METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTAINING AN UNDERSEA OIL AND/OR GAS SPILL CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE BLOWOUT PREVENTER (BOP)
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.
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This application generally relates to a method and apparatus for containing an oil and/or gas spill originating from the bottom of an ocean.
BACKGROUNDAn offshore platform, often referred to as an oil platform or an oil rig, is a large structure used in offshore drilling to house workers and machinery needed to drill wells in the ocean bed, extract oil and/or natural gas, process the produced fluids, and ship or pipe them to shore. Depending on the circumstances, the platform may be fixed to the ocean floor, may consist of an artificial island, or may float.
Remote subsea wells may also be connected to a platform by flow lines and by umbilical connections. These subsea solutions may consist of single wells or of a manifold center for multiple wells.
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill, also called the BP oil spill, the Gulf of Mexico oil spill or the Macondo blowout, was a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and is considered the largest offshore spill to ever occur in U.S. history. The spill stemmed from a sea floor oil gusher that started with an oil well blowout on Apr. 20, 2010. The blowout caused a catastrophic explosion on the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil drilling platform that was situated about 40 miles (64 km) southeast of the Louisiana coast in the Macondo Prospect oil field. The explosion killed 11 platform workers and injured 17 others. Another 98 people survived without serious physical injury.
Although numerous crews worked to block off bays and estuaries, using anchored barriers, floating containment booms, and sand-filled barricades along shorelines, the oil spill resulted in an environmental disaster characterized by petroleum toxicity and oxygen depletion, thus damaging the Gulf of Mexico fishing industry, the Gulf Coast tourism industry, and the habitat of hundreds of bird species, fish and other wildlife. A variety of ongoing efforts, both short and long term, were made to contain the leak and stop spilling additional oil into the Gulf, without immediate success.
After the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion on Apr. 20, 2010, a BOP should have activated itself automatically to avoid an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The oil spill originated from a deepwater oil well 5,000 feet (1,500 m) below the ocean surface. A BOP is a large valve that has a variety of ways to choke off the flow of oil from a gushing oil well. If underground pressure forces oil or gas into the wellbore, operators can close the valve remotely (usually via hydraulic actuators) to forestall a blowout, and regain control of the wellbore. Once this is accomplished, often the drilling mud density within the hole can be increased until adequate fluid pressure is placed on the influx zone, and the BOP can be opened for operations to resume. The purpose of BOPs is to end oil gushers, which are dangerous and costly.
Underwater robots were sent to manually activate the Deepwater Horizon's BOP without success. BP representatives suggested that the BOP may have suffered a hydraulic leak. However, X-ray imaging of the BOP showed that the BOP's internal valves were partially closed and were restricting the flow of oil. Whether the valves closed automatically during the explosion or were shut manually by remotely operated vehicle work is unknown.
BOPs come in a variety of styles, sizes and pressure ratings, and usually several individual units compose a BOP stack. The BOP stack used for the Deepwater Horizon is quite large, consisting of a five-story-tall, 300-ton series of oil well control devices.
The amount of oil that was discharged after the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion is estimated to have ranged from 12,000 to 100,000 barrels (500,000 to 4,200,000 gallons) per day. The volume of oil flowing from the blown-out well was estimated at 12,000 to 19,000 barrels (500,000 to 800,000 gallons) per day, which had amounted to between 440,000 and 700,000 barrels (18,000,000 and 29,000,000 gallons). In any case, an oil slick resulted that covered a surface area of over 2,500 square miles (6,500 km2). Scientists had also discovered immense underwater plumes of oil not visible from the surface.
Various solutions have been attempted to control or stop an undersea oil and/or gas spill. One solution is to use a heavy (e.g., over 100 tons) container dome over an oil well leak and pipe the oil to a storage vessel on the ocean surface. However, this solution has failed in the past due to hydrate crystals, which form when gas combines with cold water, blocking up a steel canopy at the top of the dome. Thus, excess buoyancy of the crystals clogged the opening at the top of the dome where the riser was to be connected.
Another solution is to attempt to shut down the well completely using a technique called “top kill”. This solution involves pumping heavy drilling fluids into the defective BOP, causing the flow of oil from the well to be restricted, which then may be sealed permanently with cement. However, this solution has not been successful in the past.
It would be desirable to have a method and apparatus readily available to successfully contain oil and/or gas spewing from a defective BOP stack, until an alternate means is made available to permanently cap or bypass the oil and/or gas spill, or to repair/replace the defective BOP stack.
