for the collection of oil leaks can also be used in the cases when the leak occurs in a pipeline 9 running on the sea bed. Figures 2a and b illustrate how the principle may be applied to such a case. The material used for the canvas may be weaved material, fiber, polyester- weaved canvas with or without reinforcement, and coated with a rubber film. This provides the necessary strength and tightness for use as canvas material for the canvases 1 , 8 and for the sack 6.
The method and the device of the invention may be used to cover over sources of emission of liquids and/or gases, chemicals, decomposing organic or mineral substances at the bottom of the sea or from sources which are entirely or partially on the sea bed. Furthermore, it will possible not only to cover over such sources, but also to collect and contain collected products for a chosen period of time, as well as remove the collected products from the sea under controlled circumstances and transfer them for example to a boat or the like.

Claims

1. Method for covering, sealing and collecting liquids, gases, chemicals, organic and mineral substances, characterized in that at least one canvas which covers the spill or emission is attached at certain points to the bottom and at other points to floating elements, in such a manner that the canvas is given a shape with at least one collection point for the oil.
2. The method for covering, sealing and collecting liquids, gases, chemicals, organic and mineral substances of claim 1 , characterized in that the outer edges of the canvas are fastened and tightened to the bottom.
3. The method for covering, sealing and collecting liquids, gases, chemicals, organic and mineral substances of claim 1, characterized in that the canvas, at the points of collection, is provided with devices which enable release of the collected products, and that such collected products may be led to a partitioned-off compartment in view of transport to the surface.
4. A device for the implementation of the method of claims 1, 2 and 3 characterized in that a first canvas (1) is stretched over a spill on the sea bed or rising from the sea bed and anchored to the bottom with the help of mooring elements (3) attached to its outer edges and, in places between the outer edges, to floating elements (4), said first canvas (1) being given a saddle-roof shape, the curvature of the saddle-roof shape being variable.
5. The device of claim 4 characterized in that from at least one of the highest points on the first canvas (1) an outlet (5) is provided to which a removable sack (6) is mounted.
6. The device of claim 4 characterized in that the sack (6) can be tightened shut and replaced.
7. The device of claim 4 characterized in that the sack (6) can, with the help of a hose, be emptied into a boat or a barge.
8. The device of claim 4 characterized in that the sack (6) is provided with a venting device for gas or air and a level gauge for oil.
9. The device of claim 4 characterized in that a second canvas (8) is stretched over the first canvas (1), said second canvas (8) being given a saddle-roof shape, and the curvature of the saddle-roof shape being variable.
10. The device of claim 8 characterized in that the outlet (5) from the canvases (1, 8) coincide.
11. The device of claim 8 characterized in that the source of the spill or of the emission may be any or several of the following: shipwreck, oil pipeline, special waste dump, bulk dump, accumulation of ammunition.
PCT/NO2000/000091 1999-03-17 2000-03-16 Method and device for the collection of underwater spills and for covering the sea bed WO2000058564A1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU33361/00A AU3336100A (en) 1999-03-17 2000-03-16 Method and device for the collection of underwater spills and for covering the sea bed
EP00911495A EP1192317A1 (en) 1999-03-17 2000-03-16 Method and device for the collection of underwater spills and for covering the sea bed
NO20013979A NO20013979D0 (en) 1999-03-17 2001-08-15 Method and apparatus for collecting discharges underwater and covering the seabed

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NO991282A NO991282D0 (en) 1999-03-17 1999-03-17 Method and apparatus for collecting oil from discharges under water
NO19991282 1999-03-17

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000058564A1 true WO2000058564A1 (en) 2000-10-05

Family

ID=19903097

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/NO2000/000091 WO2000058564A1 (en) 1999-03-17 2000-03-16 Method and device for the collection of underwater spills and for covering the sea bed

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1192317A1 (en)
AU (1) AU3336100A (en)
NO (1) NO991282D0 (en)
WO (1) WO2000058564A1 (en)

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2804935A1 (en) * 2000-02-11 2001-08-17 Bouygues Offshore Recovery of pollutants which float on water from a sunken or damaged vessel on the seabed
GB2396335A (en) * 2002-12-21 2004-06-23 Dominic Michaelis Flexible shipwreck cover
EP1449763A1 (en) * 2003-02-21 2004-08-25 Saipem S.A. Method and installation of subsea effluent pollution recovery from a sunken tanker by using multiple shuttle tanks
FR2853673A1 (en) * 2003-04-14 2004-10-15 Stefan Tarkovacs Flexible column recovering gases, liquids, viscous substances or solids from marine depths, is sectional with support blocks at intervals, joined by ropes for tension relief
WO2004092006A2 (en) * 2003-04-14 2004-10-28 Stefan Tarkovacs Self-contained submarine station
ES2217951A1 (en) * 2002-12-16 2004-11-01 Francisco Novo Martinez Recuperator for oil from vessel sunk in deep water includes valved collector bag and riser pipe with electromagnets facilitating feed to tanker
WO2004106638A1 (en) * 2003-05-26 2004-12-09 Thomas Schwalb Method, device and arrangement for collecting media escaping underwater
FR2858966A1 (en) * 2003-08-20 2005-02-25 Jacques Flichy Device for recovering oil leaks from a wreck by placing a receiver cone with a diameter greater than that of the wreck a small distance above the bottom to ensure all oil leaks are recovered
EP1513723A2 (en) * 2002-12-23 2005-03-16 Richard J. Lazes Subsea oil collector
FR2860810A1 (en) * 2003-10-13 2005-04-15 Technip France Device for recovering hydrocarbons contained in reservoir on seabed, made as large surface covering in shape of inverted funnel placed over reservoir
EP1524186A1 (en) * 2003-10-15 2005-04-20 The European Community, represented by the European Commission Device for collecting fluids escaping from an underwater source
WO2011140622A1 (en) * 2010-05-14 2011-11-17 Engenhoca 18 Administração De Patentes Ltda; Oil leak collector device and oil storage device
WO2012004601A3 (en) * 2010-07-07 2012-03-01 Alan Dennis Kirkby Underwater oil and gas collection system
WO2011160999A3 (en) * 2010-06-22 2012-10-26 Kaegi Adrian Method for fighting an oilspill in the aftermath of an underwater oil well blowout and installation for carrying out the method

