Crouse Oil Spill Response System

Abstract

This invention relates to oil spill response. This invention is several independent inventions making up a system. Each part of the system can be used by itself, with each other, and or with any other oil spill response equipment or system. This provides particular methods of crating barriers between the oil and areas to be protected, a method of gaining access to environmentally sensitive areas for spill clean up and response, a particular method of suctioning the spilled oil or pollutants, particular equipment used to suction oil from the water surface, and a way to create efficiency in the clean up and response operations.

Description

RELATION TO PRIOR APPLICATION

This non-provisional utility patent application is based on and claims the benefit of the prior provisional patent application, U.S. Ser. No. 61/281,335 filed on date Nov. 13, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a new method of cleaning up oil after oil spills, especially from leaking underwater ocean wells, from leaking or collapsed ocean oil platforms, and or from oil leaking shipping or containment vessels; and in all situations where oil is leaked into and or spilled into oceans, rivers, lakes, marshes, swamps, beaches, reefs, etc. This field is also relates to the blocking, manipulation, and or prevention of movement of oil and or oil slicks so to prevent the oil from reaching or harming the shoreline, personnel property, beaches, reefs, other oil platforms, as well as natural habitats such fisheries, marshes, swamps, etc. This invention shall create the ability to blockade or provide a barrier between the oil and protected areas so that maximum potential damage is limited. This invention also relates a system of accessing oil in protected areas in a more environmentally safer way. This inventions also provide a method of vacuuming and or suctioning the oil from the surface of the water in or from protected areas, also in a more environmentally safer or more friendly way. This invention also creates a more efficient teamwork like system so that all the parts of this system work well with each other and or with other new or traditional oil response methods or technologies. This invention has special applications for removal of oil from shallow waters, from environmentally sensitive areas, from areas just before or at the point where the oil reaches the shoreline, as well as what is referred to in this patent as protected areas such as: marshes, swamps, beaches, fisheries, and other natural habitat where larger deeper hulled vessels should not and sometimes cannot operate. The new types of barriers in this invention are much stronger and more rigid barriers which can hold up to more difficult or stronger ocean forces than other traditional barriers such as oil absorbent booms. Each part of this invention can work independently, or they can be joined or combined in several different ways to form a efficient system which has the flexibility to adapt to different circumstances while also being efficient and effective in all circumstances.

II. Background and Prior Art

It is well known that ocean oil wells, barges, tankers, and other oil containment vessels occasionally sustain damage or leak and release oil and or the contents of their cargo into the surrounding water. From ocean oil wells, the leaking fluid is crude oil. From the containment vessels the cargo is typically oil, although other combustible fuels having a specific gravity less than water, such as gasoline, diesel, and kerosene, are often transported in this manner. Because the most common cargo is oil. The term, oil, will be used exclusively herein with the understanding that it is representative of all fluids having specific gravities less than 1.0. Such leaks sometimes occur when the vessel is still afloat, and in other cases, the vessel sinks to the bottom of the ocean and remains there permanently. In those instances when a vessel sinks, the oil may still be contained within the vessel, but may slowly leak out through the damaged hull or other opening.

Other cases where leaks or spills occur are when drilling underwater oil wells; from previously capped or leaking old oil wells which may become damaged, corrode over time, become un-capped, are struck my other vessels, etc.; and or oil leaks may occur in the building of oil platforms; and or for any reason from active oil wells and or oil platforms out at sea which may blow up, explode, collapse and or fall over, when malfunctions in cementing, and or with problems of blowout preventers occur, etc. Any and all combinations of all factors may cause oil spills and or leaks which in turn cause oil slicks. The underwater oil wells and or oil platforms can leak, collapse, malfunction, fall over, and or spill for days or months before they are controlled or stopped. By virtue of its lower density, and unless the oil is mixed with dispersants, the oil will rise to the surface of the water. This accumulation of oil on the surface of the water is sometimes referred to as an “oil slick,’ and it is difficult to control or clean up. Also, individual globs of free floating oil apart from the main oil slick, is particularly difficult to control and or clean up as well. For this patent, oil slicks, smaller pockets or globs of oil, any other pollutants on or in the water which this invention can aid in protecting or clean up, as well as oil mixed with dispersants, etc. will all be represented by one number in the drawings within this patent. Because of oil spills, there has been tremendous efforts over the last several decades to devise equipment and methods used to respond and or clean it up. Some products create barriers which can block the oil, some devices can suction or remove the oil from under, in, or on the surface of the water, some can skim, etc.

Once oil reaches the shoreline, it is very difficult and even more costly to clean up. The shoreline of the ocean as well as banks of the rivers are considered natural resources and they consist of wetlands where areas such as marshes, swamps, beaches, etc. provide valuable natural habitat where animals live, eat, and breed. All the areas in or around a body of water such as rivers, oceans, and lakes consisting of valuable property and or any type of environmentally sensitive area shall be referred to as protected areas in this patent. Protected areas include areas such as: areas along the shoreline, beaches, marshes, swamps, grasses, sand bars, reefs, etc.; including the breeding grounds for large amounts of fish, birds, reptiles, and many other species; it also includes all of the wetland areas which are extremely valuable parts of the entire World ecosystem. Precise methods are needed to be able to clean oil and or pollutants from those protected areas without harming or while doing minimal harm to the environment.

All humans, animals, and aquatic life are very dependent on these environmentally sensitive areas in various ways. The protected areas promote human health as medicines and potential cures for diseases are often created from parts coming from these areas. The marshes are extremely valuable natural resources, and they need to be protected from the chemicals in oil which can cause tremendous amounts of damage. Chemicals in oil have been known to kill or harm fish, reptiles, other wildlife, and even humans. Of course the beaches and personnel property along the banks of the oceans and rivers are very important to the economy as tourist attractions. Oil can ruin valuable property such as beaches and resorts areas, if the oil is not blocked from reaching the shore, and or clean up immediately upon reaching these areas. Children are especially vulnerable to chemicals in oil. Exposure to oil has been known to cause damage to the skin, lungs, heart, as well as other parts of the human body by breathing in heavily oil areas and or by having physical contact with the chemicals in oil.

Consequently, efforts to prevent the oil from moving along the water and reaching the valuable natural resources and or protected areas have to be undertaken while the oil is floating on the surface otherwise damages can become more costly. In particular, responsive efforts are needed to block the movement of oil as outside forces push the oil into the protected areas. These blockades must be able to hold up to those same outside forces that are pushing the oil moving in the water.

Also, once the oil reaches the protected areas, which are more environmentally sensitive than other areas, specialized equipment is needed to both be able to access those areas while also cleaning the oil from the water. Response to oil spills in these protected areas must be done in the most environmentally friendly way. Because some protected areas like swamps, marshes, reefs, shallow water areas, etc. are simply more difficult to access and navigate than other areas, specialized vessels are needed to access those areas while also being able to house or carry devices that can clean the oil from the water. This invention allow for this where other traditional methods fail or cannot be used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a system made up of parts that have uses well known in other industries, however they have been put together in a unique and patentable way for use in the oil spill clean up and containment industry. Each part has its own independent function outside of this business area. This invention creates a new and unique way to put these parts together to perform a system which is desperately needed for responding to oil spills. When each part is put together and somewhat configured for the purpose of cleaning up oil spills, they compliment each other forming a whole system. One part is for providing a barrier between the oil slick and or globs of floating crude oil slightly on top of or just under the surface line of the water and the protected areas which need to be protected from the harmful oil and or helped by this system. The other part is a process of accessing oil in protected areas such as swamps, marshes, reefs, etc. The next part is a method for suctioning up the oil and containment of oil in a environmentally safe way (especially in the protected areas). The last part of the invention helps to coordinate all the parts of the system to create a teamwork style system for responding to oil spills. Though each part can be used independently, all the parts compliments the other parts of the system for greater clean up efficiency. Any part of this system can also work with any other methods of oil spill clean up and response.

