Abstract: The present invention is used in response to petroleum related spills in the environment. The hydrocarbon materials can be removed from any substrate, particularly ice or beach sand, by impinging in two separate fluid streams, a formable surfactant/emulsifying solution with a latent foaming agent and a foam inducing agent through specially designed variable pressure guns. Once treated, the petroleum-related liquids are lifted above the substrate in a foam matrix formed while the solution is in contact with the spilled contaminants, and captured via standard industrial vacuum technology for later disposal.

Abstract: A containment boom has at least a portion of a semi-flexible pipe on which a containment skirt is mounted. The boom is permanently anchored to anchors on the sea bottom. A compressor is connected to pump air into the pipe to render it buoyant, to surround a moored vessel. The boom may be sunk, to permit movement of the vessel by pumping water into the pipe.

Abstract: A float boom for retaining a floatable material, such as hydrocarbons, floating upon a liquid surface. This float boom consists of separate and sequentially arranged buoyancy chambers having depending channels that are interconnected via a passageway such that an inflating medium is sequentially supplied to the buoyancy chambers. An automatic sealing system blocks access to each buoyancy chamber by closing the depending channel whenever the internal pressure within the channel is less than the external pressure upon the channel.

Abstract: An oil cleanup method and apparatus uses processed kenaf that is processed using a cutter to preliminarily cut the kenaf stalks into short pieces or billets. These billets are threshed to separate fiber and core portions of the kenaf billets. The billet size thus defines the fiber length and thus fiber product texture. Separators grade the particulate core after threshing. The core particles are added to a container such as a bale or boom that will float on the surface of an oil slick in an aquatic or marine environment. The bales can also be added to dry spills to absorb the oil. The particulate kenaf core can be added to a treatment vessel, such as a vertical column and with inlet and outlet portions. Wastewater with an oil portion can be added to the treatment vessel and the core particles removes oil from the wastewater stream. Sludge solidification can be accomplished with the kenaf particles.

Abstract: A lagoon cover made up of a number of individual sections, each of which has a body formed of flexible sheet material. The cover sections are releasably connected together in edge to edge relationship, and the connection is such that each section may rise or fall relative to adjacent sections. Buoyancy means is attached to the body of each section to support that section on the lagoon, and each section also preferably has stabilizing means which is at least partially immersed in the lagoon and serves to resist movement of the section across the lagoon. Gas transfer means is provided so that gas caught in the space between the cover and the lagoon surface, can be transferred from one part of the cover to another. Pressure relief means is also provided to automatically relieve excessive build-up of pressure in that space.

Abstract: An aquatic control sleeve apparatus for enabling application of chemical agents to underwater aquatic vegetation accumulating in a body of flowing water and a method for enabling application of the same. The aquatic control sleeve apparatus has an aquatic control sleeve placeable within a body of flowing water substantially parallel to its normal flow path. A first collar attached to the upstream end of the aquatic control sleeve funnels the entire flow of water into the aquatic control sleeve. The water surrounding the aquatic control sleeve is stilled or pacified by the funnelling of the moving water into the aquatic control sleeve, thus permitting the application of chemical agents to the stilled water to treat underwater vegetation without the fear of the chemical agents being swept away by the water current. A second collar is provided at the downstream end of the aquatic control sleeve and discharges the water funnelled through the aquatic control sleeve.

Abstract: A process of cleaning spills of toxic or hazardous materials such as oil, antifreeze, gasoline, and the like from bodies of water, garage floors, roadways and the like, comprises spraying shredded fiberglass blowing wool composition particles onto the spill, absorbing the spill with the fiberglass blowing wool composition particles, and removing the fiberglass blowing wool composition particles and the spill absorbed by the fiberglass blowing wool composition particles. An absorbent composition for absorbing spills of toxic or hazardous materials comprises shredded fiberglass blowing wool particles, and cork and/or styrofoam particles dispersed with the fiberglass blowing wool particles. An absorbent sock for absorbing and for containing a spill of toxic or hazardous materials comprises an oil permeable tube, and shredded fiberglass blowing wool composition particles enclosed in the tube.

Abstract: An oil/gas collector/separator for recovery of oil leaking, for example, from an offshore or underwater oil well. The separator is floated over the point of the leak and tethered in place so as to receive oil/gas floating, or forced under pressure, toward the water surface from either a broken or leaking oil well casing, line, or sunken ship. The separator is provided with a downwardly extending skirt to contain the oil/gas which floats or is forced upward into a dome wherein the gas is separated from the oil/water, with the gas being flared (burned) at the top of the dome, and the oil is separated from water and pumped to a point of use. Since the density of oil is less than that of water it can be easily separated from any water entering the dome.