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2368581A1 (en) * 1976-10-25 1978-05-19 Keruzore Francois Sea-bed oil spill collecting device - comprising flexible plastic funnel sliding on cables anchored to sea:bed
FR2463835A1 (en) * 1979-08-23 1981-02-27 Chastan Bagnis Lucien Reclaiming light liquids as oil for sea-bed - where liq. lighter than water flows naturally upwards through flexible pipe into floating tank
WO1982001387A1 (en) * 1980-10-22 1982-04-29 Enn Vallak Equipment for the recovery of oil flowing out of sub-water ground
WO1993011305A1 (en) * 1991-12-03 1993-06-10 Hans Seternes Device for deploying a barrier structure in a body of water
NO176813B (en) * 1993-01-22 1995-02-20 Leif Andreassen oil collector

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2368581A1 (en) * 1976-10-25 1978-05-19 Keruzore Francois Sea-bed oil spill collecting device - comprising flexible plastic funnel sliding on cables anchored to sea:bed
FR2463835A1 (en) * 1979-08-23 1981-02-27 Chastan Bagnis Lucien Reclaiming light liquids as oil for sea-bed - where liq. lighter than water flows naturally upwards through flexible pipe into floating tank
WO1982001387A1 (en) * 1980-10-22 1982-04-29 Enn Vallak Equipment for the recovery of oil flowing out of sub-water ground
WO1993011305A1 (en) * 1991-12-03 1993-06-10 Hans Seternes Device for deploying a barrier structure in a body of water
NO176813B (en) * 1993-01-22 1995-02-20 Leif Andreassen oil collector

Cited By (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2804935A1 (en) * 2000-02-11 2001-08-17 Bouygues Offshore Recovery of pollutants which float on water from a sunken or damaged vessel on the seabed
ES2217951A1 (en) * 2002-12-16 2004-11-01 Francisco Novo Martinez Recuperator for oil from vessel sunk in deep water includes valved collector bag and riser pipe with electromagnets facilitating feed to tanker
GB2396335A (en) * 2002-12-21 2004-06-23 Dominic Michaelis Flexible shipwreck cover
GB2396335B (en) * 2002-12-21 2007-07-04 Dominic Michaelis Shipwreck cover
EP1513723A2 (en) * 2002-12-23 2005-03-16 Richard J. Lazes Subsea oil collector
EP1513723A4 (en) * 2002-12-23 2005-11-16 Richard J Lazes Subsea oil collector
EP1449762A1 (en) * 2003-02-21 2004-08-25 Saipem SA Method and installation of effluent recovery at sea by using a shuttle reservoir
EP1449763A1 (en) * 2003-02-21 2004-08-25 Saipem S.A. Method and installation of subsea effluent pollution recovery from a sunken tanker by using multiple shuttle tanks
WO2004092006A2 (en) * 2003-04-14 2004-10-28 Stefan Tarkovacs Self-contained submarine station
FR2853673A1 (en) * 2003-04-14 2004-10-15 Stefan Tarkovacs Flexible column recovering gases, liquids, viscous substances or solids from marine depths, is sectional with support blocks at intervals, joined by ropes for tension relief
WO2004092006A3 (en) * 2003-04-14 2005-03-03 Stefan Tarkovacs Self-contained submarine station
WO2004106638A1 (en) * 2003-05-26 2004-12-09 Thomas Schwalb Method, device and arrangement for collecting media escaping underwater
FR2858966A1 (en) * 2003-08-20 2005-02-25 Jacques Flichy Device for recovering oil leaks from a wreck by placing a receiver cone with a diameter greater than that of the wreck a small distance above the bottom to ensure all oil leaks are recovered
WO2005038145A3 (en) * 2003-10-13 2005-07-21 Technip France Method and device for recovering petroleum from a tank disposed on a sea bed, particularly a wreck
FR2860810A1 (en) * 2003-10-13 2005-04-15 Technip France Device for recovering hydrocarbons contained in reservoir on seabed, made as large surface covering in shape of inverted funnel placed over reservoir
EP1524186A1 (en) * 2003-10-15 2005-04-20 The European Community, represented by the European Commission Device for collecting fluids escaping from an underwater source
WO2011140622A1 (en) * 2010-05-14 2011-11-17 Engenhoca 18 Administração De Patentes Ltda; Oil leak collector device and oil storage device
WO2011160999A3 (en) * 2010-06-22 2012-10-26 Kaegi Adrian Method for fighting an oilspill in the aftermath of an underwater oil well blowout and installation for carrying out the method
WO2012004601A3 (en) * 2010-07-07 2012-03-01 Alan Dennis Kirkby Underwater oil and gas collection system
JP2013531752A (en) * 2010-07-07 2013-08-08 デニス キルクビィ，アラン Underwater oil and gas collection system
US8882388B2 (en) 2010-07-07 2014-11-11 Alan Dennis Kirkby Underwater oil and gas collection system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1192317A1 (en) 2002-04-03
NO991282D0 (en) 1999-03-17
AU3336100A (en) 2000-10-16

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