One object of the present invention is to tie, connect, and or link partially submerged, floating, and or in some cases totally submerged barges together to create a ‘Barge Wall.’ The Barge Wall is a more sturdy and strong barrier than the little oil absorbing booms commonly used for the task of containing oil spills. To secure the Barge Barrier so that floating oil cannot pass through the cracks where the barges meet, a wrap, tarp, fabric, plastic, etc. which is nonporous or porous, but only to the extent that water but not oil may pass through the fabric or wrap, may or may not be ran down one or both sides of the Barge Wall forming a solid line or barrier with no cracks. Tarp, fabrics, plastic, and or wraps, etc. are common liquid barriers used in many other areas and fields, including the oil spill industry. For the purpose of this patent, this wrap will be referred to as a ‘Skirt.’ Efforts to explain the make up of the material for a Skirt are not needed in this patent application. All tarps, fabrics, plastics, etc. capable of being used as a skirt may be used. The Skirt would run lengthwise down the sides of the Barge Wall and take on a duty similar to that of a wall themselves, being a barrier between the oil and barge on one side and between the oil and shoreline if on the other. One side of the Skirt is tied to the side of the Barge Walls and the other side being weighted down by weights hangs down into and below the surface of the water so to extend the barrier below the surface of the water to make sure no oil slips beneath the wrap. The Skirts shall be also be explained in the drawings. The Skirts can be tied and or secured using plastic tie downs, strings, twist ties, bungee straps, or by any means or method commonly used or known in areas where similar protective covers, etc. are used. For the purpose of this patent, the term ‘ties’ shall refer to all forms, means, and methods of strapping, tying, or using plastic locking tie downs, twist ties, and or any means and methods for tying down tarps, etc.

To form the Barge Walls, there are many ways to tie or connect barges together. There are many methods of connecting floating vessels to other floating vessels and or to tie floating vessels to submerged or anchored vessels; and or to tie floating vessels to docks or fixed positions on land; etc. Since the exact tie down methods are not a real factor but are commonly used and known by any person knowledgeable in the industry, the redundancy of listing each tie method or option is not needed in this application.

Barges are commonly used in other areas to ship goods or to house platforms while in the water or even land, but they have never been used in this field for this purpose of creating or forming a ‘Barge Wall.’ A linked Barge Wall is better suited for both holding up to the same forces which are moving oil slicks on or under the surface of the water, and the actual oil. The Barge Wall provides a super strong barrier between the floating oil and the protected areas, especially in cases of larger spills where the ocean forces and other outside forces such as: higher winds, hurricanes, currents, waves, wakes of vessels, tides, and or to hold back other forces which can cause movement of the oil that may potentially overcome the little booms commonly used for this task. Barge Walls shall be used as a measure of preventing the oil from reaching the protected areas and or to control the movement of the oil; and or along with collection and clean up methods.

The Barge Wall is the ‘blockade’ or ‘barrier’ part of this invention. but it can also act as a platform to hold on, within, or be attached to or used with other clean up equipment. Adding equipment on barges to create structures is a common thing in the river transport and other industries, and it is not new in the oil clean up field. However, what is new and a part of this invention is the use of these specialty barges as being a part of and or positioned within or alongside the actual Barge Wall; as well as how the specialty barges can contribute to the oil clean up and containment mission. Some of the barges along the Barge Wall can contain commonly known specialty barges to house workers, refuel vessels, for anchoring or servicing other oil containment or collection equipment, providing medical services, for holding food or even small eating areas, etc. The housing of collection and containment systems will be further discussed in the drawings section of this patent.

Another possible use for the Barge Wall is that it may be used to temporarily bridge two points of a bay, pass, etc., or it can completely wall off the bay, pass, etc. entirely thus closing all passage into the Bay.

Another use for the Barge Wall for the purpose of oil spill containment and collection is that it can be linked in ways so to form shapes which can make it easier to manipulate the movement of oil on the water surface for cleaning it up. Many shapes are possible, a wedge shape, funnel shape, arch shape, ‘V’ shape, ‘W’ shape, etc. created by the Barge Wall may help in areas of the clean up operation. The use of the ‘shaped’ Barge Wall may potentially be combined with the prediction or knowledge of wind direction, the tide, currents, waves, and or any other force or combination of forces that moves the oil on the water to assist the clean up efforts. Descriptions of the methods and parts used to anchor the barges for the purpose of creating shapes is not necessary because anchors are not a new invention. Many types of anchors are commonly used in the boating and barge industry. Anyone knowledgeable in boating or in the barge industry understands how anchors work. For the purpose of explaining this invention, it is not necessary to discuss the various forms of anchors and how each works.

Alternative methods of creating Barge Walls are possible. Barge Walls can be connected and or layered with other barges so to create multiple layers of protection. For extra protection, two or more Barge Walls can be built side by side to create layers. Also for creating extra protection, the Barge Walls might have other forms of barriers next to and running parallel with the Barge Walls. Other methods work as well. Layered Barge Walls, and or overlapping Barge Walls can also be used. Some alternative methods will be discussed later in the drawing section of this patent. Many alternative methods can be used, not all are discussed or shown in drawings.

The Barge Walls may also be used along with other known barriers and clean up equipment not considered a part of this invention. Booms, sand bags, levees, flood walls, man made sand bars, air bubble curtains, skimmers, netting, etc. are response measures which can go with or be used along with this invention and that can be used by this industry; and they may also be connected to the Barge Walls to either help provide a barrier along with absorption, etc.; and or they can be used to extend the barrier and or to join one or both ends of the Barge Wall; and or to help in collection in some way. These products or devices may connect to the Barge Wall in any way or they may be attached to, run parallel to, provide a layer for, and or extend, etc. the Barge Wall so to either increase protection, provide a transiting of the Barge Wall to other forms of barriers; and or increase protection to the bank or any other area; and or for ease of oil collection. FIG. 13, FIG. 18, and FIG. 19 shows a alternative design for a barrier or ‘oil boom’ which is a more rigid structure or ‘hard boom’ referred to in this patent as a Pipe Boom Barrier 780. This is a new design for a barrier that can be used as a part of this patent that can create a more sturdy boom line or blockade than traditional absorbent booms. There are two methods of creating Pipe Booms. FIG. 18 shows an example of one type of Pipe Boom made up of piping being connected via pipe connectors, but shaped connectors can also be used, so that the length of the boom can be extended forming a long barrier. FIG. 18 pipe boom can be made hard plastic, PVC, thin metal piping, etc. Skirts can be attached to Pipe Boom in FIG. 18 so to increase effective barrier against oil floating on the water. Though Pipe Booms 780 are made of hard plastic, PVC, and can even be made of thin lightweight metals, etc., they can be made buoyant by capping either end thus trapping air inside the pipe; and or they can be made to float by affixing or attaching in any way other buoyant objects. FIG. 19 Shows a Pipe Boom segment wrapped in skirt 780. To make the segments longer, the segments can be attached via Velcro 897, or buttons, or snaps, or they can be sewed together, etc. These segments 780 in FIG. 19 show the pipe booms are made up of piping wrapped in a skirt or fabric, such as the same types of fabric or plastic skirts discussed in this patent for attaching to the barge walls. The pipe booms are made of rigid materials such as PVC, thinner metal piping capable of the task, hard plastic piping, etc. so that it can better hold up to currents, waves, wind, etc. The Pipe Boom Barriers 780 can have anchors tied to them to hold them in place, they can be tied to Barge Walls, they can be affixed to anchored Buoys, they can be tied to docks or other structures on the shore, etc.

The other part of this invention makes up the suction and containment system. The use of vacuum systems in oil clean up is not new, however, they have not been used in the way, methods and areas where this invention addresses. The drawings will be used to better explain this system. Vacuums have a plurality of uses, and they are commonly known to be used in the sanitation or waste clean up industry, for use in households, for business uses, etc. Vacuums have a bunch of uses in the oil collection industry. Because anyone knowledgeable in the vacuum industry would clearly understand how vacuums would be constructed and work, for the purpose of avoiding describing items already well known or previously patented, no detail will be given as to the actual workings of a vacuum or in the construction method of vacuums. The greater focus of the oil collection and containment part of this invention will be in the description regarding the methods of suctioning the oil, which will be described better in the drawings. Also, this invention relates specifically to the combining two pieces of equipment commonly used in other areas for the purpose of oil spill collection in environmentally sensitive areas. This pertains to the matching up of the different sizes of vacuums to the types of vessels better suited to travel in protected areas. This particular invention is better suited for collecting oil from environmentally sensitive protected areas while preventing harm to the environment as they are used to suction up the oil. This invention shows how each part of the systems can work together to form a whole process or system. Traditional methods of collecting oil can do more harm to the protected areas than good just by attempting to access these areas with the equipment; and or also when suctioning oil from these areas.

