Oil spill containment and recovery apparatus and method

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a spill collection system comprising a boom for surrounding a spill area and a method for using the boom. In addition, the invention includes several embodiments of extractors for removing fluid from a material such as the boom.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A spill collection system comprising:
 a boom for surrounding a spill area with at least a first loop and a second loop;   an extractor apparatus for removing fluid from the boom.   
     
     
         2 . The spill collection system of  claim 1  wherein the extractor apparatus is positioned outside the first loop. 
     
     
         3 . The spill collection system of  claim 1  wherein the boom is a continuous boom. 
     
     
         4 . The spill collection system of  claim 1  wherein the boom includes an absorbent material. 
     
     
         5 . The spill collection system of  claim 1  wherein the boom includes an absorbent material, the absorbent material for absorbing a selected type of fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The spill collection system of  claim 1  wherein the boom includes Optiflex material. 
     
     
         7 . The spill collection system of  claim 1  wherein the extractor apparatus is on a vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The spill collection system of  claim 7  wherein the vessel is an ocean going vessel. 
     
     
         9 . The spill collection system of  claim 7  wherein the vessel includes a tank for storing fluid extracted from the boom. 
     
     
         10 . The spill collection system of  claim 1  wherein the extractor includes a press for removing fluids. 
     
     
         11 . The spill collection system of  claim 1  wherein the extractor includes at least one roller for removing fluids from the boom. 
     
     
         12 . The spill collection system of  claim 11  wherein the extractor removes fluids from the boom as the boom moves through the extractor. 
     
     
         13 . An extractor for removing fluids from a material comprising:
 a tray further including:
 a grate; and 
 a screen plate; 
   a press plate for pressing the material toward the screen plate and grate.   
     
     
         14 . The extractor for removing fluids of  claim 13  wherein the screen plate has openings therein. 
     
     
         15 . The extractor for removing fluids of  claim 13  wherein the screen plate has openings therein, the openings sized to prevent solids having a diameter greater than the openings to be stopped at the screen plate. 
     
     
         16 . A method of containing and removing a spill comprising;
 looping a boom of absorbent material around the spill a first time;   looping a boom of absorbent material around the spill a second time;   removing fluid from the boom at a location the second loop which is outside the first loop.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein removal of fluid from the boom includes pressing a portion of the boom of absorbent material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein removal of the fluid from the boom includes placing the boom in a set of rollers.