Environmental containment and protection system

Abstract

A containment and protection system for wells in the oil and gas industry may solve the problem of crude oil, salt water and chemicals from absorbing into the ground and contaminating the ground, water and animals. The system may provide safety for landowners, workers and livestock. The system may attach around a wellhead and flowline. The system may be dug into the ground so that it is below the surface casing and then sealed and secured thereto. A lid of the system may close overtop of the well to make it secure and leak proof. The lid may also be insulated to hold in warmth, thereby reducing the need to insulate the wellhead. The system may provide safeguards that may shut down the pump driver or close valves to stop flow from the well and flowline under certain conditions.

1 . A containment and protection system comprising:
 a split base having a first base member and a second base member, the first and second base members adapted to join together;   a split floor, having a first floor member and a second floor member, the split floor resting on a lip formed about a perimeter of the split base; and   a split enclosure, having a first enclosure half and a second enclosure half, the split enclosure adapted to hingedly attach to the split base.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the split base has at least one cut-out adapted to permit a wellhead to fit through the cut-out and into an inside of the split enclosure. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one wellhead flange adapted to sealingly fit about the wellhead. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the split floor is formed as a grate. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an inspection window allowing a user to view inside the enclosure from outside the enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising latches for securing the first enclosure half to the second enclosure half in a closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a high level detector for determining the presence of fluid inside the split base, wherein the high level detector takes action to prevent accumulation of additional fluid when the fluid inside the split base reaches a predetermined level. 
     
     
         8 . A containment and protection system for a wellhead, comprising:
 a split base having a first base member and a second base member, the first and second base members adapted to join together;   a split floor, having a first floor member and a second floor member, the split floor resting on a lip formed about a perimeter of the split base;   a split enclosure, having a first enclosure half and a second enclosure half, the split enclosure adapted to hingedly attach to the split base;   at least one wellhead flange adapted to sealingly fit about the wellhead; and   an inspection window allowing a user to view inside the enclosure from outside the enclosure,   wherein the split base has at least one cut-out adapted to permit a wellhead to fit through the cut-out and into an inside of the split enclosure.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising latches for securing the first enclosure half to the second enclosure half in a closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a high level detector for determining the presence of fluid inside the split base, wherein the high level detector takes action to prevent accumulation of additional fluid when the fluid inside the split base reaches a predetermined level.