Oil reclamation apparatus

Abstract

An oil reclamation apparatus comprising a central panel, a plurality of side panels extending downwardly from the central panel, and at least one discharge pipe extending through the central panel so as to establish fluid communication through the central panel. At least one of the side panels has an opening formed therein, and a relief door is connected to one of the side panels so as to be moveable between an open position wherein the relief door is positioned to permit fluid to pass through the opening and a closed position wherein the relief door is positioned about the opening to form a fluid tight seal about the opening.

1 . A reclamation apparatus, comprising:
 a plurality of panels arranged to form a panel structure having an open bottom end and a top end, the plurality of panels including a central panel and a plurality of side panels extending downwardly from the central panel; and   at least one discharge pipe extending through the central panel so as to establish fluid communication through the central panel, at least one of the side panels having an opening formed therein; and   at least one relief door connected to one of the side panels so as to be moveable between an open position wherein the relief door is positioned to permit fluid to pass through the opening and a closed position wherein the relief door is positioned about the opening to form a fluid tight seal about the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The reclamation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the side panels extend downwardly from the central panel so as to form a frustum. 
     
     
         3 . The reclamation apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 at least two angled side panels extending downwardly from the central panel, each of the angled side panels provided with an opening; and   at least one relief door connected to one of the side panels so as to be moveable between an open position wherein the relief door is positioned to permit fluid to pass through the opening and a closed position wherein the relief door is positioned about the opening to form a fluid tight seal about the opening   
     
     
         4 . The reclamation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the central panel, the side panels, and the relief door is coated with a non-stick coating. 
     
     
         5 . The reclamation apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one heat strip positioned on an interior surface of at least one of the central panel, the side panels, and the relief door. 
     
     
         6 . The reclamation apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap assembly positioned on a lower end of the discharge pipe, the cap assembly selectively moveable between an open pipe position and a closed pipe position. 
     
     
         7 . The reclamation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the side panels has a vertical opening, the vertical opening extending from a bottom end of the side to one of the openings of the side panels, and wherein the reclamation apparatus further comprises a vertical door connected to side panel so as to be movable between an open position wherein the vertical door is positioned to permit a vertical pipe to pass through the vertical opening and a closed position wherein the vertical door is positioned about the vertical opening to form a fluid tight seal about the vertical opening. 
     
     
         8 . The reclamation apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the central panel has an opening intersecting the opening of the side panel so as to provide a passage between the vertical opening and the opening of the central panel, and wherein the reclamation apparatus further comprises a door assembly connected to the central panel so as to be movable between an open position wherein the door assembly is positioned to provide a passage for receiving the vertical pipe in the opening of the central panel from the opening of the side panel and a closed position wherein the door assembly is positioned to cooperate with the central panel to form a seal about the vertical pipe when the vertical pipe is positioned in the opening of the central panel. 
     
     
         9 . The reclamation apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the opening of the central panel is defined by a portion of the central panel and the door assembly, and wherein each of the central panel and the door assembly has an arch shaped notch configured to substantially conform to the contour of the vertical pipe when the vertical pipe is positioned in the opening of the central panel and the door assembly is in the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . A reclamation apparatus, comprising:
 a body assembly having an open bottom end, a top end, and a sidewall structure extending between the top end and the bottom end; and   a top assembly extending upwardly from the top end of the body assembly, the top assembly comprising a panel structure with a central panel and a plurality of side panels extending downwardly from the central panel; and   at least one discharge pipe extending through the central panel so as to establish fluid communication through the central panel, at least one of the side panels having an opening formed therein and the top assembly further comprising at least one relief door connected to one of the side panels so as to be moveable between an open position wherein the relief door is positioned to permit fluid to pass through the opening and a closed position wherein the relief door is positioned about the opening to form a fluid tight seal about the opening.   
     
     
         11 . The reclamation apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the top assembly is configured as a frustum. 
     
