Abstract:
An oil spill containment and clean-up apparatus uses an absorbent containment barrier for stopping the spread of the spill and for absorbing the spill for disposal as the barrier is collapsed around the spill. A skimmer boat is also employed, with adjustable skimmer positions to reduce the amount of water collected with the spill in order to maximize efficiency. Oil collection pans can be mounted on cranes for remote collection.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a completion of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/640,396, filed on Apr. 30, 2012, entitled: “Oil Spill Containment and Clean-Up Apparatus and Method,” which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention is generally related to containment and reclamation of chemical spills and is specifically directed to a system for efficient deployment of containment and reclamation system for oil spills occurring in the water. 
         [0004]    2. Background of the Invention 
         [0005]    There are two major components involved in controlling oil spills: containment and recovery. When an oil spill occurs on water it is critical to contain the spill quickly to minimize danger and damage to the environment. It has long been known to use containment equipment to restrict the spread of the oil and maximize the recovery of the oil released in the spill. 
         [0006]    The most common equipment used to control the spread of oil is a floating barrier or boom. Containment booms reduce the possibility of polluting shorelines and other resources, and concentrate oil in thicker surface layers, making recovery easier. In addition, booms may be used to divert and channel oil slicks along desired paths, making the oil easier to remove from the surface of the water. Booms can be divided into several basic types. Fence booms have a high freeboard and a flat flotation device, making them least effective in rough water where wave and wind action can cause the boom to twist. Round or “curtain” booms have a more circular flotation device and a continuous skirt, and perform well in rough water, but are more difficult to clean and store than fence booms. Non-rigid inflatable booms are easy to clean and store, and perform well in rough seas. However, these intend to be expensive, more complicated to use, and puncture and deflate easily. 
         [0007]    Once an oil spill has been contained, the oil must be reclaimed from the water. Typically three types of equipment have been used in the reclamation or recovery process: booms, skimmers and sorbents. 
         [0008]    When used in recovering oil, booms are often supported by a horizontal arm extending directly from one or both sides of a vessel. The vessel booms scoop the oil off the surface and trap the captured oil between the between the angle of the boom and the vessel&#39;s hull. In another variation, a boom is moored at the end points of a rigid arm and extended from the vessel, forming a “U” or “J” shaped pocket in which oil can collect. In either case, the trapped oil can then be pumped into holding tanks for disposal or recycling. 
         [0009]    A skimmer is a device for recovery of spilled oil from the water&#39;s surface. Skimmers may be self-propelled and may be used from shore or operated from vessels. The main problem with many skimmer designs is that they tend to collect more water than oil. Three types of skimmers—weir, oleophilic, and suction—are commonly used. 
         [0010]    Weir skimmers use a dam or enclosure positioned at the oil/water interface. Oil floating on top of the water will spill over the dam and be trapped in a well inside. The trapped oil and water mixture can then be pumped out through a pipe or hose to a storage tank for recycling or disposal. These weir skimmers are prone to becoming jammed and clogged by floating debris. 
         [0011]    Oleophilic skimmers use belts, disks, or continuous mop chains of oleophilic materials to blot the oil from the water surface. The oil is then squeezed out or scraped into a recovery tank. Oleophilic skimmers have the advantage of flexibility, allowing them to be used effectively on spills of any thickness. Some types, such as chain or “rope-mop” skimmers, work well on water that is choked with debris or rough ice. 
         [0012]    A suction skimmer is a vacuum system for drawing oil through floating heads and pumping the oil into storage tanks. Although suction skimmers are generally efficient, they are vulnerable to becoming clogged by debris and require constant skilled observation. 
         [0013]    Sorbents are materials that soak up liquids. They can be used to recover oil through the mechanisms of absorption, adsorption, or both. Absorbents allow oil to penetrate into pore spaces sorbent material, while adsorbents attract oil to their surfaces but do not allow it to penetrate into the material. To be useful in combating oil spills, sorbents need to be both oleophilic and hydrophobic. 
         [0014]    Deployment of these tools is critical to minimizing spread and impact of oil spills. At present there is not any comprehensive system for quickly and efficiently containing and reclaiming oil to minimize it spread and the impact it has on the environment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The subject invention is directed to a comprehensive system for deploying containment and recovery equipment for expediting the reclamation of oil from and in water oil spill. In the broadest sense of the invention a containment boom, a boom supply boat and an oil recovery vessel may be simultaneously deployed to expedite the process. The boom may, by way of example, comprise a sponge boom with an outer sponge jacket surrounding steel cable core for strength. Multiple boom lengths may be connected end-to-end by hook and eye connection. In the event of an oil spill, the boom supply boat and deployment boat are dispatched for surrounding and containing the spill. The recovery vessel then enters the spill area and conducts the clean-up operation. 
         [0016]    Then oil spill containment and recovery system of the present invention typically includes any combination of a boom deployment system, a gated recovery vessel and a crane recovery system, wherein the boom is a compressible material capable of being spooled on and off a reel system, the gated recovery vessel includes at least one movable gate having an upper edge and positioned in a side wall of the vessel, the gate selectively open from the water into the vessel, and a crane recovery system mounted on the vessel, the crane recovery system including a movable crane and a collection pan mounted on the crane and adapted to be placed in the water for collecting oil, and a conduit for transferring the oil collected in the pan from the pan to the vessel. 
         [0017]    Typically the boom supply boat includes one or more sponge booms mounted on reels. A squeezer is associated with the reels for squeezing excess fluids out of the sponge boom(s) as such is recovered from the sea and returned to the respective reel(s). As the sponge boom is fed through the squeezer, wringer type rollers compress the sponge boom and squeeze out any fluids therein. The oil and water mixture is then dumped into a release tank in the boat. The oil floats to the top and is pumped into a holding tank by an oil-water separator. The water is released back into the sea. 
         [0018]    In the preferred embodiment the recovery vessel includes a number of adjustable gates and deployable cranes for collecting the oil from the surface. The position of the gates along the sidewall of the vessel is such that the gate open edge is in alignment with the spilled oil in order to minimize the collection of water as the oil is skimmed off the surface. The gates may be manually or automatically adjusted to assure maximum efficiency depending on sea conditions and the depth of the spill on the surface. Each gate includes an accordion type wall mounted on the sidewall of the vessel. The accordion walls are attached to floats which are mounted on guide rods. As the sea position changes relative to the boat, the accordion walls may be raised and lowered to maximize oil recovery and minimize water collection. The collected oil is drawn by a suction pump into an oil storage tank in the vessel. 
         [0019]    A crane and recovery pan system may also be used, either in conjunction with independently of the gate system. In this embodiment the vessel is equipped with a series of cranes. An oil recovery or collection pan is mounted on the outer end of each crane. The oil recovery pan is positioned just below the surface at the boundary between the oil spill and water. The oil spill is drawn into the pan and flows through a flexible conduit into the oil holding tank in the vessel. 
         [0020]    A combination vessel may be used in accordance with the teachings of the invention, wherein the vessel includes the movable gate system, the crane system and the boom supply system and stows the boom deployment boats. 
         [0021]    The crane system may be stowed on rails, permitting movement for convenience. The crane system may be moved along the rails for positioning. Grates may be employed for directing any fluids in the cranes into the oil tank of the vessel as the cranes are moved from deployment to stowage, as desired. 
         [0022]    In the preferred embodiment the collection pans each comprise a wire mesh screen covering a closed pan with a central drain. The pan is mounted on a float mechanism. The float is adjustable through the use of an air supply and a one way pressure regulated check valve and a one way check valve. The flexible hose is connected to the central drain when the crane system is deployed, and is stowed when the crane system is in the stowed position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is an overview of an oil spill containment and reclamation system showing the containment boom, the boom supply boat, the boom deployment boat and the oil recovery vessel. 
           [0024]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are a plan view and elevation view of the boom supply boat. 
           [0025]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show the operation of the squeezer. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the recovery vessel. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  shows the position of the recovery gates along the sidewall of the oil recovery vessel. 
           [0028]      FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  10  show a detail of the movable gates. 
           [0029]      FIGS. 11 and 12  show an alternative recovery scheme utilizing a series of cranes with a recovery collection pan mounted on the cranes and positioned just below the surface. 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  shows the scheme of  FIGS. 11 and 12  used in combination with the movable gates of  FIGS. 7-10 . 
           [0031]      FIGS. 14 and 15  show combination or hybrid vessel including the movable gate system, the crane system, the boom supply system and stowage of the boom deployment boat. 
           [0032]      FIGS. 16 and 17  show the crane system as stowed and deployed on rails. 
           [0033]      FIGS. 18 ,  19  and  20  show detail of the collection pan. 
           [0034]      FIG. 21  a flexible hose connected to a central drain when the crane system is deployed, and stowed, when the crane system is in the stowed position. 
           [0035]      FIGS. 22 ,  23  and  24  are sectional views showing the vessel, the oil tank, the crane system and the movable gate system. 
           [0036]      FIG. 25  is a perspective view of the crane recovery system showing the crane the oil collection pan and the flexible hose entering the side wall of the vessel and directly into the oil collection system in the vessel. 
