Patent ID: 8297361
Filing Date: 2012-10-30
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. An oil recovery system, comprising: a fluid collector assembly positionable proximate to the bed of a body of water, the collector assembly having an open lower end to receive fluid and having an upper end coupled to a lowermost fluid transfer tube; a plurality of rigid, substantially cylindrical fluid transfer tubes, each fluid transfer tube having a first coupling interface at a first end and having a second coupling interface at a second end; a tube coupling system that interconnects the fluid transfer tubes as a string between the lowermost fluid transfer tube and the surface of the body of water, the tube coupling system comprising a plurality of tube coupling clamps, each tube coupling clamp interconnecting a respective first coupling interface of a respective one of the fluid transfer tubes to a respective second coupling interface of another of the fluid transfer tubes; a guide system comprising a guide cable anchorable at the bed, the guide cable loosely coupled to the fluid collector assembly and to the fluid transfer tubes to maintain the guide cable generally in parallel to the fluid transfer tubes, the guide system guiding the fluid collector assembly and the fluid transfer tubes as the fluid collector assembly and the fluid transfer tubes are lowered to the bed; and a lifting system comprising a lift cable coupled to the fluid collector assembly to lower the fluid collector assembly and the fluid transfer tubes to the bed and to raise the fluid collector assembly and the fluid transfer tubes from the bed, the lift cable loosely coupled to the fluid transfer tubes to maintain the lift cable generally in parallel to the fluid transfer tubes.