FLOATING OIL CONTAINMENT AND ABSORBENT BARRIER SYSTEM

Abstract

A floating oil containment system including a series of containment sections each having a boom portion and a collection curtain extending downwardly therefrom. The containment sections are connectable in series by fasteners inserted along their edges to form a floating oil containment system of a desired size and/or configuration. The collection curtain further generally is formed from an oil and/or chemical absorbent material that will absorb the oil or chemical materials, whereupon the containment section or collection curtain thereof can be removed and replaced for continued remediation of the spill site.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present patent application is a formalization of previously filed, co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/360,977, filed Jul. 2, 2010 by the inventor named in the present Application. This patent application claims the benefit of the filing date of this cited Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/560,977 according to the statutes and rules governing provisional patent applications, particularly 35 U.S.C. §119(a)(i) and 37 C.F.R. §1.78(a)(4) and (a)(5). The specification and drawings of the Provisional patent application referenced above are specifically incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to containment and clean-up systems for chemical systems oil spills and the like. In particular, the present invention relates to a floating oil containment system having an absorbent oil barrier material attachable thereto for absorption and removal of oil and/or chemical contaminants at a spill site.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Oil spills are among the worst man-made environmental disasters, often leading to not only significant damage to the surrounding environment and the animals living in such an environment, but further raising significant health concerns for humans. The ecological and economic effects of such oil spills or similar chemical spills further can last for many years. For example, the recent deep-well drilling explosion and resultant oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has created widespread damage to the coastlines of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, including destroying oyster beds and fishing grounds along these coastal areas. This oil spill further has led to the deaths of thousands of animals, has threatened ecologically sensitive wetlands and tidal areas along the coast, and has created serious health issues and economic issues, including loss of livelihoods, for the people living in the affected areas.

As part of efforts stop such oil spills, traditional methods have included the use of oil containment booms that are deployed in front of the spill plume or flow in an effort to try to contain the oil flow and block its further passage from reaching coastline and wetland areas. However, problems exist with such conventional booms including their size and bulk leading to potential issues in transport and assembly, and they typically are pre-assembled in large units or assemblies, which can lead to gaps therebetween when being installed and/or removed at a spill site. Other containment methods include the use of absorbent materials and vacuuming technologies.

Accordingly, it can be seen that a need exists for an approved oil barrier and containment system that addresses the foregoing and other related and unrelated problems in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly described, the present invention generally relates to a floating oil containment and absorbent barrier system for the containment and absorption/removal of oil, chemicals and other contaminant materials at an oil or chemical spill site. The floating oil containment and absorbent barrier system further is generally designed for use in bodies of water, although the present invention further can be adapted for use in various other environments or embodiments. The floating oil containment and absorbent barrier system is arranged in a series of containment sections that can be connected in series as needed to easily assemble a containment barrier system of a desired size and/or configuration and which can be assembled on-site rather than having to be shipped and stored in a fully assembled condition or configuration.

The floating oil containment and absorbent barrier system includes a floating boom portion at an upper end thereof, which floating boom generally includes a body in which a buoyant, floatation material is received. The flotation material can include solid flotation materials such as a polystyrene or similar buoyant material, various expandable foams or granular buoyant materials, inflatable air bladders, or other similar flotation materials that can be received and sealed within the pockets formed within the body of the floating boom portion. The floating boom portion further can be formed with an oil or chemical absorbent material to assist in the absorption of oil and/or other floating pollutant materials at a chemical or oil spill site.

A collection curtain is connected to the floating boom portion so as to be supported by the floating boom portion, with the collection curtain extending downwardly therefrom. In a first embodiment, the collection curtain generally will be integrally formed with the floating boom portion extending below the buoyant material and being formed from a similar oil and/or chemical absorbent material such as a spun bond polyester, polypropylene, nylon or other synthetic fabric material that can further include woven or non-woven fabric materials or pads, and which is water permeable. The oil absorbent fabric is designed/selected to be readily saturated and to hold oil and/or chemical pollutants floating in water as the water flows or passes therethrough so as to collect and retain the oil and/or chemical pollutant materials therein for removal. The collection curtain generally will be connected to the floating boom portion along a horizontally aligned belt that defines a lower edge of the floating boom portion and an upper end of the collection curtain, as well as along the sides thereof by the application of vertical lifting belts.

