Telescopic containers for hydrocarbon production operations

Abstract

Telescopic containers ( 10, 100 ) for containing fluids associated with hydrocarbon production are disclosed. Such containers ( 10, 100 ) may comprise a lower container section ( 12 ), an upper container section ( 14 ) moveable between a retracted position and an extended position in a telescopic manner relative to the lower container section ( 12 ) and a sealing member ( 40, 50 ). The sealing member ( 40, 50 ) prevents or substantially prevents leakage of fluid from the container ( 10, 100 ) between the upper container section ( 14 ) and the lower container section ( 12 ). The lower container section ( 12 ) may define an elongated and/or multi-sided shape.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A telescopic container for fluid associated with hydrocarbon production, the container comprising:
 a lower container section comprising a floor having an elongated shape, the lower container section defining a lower container space;   an upper container section moveable between a retracted position and an extended position in a telescopic manner relative to the lower container section; and   a sealing member;   wherein while the upper container section is disposed in the extended position, the lower container section, the upper container section and the sealing member cooperate to define an expanded container space larger than the lower container space; and   wherein the sealing member is configured to prevent or substantially prevent leakage of fluid from the expanded container space between the upper container section and the lower container section.   
     
     
         2 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the floor has a substantially rectangular shape. 
     
     
         3 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the lower container section comprises at least two lower side walls that are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         4 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein an overall height of the container is increased when the upper container section is moved from the retracted position to the extended position. 
     
     
         5 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member comprises a membrane, and while the upper container section is disposed in the extended position, the membrane is configured to line inside surfaces of the lower container section and the upper container section for defining the expanded container space. 
     
     
         6 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member comprises a seal, wherein, while the upper container section is disposed in the extended position, the seal is disposed between the lower container section and the upper container section. 
     
     
         7 . The container as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the seal is pneumatic. 
     
     
         8 . The container as defined in  claim 7 , wherein:
 the lower container section comprises at least one lower section flange and the upper container section comprises at least one upper section flange;   the at least one upper section flange and the at least one lower section flange are disposed in an interference relationship preventing extension of the upper container section beyond the extended position;   the pneumatic seal is disposed between the at least one upper section flange and the at least one lower section flange;   the lower container section comprises a plurality of lower side walls and the upper container section comprises a plurality of upper side walls; and   the upper side walls, lower side walls and flanges at least partially enclose the pneumatic seal when the upper container section is in the extended position.   
     
     
         9 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the lower container section is disposed inside of the upper container section when the upper container section is in the retracted position. 
     
     
         10 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the expanded container space has a capacity of at least 1000 barrels. 
     
     
         11 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , having an overall length of at least 45 feet (13.7 meters). 
     
     
         12 . The container as defined in  claim 11 , having an overall height of at least 15 feet (4.7 meters) when the upper container section is in the extended position. 
     
     
         13 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , comprising at least one guide member for guiding movement of the upper container section relative to the lower container section. 
     
     
         14 . The container as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one guide member includes at least one roller. 
     
     
         15 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , comprising at least one actuator for moving the upper container section from the retracted position toward the extended position. 
     
     
         16 . The container as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the at least one actuator comprises at least one of a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator and an electric actuator. 
     
     
         17 . The container as defined in  claim 15 , comprising a positive lock mechanism for locking the upper container section in the extended position. 
     
     
         18 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member comprises a membrane liner configured to line inside surfaces of the lower container section and of the upper container section, and, a leak sensor is disposed outside of the liner but inside of the lower container section. 
     
     
         19 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the preventing or substantially preventing of leakage of fluid from the expanded container space between the lower container section and the upper container section, for which the sealing member is configured, is a leakage of fluid when an uppermost level of fluid within the expanded container space is disposed above an uppermost height of the lower container space. 
     
     
         20 . A telescopic container for fluid associated with hydrocarbon production, the container comprising:
 a lower container section defining a lower container space having a plurality of lower side walls;   an upper container section, the upper container section being movable between a retracted position and an extended position in a telescopic manner relative to the lower container section; and   a sealing member;   wherein the lower container section, the upper container section and the sealing member cooperate to define an expanded container space greater than the lower container space when the upper container section is in the extended position; and   wherein the sealing member is configured to prevent or substantially prevent leakage of fluid from the expanded container space when the upper container section is at the extended position and a level of fluid inside the expanded container space exceeds an uppermost height of the lower side walls.   
     
     
         21 . The container as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the lower side walls define a substantially rectangular shape for the lower container space. 
     
     
         22 . The container as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the sealing member comprises a membrane liner configured to line inside surfaces of the lower container section and of the upper container section. 
     
