Blasting fluid effluent containment device

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a system and method for handling effluent during a hydroblasting operation of a vessel. The system includes a bag assembly comprising a containment bag and a drain. A throat opening is configured to interface with an end of a vessel. The sidewall extends approximately longitudinally from the throat opening. The sleeve is located substantially circumferentially around the containment bag near the throat opening and is formed of a resilient, anti-static material.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A bag assembly for handling effluent from a hydroblasting operation, the bag assembly comprising:
 a containment bag comprising:
 a throat opening configured to interface with an end of a vessel, 
 a sidewall extending approximately longitudinally from the throat opening, and 
 a sleeve that is (i) formed of a resilient material, (ii) located substantially circumferentially around the containment bag near the throat opening, and (iii) resistant to impingement by hydroblasting fluid directly from a hydroblasting wand; 
 
 a drain in the bag configured to enable draining of the fluid collected in the containment bag; and 
 an anti-static means coupled to or within at least one of the sidewall and the sleeve. 
 
     
     
       2. The bag assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the sleeve is longitudinally spaced apart from the throat opening to define a sleeveless portion of the sidewall, the sleeveless portion is located between the sleeve and the throat opening and is capable of being inserted over a flange of the vessel. 
     
     
       3. The bag assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a drawstring configured for tightening the sleeveless portion of the sidewall on the open end of the vessel. 
     
     
       4. The bag assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is resilient such that it can be substantially folded or rolled for shipping and retain an unfolded circular shape upon installation of the bag assembly onto a vessel. 
     
     
       5. The bag assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall is formed from a reinforced polymer sheet. 
     
     
       6. The bag assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the sleeve is formed of a polymer. 
     
     
       7. The bag assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the sleeve is located inboard of the reinforced polymer sheet, the reinforced polymer sheet forming an outer wall of the sidewall. 
     
     
       8. The bag assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the sleeve is located inboard of an outer wall of the sidewall and outboard of an inner sidewall of the reinforce polymer sheet such that the sleeve is sandwiched between opposing layers of the reinforced polymer sheet. 
     
     
       9. The bag assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the sleeve is flexible. 
     
     
       10. The bag assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-static means comprises at least a portion of the sidewall being formed from a material comprising an anti-static polymer. 
     
     
       11. An anti-static bag assembly for handling effluent from a hydroblasting operation, the bag assembly comprising:
 a containment bag including:
 a throat opening configured to interface with an end of a vessel; 
 
 a drain in the bag configured to enable draining of the fluid collected in the containment bag; and 
 a sleeve that is (i) formed of a resilient material, (ii) located circumferentially near the throat opening, and (iii) resistant to direct impingement by hydroblasting fluid directly from the hydroblasting wand, and such that the sleeve is located inboard of an outer wall of the sidewall and outboard of an inner sidewall of the reinforced polymer sheet such that the sleeve is sandwiched between opposing layers of the reinforced polymer sheet, and the sleeve being anti-static. 
 
     
     
       12. The bag assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the antistatic sidewall includes a grounded conductive wire. 
     
     
       13. The bag assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the antistatic sidewall includes a grounded metal foil. 
     
     
       14. The bag assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the antistatic sidewall includes an anti-static coating. 
     
     
       15. The bag assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the antistatic sleeve is formed of a material comprising an anti-static polymer. 
     
     
       16. A containment bag assembly for handling effluent from a hydroblasting operation of a vessel, the bag assembly comprising:
 a containment bag body including a throat portion and a sidewall;
 the throat portion forming an open end in the containment bag body, the throat portion being adapted to interface with an end of the vessel; 
 the sidewall being adapted to be resistant to direct impingement by hydroblasting fluid during the hydroblasting operation; 
 an anti-static means coupled to or within the sidewall; and 
   a drain in the containment bag body adapted to enable draining of the fluid collected in the containment bag body;   wherein the containment bag body is adapted for being flexible such that the containment bag is capable of (i) being folded or rolled for shipping and (ii) retaining a cross-sectional shape of the vessel over at least a portion of the containment bag body upon installation of the containment bag body on the vessel.   
     
     
       17. The containment bag assembly of claim 16 whereby the containment bag body is adapted for retaining the cross-sectional shape of the vessel during the hydroblasting operation. 
     
     
       18. The containment bag assembly of claim 17 wherein the containment bag body has a closed end opposite the open end of the containment bag body. 
     
     
       19. The containment bag assembly of claim 17 wherein the containment bag body being capable of retaining the cross-sectional shape of the vessel enables the containment bag assembly to be unsupported at the closed end of the containment bag body. 
     
     
       20. The containment bag assembly of claim 17 wherein the containment bag body being capable of retaining the cross-sectional shape of the vessel enables the containment bag assembly to be unsupported by support means. 
     
     
       21. The containment bag assembly of claim 17 wherein the cross-sectional shape of the vessel is circular. 
     
     
       22. The containment bag assembly of claim 17 wherein the cross-sectional shape of the vessel is rectangular. 
     
     
       23. The containment bag assembly of claim 17 wherein the closed end is formed by a single seam that is formed in a single line affixing sides of the containment bag body together. 
     
     
       24. The containment bag assembly of claim 17 wherein the containment bag body includes a sidewall and a sleeve. 
     
     
       25. The containment bag assembly of claim 17 wherein the containment bag body is a poly membrane. 
     
     
       26. The containment bag assembly of claim 25 wherein the poly membrane has a thickness between 12 and 80 mil.