Abstract: Watercraft bucket including a loader which is arrangeable on the watercraft so that it is partially submerged under the water surface during the advancement thereof. The loader has a sieve-like bottom and a lower section configured like a depression chamber with at least one ejector which continuously expels the conveyed water.

Abstract: An apparatus for containing and cleaning up an oil spill at an offshore oil platform in a body of water includes a hollow circular ring surrounding the oil rig and supporting a depending frustoconical skirt wall anchored to the ground by biasing springs which permits the vertical movement of the ring and skirt wall with variations in the water level. A second hollow ring is connected to the first ring by a peripheral skirt wall which confines oil floating on the water surface. A tanker along the side of the rings sucks up the ring-confined oil by suction pumps and stores and removes the oil. In an alternative form, the first skirt wall is formed of an elastomeric web and stays extending obliquely along the wall face between ground and the first ring biases the wall and ring downwardly.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing sedimentation in ship berths including one or m modules, spanning the entrance of a ship berth and providing a continuous, homogeneous, impervious barrier, each module including a base located on the sea floor, an accordion type curtain extendable in the vertical direction and attached on its bottom side to the base, a float attached to the curtain on the top side, a primary operating system for raising and lowering the curtain and a secondary operating system for raising the entire apparatus to the sea surface for repair or removal.

Abstract: An assembly for removing a liquid phase floating on a surface of groundwater includes a lifting device changing a position of a bucket-shape vessel receiving the liquid phase through an inlet aperture in response to a signal generated by a measuring device monitoring a level of the liquid phase.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for thrusting a cover onto a target area from a remote location. The target area may be water containing fish or a hazardous condition such as a fire and/or a chemical spill. The apparatus comprises a housing having an open cavity, a cover within the cavity, and a pressurized gas supply for propelling the cover from the cavity and onto the target area. A guide bar positioned in the housing and a support surface attached to the cover cooperate to impart rotation to the cover as the cover is propelled from the housing. The cover may be impregnated with an agent capable of neutralizing the particular hazard, or such an agent may be injected under the cover after the cover is positioned on the affected area. In the case of a chemical spill, the cover is utilized to contain the liquid and then the liquid can be cleaned up by pumping the liquid from underneath the cover.

Abstract: A disaster prevention apparatus is adapted to intercept and disperse gas leaking from a disaster ship offshore. The apparatus includes a marine mover and a water curtain forming device for forming a water curtain on the lee of the disaster ship. Pressurized water is supplied to the water curtain forming device by a water pump. The water thusly supplied is ejected from the water curtain forming device in a direction substantially perpendicular to the water surface, thereby creating a water curtain on the water.

Abstract: A protective device installed to or around an offshore drilling platform for oil or gas and the device when in operation to encircle or enclose the platform with a floating containment device and attached oil containment curtain hanging from the device to the ocean floor. The pollution containment device to be submerged normally and activated to the surface when needed. This device will entrap offshore platform pollutants in a short amount of time with a minimum amount of effort and will maintain a clean environment. Other methods of offshore platform pollution containment devices are shown, including permanent non-moving oil pollution containment barriers and activated barriers that operate internally and externally of the oil platform to form an all encompassing barrier from the ocean floor to above the water surface to hold an oil spill to the platform area. Offshore drilling can be environmentally safe.

Abstract: An oil containment boom capable of maintaining a generally vertical orientation in water is disclosed. The containment boom includes a longitudinally extending curtain maintained vertically in the water by floats positioned in pairs in opposed relation along each side of the curtain. The floats are attached by a tether which extends through an opening in the curtain. The tether is capable of reciprocating motion through the opening in the curtain, which allows the floats of each pair to maintain positions in the water which are vertically offset from each other. When the water level on one side of the curtain is higher than on the other side, the float on the high water side rises to a higher position than the float on the opposite side and tends to pull the curtain back into a vertical orientation. The curtain may also include a weight along its lower edge. The self-righting feature of the present oil boom helps to prevent contaminants from washing over the top of the boom in rough areas.

