Abstract:
A rigid boom containment system utilizes vertical piles erected in coastal waters and extending above a waterline. A host boom having at least one ballast valve is connected to one or more of the vertical piles by a connector. The connector provides a vertically movable connection of the host boom.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e), this application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/356,362, entitled Rigid Boom Containment System, filed Jun. 18, 2010. The disclosure of the aforementioned provisional patent application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for any and all purposes. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to biohazard containment and recovery systems and methods, and relates in particular to a boom containment system for protecting coastal areas and accomplishing oil spill recovery. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    An oil spill can be a major biological disaster that is difficult to contain and clean. Recovery efforts often entail the use of absorbent booms and flexible booms that float atop the water and are towed by barges and other vessels to contain spills and aid in recovery efforts. However, conventional oil boom barriers can be fragile and difficult to control, thus requiring a great deal of maintenance and frequent attention. Coastal protection has become increasingly challenging due to problems associated with the reliability of these conventional oil boom barriers. The present invention is directed to providing improved options, alternatives, and/or supplements to use of flexible oil containment boom. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Accordingly, the present invention is a rigid boom containment system in which vertical piles are erected in coastal waters and extend above a waterline. A host boom having at least one ballast valve is connected to one or more of the vertical piles by a connector. The connector provides a vertically movable connection of the host boom. 
         [0005]    Various modifications to these embodiments, as well as additional embodiments, will become readily understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a rigid boom containment system in accordance with one form of the invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an elevated view of the rigid boom containment system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged portion of the plan view of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged portion of the elevated view of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is an elevated view of a cross section of the rigid boom containment system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a detailed elevated view of the rigid boom containment system. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7 , including  FIGS. 7(   a )- 7 ( c ), is a set of detailed cross-sectional views illustration floatation of rigid booms of varying diameters. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8 , including  FIGS. 8(   a ) and  8 ( b ), is set of views illustrating options for connecting sections of host boom. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9 , including  FIGS. 9(   a ) and  9 ( b ), is a set views illustrating a host boom connection plan. 
           [0015]      FIG. 10 , including  FIGS. 10(   a ),  10 ( b ), and  10 ( c ) is a set of plan views of rigid boom containment systems in accordance with other forms of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 11 , including  FIGS. 11(   a ),  11 ( b ), and  11 ( c ) is a set of views illustrating a host boom connection plan for the systems of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 12 , including  FIGS. 12(   a ) and  12 ( b ), is a set of detailed views illustrating the systems of  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    In the following description, like elements are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not to scale and certain elements are shown in generalized or schematic form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. It should be understood that the embodiments of the disclosure herein described are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. 
         [0019]    The following description contemplates a new type of boom containment system utilizing rigid materials, such as steel pipe, plastic pipe, or polypropylene pipe, to provide a reliable hydrocarbon barrier for coastal shoreline protection. Using a rigid steel pipe with either sleeve connections or a conventional bevel weld connection, large diameter floating pipelines can be positioned in place and secured along a preplanned and surveyed route and held in place with vertical piles (e.g., vertical steel pipe or wooden piles) at preset centers. It is envisioned that, at one or more vertical pile locations, a host boom comprised of the rigid pipe can be flexibly secured to the piling. This attachment will allow the host boom to rise and fall with the tide and seas. Navigation can be aided with the installation of various warning lights, reflectors, and signs. 
         [0020]    Ballast valves located along the host boom can function to allow the host boom to be prepositioned on the coastal floor prior to the arrival of an oil engagement or unforeseen tropical storm or hurricane event. By simply evacuating the system, the host boom can float to the surface and serve as a barrier to allow vessels and crews to collect and absorb the hydrocarbons. In this way, the host boom can be provided as a primary containment measure that is capable of fulfilling the containment function either alone, or in combination with additional, optional countermeasures (e.g., conventional skirting, non-rigid booms, etc.). Thus, while the host boom is not required to host additional containment measures, it is capable of doing so. It is particularly envisioned that optional hanging skirts can be attached that drop below the host boom to trap oil that is travelling below the surface of the water and the boom. 
