Fluid leak containment system

Abstract

A fluid leak containment system for containing leaks of fluids, such as, but not limited to fossil fuels, during an underwater extraction process is disclosed. The fluid leak containment system may be configured to capture hydrates from the sea floor. The fluid leak containment system may be formed from a generally extendible, conically shaped containment structure including a plurality of decreasingly sized housing sections extending from an inlet to a smaller sized outlet. The housing sections may be formed from flexible materials that enable easy storage and rapid deployment. The outlet directs fossil fuels into a fluid containment device, such as, but not limited to, a vessel. The extendible containment housing may include an anchoring base configured to retain an inlet of the housing section at a bottom of a water body at a leak site.

1 . A fluid leak containment system, comprising:
 an extendible containment housing formed from a plurality of decreasingly sized housing sections extending from an inlet to an outlet and formed from at least one first extendible containment housing section and a second extendible containment housing section, wherein the first extendible containment housing section has a larger cross-sectional area at an end that is closest to the second extendible containment housing section than an end of the second extendible containment housing section closest to the first extendible containment housing section and wherein in the inlet of the extendible containment housing is configured to receive leaking fluids;   a connector coupling positioned between the first and second extendible containment housing sections such that the connector coupling is attached to the first and second extendible containment housing sections, thereby placing the first and second extendible containment housing sections in fluid communication with each other; and   at least one heating system with at least one heater unit positioned within the extendible containment housing.   
     
     
         2 . A fluid leak containment system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heating system comprises at least one heater unit in each of the first and second extendible containment housing sections. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid leak containment system of  claim 1 , further comprising an anchoring base coupled to an end of the at least one first extendible containment housing section opposite to the at least one second extendible containment housing. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid leak containment system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one support structure to which a terminal end of the extendible containment housing is attached. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid leak containment system of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one deployment subsystem in communication with the at least one support structure to facilitate movement of the extendible containment housing between a deployed position and a storage position. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid leak containment system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one deployment subsystem comprises a plurality of cables extending between the at least one support structure and the extendible containment housing. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid leak containment system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one deployment subsystem comprises a plurality of cables extending between each section of the extendible containment housing and the at least one support structure and wherein the support structure is a floating structure. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid leak containment system of  claim 6 , wherein the support structure includes support arms configured to anchor the support structure to a bottom of a water body. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid leak containment system of  claim 6 , wherein the support structure is a fossil fuel extractor. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid leak containment system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing sections of the extendible containment housing are formed from a flexible material. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid leak containment system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material forming the housing sections of the extendible containment housing are selected from the group consisting of polyester fabric, polyethylene, and canvas. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid leak containment system of  claim 1 , wherein the extendible containment housing comprises a plurality of sections coupled together with connector couplings in addition to the at least one first and second extendible containment housing sections. 
     
     
         13 . A fluid leak containment system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the sections forming the extendible containment housing includes at least one heater unit. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid leak containment system of  claim 1 , further comprising a conduit placing the extendible containment housing in fluid communication with a fluid containment device. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid leak containment system of  claim 14 , wherein the fluid containment device is a vessel. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid leak containment system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one drill bit attached to a drill shaft, wherein the at least one drill bit extends axially from the inlet of the first extendible containment housing section, and the drill shaft is contained within the extendible containment housing. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid leak containment system of  claim 16 , wherein the drill bit includes one or more heater units. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid leak containment system of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a second extendible containment housing positioned over top of the extendible containment housing, wherein the second extendible containment housing is formed from a plurality of decreasingly sized housing sections extending from an inlet to an outlet and formed from at least one first extendible containment housing section and a second extendible containment housing section, wherein the first extendible containment housing section has a larger cross-sectional area at an end that is closest to the second extendible containment housing section than an end of the second extendible containment housing section closest to the first extendible containment housing section and wherein in the inlet of the extendible containment housing is configured to receive leaking fluids; and   a connector coupling positioned between the first and second extendible containment housing sections such that the connector coupling is attached to the first and second extendible containment housing sections, thereby placing the first and second extendible containment housing sections in fluid communication with each other.   
     
     
         19 . The fluid leak containment system of  claim 1 , further comprising an anchoring system for anchoring at least one of the housing sections to a bottom of a water body. 
     
     
         20 . A fluid leak containment system, comprising:
 an extendible containment housing formed from a plurality of decreasingly sized housing sections extending from an inlet to an outlet and formed from at least one first extendible containment housing section and a second extendible containment housing section, wherein the first extendible containment housing section has a larger cross-sectional area at an end that is closest to the second extendible containment housing section than an end of the second extendible containment housing section closest to the first extendible containment housing section and wherein in the inlet of the extendible containment housing is configured to receive leaking fluids;   at least one heating system with at least one heater unit positioned within the extendible containment housing;   an anchoring base coupled to an end of the at least one first extendible containment housing section opposite to the at least one second extendible containment housing, wherein the anchoring base is configured to position the at least one first extendible containment housing section at a bottom of a water body;   a connector coupling positioned between the first and second extendible containment housing sections such that the connector coupling is attached to the first and second extendible containment housing sections, thereby placing the first and second extendible containment housing sections in fluid communication with each other;   at least one support structure to which a terminal end of the extendible containment housing is attached;   at least one deployment subsystem in communication with the at least one support structure to facilitate movement of the extendible containment housing between a deployed position and a storage position;   a conduit placing the extendible containment housing in fluid communication with a fluid containment device; and   at least one pump in fluid communication with the at conduit placing the extendible containment housing in fluid communication with a fluid containment device.   
     
     
         21 . A fluid leak containment system of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one heating system comprises at least one heater unit in each of the first and second extendible containment housing sections. 
     
     
         22 . The fluid leak containment system of  claim 21 , wherein the extendible containment housing comprises a plurality of sections coupled together with connector couplings in addition to the at least one first and second extendible containment housing sections and wherein each of the sections forming the extendible containment housing includes at least one heater unit. 
     
     
         23 . The fluid leak containment system of  claim 20 , further comprising at least one drill bit attached to a drill shaft, wherein the at least one drill bit extends axially from the inlet of the first extendible containment housing section, and the drill shaft is contained within the extendible containment housing. 
     
     
         24 . The fluid leak containment system of  claim 23 , wherein the drill bit includes one or more heater units.