The vertical lifting belts typically will be formed from a reinforcing material such as a fiberglass or synthetic poly belting scrim or other similar reinforcing material selected to provide sufficient tensile strength to enable lifting and removal of a fully saturated collection curtain and/or boom portion. The vertical lifting belts further generally will be provided with attachment mechanisms such as grommets or similar fastening mechanisms to enable the insertion of fasteners therethrough for connection of the sides of the collection curtains and/or floating boom portions of each containment section to an adjacent containment section for connection of the containment sections in series as needed to define a desired length and/or configuration floating oil containment and absorbent barrier system.

In an alternative embodiment, the collection curtain can be formed as a replaceable skirt that can be removably attached to the floating boom portion of a containment section to enable removal and replacement of just the saturated collection curtain component of a containment section as needed. In this embodiment, the collection curtain skirt can be formed with an upper belt or band extending across the upper edge thereof and which can be attached vertically to the extending lifting belts arranged along the sides of the floating boom portion and to the horizontally extending belt of the floating boom portion via releasable fasteners to enable removal of the collection curtain upon saturation and ease of replacement of the collection curtain with a new, clean collection curtain, without having to disengage the floating boom portions, and thus disengage or otherwise break up and/or remove the floating oil containment and absorbent barrier system or a series of containment sections thereof in order to replace one or more saturated collection curtains.

Various features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a review of the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In addition, according to common practice, the various features of the drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. Dimensions of various features and elements in the drawings may be expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a floating oil containment with oil absorbent barrier material attached thereto according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a front view illustrating the components of the floating oil containment system with oil absorbent barrier according to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view illustrating the components of the floating oil containment system with oil absorbent barrier according to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a section of the floating oil containment system with oil absorbent barrier material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As illustrated in the drawings, the floating oil containment and absorbent barrier system formed according to the principles of the present invention, is designed to provide a containment and chemical spill absorption system that is easily transportable and assemblable in the field, and which further includes a chemical or oil absorbent barrier material or covering that can be removably attached as needed for rapid replacement or reconditioning. This system can have application for clean-up operations such as for oil spills as well as other types of chemical spills as will be understood in the art. In particular, the floating oil containment and absorbent barrier system can have affiliation for containment and removal of oil and other chemical pollutants floating in/on bodies of water such as on the ocean, and in lakes, rivers or streams.

As generally illustrated in FIGS. 1-2A, the floating oil containment system 10 can be formed in multiple containment sections 11 that can be linkable in series to form a floating containment structure of a desired length and depth as needed. Each section 11 generally includes a buoyant or floating boom portion 12 with a collection curtain or skirt 13 attached to and extending downwardly therefrom. The floating boom portions 12 and collection curtains 13 an be separately assembled and stored and can be provided in various dimensions for assembly into containment sections of varying sizes, such that the floating oil containment system assembled therefrom can be formed in different lengths and can include various attachment mechanisms for securing the containment sections together. For example, the floating oil containment system sections 11 can be approximately 10 to 15 feet in length, and approximately 3 to 5 feet in height, although it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the floating oil containment sections further can be formed with other, varying dimensions, including greater or lesser lengths and/or greater or lesser heights. Consequently, for deeper spills or containment plumes, containment sections having greater heights or depths can be used, or for smaller spills or areas where space is more contained/limited, smaller dimension sections also can be used.

As generally illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the boom portion 12 of the floating oil containment system 10, according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, generally can have an elongated rectangular or substantially cylindrical configuration body 15, and typically can have a substantially flat upper surface or top 14, although it also can have a rounded or other configuration as well, of a width or size sufficient to provide a surface or area for support of birds and other wildlife above the spill. The boom portion further can be approximately 6 inches to 12 inches in width, although greater or lesser widths also can be used depending upon the environment. The height and/or depth of the boom portion of the floating oil containment system further can be approximately 8 inches to approximately 18 inches in height, and approximately 6 inches to 12 inches in depth, although other dimensions also can be provided. For example, depending upon the environment or particular application of the floating oil containment system, such as in areas of heavy wave activity or as needed to provide buffering zones of a desired size, the floating boom portion can be formed with greater or lesser widths or depths and/or heights to widen, flatten or and/or deepen buffering and/or buoyancy attributes.