     
         23 . The container as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the sealing member comprises a compressible seal between the lower container section and the upper container section. 
     
     
         24 . The container as defined in  claim 23 , wherein the sealing member comprises a membrane liner configured to line inside surfaces of the lower container section and of the upper container section. 
     
     
         25 . The container as defined in  claim 24 , wherein the seal is inflatable. 
     
     
         26 . The container as defined in  claim 24 , comprising guide rollers disposed between the lower container section and the upper container section. 
     
     
         27 . The container as defined in  claim 20 , comprising at least one actuator for moving the upper container section toward the extended position. 
     
     
         28 . The container as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the lower container section is disposed inside of the upper container section when the upper container section is in the retracted position. 
     
     
         29 . The container as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the container is configured to be transported by a flatbed truck. 
     
     
         30 . The container as defined in  claim 20 , wherein at least two of the plurality of lower side walls are substantially planar. 
     
     
         31 . The container as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the lower container section has an elongated shape. 
     
     
         32 . The container as defined in  claim 20 , wherein an overall height of the container is increased when the upper container section is moved toward the extended position. 
     
     
         33 . The container as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the preventing or substantially preventing of leakage of fluid from the expanded container space, for which the sealing member is configured, is a leakage of fluid between the lower container section and the upper container section when an uppermost level of fluid within the expanded container space is disposed above the uppermost height of the lower side walls. 
     
     
         34 . A telescopic container for fluid associated with hydrocarbon production, the container comprising:
 a lower container section defining a lower container space;   an upper container section moveable between a retracted position and an extended position in a telescopic manner relative to the lower container section; and   a pneumatic sealing member;   wherein while the upper container section is disposed in the extended position, the lower container section, the upper container section and the pneumatic sealing member cooperate to define an expanded container space larger than the lower container space; and   wherein the pneumatic sealing member is configured to prevent or substantially prevent leakage of fluid from the expanded container space between the upper container section and the lower container section.   
     
     
         35 . The container as defined in  claim 34 , wherein the pneumatic sealing member is disposed between the lower container section and the upper container section. 
     
     
         36 . The container as defined in  claim 34 , wherein:
 the lower container section comprises at least one lower section flange and the upper container section comprises at least one upper section flange;   the at least one upper section flange and the at least one lower section flange are disposed in an interference relationship preventing extension of the upper container section beyond the extended position; and   the pneumatic seal is disposed between the at least one upper section flange and the at least one lower section flange.   
     
     
         37 . The container as defined in  claim 36 , wherein:
 the lower container section comprises a plurality of lower side walls and the upper container section comprises a plurality of upper side walls; and   the upper side walls, lower side walls and flanges at least partially enclose the pneumatic seal when the upper container section is in the extended position.   
     
     
         38 . The container as defined in  claim 37 , comprising a membrane liner configured to line inside surfaces of the lower container section and of the upper container section. 
     
     
         39 . The container as defined in  claim 37 , wherein the pneumatic sealing member extends peripherally about the lower container space. 
     
     
         40 . The container as defined in  claim 34 , wherein the preventing or substantially preventing of leakage of fluid from the expanded container space between the lower container section and the upper container section, for which the pneumatic sealing member is configured, is a leakage of fluid when an uppermost level of fluid within the expanded container space is disposed above an uppermost height of the lower container section. 
     
     
         41 . An assembly for containing fluid associated with hydrocarbon production, the assembly comprising:
 a telescopic container for containing fluid, the container comprising a lower container section defining a lower container space and an upper container section moveable between a retracted position and an extended position in a telescopic manner relative to the lower container section, the lower container section and the upper container section together defining an expanded container space larger than the lower container space when the upper container is in the extended position; and   a skid supporting the container, the skid comprising at least two support beams spaced apart across a width of the skid and at least two cross support pieces extending between and being secured to the support beams.   
     
     
         42 . The assembly as defined in  claim 41 , wherein the container comprises a floor that is sloped toward a collection region. 
     
     
         43 . The assembly as defined in  claim 42 , wherein an overall height of the skid is varied across the width of the skid to accommodate the sloped floor of the container. 
     
     
         44 . The assembly as defined in  claim 41 , wherein the skid comprises four support beams spaced apart across a width of the skid. 
     
     
         45 . The assembly as defined in  claim 44 , wherein:
 the four support beams of the skid comprises two laterally opposite outer beams and two inner beams disposed between the two outer beams; and   the two inner beams each have an overall height that is less than the overall height of each of the laterally opposite outer beams.