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.