In any size oil spill, if the oil were to reach shallow waters and protected areas, traditional deeper hulled skimming vessels cannot be used due to the shallow water and or because they are likely to do as much or more harm to the environment than the oil they are cleaning up. Also, because the water in the protected areas is sometimes slow moving and sedentary, passive systems normally used for collecting oil, like oil booms are useless. Therefore a need arises to create a method of proactively and aggressively targeting these areas. This invention contains a method to suction up and contain the oil while minimizing harm to the environment and surrounding fragile ecosystems.

In protected areas, the water is sometimes sedentary and or slowly moving. Once oil enters those protected areas, it can form ‘pockets’ of oil which can sit in these areas and kill the fish, wildlife, etc. Efforts must be made to clean the oil from these areas, otherwise it just sits. This invention uses smaller vessels normally used to fish or for recreation in these areas, and they are matched up with smaller vacuums units and containers. Manual laborers use the equipment to then suck up the oil. The suction method is explained in detail in the drawings section. The previous methods used to suck up oil have been to use cranes and large vacuum equipment with special tips, etc. However, in the protected areas that type of method is not always possible. This invention is super simple, and it works well as a system with the Barge Walls.

This invention allows for the use of smaller vacuums placed on smaller vessels such as john boats, bass fishing boats, smaller to midsize recreation type vessels, fan boats, and other more shallow hulled vessels capable of operating in very shallow waters where traditional skimmers cannot operate; and that are made to be used in these areas. These smaller vessels with vacuum units will be greater described in the drawing section, and they will be referred to as Vacuum Vessels for the remainder of this patent. This oil suction method, which is a part of this invention utilizes vacuum systems in a unique way. Smaller Vacuum systems, such as Industrial wet/dry vacuum units placed on containers like barrels or 55 gallon drums can be used with this system and Shop-Vac brand vacuums using the containers they are sold with to hold or contain the collected oil can be used to suction the oil once the oil is reached. The Vacuum Vessels can also contain electric generators to power the vacuum units, the vacuum units can be attached to batteries for power, and or the motors on the vessels can be used to provide power to these vacuum units.

The suction method will be greater discussed in the drawings. To suck the oil out of the water, the tips of the vacuums do not have to actually touch the top of the water, however, it can touch the oil on top of the water. The oily gummy texture of oil actually helps in the clean up. Once the suction of the vacuum lifts the oil from the water, the whole glob will start to lift as well so that the worker can lift vacuum tip or hose slightly in a upward fashion away from the surface of the water as the oil begins to be vacuumed. Doing this prevents sucking up a lot of water with the oil. The vacuum tips or hoses can begin to suck up the oil from the water from just above the water at about a inch or two depending on the strength of the vacuum. Nets, netting, and other alternative collection methods may also be used along with this invention to make sure the oil gets collected. In shallow water areas, manual laborers might exit the vessel or boat in and walk in or along the shallow waters while using the vacuums from the vessels to suck the oil from the water or the shoreline. The method of suctioning the oil is further discussed in the drawings section. Of course all the workers using this system should wear gloves, chemical suits, gas masks, and other required protective equipment.

This method is super simple, but it is unique because it has not been used from the water in the water, from these type of smaller vessels, for this purpose, and or very little has ever been built for cleaning oil from the fragile protected areas. This particular method works very well for sucking up the actual thicker peanut butter-like textured crude oil floating on the surface of the water, which is the type of oil typically pumped from ocean oil wells coming from the Gulf of Mexico. This peanut butter like textured crude oil can spill from ocean oil wells located out in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and threaten the marshes, swamps, and other fragile habitat off the coast of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, the Carolinas, etc. This oil response method is particularly suited for use in these areas for blocking passes and bays using the Barge Wall, and in suction in the oil from in or near the protected areas such as the marshes and swamps.

To save valuable time, the actual vacuum units placed on 55 gallon drums or barrels offer a strategic advantage that is discussed in the drawings. When one drum or barrel is filled, the vacuum unit can be taken off one 55 gallon drum or container that is filled to put on another. The filled 55 gallon drum or barrel will then have a top placed on it. Taking a vacuum off one container that is filled and putting it on another container is not something new. Therefore, for the purpose of this patent, it is not necessary to explain the actual steps taken for taking a vacuum unit off one container and putting it right back on another similar container. Once the barrels or drums are filled, they can either be transferred to the Team Vessels or to stations on the Barge Wall using cranes or other equipment which can be placed on the Barge Wall to lift the containers; and or their contents can simply be sucked out and emptied into other containers so that they can go and refill again. These system can all work in a team-like manner, depending on the size of the spill.

The next part of this invention is to coordinate the system for efficiency. Necessary equipment and items such as: food, fuel, larger containers, vacuum trucks, generators, industrial sized vacuum units with super large containers, fuel pumps, etc. can be placed on the Barge Wall, on barges tied to the Barge Wall, and or they can be sitting on docks closer to the areas where clean up crews are suctioning the oil, etc. Smaller vessels, also capable of navigating through the sensitive areas can go to and from the Vacuum Vessels to the Barge Wall and or the docks, etc. keeping the suctioning vessels along with workers on those vessels supplied without having to make long trips back and forth for refueling, unloading collected oil, etc. These go between vessels are referred to in this patent as Team Vessels, and they are further discussed in the drawing section. The Team Vessels can hold larger containers which be used to vacuum or suction collected oil into their containers from the containers of the smaller vessels. Also, the Team Vessels can contain larger containers holding fuel for refueling the motors and generators used by the Vacuum Vessels. The Team Vessels can bring food, clothing, etc. to keep the workers happy and going. A additional use for the Team Vessels may also be to direct the Vacuum Vessels from one point to another acting to manage certain aspects of the clean up operation. After the Team Vessels suction out the collected oil from the Vacuum Vessels, they will then go to the Barge Wall or dock areas where vacuum equipment from those area suction or vacuum the oil from the containers on the Team Vessels. The Team Vessels would then continue to make trips back and forth to make the operation run smoothly. Also, the Team Vessels can work to aid any other type of traditional oil response method also operating in the area.

The system of working in a team-like fashion using these methods allows for more efficiency and productivity in the spill collection and containment. This system is patentable as a system because in oil clean up, most all current equipment in useless once the oil get into the shallow water areas like marshes, swamps, and other protected areas. Also, this is patentable because efficiency and speed in oil spill clean up is a important determining factor which can save millions of dollars in damages to personnel property and to fragile ecosystems like in the protected areas. Another reason why this is a patentable product is because it contains a suction method to vacuum oil from environmentally sensitive areas, if the oil were to reach those areas, while leaving a minimal footprint. This is also patentable because of the Barge Wall, with creates a much stronger barrier; that is also a capable platform for staging response operations that can hold up to forces associated with the areas where ocean oil spills occur.

Each part of this overall system may also be used with other methods of containment or collection already known to the industry, depending on need and or availability of funding, resources, or for what may be best for each situation. Of course each oil spill is unique and the methods of collecting the oil and or controlling the spill should be as versatile as possible so to be able to be used in more than one situation.

This overall invention or system is designed to lessen the ‘human footprint’ in the clean up process and to provide a barrier for blocking the oil from moving into certain areas. This invention is designed to minimize as much damage as possible in the protection and collection methods while providing capable adequate technologies that can protect the fragile areas and still collect the oil. This invention provides a way to create a super strong barrier while also providing a way to collect the oil using vessels and equipment which are more precisely designed for the area for which they shall operate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Is a water level side view showing a example of the suction method, a option for accessing the oil for the worker, and a type of vacuum vessel.

FIG. 2 Is a overhead view looking down over a bay and or protected area where the Barge Wall is blocking the oil from entering.

FIG. 3 Is a overhead view showing the Barge Wall being used as a barrier against the oil while also being backed up a oil absorbing boom.

FIG. 4 Is a overhead view of the Barge Wall protecting a protected area from the oncoming oil. The Barge Wall is shaped in a wedge with a traditional added option for aiding collection.

FIG. 5 Shows a water level side view consisting of a vacuum vessel and the suction method being used.

FIG. 6 Show a side view of a worker using the suction method from a vacuum vessel suctioning oil from a protected area.