In one embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 2A, the boom portion 12 can include one or more sections or pieces 16 of a buoyant material received and generally encapsulated within the body 15 of the boom portion 12. The body of the boom portion further can be formed from an oil absorbent fabric including woven or non-woven fabric materials, such as a spun bond polyester fabric, various melt blown polypropylene, nylon or other similar synthetic absorbent fabric materials, as well as various natural materials including cotton or blends thereof. For example, the oil absorbent fabric material could include a “Belted Silt Retention Fencing” material, comprising a reinforced, flexible and water permeable woven or non-woven fabric with a reinforcing element extending along the fabric and adapted to support and prevent ripping or tearing of the fabric, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,465,129, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference as if set forth fully herein.

Alternatively, the body of the floating boom portion also can be formed from an oil or chemical resistant material that resists absorption of oil or chemical pollutants by the boom portion, and/or a non-permeable material that prevents water and the oil and/or chemical pollutants contained therein from passing through the floating boom portion and contacting the buoyant materials contained therein. Additionally, the fabric material of the floating boom portion can include or can be coated with an ultraviolet protective material so as to resist degradation and/or breakdown of the fabric material fibers due to exposure to sunlight over extended periods of time.

As indicated in FIG. 2A, the flotation or buoyant materials 16 of the floating boom portion 12 can include a variety of buoyant materials, for example, blocks 17 of polystyrene or Styrofoam materials having high buoyancy content, which blocks can be inserted into pockets or receptacles 18 formed within the body 15 of the boom portion 12, with the pockets being sealable to compartmentalize the flotation material. In addition, the boom portion can be formed as a substantially elongated tube or unitary structure in which the flotation material 16, such as a single elongated polystyrene mass or block, or multiple blocks, can be inserted. Other flotation materials can include aggregates or expandable foam materials 19 and/or air bladders 21, or other, similar buoyant materials, as indicated in FIG. 2A.

Still further, the floating boom portion 12 can be formed with multiple pockets or compartments in which the various flotation materials or the like can be inserted for inflation or expansion in the field. Such a construction of the boom portion 12 of the floating oil containment system 10 thus enables easy transport of the floating oil containment system in sections that can be substantially folded flat and thereafter assembled or unrolled in the field, and the flotation material inserted therein, air bladders inflated, or the boom portion otherwise expanded to provide buoyancy or flotation for the floating oil containment system and enable easy and efficient transport to and assembly at various spill sites. The pockets 18 and/or the body 15 further can include releasable closures 20 (FIGS. 1 and 2B), such as snaps, hook and loop closures, slide closures, and/or other similar closures so as to enable the pockets to be sealed and re-opened as needed to enable change-out or replacement of the buoyant materials as needed or desired for specific use or application.

The collection curtain 13 of the floating oil containment system 10, according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, is generally illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2A-2B. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the side edges of the collection curtain 13 are shown as generally being formed with or as an extension of the boom portion 12 of the containment section 11 of the floating oil containment system. The boom portion is generally separated from the collection curtain by a synthetic poly belting material or high tensile strength belt 22, which defines a lower edge or bottom of the floating boom portion and the upper end of the collection curtain. The belt 22 can be made from a high-strength woven or non-woven reinforcing material, selected to provide sufficient tensile strength and resistance to tearing to enable the lifting ad removal of a collection curtain and boom portion that have become fully saturated with absorbed oil/chemical containments. For example, the belt 22 can include a fiberglass or other natural or polymeric fiber scrim material or a similar high-strength reinforcing belt material having upwards of 2,000-5000+ pounds tensile strength.