         [0021]    It is envisioned that various pipe diameters can be utilized depending on the nature of the application. Host boom diameter ranging from twenty inches to forty-eight inches can be deployed and engineered depending on the draft and freeboard conditions desired. It is envisioned that the host boom can be used in conjunction with flexible containment and absorbent boom, thereby decreasing the need for maintenance of runaway boom. It is envisioned that various attachments and attachment mechanisms can be implemented, such as: anchoring and tie up points; towing heads; mounting oil connections; and product handling connections. 
         [0022]    Beginning with  FIG. 1 , it is envisioned that a boom containment system can be implemented utilizing a host boom  100  that can be constructed of any length desired by connecting sections of rigid pipe together utilizing, for example, sleeve connections  102 . For example, a boom of length D 1  equal to four-hundred feet, three and three-eighths inches can be constructed of ten sections of pipe each having a length D 4  equal to forty feet. Use of baffle plates between pipe ends at each sleeve connection  102  results in the overall length D 1  of the boom. The ten section pipe may be viewed as having eight sections, taken from the center of each connection point, of length D 3  equal to forty and three-eighths inches. The remaining two sections on each end have a length D 5  equal to forty and three-sixteenths inches. It is envisioned that this boom can be made of thirty-inch diameter pipe and threaded between piles that are a distance D 2  apart of two-hundred feet. Each pipe section can have a THREDOLET® fitting  104  welded to the pipe at the top and bottom that allows a plug to be inserted. Thus, a boom composed of ten pipe sections might have ten THREDOLET® fittings  104 . These fittings  104  allow each section of pipe to be evacuated, while the baffle plates preserve the floatation of the host boom  100  even if one of the pipe sections loses structural integrity and is flooded. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the host boom  100  comprised of pipe sections joined by sleeve connections  102  can be held in place by vertical piles  112 . Navigational aids can be provided in the form of navigational aid lights  106  at each pile, with reflectors  108  placed along the boom at regularly spaced intervals, such as every fifty feet. Optional attachments  110  for absorbent boom can be provided, as can a containment screen  114 . Taking the elevation E 1  at the surface of the water to be zero, the elevation E 2  at the top of the pile is envisioned normally to be about twenty feet, while the depth E 3  of the water at the mudline is envisioned to be about twenty feet. The depth of the coastal sea floor can vary, as can sea levels, so these values are not precise or constant. 
         [0024]    Details regarding the piles  112 , sleeve connections  102 , navigational aid lights  106 , reflectors  108 , and containment screen  114  can be viewed at  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . It should be appreciated that even steel pipe, though rigid, can be threaded between vertical piles  112  due to ability of the pipes and/or the vertical piles  112  to bend to a small degree over significant lengths. The vertical piles  112  can also be slightly offset in placement to accommodate threading of the boom through the piles  112 . However, the boom may alternatively be placed on one side of two adjacent piles  112  as desired. 
         [0025]    Turning now to  FIG. 5 , the host boom  100  can be connected to vertical pile  112  in a way that restricts horizontal movement of the host boom  100 , while permitting vertical movement to allow raising and lowering of the host boom  100 . As one example, a second, mooring pile can be positioned on an opposite side of the host boom near the pile  112 , and options to employ one or more pairs of such individual pin piles and/or or clustered pin piles are explored in detail below with reference to  FIGS. 10-12 . As another example, a cable tie  116  can be employed that forms a loop about the vertical pile  112  and the host boom  100 . The cable tie  116  can pass between the host boom  100  and an optional containment screen  114 . Thus, by this attachment, the host boom  100  can float at a water surface level  118 , even as the water surface level  118  changes. The boom can also be lowered below the water surface level  100  to the mudline  122  by filling the boom with water, and raised again to the surface level  118  by evacuating the host boom  100  via THREDOLET® fittings provided at each pipe section of the host boom  100 . 
         [0026]    It is envisioned that the cable connection  116  will permit the host boom  100  to be raised and lowered a distance D 6  of approximately twenty feet or more, but that this distance D 6  can vary based on water level  118  and changes in the mudline  122 . It is similarly envisioned that the visible height  120  of boom  112  above the waterline  118  can extend a distance D 5  approximately twenty feet or more, and that this distance D 5  can vary based on changes in water level  118 . Thus, the navigational aid lights  106  are expected to normally rise the distance D 5  above the waterline  118 . It is envisioned that the vertical pile  112  can extend a distance D 7  below the mudline of approximately fifteen feet or more. Thus, the vertical piles  112  are envisioned to have a length of fifty-five feet or more. 