Abstract: A method of controlling the position of an on-water water curtain device for building a water curtain on the water in order to stop or disperse dangerous gas leaking from a ship or to block flame and radiant heat due to the leaking gas. The method comprises the steps of detecting positions of the ship and the water curtain device, detecting wind direction and tidal current, and adjusting the position of the water curtain device to an optimal position in accordance with detected values so as to maintain the diaster prevention water curtain substantially perpendicular to the leaking gas.

Abstract: An organization including angular chutes to accommodate waves directed thereon, wherein the chutes direct the water from the waves into a rearwardly directed trough longitudinally oriented and generally parallel relative to a shoreline. The water is directed through oil absorbent material mounted within an elongate trough. The trough includes an apertured floor and forward wall to permit drainage of water from the trough into a housing defined by the organization and drained forwardly thereof through forward slots arranged generally orthogonally relative to a forward edge of the bottom wall of the apparatus.

Abstract: An enclosed protective chamber for a subsea wellhead assembly includes a main body installed on the sea floor. Subsea wellhead apparatus is mounted in the chamber on top of a well. A pressure-containing lid is mounted on and sealed with respect to the main body such that chamber pressure is isolated from the subsea hydrostatic head. An inflatable, elongated, flexible storage tank or dracon is attached to the chamber through a conduit having a pressure-balanced relief valve therewithin. The dracon is attached to the conduit through a quick disconnect coupling and closure valve which permit ready attachment, removal, or replacement of the dracon. Under normal operating conditions the dracon is deflated. The dracon is preferably anchored to the sea floor. When a leak in the subsea wellhead assembly occurs, excess chamber pressure permits surplus fluid to enter and fill the dracon.

Abstract: An oil retrieval system comprising a large sheet which is adapted to be spread over an oil spill, having weights provided at the respective corners of the sheet and air bags attached to the respective weights, so that when the air bags are deflated the weights will sink and draw the sheet into a canopy over the oil trapping the oil in the canopy, and a retrieval hose extending through the sheet which may be attached to an appropriate pump for retrieval of the oil trapped in the canopy.

Abstract: A floating raceway includes a raceway portion formed of a tough and flexible film material to define a space for accommodating water, and a floating bank portion surrounding the raceway portion for imparting buoyancy to the raceway portion and shutting off the interior of the raceway portion from the exterior. Therefore, the raceway stays afloat on the water surface to allow water in the raceway portion to be transported. The raceway portion can be set afloat on the water by way of the floating bank portion. Therefore, it can be advantageously employed to transport water. By a similar arrangement it is possible to provide a floating water storage tank so that a large amount of water can be made available at sea.

Abstract: Weights in the form of water-filled flexible tubes are attached onto the pressure supported roof membrane of a building. The weights contour the membrane from a single dome into smaller elongated domes. The decreased radii of curvature of the smaller domes substantially reduce both the stress within the membrane and tension exerted by the membrane on the building walls.

Abstract: Oil is removed from the surface of water by contacting the oil with a non-toxic, biodegradable oil-absorbing material selected from the group consisting of pre-cooked and puffed cereals, in an amount sufficient to cause agglomeration of the oil-loaded material and formation of a buoyant semi-solid mass, and removing the buoyant semi-solid mass from the surface of the water. The method according to the invention is particularly useful for collecting and removing oil accidently discharged into open waters by oil tanker ships and enables substantially total recovery of the oil spills.

Abstract: This invention teaches that when a section of a tanker is damaged, the ship being far from shore-based help, it is imperative that the liquid cargo be transferred from the ruptured tank to an undamaged tank on the ship as quickly as possible. By doing so, the contents of the damaged tank are less likely to escape in a sufficiently voluminous quantity to seriously befoul the environment. To that end, a normally-empty emergency holding tank is provided on the ship with means to provide for emergency transfer of the liquid cargo from the damaged section into the emergency holding tank. At the same time, the ruptured tank is enshrouded by a flexible barrier curtain to entrap whatever liquid cargo that may have leaked from the damaged tank.

Abstract: Compositions useful for absorbing oil from the surface of oil contaminated water, or land, constituted of a particulate admixture of wood fiber, preferably in concentration ranging about 20 to 70 wt. %, and hydrophobic, organophilic water wettable cotton linters, preferably in concentration ranging from about 80 to 30 wt. %. The compositions can be spread upon the oil contaminated water, or land, to absorb the oil, and the oil contaminated compositions then swept up or otherwise removed, and disposed of to leave the water or land surface cleansed of oil.

