Processes and apparatus for reducing the intensity of tropical cyclones

Abstract

A procedure for moderating the intensity of a hurricane in regions of the seas that are host to the oil and gas industries is described, using the Gulf of Mexico as an example of such a region, and snow-making machines as the instruments for carrying out the procedure. These machines are carried on moving platforms that follow the hurricane and on fixed platforms that are located in the path of the hurricane. In the described procedure snow-making machines are installed on fixed platforms throughout the region, and only those machines that are in the path of an approaching hurricane are turned on, while the snow-making machines on the moving platform(s) are operating continually.

1 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A method for reducing the wind force of a tropical cyclone that is moving over water in a discernible path, said method comprising operating in the vicinity of the eye of said cyclone at least one mechanism that is moving over said water in said path and is operable to reduce the heat that is available to said cyclone substantially continuously without interruption while so moving, and operating in a fixed location in said water in advance of said cyclone in said path at least one additional mechanism that is operable in addition to said one mechanism to further reduce the heat that will be available to said cyclone upon reaching said location. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein said one mechanism includes a plurality of artificial snow making devices, said method comprising operating said devices simultaneously substantially continually and without interruption, and projecting the simultaneous output of said devices over said water substantially continually and without interruption during motion of said one mechanism over said water in said path. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein said additional mechanism includes a plurality of artificial snow making devices supported on a deep-water drilling platform stationed in said location, said method including operating said devices to make artificial snow at least when said one mechanism is in operation in the vicinity of said platform, and projecting said artificial snow over said water surrounding said platform. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9  comprising the step of drawing water supply for said devices from the depths below said platform where the water temperature is colder than the temperature of the surface water. 
     
     
         11 . In an ocean region that is populated offshore with fixed location structures, a method for reducing the wind forces of a tropical cyclone that is approaching the general location of some of said structures, said method comprising operating on the ocean surface in the vicinity of said cyclone at least one mechanism capable of taking up and maintaining a station with respect to said cyclone and thereby moving with said cyclone and operating said mechanism continually and substantially without interruption during said approach to reduce the heat that is available to said cyclone in said vicinity, and during the approach of said cyclone toward said some structures simultaneously operating on at least one of said offshore structures that is in the path of said cyclone at least one additional mechanism installed on said at least one structure that is operable to reduce the heat that will be available to said cyclone upon reaching the location of said at least one structure. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11  in which at least one of said mechanisms is a device that when operated makes artificial snow. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11  in which each of said mechanisms is a device that when operated makes artificial snow. 
     
     
         14 . A method of suppressing the wind-induced heat exchange of a tropical cyclone that is moving in a discernible path over an ocean region that is populated offshore with fixed-location drilling platforms including some platforms that are in said path, from which ocean moisture is rising, said method comprising providing at least one floating navigable vessel operable for moving over said ocean, and arming said vessel with multiple coolant making devices, said method further comprising controlling said devices to operate in concert and orienting said devices to project said coolant away from said vessel onto or above the surface of said ocean, and operating said vessel to move on said surface in said path toward said some offshore platforms while simultaneously controlling said devices to produce a substantially uninterrupted stream of said coolant, arming each of said some offshore platforms with additional multiple coolant making devices capable of making additional coolant and orienting said additional devices to direct said additional coolant into said moisture surrounding each said offshore platform, and as said cyclone approaches each of said offshore platforms operating said additional devices thereon so as to add the additional coolant thereof to the coolant being produced by said at least one vessel. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14  employing artificial snow as coolant. 
     
     
         16 . A device for dispensing a coolant supported at an elevation above the surface of ocean water in combination with a supporting mount that is substantially fixed in location relative to said surface, said device being oriented to dispense said coolant into moisture arising from said surface immediately surrounding said mount. 
     
     
         17 . A combination according to  claim 16  in which said device is operable to produce and dispense artificial snow. 
     
     
         18 . A combination according to  claim 17  in which said device is operable to produce artificial snow from subsurface ocean water. 
     
     
         19 . A combination according to  claim 16  in which said mount is a deep water drilling platform.