Apparatus and method for confining and collecting oil floating on a water surface

Patent · Tue Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 1972

OSTI ID:6148241

Spandau, H D; Johnson, D M; Fleming, R L

A series of gas inflated bodies is secured end-to-end to form a buoyant toroidal barrier which confines oil floating within the area circumscribed by the barrier. Each of the bodies includes a coupling means which secures adjacent bodies together in a leakproof seal and also acts as a harness structure for anchoring the composite toroidal body in place. Water and/or oil may be placed inside the inflated bodies to act as ballast and to provide storage for oil. In a modified form, a number of the inflated bodies is secured to each other and attached to the main barrier to form a lock which permits vessels to enter or leave the circumscribed area without loss of any of the confined oil. (15 claims)

• Assignee: TUL; EDB-81-126970
• Patent Number(s): US 3641771
• OSTI ID: 6148241
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CONTAINMENT
CONTROL
DESIGN
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
OFFSHORE OPERATIONS
OIL POLLUTION CONTAINMENT
OIL SPILLS
PETROLEUM
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
REMOVAL
SKIMMERS
WATER POLLUTION
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL