Abstract Method of and apparatus for controlling subnatant seepage of oil as from an under water oil well or the like. The method includes the steps of collecting the seepage within an underwater receptacle located along the floor of a body of water in which the seepage occurs utilizing the floor as one of the confining walls of the receptacle. The seepage thus collected is conveyed upwardly in a confined state to the surface of the body of water and is deposited into a receiver from which the collected oil can be transported to a reservoir. The apparatus includes a receptacle open at its bottom to overlie the particular floor area of the body of water at which seepage is or may be present so as to collect or confine the seepage along the floor which serves as the bottom wall of the receptacle. A seepage conduit connected with the receptacle may be disposed circumjacent the outer conduit of an underwater well with which the apparatus is associated, and such conduit functions to carry the seepage from the receptacle to the surface of the water at which it empties into a receiver or reservoir from which the oil is pumped into a container for storage and processing as, for example, separation of the oil from water admixed therewith.
Inventors
👤 Winfield H Hyde
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-04 22:51
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/01; E21B43/0122
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
In combination: apparatus for controlling subnatant escape of oil within a body of water as from a submarine well or the like, comprising a receptacle generally open at its bottom and having wall members engageable with the floor beneath such body of water to define with such floor an essentially closed chamber adapted to collect escaping oil therewithin, and a seepage conduit connected adjacent its lower end with said receptacle in communication with said chamber for removing oil therefrom; and an underwater well having an outer well conduit extending upwardly through said chamber and centrically through said seepage conduit in substantial flow isolation therewith from the floor beneath such body of water to a location adjacent the surface thereof; said chamber being materially larger in cross sectional area than said well conduit and having a relatively large volumetric capacity so as to accommodate a large-volume escape of oil occurring within said receptacle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
In combination: apparatus for controlling subnatant escape of oil within a body of water as from a submarine well or the like, comprising a receptacle generally open at its bottom and having wall members engageable with the floor beneath such body of water to define with such floor an essentially closed chamber adapted to collect escaping oil therewithin, and a seepage conduit connected adjacent its lower end with said receptacle in communication with said chamber for removing oil therefrom; and an underwater well having an outer well conduit extending upwardly through said chamber and centrically through said seepage conduit in substantial flow isolation therewith from the floor beneath such body of water to a location adjacent the surface thereof; said chamber being materially larger in cross sectional area than said well conduit and having a relatively large volumetric capacity so as to accommodate a large-volume escape of oil occurring within said receptacle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
117 words
In combination: apparatus for controlling subnatant escape of oil within a body of water as from a submarine well or the like, comprising a receptacle generally open at its bottom and having wall members engageable with the floor beneath such body of water to define with such floor an essentially closed chamber adapted to collect escaping oil therewithin, and a seepage conduit connected adjacent its lower end with said receptacle for removing oil therefrom; and an underwater well having an outer well conduit extending upwardly through said chamber in substantial flow isolation therewith from the floor beneath such body of water to A location adjacent the surface thereof; said seepage conduit being generally circumjacent said well conduit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
In combination: apparatus for controlling subnatant escape of oil within a body of water as from a submarine well or the like, comprising a receptacle generally open at its bottom and having wall members engageable with the floor beneath such body of water to define with such floor an essentially closed chamber adapted to collect escaping oil therewithin, and a seepage conduit connected adjacent its lower end with said receptacle for removing oil therefrom; and an underwater well having an outer well conduit extending upwardly through said chamber in substantial flow isolation therewith from the floor beneath such body of water to A location adjacent the surface thereof; said seepage conduit being generally circumjacent said well conduit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said chamber is materially larger in cross sectional area than said well conduit and has a relatively large volumetric capacity so as to accommodate a large-volume escape of oil.