         [0027]    Turning now to  FIG. 6 , it is envisioned that a vertical containment screen  114  can attach to the host boom  100  by any suitable manner that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, as such screens (e.g., optional skirting) are already employed with conventional boom. Thus, suitable connection points can be provided to the host boom  100  in some embodiments. Yet, it should be understood that, in other embodiments, the host boom is not prepared with connection points or other features to facilitate hosting of secondary containment measures, as retrofit of such features or measures can be implemented with the host boom. It is envisioned that the vertical containment screen  114 , if employed, can extend below the surface of the water to a depth D 8  of approximately six feet. Thus, the screen  114  will not normally interfere with wildlife by extending to the mudline, but can aid in preventing buoyant oil or other buoyant contaminants from passing immediately below the host boom  100 . It is expected that the need for such containment screens  114  may be decreased in certain applications. 
         [0028]    Turning now to  FIG. 7 , the draft depth of the host boom can be affected by the diameter of the pipe employed to form the boom, the thickness of the pipe, and the density of the materials utilized to form the pipe. For example, for a host boom  100 A formed of three-eighths inch thick steel pipe having a diameter greater than thirty inches, it is envisioned that the host boom  100 A will draft at a depth D 10  approximating less than one-third the diameter of the pipe. Additionally, for a host boom  100 B formed of three-eighths inch thick steel pipe having a diameter of thirty inches, it is envisioned that the host boom  100 B will draft at a depth D 12  approximating eleven and three-eighths inches, while extending a distance D 11  above the waterline approximating one-foot, six and five-eighths inches. Also, for a host boom  100 C formed of three-eighths inch thick steel pipe having a diameter of twenty-four inches, it is envisioned that the host boom  100 C will draft at a depth D 14  approximating eleven and three-eighths inches, while extending a distance D 13  above the waterline approximating one-foot, five-eighths inches. Accordingly, larger pipe diameters can achieve a greater extension above the waterline and provide a more effective barrier in rough seas than smaller diameter pipe. Thus, larger pipe diameters can be desirable for use in rougher seas, while smaller pipe diameters can be suitable for calmer coastal bays and inlets. As a general rule, it is envisioned that the pipe diameter used will lie in a range of about twenty inches to about forty-eight inches. 
         [0029]    Turning now to  FIG. 8 , the connections between the pipe sections to form the boom can be accomplished by any suitable technique, such as a bevel weld or butt weld pipe connection  124 , or a sleeve connection. With the butt weld connection  124 , it is envisioned that a baffle plate  126  formed of three-eighths inch thick steel can be mounted in one of the pipes a distance D 15  approximately six inches from the weld  124 . In the case of the sleeve connection, it is envisioned that a sleeve  128  having a length D 16  of about two inches can be employed, and that a baffle plate  130  formed of three-eighths inch thick steel can be positioned at the connection point between the ends of the pipes. 
         [0030]    Turning now to  FIG. 9 , a hinge connection can be formed between booms to permit the host booms to be angled away from one another as desired, for example, to follow a coastline. For example, a movable connection can be formed between one host boom  100 C and another host boom  100 D by providing a pair of planarly parallel gussets  132 A and  132 B extending from an end of host boom  100 D, and providing another gusset  134  extending from an end of host boom  100 C in a plane that extends in a parallel fashion between two parallel planes in which the other two gussets  132 A and  132 B extend. A linchpin  136  provided through aligned apertures in the gussets  132 A,  132 B, and  134  functions as a hinge point for the hinge connection. A pair of washers, bearings, or spacers  138 A and  138 B can be positioned about linchpin  136  between the gussets  132 A,  132 B, and  134  to aid planar movement of the hinge connection. A row of three sets of four cheek plates  140 - 146  provide structural support for the gussets  132 A,  132 B, and  134 . An optional swivel connection  148  can be provided to one or both of the booms to enable three-dimensional mobility of the hinge connection. In this manner, booms of any length can be constructed and hinged together to follow a coastline along a preplanned and surveyed route. 
