Abstract: A modular pressure management oil spill containment system is constructed on the floor of an ocean to contain an oil spill caused by a wild well blowout. A base containment module including a hollow wall and at least one pressure relief valve is submerged below a surface of the ocean, positioned on a portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the wild well and its hollow wall is reinforced. At least one additional containment module including a hollow wall and at least one pressure relief valve is submerged below the ocean surface, positioned on top of the base containment module and its hollow wall is also reinforced. A plurality of riser assemblies are connected between at least a portion of the pressure relief valves of the containment modules and at least one containment vessel. The pressure relief valves are controlled to manage the containment of the oil spill.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for containing an oil spill caused by a subsea blowout, (i.e., a source of pollution located on a floor of an ocean, (e.g., a defective blowout preventer (BOP) that caused the oil spill)). A cylindrical containment assembly may be positioned such that a wall of the cylindrical containment assembly circumvents a portion of a floor of an ocean where the subsea blowout occurred. At least one mud flap may be configured to selectively protrude from the wall or retract into the wall when activated to control the depth that the cylindrical containment assembly sinks to below the ocean floor. A valve assembly may be positioned on the top perimeter of the wall. The top perimeter of the wall may have the same diameter as the outer perimeter of the valve assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for containing an oil spill caused by a subsea blowout. A blowout preventer (BOP) stack, located on a floor of an ocean, may be circumvented with a hollow wall of a cylindrical containment assembly. The containment assembly may be reinforced by filling the wall with cement. A valve assembly having a hollow cavity may be positioned on a top perimeter of the wall and may be reinforced by filling the cavity with cement. Alternatively, a cylindrical containment assembly may be positioned such that a wall of the assembly circumvents a portion of a floor of an ocean where a subsea blowout occurred and at least one of oil or gas is spewing into the ocean. The wall may be reinforced with cement, a valve assembly may be positioned on a top perimeter of the wall, and the valve assembly may be reinforced with cement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for containing an oil spill caused by a subsea blowout. A cylindrical containment assembly may be positioned such that a wall of the cylindrical containment assembly circumvents a portion of a floor of an ocean where the subsea blowout occurred. A valve assembly may then be positioned on a top perimeter of the wall. The cylindrical containment assembly may form a watertight seal with the ocean floor. At least one mud flap, located on the wall of the cylindrical containment assembly may be activated to control the depth of the cylindrical containment assembly below the ocean floor. Further, a source of pollution, (e.g., a defective blowout preventer (BOP) that caused an oil spill), may be encased by positioning a valve assembly on a top perimeter of a containment wall after the containment wall is positioned to circumvent the source of pollution.

Abstract: A valve assembly is described for containing an oil spill caused by a defective blowout preventer. The valve assembly may include a hollow cavity having a floor, a ceiling and a wall, and a valve that protrudes through the ceiling and the floor of the hollow cavity. The hollow cavity may be configured to be reinforced by filling the hollow cavity with cement. The valve assembly may have a cylindrical geometric configuration. The valve may be configured to be maintained in an open position while the valve assembly is lowered below a surface of an ocean. The valve assembly may be positioned above a blowout preventer located on a floor of the ocean.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for controlling valves of a subsea oil spill containment assembly. In one embodiment, a control unit is configured to control at least one reinforcement material input valve of the subsea oil spill containment assembly. In another embodiment, the control unit is configured to control at least one flooding valve of the subsea oil spill containment assembly. In yet another embodiment, the control unit is configured to control a large diameter high pressure valve of the subsea oil spill containment assembly. The control unit may be configured to control each reinforcement material input valve, flooding valve and large diameter high pressure valve of the subsea oil spill containment assembly, either wirelessly or via a wired interface, such that each valve may be maintained in an open position, a partially open position or a closed position, as desired.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for containing oil and/or gas spewing from a defective blowout preventer (BOP) stack located on a floor of an ocean using BOPstopper assemblies. A BOPstopper containment assembly is submerged below a surface of the ocean and positioned on a portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the defective BOP stack. Then, a BOPstopper valve assembly is submerged below the ocean surface and positioned on top of the BOPstopper containment assembly to contain the oil and/or gas. Each of these BOPstopper assemblies may comprise a plurality of flooding valves used to submerge the BOPstopper assemblies. Furthermore, each of these BOPstopper assemblies may comprise a plurality of reinforcement material input valves for reinforcing the assemblies with reinforcement material (e.g., cement and/or mud). The flooding valves and the reinforcement material input valves may be remotely controlled from a vessel floating on the ocean surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for containing oil and/or gas spewing from a defective blowout preventer (BOP) stack located on an ocean floor. In one scenario, a containment assembly having a hollow wall is lowered below the ocean surface, and positioned on a portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the defective BOP stack. The hollow wall of containment assembly is filled with reinforcement material (e.g., cement). Then, a valve assembly is lowered below the ocean surface and positioned on top of the reinforced containment assembly. The valve assembly has a hollow cavity surrounding at least one large diameter high pressure valve that is maintained in an open position. The hollow cavity of the valve assembly is also filled with reinforcement material (e.g., cement). The large diameter high pressure valve is then closed to contain the oil and/or gas within the reinforced containment assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for containing an oil spill caused by a subsea blowout. In one embodiment, a blowout preventer (BOP) stack, located on a floor of an ocean, may be circumvented with a wall of a cylindrical containment assembly. At least one mud flap, located on the wall, may be activated to control the depth of the cylindrical containment assembly below the ocean floor. In another embodiment, the BOP stack may be circumvented with a hollow wall of a cylindrical containment assembly. The cylindrical containment assembly may be reinforced by filling the hollow wall with cement. A valve assembly may be positioned on a top perimeter of the reinforced wall. The valve assembly may comprise a hollow cavity. The valve assembly may be reinforced by filling the hollow cavity with cement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for stopping oil and/or gas from spewing from a defective blowout preventer (BOP) stack located on a floor of an ocean by entombing the defective BOP stack. A containment assembly, which is lowered below a surface of the ocean, includes a hollow wall and a large diameter high pressure valve mounted on an upper opening of the containment assembly. The large diameter high pressure valve is maintained in an open position. The containment assembly is positioned on a portion of the ocean floor such that a hollow inner cavity of the containment assembly circumvents the defective BOP stack. The hollow wall is filled with reinforcement material via a first set of valves, and the hollow inner cavity is filled with reinforcement material via a second set of valves. The upper opening may also then be filled with reinforcement material.