The collection curtain and boom portions further can be connected along the sides thereof by vertically extending lifting belts 23 generally formed from a similar high-strength belting material such as a woven or non-woven material such as a fiberglass or other high strength polymeric belting material or scrim as the horizontal belt 22. Such belting materials will be selected to provide sufficient tensile strength and resistance to tearing to enable the lifting ad removal of a collection curtain and boom portion that have become fully saturated with absorbed oil/chemical containments. The tufting belts 23 typically will be applied to the collection curtain and boom portion by sewing, thermal or adhesive bonding, fasteners or otherwise attaching or forming the belts with the collection curtain and boom portion. The vertical lifting belts typically will provide at least 1,500-2,000 pounds of tensile strength and further can include lifting loops or straps 24 defined at their upper ends. The belts 23 will then support the side edges of the boom portion 12 and collection curtain 13, to provide stability and secure connection areas for connection of the containment sections 11 in series for assembly of the floating oil containment system.

Grommets or other, similar attachment mechanisms 25 further are illustrated as being positioned at desired locations along the length of the vertical lifting belts 23. These grommets or other attachment mechanisms can serve to help facilitate the attachment of multiple sections 11 of the floating oil containment system 10 in series whereby the side edges of adjoining floating oil containment system sections 11 can be overlapped and secured relatively quickly and easily through the insertion of fasteners 26 such as rivets, bolts, tie straps, hooks, clasps, or other, similar fastening mechanisms as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2B. These fastening mechanisms 26 further can be removable to enable selective removal of one or more containment sections of the floating oil containment system as such containment sections become saturated with oil. As indicated in FIG. 2A, additional attachment mechanisms such as grommets 25′ also can be placed along the horizontal belt 22 to provide additional connection points for lifting of a containment section that is saturated with oil to spread the load more evenly across the belt 22 as needed.

In addition, the body 13A of the collection curtain 13 will be made from an oil or chemical absorbent fabric material such as a spun bond or melt blown polyester or polypropylene material, such as is used for covering the boom portion 12, although other, similar woven and/or non-woven oil or chemical absorbent materials also can be used. For example, the oil absorbent fabric material could include a “Belted Silt Retention Fencing” material, comprising a reinforced, flexible and water permeable woven or non-woven fabric with a reinforcing element extending along the fabric and adapted to support and prevent ripping or tearing of the fabric, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,465,129, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference as if set forth fully herein. Other materials, such as a Nano-wire mesh formed from an oil or chemical absorbent material, or an oil/chemically absorbent pad sandwiched between layers of a water permeable filtration material or scrim also can be used.

As noted, the body of the collection curtain is formed of a water permeable oil/chemical absorbent material so as to enable a desired level of flow of water through the collection curtain while filtering out and absorbing oil, chemicals and particulate materials. For example, a screening or filtering material can be used, having openings therethrough with an apparent opening size (AOS) of about 0.175 mm-0.600 mm, up to about 1.0-1.5 mm, although it will be understood by those skilled in the art that greater or lesser size openings also can be provided, depending on the application and range of particulate sizes or agglomerated cut to be filtered. The AOS or filtration level of the collection curtain, as well as the size and thickness thereof, further generally can be selected based upon a desired level of oil and/or particulate matter collection and/or saturation of the collection curtain being attained prior to removal and replacement thereof. The collection curtain further generally will have a tensile strength of at least about 75-200 lb. or greater, and a bursting strength of at least 150-500 lb., or greater such that the collection curtain has sufficient strength to withstand oil/chemical saturation and removal from a site without tearing or otherwise coming apart when lifted or handled.

In addition, as indicated in FIG. 2B, the collection curtain 13 can be provided with reinforcements (indicated at phantom lines 30) that provide additional structural support and strength to be collection curtain in use and when being lifted or removed from a site after saturation. For example, as noted, the collection curtain can be formed from a “Betted Silt Retention Fencing,” material, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,465,129 (incorporated herein by reference), which includes spaced reinforcements such as belts or strips of a fiberglass scrim or poly belting material that resists tearing and provides additional support to the body 13A of the collection curtain. Such reinforcements can be attached by sewing, bonding or other attachment means, or can be woven or otherwise integrated into/with the body of the collection curtain.

