Oil spill response submarine and method of use thereof

Abstract

The submarine has a plurality of oil spill detection and removal means, oil / water separating device and oil store tanks. Lights and camera sets are installed in a manner allowing a visual control over the movement of the submarine and over the process of oil removal. A telescopic boom, a sail suction platform and deck suction means are provided to collect the oil spill from the surface of water and from beneath the ice. A bottom suction compartment is provided to collect the oil spill rising from the sea floor to the surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application dams priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 854,653 filed Apr. 29, 2013; said application is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to methods and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons, including oil and oily substances, as well as other polluting chemicals floating suspended or moving within or on the surface of a body of water as a result of a spill and more particularly in the presence of ice, and to such a system using a autonomous manned submarine to remove spilled hydrocarbons from the body of water.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]With an intensified development of marine oil deposits the risks of accidental oil spill increase exponentially. The latest accidents in the Mexican Gulf, in Brazil and in Nigeria demonstrated that existing methods and equipment used to contain and neutralize oil spills are ineffective and insufficient. Before the surface s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a versatile method and apparatus for removing polluting chemicals, such as oil, from a body of water. It provides an autonomous, self-sufficient, self-propelled apparatus that can pick up the oil using a plurality of intake means, mounted within the apparatus and operable in various conditions and locations within the body of water. The operators can view the body of water and operate the intake means simultaneously in different locations. The unique construction overcomes the technical limitation of existing oil spill skimmers and response means. It creates a possibility of a rapid deployment of a powerful and versatile oil spill response vehicle in remote and hard to reach areas.

Problems solved by technology

With an intensified development of marine oil deposits the risks of accidental oil spill increase exponentially.

The latest accidents in the Mexican Gulf, in Brazil and in Nigeria demonstrated that existing methods and equipment used to contain and neutralize oil spills are ineffective and insufficient.

Before the surface spill response boats begin the proper operation to collect the spilled oil, would be often spread and dispersed even more on a wide territory by various vessels, or when corralled it would be partially burnt polluting the air in addition to polluting the water.

The use of various dispersants was also proved to be non-effective and harmful for the environment and for the people.

That becomes even more critical for the conditions of the Arctic seas when the body of water is infested with the ice and heavy storms may delay or impede the delivery or the use of the oil spill response means and equipment.

Various systems and equipment have been developed for oil spill containment and removal from the surface of a body of water, however, there is no suitable apparatus for recovering or even properly detecting big volumes of polluting chemicals from the body of water heavily infested with ice.

The use of a system comprising a surface vessel may also be complicated by the presence of ice, poor visibility or storm.

None of the above means has the ability, however, to recover oil accumulated below or / and within the ice or to recover oil plumes rapidly rising in heavy volumes from the bottom in case of a blowout nor they have a autonomous versatility for removing oil in the conditions of the Arctic sea regardless of the weather conditions and of the time of the day.

EP 2532577 A1 discloses a submarine with a oil sonar detection device, a oil separating device and having a suction / discharging trunk to collect oil accumulated under the ice plate, but that does not provide means for collecting oil pollutant from the sea surface, from the slush ice, from within the ice, from the body of water regardless of the position of the submarine, or from the bottom.

It does no provide means for collecting carbohydrates rising from the sea floor as a result of a blow-out.

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