Methods and device to improve the quality of contained hydrocarbon liquids and particularly oil recovered from an undersea oil leak containment chamber.

Abstract

The invention relates the use of a containment chamber means for capturing the undersea leaking hydrocarbon fluids typically contaminated with seawater. A device operably suspended within a containment chamber is comprised of an extendable tubular component with a selectable attached bottom apparatus, and a top apparatus that is operably attached. One or more methods are described to further manipulate the positions of the bottom component apparatus and the top component apparatus that enable: purging the seawater from within device; preventing the continued emulsion of the fluids in seawater: preventing continued degradation of the coalescing oil; and accelerating the buoyant separation of the lower density fluid components from the oil component. These methods in cooperation with different bottom apparatus, cooperate with different leak source circumstances.

1 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A device suspended within an undersea hydrocarbon fluid leak containment chamber where the top of the device is operably connected in a preferred position and the bottom is operably connected by hydraulic mechanisms; the device comprising: one or more an extendable elements, and one or more elements that can articulate or flexibly distort; an operably connected bottom apparatus; and wherein a containment chamber remote controller logic circuits utilizing data inputs, manipulate the hydraulic mechanisms to position the bottom of the device with the connected bottom apparatus over a leaking fluids source such that the leaked fluids buoyantly enter and rise inside the device thereby containing the rising leaked fluids flow within the device. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the operable assembly and connection techniques are standardized to enable selection of a bottom apparatus from a plurality of bottom apparatus thereby increasing the versatility of the device. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7  that further comprises a diverter apparatus connected to the top of said device, in a location cooperating with the upper boundary layer of coalescing oil, where the diverter apparatus diverts the vertically rising leaked fluids flow to a generally horizontal exit flow emanating radially from the diverter causing the diverted flow to subsequently reduce in thickness and velocity. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9  further comprising a diverter apparatus mechanism wherein: a containment chamber remote controller manipulates the diverter apparatus mechanism to modulate the diverter exit orifice area. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  where the bottom apparatus functions as an leak source interface of the device where this interface expands into to a funnel shape, and the apparatus further comprises an attached suitable collar external of the funnel interface, wherein the containment chamber remote controller further manipulates the hydraulic mechanisms to lower and align the device such that the collar mass compresses the funnel interface onto a surface surrounding the leak source, and wherein the device lowering mechanisms may also add a downward force to the collar mass compressing the funnel interface. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  where the operably connected bottom apparatus further comprises one or more operably attached apparatus mechanisms that further cooperate with the collar wherein the remote controller manipulates these mechanisms to further lower and align the interface, and may add force to the collar to compress the funnel interface onto a surface surrounding the leak source. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10  with the operably connected bottom apparatus functioning as an leak source interface of the device where this interface further expands into to a shape that is connected to a collar having a outline that encompasses the leak source, and further comprising a leading edge that cooperates with the seabed wherein the remote controller manipulates the hydraulic mechanisms to cause the leading edge of the collar to cooperate with the seabed to prevent seawater ingress to the leak source, and wherein the device hydraulic mechanisms may also add a downward force to the collar. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13  where the bottom apparatus further comprises a plurality of operably connected hydraulic apparatus mechanisms cooperating with the collar, wherein the remote controller manipulates the apparatus mechanisms to cause the leading edge of the collar to cooperate with the seabed, and wherein the device hydraulic mechanisms, and or the apparatus mechanisms may also add a downward force to the collar. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 10  with the operably connected bottom apparatus functioning as an leak source interface for the device where this interface further comprises a rigid collar including a seal, and hydraulic latching mechanisms wherein the remote controller further manipulates the position of the bottom apparatus to engage the interface seal with a surface surrounding the leak source, and subsequently manipulates the apparatus mechanisms to engage the latches with one or more features of the leak source surroundings. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 10  where the bottom apparatus further comprises one or more openings fitted with remote controlled valves operably connected to the chamber remote controller wherein remote controller logic circuits manipulate said valves enabling a controlled release of internal fluids. 
     
     
         17 . A method to improve the quality of oil coalescing within an undersea leak containment chamber that further comprises an operably connected device as described in  claims 10 - 15  wherein the method includes:
 positioning the exit orifice of the device diverter just above the planned upper boundary layer of the contained oil; positioning the device bottom apparatus opening directly over, the leak source such that the leaked fluids rise into it; 
 manipulating the diverter apparatus mechanism to restrict the diverter exit flow of the leaking fluids causing these fluids to collect within the device and overflow from the bottom apparatus opening; manipulating the one or more mechanisms that lower the bottom apparatus to cooperate with the immediate surroundings of the leak source, preventing continued seawater access to the leak source; manipulate the diverter mechanism to accommodate the increased leaked fluids flow. 
 
     
     
         18 . A method to improve the quality of oil coalescing within an undersea leak containment chamber that further comprises an operably connected device as described in  claim 16  wherein the method includes:
 positioning the exit orifice of the device diverter just above the planned upper boundary layer of the contained oil; positioning the device bottom apparatus opening directly over the leak source such that the leaked fluids rise into it; 
 manipulating the one or more mechanisms that lower the bottom apparatus to cooperate with the immediate surroundings of the leak source, preventing continued seawater access to the leak source; manipulating the one or more bottom apparatus valves to an open position; manipulating the diverter apparatus mechanism to restrict the diverter exit flow of the leaking fluids causing these fluids to collect within the device and overflow from the one or more open bottom apparatus valves; manipulating the bottom apparatus valves closed; manipulate the diverter mechanism to accommodate the increased leaked fluids flow.