Method and System for Processing Glacial Water

Abstract

Methods and systems for recovering, processing, containing, and transporting water obtained from an ice source, i.e., a glacier, ice sheet, ice cap, etc., are described herein. The ice obtained from the ice source holds unique properties and is processed as a beverage for consumption having unique properties. Further, the resulting product is produced and transported with minimal human alteration and reduced energy input as compared to conventional methods for packaging water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of shipping water comprising:
 providing a shipping vessel with cargo comprising natural gas at a first location that has substantial quantities of natural gas;   transporting said shipping vessel to a second location that has substantial quantities of fresh water;   at least partially emptying said cargo comprising natural gas;   
       modifying said vessel to adapt it for transporting fresh water as its cargo without subjecting the fresh water to natural gas, said step of modifying including providing a flexible bag to contain said fresh water;
 providing said vessel with cargo comprising fresh water at said second location; 
 wherein said shipping vessel is transported from said second location to said first location; 
 wherein said step of providing said shipping vessel with cargo comprising fresh water includes the transfer of fresh water from a bladder containing fresh water, said bladder comprising a hollow, flexible bag; 
 wherein said fresh water is obtained from a melted glacial ice source, 
 wherein said fresh water is filtered at said second location; 
 wherein the step of modifying the shipping vessel includes providing the shipping vessel with one or more bladders adapted for containing fresh water by entirely encompassing the fresh water in a flexible bag that sequesters the fresh water 
 in a form suitable for long term storage that does not affect any unique characteristics of the fresh water; and wherein modifying said shipping vessel comprises providing one or more bladders within a portion of said shipping vessel that previously contained said natural gas. 
 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing said flexible bag with photovoltaic arrays adapted for converting solar energy into forms of energy which may be used by said shipping vessel. 
     
     
         3 . A method of shipping water comprising:
 providing a shipping vessel, wherein said shipping vessel comprises one or more shipping containers;   providing said one or more shipping containers on said shipping vessel with a first cargo at a first location, said first location including facilities adapted to convey at least one of oil and natural gas, said first cargo comprising said at least one of oil and natural gas;   transporting said shipping vessel to a second location, said second location having a source of at least one of fresh water and ice;   emptying said one or more shipping containers of said first cargo;   modifying said shipping vessel such that said shipping vessel is adapted for transporting as its primary cargo at least one of fresh water and ice without contacting said at least one of fresh water and ice with natural gas, said at least one of fresh water and ice being enclosed within a hollow, flexible bag;   providing said one or more shipping containers on said shipping vessel with a second cargo at said second location, wherein said second cargo comprises said at least one of fresh water;   transporting said shipping vessel from said second location to said first location;   wherein the step of providing said shipping containers with said second cargo comprises transferring water from a hollow, flexible bladder containing fresh water;   wherein said second cargo includes at least water obtained from a glacial melt water source, and   wherein said one or more shipping containers include photovoltaic arrays adapted for converting solar energy into forms of energy which may be used by said shipping vessel.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said shipping container comprises at least a bladder. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein modifying said shipping vessel comprises providing one or more bladders within a portion of said shipping vessel that previously contained natural gas. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the modified shipping vessel includes one or more bladders adapted for containing fresh water. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising providing a towable vessel selected from the group consisting of a flexible barge, a non-rigid barge, a bladder, a series of flexible fabric barges connected together in a string, and a non-rigid, water-impermeable device with an elongate shape. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said towable vessel comprises photovoltaic arrays adapted for converting solar energy into forms of energy which may be used throughout at least one of said shipping vessel and said towable vessel; and
 wherein filtering said water after said transporting step.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein modifying said shipping vessel comprises providing one or more bladders within said one or more shipping containers. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising filtering said fresh water after said transporting step. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said filtering comprises filtration upon exit of said fresh water from said shipping container. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising emptying said shipping containers of said second cargo. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said emptying of said shipping containers of said second cargo is at said first location. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising transporting said shipping vessel to a third location and emptying said shipping containers of said first cargo at said third location before transporting said shipping vessel to said second location. 
     
     
         15 . A method of shipping water comprising:
 providing a shipping vessel, wherein said shipping vessel comprises one or more shipping containers;   providing said one or more shipping containers on said shipping vessel with a first cargo at a first location, said first location including facilities adapted to convey at least one of oil and natural gas, said first cargo comprising natural gas;   transporting said shipping vessel to a second location, said second location having a source of at least one of fresh water;   emptying said one or more shipping containers of said first cargo;   modifying said shipping vessel such that said shipping vessel is adapted for transporting as its primary cargo of fresh water without contacting said fresh water with natural gas, said fresh water being enclosed within a hollow, flexible bag;   providing said one or more shipping containers on said shipping vessel with a second cargo at said second location, wherein said second cargo comprises fresh water;   transporting said shipping vessel from said second location to said first location;   wherein the step of providing said shipping containers with said second cargo comprises transferring water from a hollow, flexible bladder containing fresh water;   wherein said second cargo includes at least water obtained from a glacial melt water source; and   wherein said shipping containers include a source of one of a wind energy and thermal energy that is adapted to convert one of wind and thermal energy into a form of energy which may be used by said shipping vessel.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said shipping container comprises a bladder. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein modifying said shipping vessel comprises providing one or more bladders within a portion of said shipping vessel that previously contained natural gas. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the modified shipping vessel includes one or more bladders adapted for containing said at least one of fresh water. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing a towable vessel comprising a non-rigid, water-impermeable device with an elongate shape. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said towable vessel comprises solar energy arrays adapted for converting solar energy into forms of energy which may be used by said towable vessel; and
 wherein said fresh water is filtered after said transporting step.