Patent ID: 9745815
Date: 2017-08-29
CPC Classifications: E21B

Claim:
1. Apparatus useful for providing a liquid-tight seal around a cellar formed around a hydrocarbon exploration or production well and extending into the earth from the earth's surface, the cellar having an opening and a wall extending around itself downwardly below the earth's surface and not above the earth's surface, the cellar wall having a top edge, the apparatus comprising: a clamp configured to be positioned inside the cellar proximate to the opening thereof and firmly engage the inside of the cellar wall, said clamp comprising at least first and second interconnectable sections, each said clamp section having at least one inwardly projecting connection bracket associated therewith, respectively, each said connection bracket of each said clamp section being releasably engageable with one of said connection brackets of another said clamp section to connect said clamp sections together; at least one platform configured to extend outwardly from the top of said clamp relative to the cellar, over the top edge of the cellar wall and across the earth's surface adjacent to and around the cellar when said clamp is engaged with the cellar wall, wherein said platform is configured to sealingly engage at least one adjacent mat of a reusable load-supporting surface, said load-supporting surface having at least two said mats; at least one frame configured to sealingly engage and extend at least partially between said platform and at least one of said adjacent mats, said frame being releasably coupled to said platform; and at least one seal member configured to be disposed between the cellar wall and at least one among said clamp and said platform to form a liquid-tight seal therebetween, wherein liquid exiting the cellar through the cellar opening is prevented from contacting the earth around the cellar opening.