Subsea collection and containment system for hydrocarbon emissions.

Abstract

A rapidly deployable flexible enclosure system for the collection, containment and presentation of hydrocarbon emissions from compromised shallow or deepwater oil and gas well systems, pipelines, including subsea fissures. The flexible containment enclosure can accommodate any depth and adapt to any collection terminator configuration required. The flexible containment enclosure system is connected to the floating platform and supported by positive offset neutral buoyancy attachment devices. The floating platform may be assembled onshore and towed, ferried or assembled on site. Liquid and gaseous materials are directed to separate ports for removal from the rigid enclosure cavity integrated within the floating platform. Gaseous emissions may optionally be directed to a tethered floating flare system. The systems all weather capabilities include the ability to submerge for extended durations and resurface on demand by transmitted signal or manually providing operations during hurricanes, heaving seas, and other surface threats.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus and means for the collection, containment and presentation of gaseous and or liquid hydrocarbon material products from compromised sub sea surface pipelines, well head assemblies, surface floor fissures and or other underwater situations whereas the management of material from said compromised situations may be contained and presented for safe and efficient removal being comprised of the following systems and components:
 a floating platform with means capable of maintaining extended submersion and surfacing intervals of said floating platform by use of a buoyancy control system and said floating platform integrated with a rigid containment enclosure providing liquid and gaseous material ports;   a downwardly directed means of attachment and connection of one or a plurality of self supporting flexible containment enclosure sections and terminus sections;   a floating flare platform with means connecting in proximity to said floating platform rigid containment enclosure system gaseous material port.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus of  claim 1  and means wherein said systems and components are configured to address a number of in situ remedies based on estimates of on station duration requirements, projected weather conditions, depth to target requirements, projected type of emissions and quantities that are to be contained and brought to the surface for removal, available support vessels, with the said apparatus, systems and, components further comprising:
 a floating platform with means to become fully submersible and rise to the surface again by the commands and actions from said buoyant control system with ballast materials added or removed from one or many buoyant vessels of said floating platform; 
 a rigid and ported semi-submerged enclosure mechanically mounted and secured to said floating platform that is open from the bottom and supporting from within and downwardly an open conduit into and below the liquid surface and connected to a port providing the means for removal of liquid material; 
 a self supporting flexible containment enclosure connected within and descending downwardly from the inside circumference of said rigid and ported semi-submerged enclosure; 
 a said self supporting flexible containment enclosure made of one or more sections of suitable fabric and other materials; 
 a said self supporting flexible containment enclosure with means to adapt a number of types and configurations of lower termination sections; 
 an incorporation of Positive Offset Neutral Buoyancy Attachment Devices—a PONBAD buoyant component or device. 
 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus in  claim 2  wherein said PONBAD buoyant components or devices are comprised of and by means of rigorous steps in the selection of materials, specific dimensions, methods of construction, connection methods and the exacting calculations required for the PONBADs and their respective locations of use and purpose, with the definition of PONBAD for this invention being a “Positive Offset Neutral Buoyancy Attachment Device” means used for defining and providing the exacting needs to suspend, support, maintain tension and to position the apparatuses, components and, systems as described in this invention. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus in  claim 2  further comprising said floating platform with means that can remain at the surface or electively be submerged for extended periods to any depth within and not to exceed a fixed predetermined depth and, be brought back to the surface on demand and controlled by means of said buoyant control system. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus in  claim 4  further comprising a plurality of said PONBAD buoys extended from said floating platform and connected with a fixed length of cable, wire, rope, tether or other means to disallow submergence any lower than a fixed and predetermined distance. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus in  claim 2  further comprising said rigid and ported enclosure secured to said floating platform structure with means providing for a physical boundary to isolate any gaseous material from escaping other than through one or more designated ports, where said rigid and ported enclosure will protrude below the waterline surface for such a depth to ensure the effective isolation required in providing containment within said rigid and ported enclosure and the boundary layer of the liquid surface to ensure the safe handling and egress of said gaseous material in order that it may be diverted, collected and or flared as requirements dictate. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus in  claim 2  with further means comprising a said downwardly directed self supporting flexible containment enclosure of any variable length, size and number of sections defined to be of sufficient means for the volumetric requirements and length required to reach the targeted area and further comprising:
 an upper section of said self supporting flexible containment enclosure that is physically connected above the waterline and within the inner circumference of said floating platforms ported rigid enclosure as described in  claim 4 ; 
 a circumferential size and length of said self supporting flexible containment enclosure adjusted by means prior to fabrication and deployment to accommodate the projected volumetric requirements with less or additional material segments and material widths that are to be connected; 
 a further means to configure and bridge or join together at the lower and upper sections of said self supporting flexible containment enclosures additional said self supporting flexible containment enclosures to substantially increase the volumetric capacity and to include by means of a single or a plurality of various end terminator sections; 
 a connection means including one or a plurality of additional said termination points at the beginning and end of said self supporting flexible containment enclosure sections secured together with said additional termination points incorporated for the attachment of said PONBAD buoyancy devices as described in  claim 3  and, or additional attachments of mooring lines and, or other devices. 
 
     
     
         8 . An appropriate lower termination section of said flexible self supporting containment enclosure as referenced in  claim 2  with means to address a physical connection and or be held in place, or by encompassing a compromised area, wherein said lower termination section may be tapered, tethered, anchored or suspended, covering a larger or smaller area by physically, mechanically, magnetically, connecting to or enveloping the targeted area by such methods. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus in  claim 2  wherein said self supporting flexible containment enclosure and other attachments having such means may additionally include a connection method comprising:
 A connection means for attachment of multiple self supporting flexible containment enclosure sections, terminator sections and, or other components to include using a hook and loop material; 
 A mated connection having one or a plurality of insertion members with either a hook or loop material attached to one or both sides of said members and to be inserted into one or a plurality of receiving members having either the corresponding opposing and mating hook or loop material attached to one or both sides of said receiving members; 
 The said insertion members and receiving members are physically positioned and with appropriate compression of such members providing the required connection assemblage; 
 The exterior of the mated assemblage may have additional hook or loop material affixed for the means and purposes of additional attachments or seals. 
 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus in  claim 1  further including a means for an alternative connection from said floating platforms rigid ported enclosure described in  claim 4  to a said independent floating platform incorporating a flare system to provide as requirements dictate, the means to direct the gaseous hydrocarbons for the purpose of safely burning off such gaseous product in lieu of an appropriate vessel to accomplish the flaring task.