The collection curtain generally can be of a desired thickness, for example, approximately ¼ inch to upwards of 2-3 inches, as needed to provide sufficient oil absorption depending upon the application and use. Other thicknesses of the collection curtain also can be used. The collection curtain shown additionally typically will have a length approximately equivalent to the boom portion, e.g., 10 to 15 feet, and generally can be of a height of approximately 3 to 4 feet, although other sizes also can be utilized. The size of the collection and/or replacement curtain thus can be selected or varied as needed to enable quick and easy removal of the collection curtain as it becomes saturated with oil or other chemical materials. For example, where the collection curtain is removably attached to the boom portion, the collection curtain can be formed in sections or of a length and/or height selected to enable its easy removal and replacement while in the water either manually or with tools such as an electric winch. Alternatively, the entire section of the floating oil containment system, including the boom portion, covered with the oil absorbent material can be removed and replaced upon detachment from the adjacent sections of the floating oil containment system, via the lifting straps 24.

Still further, the collection curtain 13 can include a lower pocket 28 (FIG. 2A) in which a weighting material 29 can be positioned or received to facilitate maintaining the collection curtain in a downwardly hanging orientation as the collection curtain is subjected to currents and waves buffeting thereagainst. Examples of weighting materials can include sand, crushed rock, concrete or other, similar aggregate materials inserted into the pocket. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the weighting material further can include a chain or cable 31 of a desired weight and/or strength that will be inserted through and extends along the pocket 28 and which further can be connected at its opposite ends to additional chains or cables inserted through the weighting pockets of additional sections of the floating oil containment system. As a result, the bottom portions of the collection curtains of the various connected sections 11 (FIG. 1) of the floating oil containment system can be linked together in series so as to provide additional stability to the lower ends of the collection curtains of a series of connected sections as well as substantially simultaneously providing a weighting feature for the bottom portions of the collection curtains.

As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the collection curtain 13 also can be formed as a replaceable skirt 35 that can be removably attached to the boom portion 12 of the floating oil containment system 10 by fasteners 27 such as hooks, bolts, rivets, ties or the like inserted along the horizontal reinforcing strap or belt 22 between the boom portion and collection curtain. In such an embodiment, the floating boom portion 12 can be left in place, in an installed configuration at a spill site, or simply raised to enable ease of access to the collection curtain, and the saturated collection curtain can be unfastened and removed from the boom portion and replaced with a new collection curtain as needed. The collection curtain or skirt 35, indicated in FIG. 2B, generally will include a horizontally extending band or border strip 36 at an upper end 37 thereof, which band or border strip 36 generally will be formed form a similar high strength reinforcement material, such as a fiberglass scrim or other polymeric material, as the belt 22 of the floating boom portion and vertical lifting belts 23. A series of connectors 38, such as grommets 39, can be mounted along the band 36 for receipt of fasteners 27 therein for releasably mounting the band 36 of skirt 35 to the horizontally extending belt 22 of the boom portion as indicated in FIG. 2B.

Still further, the collection curtain 13 (FIG. 2B) can be formed with additional mounting or lifting straps 42/43 or connections 44 (FIG. 2A) for mounting straps or fasteners along its upper and lower edges so that, for exceptionally deep plumes, additional collection curtains or sections of the collection curtain can be attached to extend the depth or height of the collection curtain as needed. Such connections additionally could be utilized to assist in the removal of saturated portions of the collection curtain with the danger of oil passing through an opening created by the removal of the collection curtain being substantially minimized. In such an application, the collection curtain could be formed with multiple vertically connected sections that extend down several feet, and, as the upper sections become saturated with oil or other materials, they could be removed from the boom and as they are raised, the lower sections can then be attached to the boom while the upper section is removed for disposal and collection of oil saturated therein, without creating or leaving an opening through which the contained flow of oil could pass.