SUMMARYA method and apparatus are described herein for containing oil and/or gas spewing from a defective blowout preventer (BOP) stack located on an ocean floor and causing pollution to the ocean. In one scenario, a cylindrical containment assembly having a wide 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 the cylindrical containment assembly is filled with reinforcement material (e.g., cement). Then, a cylindrical valve assembly is lowered below the ocean surface onto the cylindrical containment assembly. The cylindrical valve assembly has a hollow cavity surrounding at least one large diameter valve that is maintained in an open position. The hollow cavity of the cylindrical valve assembly is also filled with reinforcement material (e.g., cement). The large diameter valve is then closed to contain the oil and/or or gas within the cylindrical containment assembly.
The cylindrical valve assembly may be at least the same diameter as the cylindrical containment assembly.
The cylindrical valve assembly may comprise at least one seal that is mounted along the entire bottom perimeter of the cylindrical valve assembly. The cylindrical containment assembly may comprise at least one seal that is mounted along the entire top perimeter of the cylindrical containment assembly. The seals of the cylindrical valve assembly and the cylindrical containment assembly may compress together due to the weight of the cylindrical valve assembly after its hollow cavity is filled with the reinforcement material.
The hollow wall of the cylindrical containment assembly may comprise an inner wall, an outer wall, an annular rim connected between the bottom of the inner wall and the bottom of the outer wall, and a reinforcement cavity above the annular rim. The annular rim may be positioned on the portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the defective BOP stack.
The inner wall, the outer wall and the annular rim may be comprised of steel.
The cylindrical valve assembly may comprise at least one heating element for heating the valve.
In another scenario, a cylindrical containment assembly is positioned on a portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the defective BOP stack. The cylindrical containment assembly has a hollow wall that is filled with reinforcement material. A cylindrical valve assembly is positioned on top of the cylindrical containment assembly. The cylindrical valve assembly has a hollow cavity surrounding at least one large diameter valve that is maintained in an open position. The hollow cavity of the cylindrical valve assembly is filled with reinforcement material, causing the cylindrical valve assembly to seal to the cylindrical containment assembly. The large diameter valve is closed to contain the at least one of oil or gas within the cylindrical containment assembly.
A riser assembly may be attached between the large diameter valve and a containment vessel on the ocean surface. The large diameter valve may then be opened to allow the at least one of oil and gas to be stored by the containment vessel.
The pressure of the at least one of oil or gas may be monitored after the large diameter valve is closed. The large diameter valve may be automatically opened when the pressure within the cylindrical containment assembly reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold.
The hollow wall may comprise an inner wall, an outer wall, an annular rim connected between the bottom of the inner wall and the bottom of the outer wall, and a reinforcement cavity located above the annular rim for containing the reinforcement material.
The annular rim may be positioned on a portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the defective BOP stack.
The cylindrical containment assembly may further comprise a plurality of mud flaps that are configured to stop the cylindrical containment assembly from sinking too far below the ocean floor when reinforcement material is added to the hollow wall of the cylindrical containment assembly, the cylindrical valve assembly is positioned on top of the cylindrical containment assembly, and reinforcement material is added to the hollow cavity of the cylindrical valve assembly.
The mud flaps may be located at different heights along the outer wall of the hollow wall of the cylindrical containment assembly, and may be remotely activated to protrude or retract, or be raised or lowered, to control the depth of the cylindrical containment assembly as more weight is added on top of it in order to contain the spewing oil and/or gas.
In another scenario, a primary containment assembly is positioned on a portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the defective BOP stack, and is fastened to the ocean floor. A secondary containment assembly is then lowered below the ocean surface, and fastened between the primary containment assembly and at least one containment vessel floating on the ocean surface. The primary and secondary containment assemblies substantially reduce the pollution by allowing the oil and/or gas to rise from the ocean floor through the containment assemblies to the containment vessel for storage.
The primary containment assembly may comprise a self-fastening mechanism that fastens and seals the primary containment assembly to the ocean floor.
The secondary containment assembly may comprise a plurality of containment assemblies that are fastened together.
The portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the defective BOP stack may be graded in order to optimize the reduction of the pollution.
The self-fastening mechanism may be activated to detonate a series of small explosive changes that force fastening devices to penetrate the ocean floor.
The self-fastening mechanism may be activated to release a sealing agent that provides a water-tight seal between the primary containment assembly and the ocean floor.
The self-fastening mechanism may be activated to rotate at least one blade to burrow a portion of the primary containment assembly below the ocean floor.