         [0031]    Turning now to  FIGS. 10-12 , one way to accomplish vertically movable connection of the host boom to a vertical pile is to utilize pairs of the vertical piles as “pin piles” that are placed on opposing sides of the host boom to hold the boom in the designed alignment. The horizontal spacing of the pin piles is an engineering calculation relative to location. The pin piles serve as mooring piles to allow the boom to move in a vertical movement with the sea state and/or tidal conditions, additionally permitting the host boom to be lowered to the sea floor and raised to the waterline at need. The vertical piles can be configured in either “single” or “cluster” (e.g., three pile) configuration, permitting configuration of individual pin piles or clustered pin piles, as needed. The determination of single pile or cluster pile is a function of engineering for lateral support for mild or severe sea state conditions. 
         [0032]    Referring particularly to  FIG. 10 , additional or alternative rigid boom containment systems  200 A,  200 B, and  200 C can employ vertical pile clusters  202  at one or more locations along a host boom section  206  (e.g., thirty-six inches in diameter). The vertical pile clusters  202  can be composed of a number (e.g., three) of vertical piles of suitable material (e.g., steel, wood, etc.) clustered together so as to be touching one another and/or be proximate to one another, with their longitudinal axes aligned in parallel. In some embodiments, one or more three pile clusters can be employed in which all of the piles in the cluster are touching one another and have lengths greater than a distance between the sea floor and the waterline, and the piles in a cluster can be of the same or different lengths and/or materials. Individual vertical piles can be, for example, sixty or eighty feet in length, depending on the duty or load level of the boom section. Medium and light duty boom sections can employ the shorter piles, while the longer piles can be used for heavy duty boom sections to allow for deeper waters, larger waves, and/or deeper placement of the piles in the mud floor. 
         [0033]    For a host boom section  206 , the vertical pile clusters  202  can be used exclusively with one another or in conjunction with single piles  204 . For example, the light duty rigid boom containment system  200 A has pairs of vertical pile clusters  202  arranged on opposite sides of a host boom section  206  at each end of the host boom section  206 , while pairs of single piles  204  are arranged on opposite sides of the host boom section  206  at regular intervals of distance D 20  approximately one-hundred six feet in length; ends of the host boom section  206  can extend beyond the vertical pile clusters  202  a distance D 22  approximately ten feet in length. Also, the medium duty rigid boom containment system  200 B has pairs of vertical pile clusters  202  arranged on opposite sides of a host boom section  206  at each end of the host boom section  206  and in a central region of the host boom section  206 , while pairs of single piles  204  are arranged on opposite sides of the host boom section  206  in between the pairs of vertical pile clusters  202 ; the distances D 20  and D 22  are again observed in rigid boom containment system  200 B. Additionally, the heavy duty rigid boom containment system  200 C has pairs of vertical pile clusters  202  arranged on opposite sides of a host boom section  206  at each end of the host boom section  206  and at regular intervals of distance D 24  approximately seventy feet in length; ends of the host boom section  206  can extend beyond the vertical pile clusters  202  on one end the distance D 22  and a distance D 26  approximately fifty feet in length on the other end. It should be understood that a rigid boom containment system can be composed entirely of sections conforming to only one of the above options, or can be composed of combinations of these options; thus, the rigid boom containment systems  200 A,  200 B, and  200 C can be employed as sub-systems combinable with one another within an overall rigid boom containment system. 
         [0034]    Turning now to  FIG. 11 , a host boom connection plan for the rigid boom containment systems and/or sub-systems described above can provide for spacing between host boom sections, as opposed to direct connection of host boom sections to one another. For example, referring particularly to  FIG. 11(   a ), two host boom sections  206 A and  206 B, each of length D 28  (e.g., five-hundred fifty feet), can have an end sleeve connection arrangement in which their longitudinal axes are collinear, and their ends, extending past pairs of vertical pile clusters  202 A(i),  202 A(ii),  202 B(i), and  202 B(ii) to the length D 22 , are separated from one another by a distance D 30  of approximately three feet. Additionally, referring particularly to  FIG. 11(   b ), a host boom overlap connection arrangement can configure two host boom sections  206 C and  206 D with their longitudinal axes angled (e.g., obtuse angle) with respect to one another. In this host boom overlap connection arrangement, of the ends extending past pairs of vertical pile clusters  202 A(i),  202 A(ii),  202 B(i), and  202 B(ii) to the length D 22 , the end of the host boom section  206 D has a minimum distance D 32  from host boom section  206 C of approximately six feet. In other words, of the two ends in the host boom overlap connection arrangement, the end oriented towards the other host boom section has the minimum distance of approximately six feet from the other host boom section. 