Abstract: A marine pollution containment barge consists of two semi-circular hulls, which, when joined together at the extremities thereof, define an interior well that is open to the water. The semi-circular hulls may be separated. The hulls are self-propelled independently of each other and each may be dynamically positioned independently of the other.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for removing a floating pollutant such as oil from a liquid such as water by passing the oil and water over the top of a weir and allowing the oil and water to fall between a side of the weir and a baffle closely adjacent to the weir and extending into a pool at the bottom of the weir. Oil collects in a quiet area adjacent the baffle while the water passes over a subsequent weir to removal.

Abstract: A system for collecting an oil slick from the surface of a body of water, pumping the confined and concentrated oil to an oil/water separator balloon partially submerged in the body of water, and subsequently transporting the separated oil into a third storage barge for reuse or transport. The collection portion further includes at least a pair of floatable arm members for directing oil to an oil collection means. The oil collection means further includes a pump means for pumping the oil/water layer through a line to the partially submerged oil/water separator means. The oil/water separator portion further includes a substantially inflated balloon having an upper oil/water space containing portion, and a lower oil receiving portion from the collector apparatus.

Abstract: A capped oil or gas well comprising the top of the well casing disposed beneath the surface of the earth, a sealing on the top of the well casing, a frusto-conical collector constructed of upwardly converging walls over and surrounding the top of the well casing, and a conduit connected to and in fluid communication with the top of the frusto-conical collector extending to a point above the earth for discharging collected gases is disclosed.

Abstract: A method and a plant for storing freshwater to distribute it as consumption water are disclosed. The freshwater is enclosed within a downwardly open tank floating in a body of salt water, e.g. seawater and defined laterally by suspended, substantially vertical curtains and at its top end at least partly by a floating cover. The freshwater is supplied to the tank adjacent its top end so as to form an upper freshwater body therein, the lower portion of the tank being taken up by the salt water. A distinct horizontal boundary layer is formed between the freshwater and the salt water bodies and will move up and down in response to supply and withdrawal of the freshwater. To restrict diffusion of salt water into the freshwater body a separating layer of material having a density intermediate those of the freshwater and the salt water may be arranged at the boundary layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an approach for drilling offshore arctic wells in areas covered by floating ice. A grounded spray ice drilling structure having an inner drilling platform portion and an outer barrier portion which are contiguous is constructed by withdrawing water from beneath the ice sheet and spraying the water through the air when the air is below the freezing temperature of the water. This causes the water to freeze into spray ice as it passes through the air. The resulting spray ice is deposited on the ice sheet to build up the grounded spray ice drilling structure. The outer barrier portion is built up to a greater freeboard than the inner drilling platform portion, and is adapted to laterally confine the inner drilling platform portion and to protect the inner drilling platform portion from natural ice forces.

Abstract: To protect shores against oil pollutants, a web-like oil-retaining textile, is lowered into the water in parallel with the shore and the textile is drawn up on the shore over a strip of land which is in danger of getting polluted in such a manner that a longitudinal edge of the textile remains in the water. The oil which is thrown towards the shore by the waves adheres to the textile and is thereby prevented from contacting the strip of land.One longitudinal edge of the textile is provided with a heavy foot rope and the other longitudinal edge is provided with floats and cords for drawing the textile up on the shore. The textile may be a needled fibrous felt having a width of 4 to 8 meters, the width being comparable to that of the strip of land to be protected.

Abstract: An oil-spill-combatting water craft is provided with at least one protruding boom but most suitably one on each side of the craft, the booms directing surface water and oil present in it into a conduit inside the craft, the inlet and the outlet of the conduit being located in the side of the craft. The purpose is to provide a simple, high-capacity arrangement in which the flow is, nevertheless, relatively calm also when the sea is rough. With this in mind, the conduit has been implemented as a circulation conduit the outlet of which is situated towards the bow from the inlet and in which the water flows automatically owing to the water-raising and water-guiding effect of the boom. The separating means for water and oil, fitted inside the conduit, is a rotating arrangement which allows water to flow through and is, for example, made up of rows of bristles. In front of the outlet of the conduit there is fitted a baffle which extends obliquely outwards and backwards.

Abstract: An oil storage barge having a concave bottom is adapted to be anchored over a subsea well or pipeline that is leaking oil. Flexible skirts extend to the ocean floor, and oil that is trapped under the barge may be stored in the barge or then transferred to another vessel.