At least one remotely operated vehicle (ROV) may be used to perform the previously described procedures.
The secondary containment assembly may comprise at least one flexible ducting hose.
The primary containment assembly may comprise a first opening that circumvents the defective BOP stack and is fastened and sealed to the ocean floor, and a second opening that is narrower than the first opening and through which the oil and/or gas rise to the secondary containment assembly.
A more detailed understanding may be had from the following description, given by way of example in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
The present invention described herein proposes the undertaking of a potentially expensive method and apparatus, due to the substantially large size of a defective BOP stack that must be circumvented and sealed under thousands of feet of water in response to a catastrophic event, such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. However, it has recently been discovered that there are currently no procedures or apparatus available for effectively dealing with such events, and that the consequences of other similar events occurring over a period of time have the potential to destroy life on Earth as we know it.
Instead of tapping off various points of the defective BOP stack 120′, the present invention uses its various embodiments to substantially isolate the BOP stack 120′ from the ocean by completely circumventing and encasing the defective BOP stack 120′. Thus, the amount of ocean that mixes with the spewing oil and/or gas 210 is minimized. Furthermore, a combination of one or more heating elements and measurement equipment, as well as the addition of one or more valves, allow the present invention to better contain and/or control the spewing oil and/or gas 210.
The present invention proposes a method and apparatus for containing oil from a subsea oil and/or gas blowout. An apparatus constructed from this design will mitigate the spread of oil slicks from subsea oil and/or gas blowouts, with the benefit of allowing oil and/or gas exploration to proceed with diminished risk of environmental damage. The present invention has particular application where coastal wetlands or other delicate ecosystems may potentially be damaged by an oil spill. There currently appears to be no alternative method or apparatus for containing the oil from such blowouts. The present invention has market potential in basins subject to offshore oil exploration where deepwater rigs are active.
The reinforcement material mentioned herein, such as cement, is used underwater for many purposes including, for example, in pools, dams, piers, retaining walls and tunnels. There are many factors that must be controlled for successful application of cement underwater. Of these, the hardening time, that between mixing and solidification, is particularly important because, if it is too long, the cement does not solidify at all but simply dissolves in the surrounding water, herein the environmental water. Compositions containing exothermic micro particles have been found very advantageous for underwater cement applications. The exothermic micro particles produce very high rates of exothermic heating when combined with base cement and water. The exothermic heat produced is sufficient to raise the reaction temperature to a point where the cement composition solidifies underwater, even in cold environmental water.
A more sophisticated system of mud flaps 340 may be implemented, whereby the mud flaps 340 may be located at different heights along the outer wall 320 of the cylindrical containment assembly 300, and may be remotely activated (either wirelessly or via a wired or hydraulic connection from a vessel on the ocean surface 105) to protrude or retract, or be raised or lowered, to control the depth of the cylindrical containment assembly 300 as more weight is added on top of it in order to contain the spewing oil and/or gas 210. Furthermore, the mud flaps 340 may be designed to break off, based on how much weight is applied to the top perimeter 328 (see
The cylindrical containment assembly 300 is lowered below the ocean surface 105 and positioned on a portion of the ocean floor 115 that circumvents the defective BOP stack 120′. Although it may be possible to lower the cylindrical containment assembly 300 over the defective BOP stack 120′ if the riser assembly 125 remains in a vertical position by letting the riser assembly 125 pass through the center of the cylindrical containment assembly 300, the riser assembly 125 needs to be disconnected (i.e., cut off) near the top of the defective BOP stack 120′ if a catastrophic event caused the riser assembly 125 to collapse (i.e., fold over), as what occurred due to the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion (see
Alternatively, the cylindrical containment assembly 300 may consist of a plurality of sections and/or components that are assembled below the ocean surface 105. The sections and/or components of the cylindrical containment assembly 300 would be constructed and stored onshore close to areas where deepwater rigs are active. The sections and/or components may include seals and/or gaskets, and the sections and/or components may be assembled together as they are immersed just under the ocean surface 105.
When the cylindrical valve assembly 350 is lowered below the ocean surface 105 onto the reinforced cylindrical containment assembly 300′, the valve 355 is maintained in a fully open position such that the oil and/or gas 210 spewing from the defective BOP stack 120′ is allowed to pass through the valve 355. By leaving at least one valve 355 of a suitable diameter in a fully open position, buoyancy problems due to the pressure of the spewing oil and/or gas 210 may be minimized, while the hollow cavity 375 of the cylindrical valve assembly 350, surrounding the valve 355, is filled with reinforcement material (e.g., cement). Preferably, the valve 355 may be configured to be remotely controlled (either wirelessly or via a wired or hydraulic connection from a vessel on the ocean surface 105) to maintain an open position, a partially open position or a closed position, as desired. A ROV may be used to assist in the lowering and positioning of the cylindrical valve assembly 350.