         [0035]    The connection arrangements detailed above can be realized, in part, by staking out certain ones of the vertical piles ahead of time at a pile staking location. For example, and referring particularly now to  FIG. 11(C) , the host boom overlap connection arrangement can be implemented, in part, by staking out piles on a gulf side or seaward side (i.e., as opposed to coastal side) of the planned host boom location, and, in the case of vertical pile clusters, staking out those piles in the cluster that are to the center, such as staked out piles P 1 , P 2 , PC 1 , PC 2 , PC 3 , PC 4 , PC 5 , and PC 6 . Thus, with these piles staked out ahead of time, the host booms  206 C and  206 D can be situated against the staked out piles, P 1 , P 2 , PC 1 , PC 2 , PC 3 , PC 4 , PC 5 , and PC 6 , and the remaining piles can thereafter be installed in place in order to complete the pairs of vertical pile clusters  202 C(i),  202 C(ii),  202 D(i), and  202 D(ii) and, in applicable circumstances, pairs of individual vertical piles. 
         [0036]    Turning now to  FIG. 12 , in some embodiments, the host boom is comprised of a section of rigid pipe of diameter D 34  equaling approximately thirty-six inches, and the boom has a draft depth D 36  equaling approximately fourteen inches. In some embodiments, connection points for attaching a vertical screen  208  of height D 38  equaling approximately four feet can be located in a longitudinal line along a side of the host boom and parallel to a longitudinal axis of the host boom. These connection points can be spaced apart, for example, at intervals of distance D 40  equaling approximately one foot. 
         [0037]    It is envisioned that a three-eighths inch cable  210  (e.g., galvanized steel) supporting the vertical screen  208  can be threaded, hooked, fastened, welded, or otherwise attached to the pipe at the connection points, thus supporting the vertical screen  208  in a vertical plane tangent to the side of the pipe and parallel to the gravity vector. This arrangement allows for a top of the vertical screen  208  to rise approximately four inches above the waterline. It is envisioned that the cable  210  can be welded directly to the side of the pipe at the connection points, and/or that the connection points can be, for example, metal hooks, metal loops, or other metal fasteners (e.g., galvanized steel) welded or otherwise attached to the side of the pipe in the longitudinal line that lies within the aforementioned vertical plane. Additional or alternative connection mechanisms and arrangements will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. 
         [0038]    In an exemplary implementation of skirting as a secondary containment measure, one-half inch by two inch galvanized lengths of chain  212  are arranged along a lower edge of the vertical screen. In this example, the vertically hanging lengths of chain  212  are spaced apart at intervals of distance D 42  equaling approximately two feet, but it is envisioned that other spacing distances can be employed, and that spacing can be regular or irregular, as desired. Also, the lengths of chain  212  can be of any desired length, such as approximately four feet. 
         [0039]    Excepting as detailed above, the additional or alternative forms of the rigid boom containment system of  FIGS. 10-12  can be otherwise identical or similar to those described with respect to  FIGS. 1-9 . For example, THREDOLET® fittings can be provided at each pipe section. Additionally, baffle plates and sleeve connections can be utilized to construct the booms. Also, navigational aid lights and reflectors can be supplied to the piles, pile clusters, and/or boom. Further, it is envisioned that cable ties can be used in conjunction with pin pile pairs to maintain the boom in position while permitting the boom to move vertically. Additional combinations of the features of the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. 
         [0040]    The foregoing description is of exemplary and preferred embodiments of rigid boom containment systems and methods. Additional features can be added, such as an opening for boat traffic and/or a v-shaped boom system configuration to direct oil to skimmers. The invention is not limited to the described examples or embodiments. Alterations and modifications to the disclosed embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.