     
         12 . The reclamation apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the top assembly includes at least two angled side panels extending downwardly from the central panel, wherein each of the angled side panels is provided with an opening, and wherein the top assembly further includes a relief door connected to each of the angled side panels so as to be moveable between an open position wherein the relief door is positioned away from the opening of the angled side panel to permit fluid to pass through the opening and a closed position wherein the relief door is positioned about the opening to form a fluid tight seal about the opening. 
     
     
         13 . The reclamation apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of an interior surface of the panel structure of the top assembly is coated with a non-stick coating. 
     
     
         14 . The reclamation apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the top assembly further comprises at least one heat strip positioned on an interior surface of the panel structure. 
     
     
         15 . The reclamation apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the top assembly further comprises a cap assembly positioned on a lower end of the discharge pipe, the cap assembly selectively moveable between an open pipe position and a closed pipe position. 
     
     
         16 . The reclamation apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the body assembly and the top assembly each have a vertical opening, the vertical opening of the bottom assembly extending from the bottom end to the to the top end and the vertical opening of the top assembly vertically aligned with the vertical opening of the bottom assembly and extending from a lower end of the panel structure of the top assembly to one of the openings of the side panels, and wherein the bottom assembly and the top assembly further include a vertical door connected to the sidewall structure of the bottom assembly and one of the side panels of the top assembly so as to be movable between an open position wherein the vertical door is positioned to permit a vertical pipe to pass through the vertical opening and a closed position wherein the vertical door is positioned about the vertical opening to form a fluid tight seal about the vertical opening. 
     
     
         17 . The reclamation apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the central panel has an opening intersecting the opening of the side panel so as to provide a passage between the vertical opening and the opening of the central panel, and wherein the top assembly further comprises a door assembly connected to the central panel so as to be movable between an open position wherein the door assembly is positioned to provide a passage for receiving the vertical pipe in the opening of the central panel from the opening of the side panel and a closed position wherein the door assembly is positioned to cooperate with the central panel to form a seal about the vertical pipe when the vertical pipe is positioned in the opening of the central panel. 
     
     
         18 . The reclamation apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the opening of the central panel is defined by a portion of the central panel and the door assembly, and wherein each of the central panel and the door assembly has an arch shaped notch configured to substantially conform to the contour of the vertical pipe when the vertical pipe is positioned in the opening of the central panel and the door assembly is in the closed position. 
     
     
         19 . A method for capturing a fluid over an offshore well site, comprising:
 obtaining a reclamation apparatus, comprising:
 a plurality of panels arranged to form a panel structure having an open bottom end and a top end, the plurality of panels including a central panel and a plurality of side panels extending downwardly from the central panel; and 
 at least one discharge pipe extending through the central panel so as to establish fluid communication through the central panel, at least one of the side panels having an opening formed therein; and 
 at least one relief door connected to one of the side panels so as to be moveable between an open position wherein the relief door is positioned to permit fluid to pass through the opening and a closed position wherein the relief door is positioned about the opening to form a fluid tight seal about the opening; 
   lowering the reclamation apparatus over a well site with the relief door in the open position;   connecting a transport pipe system to the discharging pipe; and   closing the relief door while concurrently opening the door assembly covering the bottom end of the discharge pipe so as to transfer the flow of fluid passing through opening of the side panel to the discharge pipe.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising heating at least one of the central panel, the side panels, and the relief door. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the well site further includes a containment cap positioned over the well site and a pipe extending upwardly from the containment cap, and wherein step of lowering the reclamation apparatus over the well site further comprises:
 opening a vertical door connected to one of the side to permit the pipe to pass through a vertical opening in the side panel extending from a lower end of the side panel to the opening of the side panel;   opening a door assembly connected to the central panel to permit the pipe to pass through an opening in the central panel intersecting the opening of the side panel so as to provide a passage between the vertical opening and the opening of the central panel   maneuvering the reclamation apparatus around the pipe and the containment cap such that the pipe passes through the vertical opening and the opening of the central panel;   continuing to lower the reclamation apparatus over the well site;   closing the vertical door; and   closing the door assembly so that the door assembly is positioned to cooperate with the central panel to form a seal about the pipe.