A riser assembly 125 may be attached between the large diameter valve 355 and a containment vessel on the ocean surface 105. The large diameter valve 355 may then be opened to allow the at least one of oil and gas 210 to be stored by the containment vessel.
The pressure of the at least one of oil or gas 210 may be monitored by the pressure monitor unit 388 after the large diameter valve 355 is closed. The large diameter valve 355 may be automatically opened by the pressure monitor unit 388 when the pressure within the cylindrical containment assembly 300 reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold.
The wide hollow wall 305 of the cylindrical containment assembly 300 may be of such a large width (e.g., 10 feet or more), that it may be unlikely that the cylindrical containment assembly 300 would sink very far below the ocean floor 115, and thus the mud flaps 340 may not be necessary. However, the extreme weight applied to the top perimeter 328 (see
In step 405 of the procedure 400 of
In step 420 of the procedure 400 of
As an example, the diameter of the cylindrical containment assembly 300 may be on the order of 80 feet, and the height of the cylindrical containment assembly 300 may be on the order of 60 feet. The width of the hollow wall 305 of the cylindrical containment assembly 300 may be on the order of 10 feet. The diameter of the cylindrical valve assembly 350 may be equal to or greater than the diameter of the cylindrical containment assembly 300, and the height of the cylindrical valve assembly 350 may be on the order of 80 feet. Thus, the hollow cavity 375 of the of the cylindrical valve assembly 350 may be able to hold on the order of 400,000 cubic feet of reinforcement material (e.g., cement). Depending upon the type of reinforcement material used, which may range from 90 to 140 pounds per cubic foot, and how much is poured into the hollow cavity 375 of the cylindrical valve assembly 350, the weight applied to the top perimeter 328 of the reinforced cylindrical containment assembly 300′ to counter the pressure of the spewing oil and/or gas 210 may be on the order of 25,000 tons. The enormous mass of the reinforced cylindrical valve assembly 300′, combined with the large mass of the cement-filled reinforcement cavity 310 of the reinforced cylindrical containment assembly 300′, should insure that the oil and/or gas 210 would not be able to pass through the bottom of the reinforced cylindrical containment assembly 300′, since the annular rim 380 would be applying a huge force to the ocean floor 115, causing it to compress and form an watertight seal with the bottom of the cylindrical containment assembly 300.
The diameter of the valve 355 is critical to the first embodiment of the present invention, and may be on the order of six feet. For example, the valve 355 may be configured in a fashion similar to jet flow gates used for dams, such as the Hoover Dam, which may range in diameter from 68 to 90 inches. These devices are designed to operate under high pressure, and include a steel plate that may be opened or closed to either prevent or allow fluid to be discharged from a structure, much like the faucet in a sink controls the flow of water. A jet flow gate with a 68 inch diameter may be capable of discharging approximately 3,800 cubic feet per second (28,424 gallons per second). When a gate is closed, the force of the fluid behind may be 248 pounds per square inch, or 900,736 pounds per gate, depending on how many valves are used. A jet flow gate with a 90 inch diameter may be capable of discharging approximately 5,400 cubic feet per second (40,000 gallons per second).
As would be known by one of ordinary skill, smaller or larger dimensions may be applicable to the components used to implement the various embodiments of the present invention in accordance with the particular BOP failure situation that the assemblies 300 and 350 are designed for. For example, initial tests and analysis should be performed in a laboratory setting to determine more precise dimensions that may be applicable to a particular BOP stack failure situation.
The first embodiment of the present invention, as described above in conjunction with
Still referring to
Still referring to
The primary containment assembly 500/550 is lowered below the ocean surface 105 and positioned on a portion of the ocean floor 115 that circumvents the defective BOP stack 120′. Although it may be possible to lower the primary containment assembly 500/550 over the defective BOP stack 120′ if the riser assembly 125 remains in a vertical position by letting the riser assembly 125 pass through the first opening 505/555 and the second opening 525/570 of the primary containment assembly 500/550, the riser assembly 125 needs to be disconnected (i.e., cut off) near the top of the defective BOP stack 120′ if a catastrophic event caused the riser assembly 125 to collapse (i.e., fold over), as what occurred due to the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion.
