WO2012095118A1

WO2012095118A1 - Sleeve for the containment of gas from a leaking well

Info

Publication number: WO2012095118A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/000151
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Lawson
Original assignee: Michael Lawson
Priority date: 2011-01-14
Filing date: 2011-01-14
Publication date: 2012-07-19

Abstract

My invention is a device used to deliver/convey oil/gas from a leaking well on the ocean floor, to the ships/tanks on the sea surface above. This device will protect the natural environment around the leaking well and the ocean surface as well as the coasts from possible pollution resulting from an open, leaking or broken well head or a sunken and leaking oil tanker. This device is a means to treat/harness the source of oil spills/leaks, thus serving to eliminate environmentally devastating consequences.

Description

SLEEVE FOR THE CONTAINMENT OF GAS FROM A LEAKING WELL

COMPONENTS

1 ) 4 X ANCHOR WEIGHTS

2) 4 X SUPPORT CABLES/ROPES

3) 1 X STEEL SQUARE SPACER

4) 4 X STOP CLAMPS

5) POLYMER TEFLON TUBE

6) MULTIPLE 2 WAY DOUBLE CLIPS

7) LOOPS

8) WEIGHT SEAM

9) VELCRO SEAM

10) CONCERTINA SLEEVE

1 1 ) METAL TANK/SUMP

12) OIL DEPTH GAUGE

13) GAS PRESSURE VALVE

4) STEEL SUSPENSION RINGS

15) SUSPENSION CABLES

16) OIL VALVE

17) METAL SEAM

1 8) FLOATS■

1

DESCRIPTION

1 -3) Four weights, equally spaced by the square steel spacer, are lowered down to the leaking well by cable/rope and placed around the base of the well. The cables stabilise the complete sleeve as well as the tank/sump in a vertical position.

4) Stop clamps are put on at a pre-determined height above the well to allow

robotic repairs without the hindrance of the tube while still catching the rising oil and gas.

5-7) The rube consists of flexible material and is square in shape. Every 10M is a loop on each corner. The loops are attached to the cables using a 2-way double clip (Ref Drawing Page 4). The tube is made to sectional lengths of 500M, 200M, 100M, 50M, 20M and 10M.

8) The bottom of the tube has a steel frame acting as a weighted seam as well as a means to retain its shape. It descends to the sea floor or to the stop clamps set at a predetermined level.

9) The top end of the sleeve has a 2ft wide external layer of Velcro. The bottom end of the next sleeve has an internal 2ft wide layer of Velcro. Each section of the sleeve is attached together using the Velcro and clipped onto the cable using 2-way double clips and lowered into the sea.

10) The next to be attached is the concertina sleeve. It has a Velcro seam and such is attached to the sleeve below as .well as 2-way double clips on each corner for stability. The top of the concertina is attached to the oil sump by means of a seam ( 1 7). The concertina section of the sleeve will extend the length of the sleeve to deal with the large volumes of oil and/or tidal fluctuations. This will not affect the rest of the sleeve which will therefore not have greater tension put on it or be lifted higher above the wellhead. The concertina sleeve has a 1 M to 8M stretch variable. It is always the last piece of the sleeve to be attached and functions to reduce tension on the tube below due to wave action as well as upward thrust of oil and gas forming pressure in the tank above. Each section contains a number of flat steel bars to create the spring effect.

TOP SECTION ) The metal tank/sump floats and is supported by

1 8) Buoys on each side

1 5) Suspension cables from each top corner

2) Main support cables/ropes to the sea floor.

The bottom of the tank has a peripheral inner ledge. It is joined to the concertina sleeve by means of a seam where the 2 are bolted together, i.e. a seam. The tank has a 64 cubic metre (+/- 320 barrels) volume and can be enlarged.

The tank is also attached to the supporting cables by 2-way double clips. ) The oil depth gauge is located inside and outside the metal tank/sump and floats on the oil within the tank. The level of oil within the tank will, when rising, cause it to rise vertically and indicate above the top of the tank/sump the level within the tank/sump. ) The metal tank has a gas pressure valve on top to release gas once it has

reached a set level. A pipe can be attached to harness the gas if so desired. ) The top of the tank has 4 welded rings, one on each corner for launching and stabilising it vertically against wave motion. ) The suspension cables keep the tank/sump in a fixed position and depth within the sea and add extra security to the sleeve in general. ) Near the bottom of the tank/sump is a large oil valve which shuts

automatically after decoupling the oil pipe through which accumulated oil gets siphoned out. ) Metal seam. The concertina lips are attached to the base of the tank using a rubber strip on the steel, overlayed by the lip, overlayed by another rubber strip, and finally by a steel bar. All have parallel holes and are bolted together onto the base of the metal tank. ) Floats used for the purpose of suspension above sea level.

Claims

LAWSONS SLEEVE

1) Lawsons Sleeve can also be applied to a leaking or broken gas well on the sea floor so as to collect/capture escaping gas in large volumes.

2) It can be assembled and put into operation within hours.

3) The double clips specified, have, to the best of my knowledge and belief, not been designed or used as yet.

4) The concertina section of the sleeve is designed to extend the length of the sleeve due to large volumes of oil increasing the tanks buoyancy as well as tidal fluctuations without affecting the rest of the sleeve or putting greater tension on it, or lifting it higher above the wellhead.

5) The use of this invention is designed to eliminate almost all

environmental/pollution risks from under-sea oil leaks.

I, MICHAEL LAWSON, claim this is my design, Lawsons Sleeve, as original and to the best of my knowledge and belief no such device has been used or patented.