Abstract: A barrier system for concealing unsightly piles (11) and similar supports used to support a waterfront structure such as a dock (10) and for converting the vertical plane outboard of the piles (11), above the waterline (12), and below the waterfront structure (10), to utilitarian space for the display of graphic media. In one embodiment of the invention, the barrier system comprises a dynamic system wherein the barrier moves upwardly and downwardly with incoming and outgoing tides and includes a fine stainless steel mesh screen (14) secured at it's upper end to a roller (15) mounted on support brackets (16, 18) secured to the dock (10) and at it's lower end to a rod (20) having eyelets (21) projecting from it's opposite ends. Cables (22) secured at their upper ends to the brackets (16, 18) extend through the eyelets (21) and are anchored in place by weights (W-1, W-2).

Abstract: Devices for recovering polymetal compounds discharged from a submarine hydrothermal source comprise a bell-shaped collector member provided with a flexible skirt and placed just above the hydrothermal source to cover it substantially tightly. The device includes means connected to said collector for withdrawing hydrothermal fluid from the source and means are provided for concentrating the polymetal compounds thereof by settling or by centrifugation with a pipe for raising the so-concentrated flow to a surface installation associated with a bottom turbine energized by power derived from the hydrothermal fluid energy.

Abstract: An arrangement for picking up objects (17), or collecting oil whereby it is connected to a boom, from the sea comprises a basket or container (10) which is connected to a ship (12) and which is adapted to be conveyed between a work position partially submerged in the sea and a rest position on board the ship. The basket (10) is rigidly connected to a boom (11, 18) which is rotatable about its axis so that the basket in the work position is movable in a vertical plane substantially parallel to the vessel side (12) of the ship, and which is pivotable between the work position, where it projects outwards substantially horizontally from the side of the vessel (12), and the rest position. On collecting oil there is arranged between end walls (22a, 22b) of the container, a wall (24) regulatable upwards and downwards which is arranged with its upper edge in the oil/water boundary layer for separation of the oil.

Abstract: An oil/water separating system includes a skimming apparatus and a separating apparatus operatively connected therewith through a flexible conduit. The skimming apparatus includes an elongated central member disposed in a generally vertical orientation with an enlarged stabilizing section disposed adjacent a lower end thereof. A plurality of equally spaced arm members extends radially from the central member with each including spaced upper and lower arm sections and an elongated float member extending therebetween. An adjustable inlet portion disposed above the central member and operatively connected therewith includes a central downspout member axially aligned above the central member in a communicating relationship. A transverse plate section surrounds the top of the downspout member and a plurality of equally spaced vertically oriented fin sections extend radially outwardly therefrom. A bar section extends between ends of each pair of adjoining fin sections.

Abstract: A system and a method for controlling and/or capping undersea oil or gas well blowouts are disclosed. The system includes a mound and a road bed prepared about and leading to an undersea well head, a base plate having an anchoring track and secured onto the mound and about the well head, a collar member secured to the base plate above the well head by being connected to the anchoring track thereof, a structure also erected on the base plate adjacent the well head, a capping member secured to the structure, a bag floating on the sea surface above the well head and a flexible hose connected between the collar member and the bag. Preferably, at least portions of the mound and the road bed are formed on shore of a plurality of preformed segments, then transported to and assembled in situ on the sea floor about the well head. Preferably, a remotely controlled device is provided designed to do work about the well head and accomodated on the road bed leading to the well head.

Abstract: An effective deep sea oil salvage means, having a large flexible sleeve easily towable to the leak site, with means providing it to be deployed over the leak site in the form of a huge collection chamber, and associated pump and valving for the controlled carry-off of oil and/or gas.

Abstract: A method is provided for constructing spray ice barriers to protect offshore structures in a frigid body of water from mobile ice, waves and currents. Water is withdrawn from the body of water and is sprayed through ambient air which is below the freezing temperature of the water so that a substantial amount of the water freezes as it passes through the air. The sprayed water is directed to build up a mass of ice having a size and shape adapted to protect the offshore structure. Spray ice barriers can also be constructed for the containment of pollutant spills.