Preferably, it would be desirable to grade the portion of the ocean floor 115 that circumvents the defective BOP stack 120′ before the primary containment assembly 500/550 is positioned, in order to optimize the reduction of the pollution of the ocean caused by the oil and/or gas 210 spewing from the defective BOP stack 120′. Such ocean floor grading may be performed by at least one ROV. Furthermore, the ROV may be used to assist in the lowering and positioning of the primary containment assembly 500/550.
Alternatively, the primary containment assembly 500/550 may consist of a plurality of sections and/or components that are assembled below the ocean surface 105. The sections and/or components of the primary containment assembly 500/550 would be constructed and stored onshore close to areas where deepwater rigs are active. The sections and/or components may include seals and/or gaskets, and the sections and/or components may be assembled together as they are immersed just under the ocean surface 105.
In accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention,
Claims
1. A method of containing at least one of oil or gas spewing from a defective blowout preventer (BOP) stack located on a floor of an ocean, the method comprising:
- (a) lowering a containment assembly below a surface of the ocean, the containment assembly having a hollow wall;
- (b) positioning the containment assembly on a portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the defective BOP stack;
- (c) filling the hollow wall of the containment assembly with reinforcement material;
- (d) lowering a valve assembly below the ocean surface, the valve assembly having a hollow cavity surrounding at least one large diameter high pressure valve that is maintained in an open position;
- (e) positioning the valve assembly on top of the reinforced containment assembly;
- (f) filling the hollow cavity of valve assembly with reinforcement material; and
- (g) closing the large diameter high pressure valve, wherein the at least one of oil or gas is contained within the reinforced containment assembly.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the reinforcement material is cement.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the valve assembly and the containment assembly each have a cylindrical geometric configuration, and the cylindrical valve assembly has at least the same diameter as the cylindrical containment assembly.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the cylindrical valve assembly comprises at least one seal that is mounted along the entire bottom perimeter of the cylindrical valve assembly.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the cylindrical containment assembly comprises at least one seal that is mounted along the entire top perimeter of the cylindrical containment assembly, and the seals of the cylindrical valve assembly and the cylindrical containment assembly compress together due to the weight of the cylindrical valve assembly after its hollow cavity is filled with the reinforcement material.
6. The method of claim 3 wherein the hollow wall of the cylindrical containment assembly comprises an inner wall, an outer wall, an annular rim connected between the bottom of the inner wall and the bottom of the outer wall, and a reinforcement cavity above the annular rim, wherein the annular rim is positioned on the portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the defective BOP stack.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the inner wall, the outer wall and the annular rim are comprised of steel.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the valve assembly comprises at least one heating element for heating the large diameter high pressure valve.
9. Apparatus for containing at least one of oil or gas spewing from a defective blowout preventer (BOP) stack located on a floor of an ocean, the apparatus comprising:
- a containment assembly having a hollow wall that is filled with reinforcement material after the containment assembly is lowered below a surface of the ocean and positioned on a portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the defective BOP stack; and
- a valve assembly having a hollow cavity surrounding at least one large diameter high pressure valve, wherein the hollow cavity of the valve assembly is filled with reinforcement material after the valve assembly is lowered below the ocean surface and positioned on top of the reinforced containment assembly while the large diameter high pressure valve is maintained in an open position, and then the large diameter high pressure valve is closed to contain the at least one of oil or gas within the reinforced containment assembly.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the reinforcement material is cement.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the valve assembly and the containment assembly each have a cylindrical geometric configuration, and the cylindrical valve assembly has at least the same diameter as the cylindrical containment assembly.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the cylindrical valve assembly comprises at least one seal that is mounted along the entire bottom perimeter of the cylindrical valve assembly.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the cylindrical containment assembly comprises at least one seal that is mounted along the entire top perimeter of the cylindrical containment assembly, and the seals of the cylindrical valve assembly and the cylindrical containment assembly compress together due to the weight of the cylindrical valve assembly after its hollow cavity is filled with the reinforcement material.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the hollow wall of the cylindrical containment assembly comprises an inner wall, an outer wall, an annular rim connected between the bottom of the inner wall and the bottom of the outer wall, and a reinforcement cavity above the annular rim, wherein the annular rim is positioned on the portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the defective BOP stack.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the inner wall, the outer wall and the annular rim are comprised of steel.
16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the valve assembly comprises at least one heating element for heating the large diameter high pressure valve.
