Separating collectors for subsea blowouts

Patent · Tue Apr 03 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6598417

Milgram, J H; Burgess, J

A collector apparatus and method for use with a blown-out seabottom wellhead comprising a plurality of collector elements each having an extended, open base and an upper portion enclosing a volume to receive fluid comprising gas and lesser quantities of oil rising, in the water, from the wellhead, and risers connected to the collector elements and extending thereabove to conduct fluid therefrom. One collector element is disposed below at least one other collector element with an open volume defined therebetween, the first element positioned to intercept fluid rising from the wellhead, and the second element positioned to receive and collect excess flow of fluid that is not collected by the first element. A riser extends from the first collector element to the surface of the sea, and a second riser extends from the second collector element to a storage tank above the second collector element. The first riser includes an adjustable valve adapted to restrict flow through the riser whereby only a portion of gas from the blown-out wellhead is allowed to flow through the first riser and a further portion of gas and oil are rejected by the first collector element and flow into the second collector element, and the second riser is adapted to conduct gas in a gas-lift pumping flow rate capable of carrying water and accompanying oil from the second collector element to the storage tank.

• Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Patent Number(s): US 4440523
• OSTI ID: 6598417
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300 -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACCIDENTS
BLOWOUTS
CONTROL
DESIGN
EQUIPMENT
OFFSHORE OPERATIONS
OIL SPILLS
OIL WELLS
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
UNDERWATER OPERATIONS
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
WELLHEADS
WELLS