FIG. 7 Shows a side view, with a see through the water view of the Barge Wall with a Skirt attached and the Skirt hanging below the water line. There are vacuum trucks, container, and other equipment on the Barge Wall.

FIG. 8 Shows the side view of a Team Vessel with container for transporting oil and refueling vacuum vessels.

FIG. 9 Shows a overhead view of the suction method being used by a worker in the protected area accessed by the vacuum vessel.

FIG. 10 Shows a close up side waterline view of the suction method in position for lowering onto the oil for suction.

FIG. 11 Shows the side view of some of the possible vacuum systems and containers attached to each vacuum system.

FIG. 12 Shows a side water level see through the water view of a vacuum truck on the Barge Wall suctioning collected oil from a Team Vessel.

FIG. 13 Shows a overhead view, see through the water view, of two parts of the Barge Wall being connected via alternative rigid Pipe Boom 780 barrier having the ends capped for buoyancy, which is used as a barrier and fence in this drawing. The rigid barrier is wrapped in a skirt with the skirt shown hanging off with a buoy helping marking the way while being anchored to keep it in place.

FIG. 14 Shows a overhead view of a example of how the system can be set up to work together and with traditional equipment such as the absorbent booms connecting two parts of the Barge Wall. It also shows a overhead view of the vacuum vessels and suction method being used.

FIG. 15 Shows a overhead view of another example of a possible way to use the each part of the system together to block and collect the oil. The Barge Wall is being used, the vacuum vessels and suction method are shown being used, the Team Vessel is also shown being in a position to help.

FIG. 16 Shows the side view of a vacuum system being taken off one container and being place on another container while a top is put on the filled container the vacuum system just came off of.

FIG. 17 Shows a side and somewhat overhead view of the Barge Wall and Skirt on the Barge Wall. The view is a see through the water line and the Skirt material view. This shows the Skirt covering the gaps where the barges meet, hanging below the water line and also below the hull of the floating barges.

FIG. 18 Shows a side plus slightly overhead view of a Pipe Boom Barrier capped at both ends and kept in place via buoys 799 attached to anchors.

FIG. 19 Shows a see through side view of a Pipe Boom segment wrapped in a skirt with connection Velcro on both ends.

FIG. 20 Shows a overhead see through view of the Pipe Boom Barrier 780 made up of segments 780 (A,B,C,D and E) connected together forming a linked barrier. Each segment has Skirts wrapped around them, and the link of segments is formed by connecting skirts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This is a system made up of several parts for responding to leaking oil 20 and or oil slicks 20 resulting from oil spills or leaks of all kinds. This system can be used to respond to oil and pollutants 20 where certain areas of the water need to be blocked from other areas of water, where areas of the land or protected areas 55 like marshes, swamps, beaches, etc. need to be blocked from oil or pollutants in the water, or where the water needs to be blocked from oil or pollutants coming from the land. Each individual structure or part making up the system has uses in other areas of business, and each individual part is commonly used for reasons not associated with oil spill response. Just as nails and screws can be combined forming many different items such as a house or a table, these individual parts can be put together forming a oil spill response solution. For this patent, the individual parts are put together in a unique way so to provide a patentable oil spill response system and framework which has specific strategic advantages over other oil spill response solutions.

The most valuable part of any oil spill response method is not the collection method that can pick up the most oil, but it is the collection method that works the best and that can protect and clean the most valuable property. This invention provides the strongest form of barrier or blockade, and it is specifically well suited for protecting and cleaning the most valuable properties. This invention provides a unique method of protecting and cleaning oil from the most environmentally sensitive areas, referred to as protected areas 55 in this patent. This solution provides a super strong blockade or barrier, a way to reach the protected areas without harming the environment, a method for very precisely suctioning the oil from the water, habitat, and or shoreline while doing the least amount of possible damage; and each part of this system working together provides a systematic efficient method for oil spill response. This invention is better suited for targeting the protected areas where fragile ecosystems are especially sensitive to the damages of both oil and the traditional methods and equipment used to block, skim, or clean the oil from the water.

Each part of this system can work independently, with other oil spill response equipment and methods, and or with each other forming a efficient response system specifically for cleaning up oil from fragile ecosystems and protected areas.

The first part of this invention is a blockade made up of barges linked together forming a floating barrier called a Barge Wall 700. Though barges are normally used to transport goods up and down the rivers, in this case they will be arranged in a method of creating a floating wall or oil spill blockade. The Barge Wall 700 is a new method to respond to oil spills, especially for ocean oil wells and or ocean oil platforms where the sometimes overwhelming forces of nature create the need for a much stronger and heavier barrier to be put in place. This type of barge arrangement for the purpose of oil spill response is new and unique to oil spill responses. Traditional equipment used to block oil, such as absorbent booms have trouble holding up to large oil spills and the other outside forces. The Barge Wall shall be used to block the oil slick or pollutants floating on the water surface from entering a protected area and or any other area in need of protection. The floating barges can be partially filled with water, filled with water, sunk to touch bottom in some areas, filled with dirt, equipment, etc. so to make the barge hulls sink to a desirable depth below the surface of the water forming a blockade. The filling of the barges also provides a heavier and strong barrier between the oil slick floating on the surface of the water and the areas to be protected. The barges are tied or linked together using any method as previously discussed to form a floating blockade called a Barge Wall 700.

FIG. 2 shows one example of a Barge Wall 700 where individual barges, such as barges 701 and 702 are linked together. In FIG. 2 Barge Wall 700 stretches across a Bay protecting the property in the Bay and or the Protected Areas 55 from the oncoming Oil Slick 20.

FIG. 3 shows a Barge Wall 700 backed up by additional measures of protection, such as a traditional oil absorbing boom 775.

FIG. 4 show Barge Wall section 700 (A) and Barge Wall section 700 (B) as it is made up of two sections positioned both angling inward towards the protected areas and or Bay forming a wedge while meeting in the center where a oil capturing method 777 is fitted. The oil capturing method 777 joins both sides of the Barge Wall sections forming one barrier. This shows one method of using ocean forces and currents along with formations of the Barge Wall accompanying traditional oil collection equipment for the purpose of capturing or collecting oil. FIG. 14 also shows a situation where two sections of the Barge Wall meet with other types of oil collection methods in a similar way forming one solid barrier.

Once the barges are linked together forming a Barge Wall 700, the oil blocking aspect of the wall may be strengthened, by running a plastic, fabric, or other similar materials down one or both the sides of the wall. The plastic, fabric, or other similar materials are ran lengthwise down the sides of the Barge Wall creating a ‘Skirt’ 778. The plastic, fabric, or other similar materials making up the Skirt can be non porous, or it can be porous only to the extent that water but not oil or pollutants can pass through. The Skirt may be one solid piece or several smaller individual pieces overlapping but extending lengthwise with every piece so to form a long barrier fitting up against one or both the sides of the barges along the Barge Wall.

There are many functions of the Skirt 778. Some functions of the Skirt are: to act as a liner for one or both the sides of the Barge Wall; and or to fill the gaps between each of the linked barges making up the wall; and or to provide a back up blockade or blockades between the oil and protected areas; and or they can hang off the sides of the Barge Wall below the surface of the water and well below the hull of the floating barges for deeper blocking abilities. The Skirts are weighted 779 on one side so that they hang straight down. In some cases the Skirts can hang all the way to near the bottom or to the actual bottom of the body of water. To make sure the Skirt hangs straight down and below the water surface while holding up to currents, wind, waves, and other outside forces, the Skirts will have one side weighted with weights 779 so that the side remains below the surface of the water. FIG. 17 shows the weights 779 keeping the Skirt 778 hanging down and even below hulls of the Barge Wall 700. The Skirts can also wrap or be affixed to the Pipe Boom Barriers 780 as show in FIG. 13 and discussed earlier in this patent. Although the drawings show Skirt weights 779 depicted as weights hanging from strings below the skirt, the skirt weights can be made of any type of weighted material depending on the type of skirts. Skirt Weights 779 can be affixed to, tied to, zip tied to, twist tied to, sewn into the skirts, they can also be buttoned into sections of the skirt, the can be kept in place by Velcro, weighted rods or tubes can be inserted into slots in the skirts, weights can be in or affixed to in some way every other skirt in a pipe boom barrier, etc. Many options are possible for weighting the skirts. This patent does not limit the weighting of the Skirts to any one type of weight. The Skirts are not a new thing in booms, but adding skirts to the more rigid new pipe booms barriers are new. The diameter of the Pipe Booms 780 can be from smaller diameter two to four inch pipes for less waves, less currents, or winds; and or for areas where maximum buoyancy and strength is needed, the diameter of the pipes can be eight inches in diameter or even more than ten to twelve inch diameter. Twenty four inch diameter piping can be used. The diameter of the piping is not limited by this patent application. All diameter piping can be used and will work with this patent.

