Method and apparatus for capturing oil leaking from an underwater well

Abstract

A system for capturing oil leaking from an underground well includes an elongate hollow tube which is deployed vertically in the water with its open lower end located above the oil well. A system for securing the tube in the desired location where it captures the maximum amount of leaking oil includes an adjustment system which allows the tube to be moved transversely once it is in place. A method is provided for erecting the tube and anchoring it at the desired location above the leaking well.

1 . A system for capturing oil leaking from an underwater well comprising:
 (a) an elongate hollow tube deployed in a vertical orientation above a leaking well, said tube having an upper end which is proximate the surface of the water and a lower end which is substantially below the surface of the water; and   (b) an anchoring system for anchoring the lower end of said tube to the floor below the water.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  including an adjustment system associated with said anchoring system which allows said tube to be moved to an optimum location where it captures the maximum amount of oil leaking from said well. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  including buoyancy devices attached to said tube in order to support said tube with its upper end proximate the surface of the water. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said tube comprises a series of tube segments joined to one another end-to-end. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein said tube segments have a solid metal wall. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4  wherein said tube segments are collapsible. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said tube segments comprise two or more rigid rings and a flexible wall made from a fabric material, which is supported by said rings. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein said fabric material is rubberized canvas. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  including straps which are attached to and extend between adjacent rings at spaced apart locations around the periphery of said rings. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 4  wherein said tube segments have outwardly projecting flanges at each end thereof and said tube segments are joined to one another by attaching flanges from adjacent tube segments to one another. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said adjacent tube segments are welded to one another. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said adjacent tube segments are bolted to one another. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10  including a clamp ring which clamps flanges of adjacent tube sections to one another. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  including a collection chamber which is connected to the upper end of said tube. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  including one or more conduits for removing oil from said collection chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  including one or more conduits for removing natural gas from said collection chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the lower end of said tube has a sufficiently large diameter and is located sufficiently close to the floor of the body of water that a large portion of the oil leaking from the well flows into said tube as it rises to the surface. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said anchoring system includes at least three cables having lower ends which are attached to the floor below the water at generally evenly spaced intervals around a circle circumcised on said floor, said circle having a diameter which is greater than the diameter of said tube. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein said adjustment system comprises:
 (a) guides located on said tube which allow said cables to extend moveably along the linear extent of said tube; 
 (b) a take-up device associated with each of said cables located at the surface of said body of water; and 
 (c) said take-up devices being capable of lengthening or shortening the amount of the associated cable which is located in the water. 
 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  where said take-up devices are winches. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18  wherein said cables are located in pairs which are diametrically opposed from one another around the periphery of said tube. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said take-up devices are synchronized so that when one of said cables is shortened, the opposed cable is lengthened like a mount. 
     
     
         23 . A method of constructing the system of  claim 4  comprising:
 (a) placing a first one of said tube segments on its side adjacent to the water with the end facing the water covered with a first removable cap; 
 (b) attaching the end of said first tube segment to a towing vessel located in the water; 
 (c) attaching another tube segment to the existing tube segment; 
 (d) using said vessel to pull said first tube segment into the water; 
 (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) until the resulting tube has the desired length; 
 (f) covering the unattached end of the resulting tube with a second removable cap; and 
 (g) using said vessel to tow said tube to an underwater well. 
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  including the following additional steps:
 (a) attaching an anchoring system to said tube to anchor said tube to the floor below the water; and 
 (b) removing the second removable cap from said tube allowing said tube to submerge. 
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  including attaching buoyancy devices to said tube such that when submerged it is oriented vertically with an upper end located proximate the surface of the water and a lower end which is substantially below the surface of the water. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  including providing an adjustment system to said tube which allows said tube to be moved transversely in the water. 
     
     
         27 . A method of constructing the system of  claim 6 , comprising:
 (a) providing a plurality of collapsed tube segments at a location above said oil well;   (b) expanding one of said collapsed tube segments and suspending it above the water;   (c) expanding another collapsed tube segment and attaching it to the top of said one of said tube segments; and   (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until the resulting tube has the desired length.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  including attaching buoyancy devices to said tube such that when submerged said tube is oriented substantially vertically with an upper end located proximate the surface of the water. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  including attaching an anchoring system to said tube to anchor said tube to the floor below the water. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  including providing an adjustment system which allows said tube to be moved transversely in the water.