Systems and methods for underwater storage of carbon dioxide

Abstract

An underwater carbon dioxide storage facility including a carbon dioxide deposit stored underwater as a clathrate includes a flexible barrier disposed at least partially over the carbon dioxide deposit. The carbon dioxide deposit may be stored in or at the bottom of a body of water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of storing carbon dioxide underwater, comprising:
 receiving carbon dioxide at an underwater storage location; and   at least partially covering a carbon dioxide clathrate in the storage location with a flexible barrier.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising separating the carbon dioxide from a source of carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transporting the carbon dioxide to the storage location. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising converting the carbon dioxide to the carbon dioxide clathrate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the conversion of the carbon dioxide to the clathrate occurs before the carbon dioxide is transported to the storage facility. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the conversion of the carbon dioxide to the clathrate occurs at the storage facility. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting the underwater storage location to provide a temperature and pressure that stabilizes the clathrate. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier covered carbon dioxide clathrate at least one of rests on the bottom of a body of water and is anchored to the bottom of the body of water. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving additional carbon dioxide at the underwater storage location after covering the carbon dioxide clathrate with a barrier. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sensing at least one of a rupture of the barrier and the amount of enclosed carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising converting the carbon dioxide to a clathrate using a clathrate reactor, wherein the clathrate is a product of high pressure oxygen rich combustion of a hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising transporting the clathrate to the underwater storage location. 
     
     
         13 . A method of storing carbon dioxide underwater, comprising:
 at least partially filling a storage container with a carbon dioxide clathrate, wherein the storage container comprises a bladder; and   moving the storage container to an underwater storage location.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising separating the carbon dioxide from a waste stream. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising converting the carbon dioxide to the carbon dioxide clathrate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the conversion of carbon dioxide to carbon dioxide clathrate occurs within the storage container. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the underwater storage location provides a temperature and pressure selected to stabilize the clathrate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising at least partially filling the storage container before moving the storage container to the underwater storage location. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising changing the depth of the storage container after at least partially filling the storage container with carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising reporting to a remote location at least one of a rupture of the storage container, the amount of enclosed clathrate in the storage container, and the carbon dioxide content of the storage container. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the clathrate is a product of high pressure oxygen rich combustion of a hydrocarbon, and wherein other combustion gasses are not fully separated out of the carbon dioxide before forming the clathrate. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the converting step is performed before the moving step. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising using the storage container to transport the carbon dioxide clathrate from an initial location to a second location. 
     
     
         24 . An underwater carbon dioxide storage system, comprising:
 a bladder configured to store carbon dioxide as a clathrate;   wherein the bladder substantially encloses the carbon dioxide clathrate.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising a buoyancy control device configured to maintain the carbon dioxide clathrate within a selected depth range of a body of water. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the bladder is configured to be moved to a different location, further comprising a propulsion engine configured to aid in changing the location of the bladder. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising a beacon to inform nearby vessels of their proximity to the bladder. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit at least one of the location and the status of the bladder to a remote location. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the transmitter is at least one of an acoustic or electromagnetic transmitter. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the transmitter is located remote from the bladder and operatively coupled to the bladder via a communications channel. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising a sensor configured to determine the location of the bladder. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising a sensor configured to determine the status of the bladder. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the sensor is configured to sense at least one of the amount of enclosed clathrate, the carbon dioxide content of the bladder, the temperature of the clathrate, the pressure of the clathrate, and that the bladder has ruptured. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising a mechanical support, wherein the mechanical support is configured to at least one of interface with a docking station and couple with other mechanical supports on the bladder. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising weights configured to aid in moving the bladder to a desired depth in a body of water.