FIG. 17 shows how the Skirt can stretch from one barge 718 to another barge 719 along the side of the Barge Wall, joining or connecting the two barges while also filling the gap 726 between the sides of the two barges along the water level where the oil would be coming from. FIG. 17 shows the skirt so that you can see through the skirt and see how one side of skirt 778 (A) attaches to the barge and overlaps the other skirt 778 (B) to form one wrap or Skirt with no gaps. Both parts of the Skirt 778 (A) and 778 (B) form one wrap or overall Skirt 778 that can line one or both sides of the Barge Wall making the barrier between the oil and protected area that much stronger. The Skirts should be as tight as possible against the sides of the barges with little slack.

FIG. 7 shows Skirt 778 affixed to one side of the Barge Wall in a situation how a Skirt would be used. The Skirt is normally rectangular in shape, with one end of the Skirt affixed to the side of a barge along the Barge Wall while the other end of the Skirt is stretched horizontally and affixed to the same side of the Barge Wall and down as far as the Skirt can go.

There are many alternative uses for the Skirts. Some are listed in this patent but not drawn. One alternative method of use for the Skirts 778 are for use as Air Bubble Curtains (not in drawings). In cases where oil has been mixed with a dispersant and the mix is approaching protected areas in clumps below the surface of the water, to back up the Barge Wall the Skirts might hang down all the way to the floor and or along the bottom of the body of water. The Skirts can be converted to ‘Air Bubble Curtains’ (not in drawings) by lining them with hoses to pump or release air bubbles from the Skirts along the floor of the body of water and or below the oil so that the air bubbles help push the oil to the surface. The air bubbles would also aid pushing the dispersed oil to the surface for easier cleaning.

Another alternative use for the Skirts is that they may also act as a net to aid in oil clean up. For use as a net, the side of the Skirt 778 that hangs below the surface of the water, not affixed to the Barge Wall, can be lifted in a outward and upward fashion, thus capturing and lifting the oil closer to the surface for suctioning, to aid in skimming, to detach and drag away, etc.

Skirts' 778 do not have to be a part of the Barge Wall, but they can act to completely fill the gaps between each barge or some barges along the Barge Wall, and they can be hung from one or both sides of the Barge Wall making a seamless barrier from one end to the other.

Traditional barriers such as oil absorbing booms can also be added as a back up measure to the Barge Walls. FIG. 3 shows oil absorbing booms 775 providing a additional barrier to back up the Barge Wall against the oncoming oil slick. Well anchored and more rigid Pipe Boom Barriers can also be attached or affixed to traditional oil absorbing booms to provide a back up measure that can help them stay in their proper place, and or help them better hold their places as the forces of wind, waves, currents, etc. try and move them.

Alternative oil response barriers or equipment may be used to join barges forming the Barge Wall, in joining the Barge Wall to other traditional response barriers, or in joining two Barge Walls to each other, etc. There is no limit to what can be used with the Barge Wall. FIG. 13 show a alternative structure, a Pipe Boom 780 segment joining two parts of the Barge Wall together. This rigid structure, called a Pipe Boom Barrier 780 has may be used with a skirt 778 hanging from and or wrapped around them and hanging below the water surface; but the skirt can be limited in length and does not have to be hanging way down below the water surface. Pipe Boom 780, shall be made up of a more rigid material such as: hard plastic piping, PVC, etc. The Pipe Booms 780 can have floaters attached to them, they can be tied to buoys 799, they can be anchored, tied to docks or other places on land, tied to the Barge Wall 700, etc. Structure 780 can act as a type of water fence, made up of segments of pipe wrapped in plastic skirts, so that they can bend and wind along areas of the shoreline or in any way to provide a barrier between the oil and the protected areas. The Pipe Booms 780 in FIG. 13 acts as a pass or fence which can be opened and closed to allow skimming vessels, etc. to pass through parts of the Barge Wall 700. One particularly good use for the Pipe Booms 780 is that they can be anchored to the ocean or body or water floor, then segment of the Pipe Boom Barrier can be tied to one another forming a long chain or floating barrier and or fence between the oncoming oil and the protected areas. Once the Pipe Boom segments 780 are tied together, and or to other Pipe Boom segments forming a long barrier, the traditional oil absorbent booms can then be affixed to the Pipe Booms and or ran alongside one or both sides of the Pipe Boom Barrier 780, so that the oil absorbent booms do not get so easily overcome by currents, waves, wind, or other forces which might cause them to lose their positions. The Pipe Booms can be capped at both ends trapping the air inside to make them buoyant, or they can have buoyant materials inserted or attached in some way. Because of the rigid and or strong but also lightweight nature of plastic piping, along with the capability of being wrapped in a skirt, the Pipe Boom barriers become a wonderful structure for providing a barrier for holding back oil. Also, other traditional oil absorbing booms or products that can or might be affixed to, attach to, and or ran alongside the Pipe Booms 780 so that all the booms or oil response products are held more securely in place; and the wall or barrier protecting the shoreline or protected areas are held in place. Of course anchors attached to the pipe booms actually hold them in position, but the harder rigid nature of the pipe boom segments keep them from being bent in all directions and moved by the waves, winds, tides, etc. whereby the other traditional booms are often pushed around. FIG. 20 shows a see through view of Pipe Boom Segments 780 (A,B,C,D, and E) wrapped in Skirts, and connected by attaching the Skirts. The example shows the Pipe Boom segment 780 (A) wrapped in Skirt 778 (A) meeting at point 897 (A-B) where they join via tie, zip tie, twist tie, tied string or rope, buttons, sewing, or any other means to Pipe Boom segment 780 (B) wrapped in Skirt 778 (B). For the Pipe Boom segments, attaching skirts is one way to connect segments. If the Pipe Boom 780 segments are not wrapped in skirts, then the segments can be connected by rope, string, ties, etc. or some other way. Also, Skirts can be attached to the segments or any type of Pipe Boom structure via strap or tie, etc. so that they are attached but not wrapped around engulfing the whole segment. The skirts may be attached for the purpose that the skirt hang down below the water surface via skirt weights 779 so that they can provide a deeper barrier between the oncoming oil and the protected areas.

FIG. 3 show the Barge Wall 700 also being used as floating bridge where equipment can drive up, onto, and across the barges making up the Barge Wall. Military Float Bridges (not drawn) can also make up part of the Barge Wall. Because of the steady and vast area on top of the barges, many types of equipment can be added to, housed, and or used within or from the Barge Wall to provide some type of additional help for the clean up operation. FIG. 3 also shows how a Barge Wall 700 can be used to close off a bay and blockade oil 20 from entering the protected areas 55.

To secure the Barge Wall, one or more of the barges can be anchored to the bottom via any traditional anchoring method; and or each side of the Barge Wall can tied to a object on the shoreline 3; and or one or both sides of the Barge Wall can be tied to other oil blocking methods 775,777,778,779,780, etc.; and or the two ends of the wall can be tied to each other to form complete circles or other shapes to enclose whole areas of the water (not shown); etc.

For super large oil spills, the Barge Wall can stretch for miles. The Barge Wall can also being linked to sand bagged areas, man made sand bars, oil absorbing booms, and other barriers used for responding to oil spills, etc. Some ways or uses of the Barge Wall are for forming blockades stretching across bays, across areas where rivers meet the ocean, for blocking off protected areas like marshlands, swamps, etc. FIG. 4 shows a alternative formation of the Barge Wall and how it can be used to assist in the clean up operations. Not all alternative methods are listed. FIGS. 2, 3, 4,7,13,14, and 15 show some of the methods of use for the Barge Wall.

The Barge Wall 700 can work as a part of a specialized system. The Barge Wall especially connects with the other parts of this invention by creating a ‘base’ of operation for holding many different useful items. Some of the barges along the Barge Wall can hold living quarters for workers, some can hold holding different sized oil storage containers 200, some different types of vacuum systems 100, fuel tanks 350, fuel pumps 827 for refueling boats, electric generators 300, batteries 400, vacuum trucks 825, etc. FIG. 15 shows a Barge Docking station 717 where vessels can dock to refill fuel tanks, to off load filled containers 200 full of collected oil, etc. The Barge Wall can be a useful tool for any clean up operation.