           [0037]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of the hybrid system of  FIGS. 14 and 15  showing the deployment of the sponge boom by the deployment boat as the sponge boom is released from the reels on the vessel. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0038]      FIG. 1  is an overview of an oil spill showing the containment boom  10 , the boom supply boat  12 , the boom deployment boat  14  and the oil recovery vessel  16 . The boom  10  comprises a sponge boom  18  with an outer sponge jacket  19  surrounding steel cable core  20  for strength. Multiple boom lengths may be connected end-to-end by the hook connection  24 . In the event of an oil spill, the boom supply boat  12  and deployment boat  14  are dispatched for surrounding and containing the spill. The recovery vessel  16  then enters the spill area and conducts the clean-up operation. The functionality of the recovery vessel is discussed further herein. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are a plan view and elevation view of the boom supply boat  12 . The boat includes one or more sponge booms  18  mounted on reels  24 . A squeezer  26  is associated with the reels for squeezing excess fluids out of the sponge boom(s) as such is recovered from the sea and returned to the respective reel(s). 
         [0040]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show the operation of the squeezer  26 . As the sponge boom  18  is fed through the squeezer  26 , two wringer type rollers  27 ,  28  compress the saturated sponge boom ( 18   a ) and squeeze out any fluids therein reducing the sponge boom to its extracted diameter ( 18   b ), and release the recovered oil  30  (and any retained water). The oil and water mixture is then dumped into a release tank  32  in the boat  12 . The oil floats to the top and is pumped into a holding tank  34  by an oil-water separator  36 . The water is released back into the sea, as indicated at  38 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the recovery vessel  16 . As shown, the vessel includes a number of adjustable gates  40  and deployable cranes  42  for collecting the oil from the surface. 
         [0042]    The position of the gates  40  along the sidewall  46  of the vessel  16  is shown in  FIG. 7 . Specifically, the gate open edge is in alignment with the spilled oil in order to minimize the collection of water as the oil is skimmed off the surface. In the example, the water surface is at  45  and the top surface of the floating oil is at  43 . The open edge of the gates  40  is at or just below the water surface  43 , permitting the oil to flow into the gates while preventing or minimizing water flow. The gates may be manually or automatically adjusted to assure maximum efficiency depending on sea conditions and the depth of the spill on the surface. 
         [0043]      FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  10  show a detail of the movable gates  40 . Each gate includes an accordion type wall  44  mounted on the wall  46  of the vessel. The accordion walls are attached to floats  48  which are mounted on guide rods  50 ,  51 . As the sea position changes relative to the vessel, the accordion walls may be raised and lowered to maximize oil recovery and minimize water collection. The collected oil is drawn in by a suction pump  52  into an oil storage tank  54  in the vessel  16 . 
         [0044]    An additional or alternative collection scheme is shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . As there shown, the vessel  16  is equipped with a series of cranes  56 . An oil recovery or collection pan  58  is mounted on the outer end of each crane. The oil recovery pan  58  is positioned just below the surface at the boundary  45  between the oil spill and water. The oil spill is drawn into the pan and flows through a flexible conduit  60  into the oil holding tank in the vessel  16 . It should be understood that the crane and pan system of  FIGS. 11 and 12  can be used independently of or in conjunction with the movable gate system of  FIGS. 6-10 , as shown  FIG. 13 . 
         [0045]    A hybrid vessel  16  is shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , wherein the vessel includes the movable gate system  40 , the crane system  56  and the boom supply system  24 ,  26  and stowed the boom deployment boats  14 . 
         [0046]      FIGS. 16 and 17  show the crane system  56  as stowed on rails  62  ( FIG. 16 ), and deployed ( FIG. 17 ). Likewise, the gates  40  are closed in  FIG. 16  and open for operation in  FIG. 17 . The crane systems  56  may be moved along the rails  62  for positioning. Grates  64  may be employed for directing any fluids in the cranes into the oil tank of the vessel as the cranes are moved from deployment to stowage, where desired. 
         [0047]      FIGS. 18 ,  19  and  20  show detail of the collection pan  58 . As shown, the pan comprises a wire mesh screen  70  covering a closed pan  72  with a central drain  74 . The pan is mounted on a float mechanism  76 . The float is adjustable through the use of an air supply and a one way pressure regulated check valve  80  and a one way check valve  82 . The flexible hose  60  is connected to the central drain  74  when the crane system is deployed, and stowed as shown in  FIG. 21 , when the crane system is in the stowed position. 
         [0048]      FIGS. 22 ,  23  and  24  are sectional views showing the vessel  16 , the oil tank  54 , the crane system  56  and the movable gate system  40 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 25  is a perspective view of the crane recovery system showing the crane  56 , the oil collection pan  58  and the flexible hose  60  entering the side wall of the vessel  16  and directly into the oil collection system in the vessel. 
         [0050]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of the hybrid system of  FIGS. 14 and 15  showing the deployment of the sponge boom  10  by the deployment boat  14  as the sponge boom is released from the reels  24  on the vessel  16 . The gates  40  and crane system  56  are simultaneously deployed. 
         [0051]    While certain embodiments and features of the invention have been described in detail herein, it should be understood that the invention encompasses all modifications and enhancements within the scope and spirit of the following claims.