Abstract: This device comprises a collector element which caps a source of escaping fluid. At least the lower part of this collector element is foldable and its wall comprises a permeable lower portion to facilitate positioning of the element over the source of polluting fluid.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for collecting oil and gas flowing uncontrolled into a body of water beneath the water surface, especially in a blow-out from a point at the sea bed. The oil and gas discharged from the blow-out location is caught and ascends towards the surface within a tubular shell body and the gas is collected in a floating gas bell provided at the upper end portion of the shell body and forming a gas or liquid trap against the surrounding water in that it has an outer wall projecting downwards and surrounding an upper portion of the shell body. The gas is thus automatically placed under a controllable positive pressure in that the displacement of the gas bell in the medium within the shell body can be varied by ballast means. The apparatus includes an upper member (2) constituting a gas-collecting bell, and a lower member (1) constituted by the shell body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of tagging a substance to allow subsequent identification thereof comprising incorporating in the substance a polypeptide. Typically, the polypeptide is a synthetic polypeptide having a specific sequence of amino acids to constitute a particular molecular code which can be easily and readily identified.

Abstract: A collector apparatus and method for use with a blown-out seabottom wellhead comprising a plurality of collector elements each having an extended, open base and an upper portion enclosing a volume to receive fluid comprising gas and lesser quantities of oil rising, in the water, from the wellhead, and risers connected to the collector elements and extending thereabove to conduct fluid therefrom. One collector element is disposed below at least one other collector element with an open volume defined therebetween, the first element positioned to intercept fluid rising from the wellhead, and the second element positioned to receive and collect excess flow of fluid that is not collected by the first element. A riser extends from the first collector element to the surface of the sea, and a second riser extends from the second collector element to a storage tank above the second collector element.

Abstract: A tension leg platform system for use in drilling wellbores into the floor of an offshore body of water. Included in the system is a buoyancy control vessel having a plurality of pull down cables attached thereto which extend to the ocean floor. A plurality of spaced apart anchors disposed at the ocean floor are positioned to receive the lower ends of the respective pull down cables. A submergible hull slidably engages the respective hold down cables such that the hull can be controllably lowered to the ocean floor whereby a canopy carried on the hull will cover an uncontrollably flowing well to conduct the effluent to the water's surface.

Abstract: Method by collection and separation of oil, gas and water from an offshore oil/gas well (2) and a column (1) for usage by the same.The column (1) comprising a vertically arranged tube (3) with a lower end (8) resting on the sea bed (14) and an upper closed end (9) from which gas may be discharged by gas outlet means (6). Oil-gas mixture flowing out of a well head (22) in operation of the column (1) will be retarded by an oil column (10) in the tube (3), thereby releasing gas which is collected in the upper portion (11) of the column. Motion of the oil at the surface of the oil column (10) will be very small, oil thereby flowing over an overflow rim (15) into an overflow channel (26), from where oil is transferred to the sea surface by oil outlet means (7).The motion of the mixture may be additionally dampened by horizontal webs.The column (1) may be operated at sea depths more than 300 meters and at shallow water where the column may be constructed as part of a platform.

Abstract: An improved method for storing a lighter-than-water fluid, e.g., oil, produced from the blowout of an offshore subsea well is provided herein. The method includes the steps of deploying a containment dome in shallow water near the location of the seabed where the containment dome is to be located. The containment dome as an upper expanded dome-like fluid impervious membrane, a fluid impervious hollow peripheral ring attached to the periphery of the membrane to provide a depending bag-like container, and discrete water drainage means within the bag-like container for connection to pump conduit means therefrom. Wet sand from the seabed is then pumped into the bag-like container, and water is then drained from the wet sand through the water drainage means so as to provide a body of drained sand disposed within the bag-like container and providing a hollow peripheral ring as a hollow peripheral torus acting as a self-supporting structure and as an anchor for the dome-like structural unit.

Abstract: A safety off-shore drilling, pumping and storage platform for oilwells is provided wherein the structure has a first funnel like structure which floats near the ocean floor connnected by a long tube to a second floating funnel platform which floats on the surface of the water.

Abstract: A blowout recovery vehicle for recovering the discharge from underwater wells comprises a large inverted entrapment shell positionable over a well and having overly extending tubes connected by hose means to surface separation and storage equipment. Floatation tanks are connected to the surface by air lines which are actuated to adjust the buoyancy of the device to raise or lower it so that it can be lowered over a well to trap the discharge from the well. In use, the assembled device can be towed by a tug into position or can be assembled in the water at the site and lowered over the well without the necessity of the tug coming into the effluent discharge area above the well. Alternatively, an anchor can be placed in the seabed directly upstream of the well at some distance from the well.