Because the barges have large decks and shallow hull designs, the Barge Wall can be positioned close enough to pretty much any protected area while also being used as docking area and or as a base of operation for the other vessels used with this system. FIG. 14 depicts a scene showing several parts of this system working together. FIG. 14 shows very large Industrial Vacuums 100 with built in containers 200 sitting on the Barge Wall which can be used to suction oil out of smaller vessels 500; and or to vacuum oil from containers on intermediate container vessels 508 (as shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 12, and FIG. 15); and or the vacuum units can have super long hoses extended to areas off the sides of the Barge Wall so to be used by workers 7 walking along the bank or wading in the shallow water near the Barge Wall and suctioning pockets of oil 20 directly from the water surface. FIG. 14 shows vacuum trucks 825 located on the Barge Walls 700 that can have super long hoses 110 and be used by workers wading through the water, walking on the shoreline, or even sitting in Vessels 500 while suctioning the oil from the water surface. Stationary Vacuum equipment 100 with built in containers 200 located on the Barge Wall, along with the vacuums on the vacuum trucks 825 can be used to vacuum oil from the surface the water from off the sides of the Barge Wall as the oil slick makes contact or comes near the Barge Wall barrier. The vacuum units can contain hoses 110 with small, or medium, long, and or super long hose tips for accessing pockets of oil 20 from any location; and or the hoses can be used without tips. Barges along the Barge Wall may also house rescue stations (not in drawings) where soiled birds and other animals can be cleaned. For assisting the clean up operation larger tanks and containers on the barges along the Barge Wall can also be filled with the collected oil, fuel, equipment, etc.

When oil spills occur, sometimes the actual oil slick cannot be contained fast enough, and some of the oil reaches the protected areas and or shallow areas where traditional skimmers and collection methods are useless. Therefore new types of vessels are needed just to get to the protected areas without harming the surrounding environment. This is where the other parts of this invention comes in to form a system.

Leaking oil wells, oil spills, and or disasters from oil platforms of any kind or type, etc. are bound to occur, especially from ocean oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico, USA, where numerous oil wells exist and threaten protected areas such as swamps, salt pits, marshlands, beaches, etc. If something were to happen causing a spill, no current method other than this method has the capability to respond to the protected areas such as those listed. Because the water in protected areas like marshlands and swamps are often sedentary or near sedentary, especially after being blockaded by a Barge Wall 700 or other oil spill response measures, collection methods must be more aggressive and targeted in these areas. Passive methods such as using oil absorbing booms are not as effective because the oil will typically just sit there unmoving for years unless it is suctioned up. Due to the effects of oil depleting the oxygen levels of the water, fish and wildlife have a limited amount of time they can survive these types of situations before they are totally eliminated or killed off completely by the effects of the oil. If the fish are killed off, they will also just sit on the water surface or just below the surface with the oil until both are removed.

The bottom line, you have to remove the oil from these areas, and there is little current equipment that can even access these often remote protected areas, much less suction oil from them. Much of the traditional oil spill suctioning equipment, such as the oil spinning methods, need a certain depth and clarity of water in which to operate, and they are ‘non aggressive’ collection devices. Non aggressive meaning that these traditional devices just sit in one place and sucks up only the oil that comes into contact with the device. In areas like the protected areas, the water is not so deep or clear, and often the animals, reptiles, and other species are right there in the area where the oil is located. When the oil enters these areas, time becomes a factor for everything living in these areas. In these areas, the most precise equipment is needed to suction the oil from the water. Because time is also a factor for the wildlife, the oil collection method must also be a ‘aggressive’ method where workers can go and target the oil, instead of just blindly placing something out hoping the currents will assist in moving the oil into collection devices, and it must be a method that will not do more harm to the environment than good.

The next part of this invention calls for converting shallow hull vessels 500, typically used for fishing and or recreation in these same areas, to oil response vacuum vessels. These smaller vessels 500, such as fan boats (also known as swamp boats), fishing boats, john boats, etc. can be fitted with smaller sized wet/dry vacuum equipment 100, with a number of separate oil containment devices or containers 200, and dispatched to suction oil from the areas where oil has been spotted or located. These smaller shallow hulled vessels 500 can get to the protected areas 55 like marshes, reefs, in swamps, etc. without harming the environment and or doing minimal harm. Because traditional deep hulled oil skimming vessels cannot be used in these areas, the shallow hulled vessel creates a advantage over other response equipment, and it is totally unique to this system of oil spill response.

FIG. 1 shows a swamp or fan boat 500 responding to a shallow water area where the oil 20 is sitting on top of the surface of the water 25. Because the water is shallow, the worker 7 has exited the vessel 500, but he uses the longer hose 100 from the vacuum unit 100 to vacuum the oil 20 into the container 200. FIG. 1 shows other equipment which may be found on a response vessel to help in the suctioning of oil. FIG. 1 shows a battery pack 400 which can operate trolling motors or even the vacuums 100. FIG. 1 shows a electric generator 300 placed on the vessel so to plug in the electric vacuum. FIG. 1 shows a extra gas can to refill gas powered vessels 500, the electric generators 300, or even industrial gas powered (or gas oil mix) vacuum motors 100 (gas or gas/oil mix powered industrial vacuums can be substituted for electric powered units).

FIG. 5 shows a worker 7 inside a fishing boat or recreational vessel with a top 500 leaning over the side and using the industrial vacuum unit 100 placed on a 55 gallon container or barrel 200 as he suctions the oil 20 from the water surface 25. FIG. 5 also shows a huge electric generator unit 300 in the rear of the vessel to provide power to the vacuum equipment.

FIG. 6 shows a pontoon boat 500 being used by the worker 7 to reach a pocket of oil 20 in shallow waters. FIG. 6 shows the worker using a super long tip on the hose 110 of the vacuum unit 100. The worker is using a gas and or face mask, gloves, a protective chemical suit, a hat, and sunglasses to keep him safe from the gasses, fumes, sun, and other environmental hazards. The front of the pontoon boat 500 provides a good platform to do his work using the Shop Vac brand 100 vacuum unit with a super long tip for reaching the oil 20 located in a hard to reach area.

The smaller vessels can locate the oil using oil spotters, or they can go looking for oil in the protected areas. The workers can use GPS systems to mark the location of oil slicks or clumps, and then call in the coordinates to suctioning vessels, or the spotters can just suction the oil themselves while using cell phones, radio devices, etc. to call for back up giving GPS coordinates if needed. Any and all methods of spotting or locating the oil can be used with this system. Methods of spotting the oil is not shown in the drawings, but methods such as using: airplanes, blimps, helicopters, satellites, drone aircraft, balloons, etc. as well as or any or all other possible methods that can be used to find the oil or spot the oil using this system. The method of spotting the oil using blimps or airships, and drone aircraft along with GPS equipment to mark coordinates are all new methods for use in oil spill response. These methods have not been used in oil spill response before, but they are possible for use with this system.

The next part of this invention uses a more precise method of oil collection. This method is not like the traditional methods of skimming. Because this is a system, it does not mean that traditional methods cannot be used with this system. Traditional methods can be used with this system, but this system targets the oil in the sensitive areas where traditional equipment cannot operate. In other words, it has a niche in the oil collection business as it is uniquely suited for the most valuable areas where the environment is the most sensitive.

Once access is gained to the protected areas using the smaller vessels 500. Once the workers locate the pockets of oil in the protected areas, smaller vacuum systems 100 attached to smaller containers 200 will be used to suction up the oil from the surface of the water. Traditional vacuum systems used for oil spill response has been the type that is positioned by a crane from a large skimmer or ocean going vessel. The method of oil collection that goes with this system using a vacuum unit is much different.

For explaining this system and methods that go with it, all vacuum units shall be represented by 100, and all container units shall be represented by 200. Smaller vacuum systems such as or similar to Shop Vac brand wet/dry vacuums 100 work well in these areas, and the hoses and or tips 110 shall be hand held by the workers as they use the method represented in the accompanying drawings to suction the oil from the water. Industrial wet/dry vacuums 100 placed on containers such as 55 gallon barrels 200 also work well in these areas as a part of this invention. These vacuum units and equipment are used as a part of this system and invention is used to suck the crude oil from the top of the water using the same particular method shown in FIG. 10 and other drawings.