17. A method of containing at least one of oil or gas spewing from a defective blowout preventer (BOP) stack located on a floor of an ocean, the method comprising:
- (a) positioning a containment assembly on a portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the defective BOP stack, the containment assembly having at least one seal and a hollow wall;
- (b) filling the hollow wall of the containment assembly with reinforcement material;
- (c) positioning a valve assembly on top of the reinforced containment assembly, the valve assembly having at least one seal and a hollow cavity surrounding at least one large diameter high pressure valve that is maintained in an open position;
- (d) filling the hollow cavity of the valve assembly with reinforcement material, causing the seals of the reinforced valve assembly and the reinforced containment assembly to compress together; and
- (e) closing the large diameter high pressure valve to contain the at least one of oil or gas within the reinforced containment assembly.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
- (f) attaching a riser assembly between the large diameter high pressure valve and a containment vessel on a surface of the ocean; and
- (g) opening the large diameter high pressure valve to allow the at least one of oil and gas to be stored by the containment vessel.
19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
- (f) monitoring pressure of the at least one of oil or gas after the large diameter high pressure valve is closed; and
- (g) automatically opening the large diameter high pressure valve when the pressure within the reinforced containment assembly reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold.
20. The method of claim 17 wherein the containment assembly has a cylindrical geometric configuration, and the hollow wall comprises an inner wall, an outer wall, an annular rim connected between the bottom of the inner wall and the bottom of the outer wall, and a reinforcement cavity located above the annular rim for containing the reinforcement material.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein the annular rim is positioned on a portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the defective BOP stack.
22. The method of claim 17 wherein the containment assembly further comprises a plurality of mud flaps that are configured to stop the containment assembly from sinking too far below the ocean floor when reinforcement material is added to the hollow wall of the containment assembly, the valve assembly is positioned on top of the reinforced containment assembly, and reinforcement material is added to the hollow cavity of the valve assembly.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein the mud flaps are located at different heights along the outer wall of the hollow wall of the containment assembly, and may be remotely activated to protrude or retract, or be raised or lowered, to control the depth of the containment assembly as more weight is added on top of it in order to contain the spewing oil and/or gas.
24. Apparatus for containing at least one of oil or gas spewing from a defective blowout preventer (BOP) stack located on a floor of an ocean, the apparatus comprising:
- a containment assembly having at least one seal and a hollow wall that is filled with reinforcement material after the containment assembly is positioned on a portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the defective BOP stack; and
- a valve assembly having at least one seal and a hollow cavity surrounding at least one large diameter high pressure valve that is maintained in an open position, wherein the hollow cavity of the valve assembly is filled with reinforcement material after the valve assembly is positioned on top of the reinforced containment assembly, causing the seals of the reinforced valve assembly and the reinforced containment assembly to compress together, and then the large diameter high pressure valve is closed to contain the at least one of oil or gas within the reinforced containment assembly.
25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein a riser assembly is attached between the large diameter high pressure valve and a containment vessel on a surface of the ocean, and the large diameter high pressure valve is opened to allow the at least one of oil and gas to be stored by the containment vessel.
26. The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising:
- a pressure monitoring unit configured to monitor pressure of the at least one of oil or gas after the large diameter high pressure valve is closed, and automatically open the large diameter high pressure valve when the pressure within the reinforced containment assembly reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold.
27. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the containment assembly has a cylindrical geometric configuration, and the hollow wall comprises an inner wall, an outer wall, an annular rim connected between the bottom of the inner wall and the bottom of the outer wall, and a reinforcement cavity located above the annular rim for containing the reinforcement material.
28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the annular rim is positioned on a portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the defective BOP stack.
29. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the containment assembly further comprises a plurality of mud flaps that are configured to stop the containment assembly from sinking too far below the ocean floor when reinforcement material is added to the hollow wall of the containment assembly, the valve assembly is positioned on top of the reinforced containment assembly, and reinforcement material is added to the hollow cavity of the valve assembly.
30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the mud flaps are located at different heights along the outer wall of the hollow wall of the containment assembly, and may be remotely activated to protrude or retract, or be raised or lowered, to control the depth of the containment assembly as more weight is added on top of it in order to contain the spewing oil and/or gas.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 24, 2010
Publication Date: Dec 29, 2011
Applicant: Subsea IP Holdings LLC (Sewell, NJ)
Inventor: Scott Wolinsky (Sewell, NJ)
Application Number: 12/822,324
International Classification: E21B 34/04 (20060101); E02B 15/06 (20060101);