Accordingly, it can be seen that the present invention provides a floating or buoyant oil containment system that can be quickly and easily transported and assembled in the field. One problem with a number of traditional oil absorbent booms or similar containment systems is that they typically must be pre-formed in extremely large, expanded sections of 10 to 20 feet or more, which makes their transport, handling and assembly somewhat difficult. With the present invention, however, the containment sections 11 of the floating oil containment system (i.e., the boom portions and connected collection curtains) can be provided on elongated rolls or can be folded in individual sections, without the flotation materials incorporated or included therein, for ease of stacking, storage and transport. Thereafter, when the containment sections are transported to a spill site, the sections can be simply unfolded or unrolled and filled with a flotation material on-site, and quickly and easily connected to additional containment sections or lengths of the floating oil containment system by persons in the field.

As a further alternative, the boom portion and collection curtains can be separately formed and can be assembled together in the field to further enable customization of the floating oil containment system according to the size of extent of a spill to be contained, and to enable removal and replacement of saturated collection curtains as needed without necessarily having to remove the entire containment section or oil containment system. The containment sections also can be installed at a containment site for collection of and/or saturation with oil and/or other pollutant materials, and after being saturated, can be quickly and easily disconnected from adjacent sections and removed and replaced. The simple assembly and connection of the floating oil containment system of the present invention thus enables its use by relatively unskilled workers, which further facilitates its rapid use and deployment.

It further will be understood by those skilled in the art that while the present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous variations, modifications, and additions can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A floating oil containment system for containment and absorption of oil spills, comprising:

A floating boom portion including a buoyant material;

a collection curtain formed from a water permeable, oil absorbent fabric material and connected to and extending downwardly from the floating boom portion,

whereby the floating boom portion is provided with a sufficient level of buoyancy to enable the boom portion to float with the collection curtain supported by the floating boom portion and extending therebelow for collection and absorption of oil from the oil spill.

2. The floating oil containment system of claim 1 and wherein the collection curtain is removably attached to the floating boom portion.

3. The floating oil containment system of claim 1 and wherein the buoyant material included within the floating boom portion comprises polystyrene blocks, air bladders, or expandable foam materials.

4. The floating oil containment system of claim 1 and wherein the floating boom portion and collection curtain are integrally formed, and further comprising vertical lifting belts arranged along side portions of the collection curtain and floating boom portion, the vertical lifting belts including a series of fastener connections at spaced locations therealong to facilitate connection of additional sections of the floating oil containment system in series.

5. The floating containment system of claim 1 and wherein said oil absorbent material further comprises a water permeable filtering sheet material having an apparent opening size of about 0.175 mm to about 1.0 mm.

6. A floating containment system adapted to contain a chemical spill, comprising:

at least one containment section, comprising a floating boom portion adjacent an upper end of said containment section, and a collection curtain releasably mountable to said floating boom portion and extending downwardly therefrom,

a buoyant material received within said floating boom portion to provide buoyancy to said at least one containment section when said at least one containment section is used in a body of water; and

at least one connector located adjacent at least one side edge of said collection curtain for engaging and releasably connecting an additional containment section to said at least one containment section;

wherein said collection curtain comprises a chemical and/or oil absorbent fabric material adapted to absorb liquid chemicals or oil, and wherein, upon saturation of said collection curtain with liquid chemicals or oil, said collection curtain is releasable from its mounting to said floating boom portion for replacement of said collection curtain without also requiring removal and replacement of the floating boom portion of the at least one containment section.

7. The floating containment system of claim 6 and wherein said oil absorbent fabric material of said collection curtain comprises a spun bond or melt blown polypropylene or polyester sheet material.

8. The floating containment system of claim 7 and wherein said oil absorbent material further comprises a water permeable filtering sheet material having an apparent opening size of about 0.175 mm to about 1.0 mm.

9. The floating containment system of claim 7 and further comprising a weighting material received within a pocket adjacent a lower end of said collection curtain.

10. The floating containment system of claim 9 and wherein said weighting material comprises a chain.

11. The floating containment system of claim 9 and wherein said weighting material comprises a series of weights connectable to said lower end of said collection curtain.

12. The floating containment system of claim 7 and wherein said collection curtain further comprises reinforcing members arranged at spaced locations along said collection curtain.