FIG. 10 shows the particular method of suctioning the oil from the surface of the water which is particularly used with this system as a method of collecting oil from the surface of the water in any or the sensitive protected areas. This method allows for the oil to be suctioned from the surface of the water, from the shoreline, from the grasses or banks, etc. without harming the environment. Smaller Vessels 500 such as fan boats, smaller fishing boats, john boats, etc. have the shallow hulls which makes it easier to access these remote areas so to give the workers 7 a chance to suction the oil from the water. FIG. 10 shows a up close look at the hose 110 being positioned over the oil 20 floating on the surface of the water 25. FIG. 10 shows a open ended hose 110, or round tip on the vacuum hose 110 just about a inch or so above the oil 20. Because many tips to the hoses will work using this particular method of collecting the oil, all hoses will be given the same number 110, and no distinguishing numbers shall be used to refer to different lengths or types of hoses or tips. Of course many lengths of hoses and or tips can be used, and they are numerous. The method of use for these tips, are to hold the hose or tip just above the surface of the water at about two inches. Once the tip is above the oil floating on the surface of the water, you slowly lower the hose until the vacuum suction begins to lift the oil from the surface of the water. The key is to not actually submerge the tip, but to just hold it above the water and above the oil on top of the water. The suctioning of the vacuum will lift the lighter oil from the heavier water and into the containers connected to the vacuums. Though this seems extremely simple, it actually takes a steady hand. This method is especially effective for the type crude oil being pumped from oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico which has a ‘peanut butter’ like texture. This thick crude oil texture makes this system of oil collection a very good way to suck the oil from the water without sucking up large amounts of water with the oil. This method is very efficient for the task.

Shop Vac vacuum units 100 and their attached container 200 are very good and work well using this system, but they can only hold around 10 to 30 or more gallons in their containers before they need to be emptied or suctioned out.

FIG. 16 shows the Barrel Vacuum System. FIG. 16 shows a Industrial Wet/Dry Vacuum Unit 100 being placed on a 55 gallon sized barrel or holding container 200. A potentially well suited sized container for use with this system is a 55 gallon barrel. Once the Vacuum unit 100 is used to suction the oil into the container or 55 gallon barrel 200 so that the barrel or container 200 becomes filled. Then the Vacuum unit 100 can be taken off the Barrel or container 200 and then affixed to the top of another empty Barrel or Container 200 while a Barrel Top or Container Lid 201 would then be placed on top of the 55 gallon barrel containing the suctioned oil or collected oil to secure it and keep the noxious fumes down while more oil is collected.

The last part of this invention consists of using the Team Vessel 508 to create a link between the Barge Wall 700 and the Suction Vessels 500. This part is simple. These Team Vessels 508 help to make the whole system more efficient, and they allow for a place where response managers can coordinate Suction Vessels while also relaying information back to the base of operation located on the Barge Wall and or in other areas. These Team Vessels 508 can be smaller vessels, even the same sized vessels as the suction vessels 500, or they can be slightly larger depending on the area where they are operating. These vessels hold containers full of fuel for refilling Suction Vessels 500 and their equipment; and the Team vessels also hold larger containers and suction equipment that can travel to or meet with the Suction Vessels so to suck the oil from the containers on the Suction Vessels and into the larger Containers 200 on the Team Vessels. The Team Vessels then go from where they met the Suction Vessels back to the Barge Wall where the larger industrial vacuum equipment 100 with larger containers 200 and or Vacuum Trucks 825 (or located on barges connected to the Barge Wall, on docks along the bank, along the bank, etc.) can suck the oil from the containers on the Team Vessels 508. Also, the Team Vessels can refill their holding tank with fuel to refill more Suction Vessels. Also, the Team Vessels can get orders or more GPS locations where spotters have located more oil, and or report the news coming from the workers from the Suction Vessels who have been working in certain areas. All the work of the Team Vessels 508 and the workers on these vessels is to make the response effort more effective and efficient in operations. The Team Vessels can also coordinate and work with other oil spill response equipment and teams so to coordinate this method with the traditional or other new methods for the purpose of providing the very best possible response to oil spills.

FIG. 8 shows Team Vessel 508 holding a large fuel tank 350 for refilling fuel tanks the motors and all equipment on the Suction Vessels 500. FIG. 8 also shows two larger oil collecting containers 200 with pumping equipment (not shown) where the Team Vessels can go to or meet the Suction Vessels 500 to suck the oil from their containers.

FIG. 12 shows a Team Vessel 508 having its containers sucked out by the vacuum trucks located on the Barge Wall or home base of operation barge. FIG. 15 shows the Team Vessel 508 centrally located in a position so to be able to respond to the suction vessels when needed. FIG. 15 also shows the Team Vessel 508 positioned in a place where it can be used to direct operation if needed.

FIG. 13 briefly shows a important part of the one device called a Pipe Boom Barrier 780. In FIG. 13 the Pipe Boom Barrier 780 is used to connect two sections of a Barge Wall 700, but there are other uses for this form of barrier. As earlier discussed, the Pipe Boom Barriers 780 are rigid and much stronger that traditional booms. The Pipe Boom Barriers 780 can be made two ways. One way to construct a pipe boom 780 is that they can be made up of segments of pipe, connected via pipe fittings and extensions (such as are common), then once the length of shape of the pipe is constructed, both ends would be capped to trap air inside creating buoyancy. Then Skirts and anchors would be attached to help the Pipe Boom to do its job. The other method of making the Pipe Booms are in creating Pipe Boom Segments. The Pipe Boom Segments in FIG. 19 (see through the skirt drawing) show they are made up piping having the ends capped, but the ends can be open if some other form of buoyant material is attached, inserted, or affixed in some way. FIG. 19 also shows a see through version of a plastic or fabric Skirt 778 wrapped around the segments. Segments, as seen in FIG. 19 would connect to other segments by connecting the surrounding skirts. FIG. 20 shows a linked Pipe Boom Barrier made up of segments connected to one another. If the Skirts are wrapped or sewn, etc. around the pipe segments, the segments can be connected to other segments via Velcro, buttons, ropes, zip ties, or any other method that can work for joining two segments. FIG. 19 shows Velcro 897 as the connector, but zip ties, twist ties, strings, or any other connection method can be used. The Pipe Boom Barriers would be constructed of a hard plastic pipe, PVC, or possibly a thinner light metal piping capable of floating if the ends are capped, and or other similar rigid material of some kind (which could be made buoyant by capping, inserting or attaching floats, etc.). Skirts 778 can aid the pipe booms in extending the pipe boom segments, and longer skirts which hang down deeper below the water surface with the help of Skirt Weights 779 that can help to hold back the oil. If a long Pipe Boom Barrier needs to be quickly constructed using segmented Pipe Booms, one end of a wrapped pipe boom segment would then be affixed to another end of another pipe boom segment, and so on forming a longer overall Pipe Boom Barrier. Each segment can be anchored individually, but it is not necessary to anchor each and every segment. The Pipe Boom Segments can be anchored every so many feet or yards, it all depends on the strength of the potential forces and how strong you want to make the barrier. Of course the anchors would need to be strong enough to overcome the currents, wind, waves, and oil, etc. No anchoring methods need be discussed in this patent because methods of creating or using anchors are commonly known. The other way to create a longer Pipe Boom Barrier 780 is very simple. The other method consists of joining sections of pipe via pipe connectors and extensions common to the piping industry, then capping both ends to make a air tight pipe which will float; and or making or increasing buoyancy by inserting or affixing buoyant materials. To create buoyancy without having other buoyant objects inserted or affixed to the pipe boom, the Pipe Booms 780 should have all connections air tight and the pipes capped at both or all ends thus trapping the air inside. If extra measures of buoyancy are not needed, they ‘can’ be added. Items such as foam floaters, inner tubes, blow up tubes, foam, some insulation type foam spray materials can be sprayed inside the piping, or any other buoyant material can be added to increase overall floatation. The Pipe Boom Barriers 780 can be anchored to the floor or bottom of the body of water, tied and or affixed to Buoys 799 or other similar buoyant objects (also represented by 799) so that they are held afloat and or in place. The Pipe Booms may or may not have Skirts 778 affixed to them, wrapped around them, and some can hang off of them so that they hang several feet below the surface of the water with the help of Skirt Weights 779 (as shown in FIG. 13). These Pipe Boom Barriers 780 can play a big role in any oil spill where the forces normally present with ocean currents and winds start to move oil slicks towards protected areas and or shoreline. Ideally, there should be layers of any type of booming, and all booming should be angled properly to divert the oil into a collection area. Any of the Pipe Booms 780 can by connected to any traditional type of booming products, and there can be segments of the Pipe Boom Barriers followed by segments of traditional absorbent boom barriers. When the different types of booms are segmented, then the pipe booms can be angled so that they direct or divert the oil to the absorbent booms. The methods of use are important for making this type of boom as effective as possible. Also, wedges of pipe boom can direct oil into several layers of absorbent boom, or they can also direct the oil directly towards a Barge Wall or to other areas where suction or collection equipment can be placed for suctioning or absorbing the oil, etc. The Pipe Boom Barriers 780 can be quickly set up so to hold traditional oil absorbing booms in place; and or put up quickly while the Barge Walls 700 are being put in place, etc. Also, the Pipe Boom Barriers 780, can be attached to buoys having special colors or lights added so that they can be spotted in the dark showing boaters or workers the areas where the booms are located. Lighted Buoys 799 do not have to be tied to the Pipe Boom Barriers 780, but they are another alternative helpful measure of safety, especially when vacuum vessels are traveling through areas where barriers are located during low light hours.

Claims

1. A method for responding to oil spills comprising of:

(a) a method of creating barriers between the oil and protected area or any other area to be protected consisting of linked barges called a Barge Wall 700 with or not with Skirts 778, which can be connected to, backed up by, or extended by traditional barriers and or other new methods of creating barriers called Pipe Boom Barriers 780;

(b) a method of a more environmentally safe form of travel by water to get workers and oil clean up and or vacuum equipment through or to the protected areas such as marshes and swamps, etc. for the purpose of suctioning and or cleaning the oil from the water or area using smaller vacuum vessels which are normally used for recreation and or fishing in the protected areas;

(c) a more environmentally safe method of suctioning the oil from the surface of the water in the protected areas using hoses or vacuum tips connected to smaller vacuum units such as Shop Vac brand vacuums and or industrial style wet/dry vacuum units on barrels or 55 gallon drums, and or other vacuums properly connected to containers, etc. for the purpose of suctioning the oil from the surface of the water;

(d) a method of suctioning the oil from the water using skilled workers holding the hoses or tips of wet/dry capable vacuum units directly above the surface of the oil floating on top of the water and slowly lowering the vacuum down onto or just close enough to the oil until the oil begins to suction into the vacuum, and without submerging the vacuum hose or tip all the way under the water;

(e) a method of creating a team style operation to increase efficiency using Team Vessels, which are more environmentally acceptable vessels for travel to and or through protected areas. The team vessels are the same types of vessels normally made for fishing or recreation in or around protected areas, and that help increase the efficiency of the clean up operations by performing any or all of the following tasks: servicing the needs of the workers, refueling or servicing equipment on the vacuum vessels, refueling vacuum vessels, transporting the suctioned oil from the vacuum vessel to the barge wall or to docks near the area for disposal, having first aid or medical capabilities, helping to spot and or mark GPS coordinates of pockets of oil so to transfer information to the vacuum vessels or any other personnel, and or helping in any way.

2. A part of the method or system of claim 1, the Barge Wall, also which has the option of being a place capable of housing in any way numerous equipment helpful to the overall task of oil clean up such as: housing for workers, food and drink stations, vacuum equipment of all kinds including vacuum trucks, traditional or alternative oil collection equipment, many empty containers for holding collected oil, fuel and or fuel trucks, etc.

3. A part of claim 1, the Barge Wall, which can also be wrapped in a ‘skirt’ on one or both sides, and or have skirts hanging from the sides where two barges connect or butt up against one another which can also act to further block the oil;

4. The method or a part of claim 1, a Pipe Boom Barrier 780 for holding back oil, Pipe Boom, can form a long rigid barrier system formed in two ways. One way is by linking pipes to pipes via pipe fittings and extensions (also angled extensions), and the other way is link Pipe Boom segments to other pipe boom segments (discussed in several ways) forming a longer stronger rigid barrier more capable of holding up to and or withstanding forces associated with the ocean areas such as wind, currents, waves, etc. The Pipe Boom Barriers 780 can also be linked to other forms of barriers, backed up by other barriers, be extended in length by tying or affixing to other forms of barriers such as traditional barriers like oil absorbent booms, etc. Pipe Boom Barriers can also be connected to the Barge Wall or other Pipe Boom Barriers, etc. Pipe Boom Barriers 780 are made up of piping materials such as PVC and or hard Plastics or thinner metals which are more rigid and stronger barriers than traditional oil absorbing booms made buoyant in ways discussed. The Pipe Booms 780 a.k.a. Pipe Boom Barriers 780 may have affixed to or be wrapped with Skirts 778. One side of the skirt may or may not hang down several feet below the water surface via tied to Skirt Weights 799.

5. The method or a part of claim 1, the Barge Wall, which can have equipment that vacuums or suctions the oil from off the sides of the wall, from the surrounding area, and or from the containers of the vacuum vessels and or the team vessels.

6. The method or a part of claim 1, a Barge Wall, which may or may not be used in conjunction with or adjacent or next to, a Air Bubble Curtain, which releases air bubble from below the oil so that it helps to raise the oil to the surface for ease of collection.

7. The method or a part of claim 1, a Barge Wall, having the option of alternative devices or equipment being attached or affixed to it in any way for the purpose of collecting, shifting, or moving oil in any way. Any potential alternative device or equipment can be used. One potential alternative device may be the use of nets, either used by skimming vessels running along the wall or used from the wall by workers walking on the wall, or used by equipment on the wall, etc. where non porous netting, but porous only to the extent that water but not oil passes through, may be used in to manipulate or collect the oil.

8. The method or a part of claim 1, vacuum vessels consisting of shallow hulled vessels better suited for the environment such as marshes, swamps, etc. where traditional deeper hulled cannot go. Examples of these vessels include: bass boats, shrimp boats, swamp boats also called fan boats, john boats, fishing boats, police boats, etc. The boats can get to the shallow waters near the shore or go through protected areas doing minimal harm to the environment.

9. The method or a part of claim 1, a vacuum method consisting of holding a vacuum hose and or vacuum hose tip connected to a vacuum hose, for the purpose of collection of oil from the surface of the water using a specific method where the worker physically holds the hose about a inch or two above the water then slowly lowers the hose onto or just above and barely touching the oil on the water surface so that the oil starts to suction or vacuum, and then the hose is held still or raised from the water slowly at just at about a half inch to one or two inches allowing the thick oily texture of the oil to help in the suction or collection process. This methods helps to collect crude oil better and limits water intake.

10. The method or a part of claim 1, consisting of using smaller vacuum equipment placed on the vacuum vessels such as wet dry Shop-Vac brand and or industrial wet/dry capable vacuum units affixed to drums, barrels, or the containers they are sold with for the purpose of oil collection. These vacuums are not built specifically for collecting oil, but they are used for this purpose. The actual vacuum units can be taken off one filled container, drum, or barrel and placed on another empty container, drum, or barrel. A top can then be placed on or secured to the filled drum or barrel for off loading onto another vessel or the Barge Wall, or the collected oil can later be pumped or suctioned out into container units on other vessels.

11. A method or part of claim 1, where Team Vessels or spotters from blimps, drone, airships, planes, helicopters, other vessels etc. can work together for efficiency and mark GPS coordinates of spotted oil pockets so that the information can be used and or transferred to vacuum vessels or other personnel for collection. This increases efficiency of the overall operation while also helping this system to work with others in a seamless way.

12. A method of part 1, where more environmentally safe vessels can be used travel to and or through the protected areas by team vessels. These vessels are vessels normally used for fishing and or recreation in or close to those same areas. These vessels have shallow hulls where most all oil collection vessels and equipment are deeper hulled vessels. Examples of those vessels would be fan boats also called swamp boats, fishing boats, john boats, bass boats, police boats, etc. Barges may also be anchored and used in some areas.