Gas separation – Means within gas stream for conducting concentrate to collector
Patent
1981-07-31
1984-05-08
Adee, John
Gas separation
Means within gas stream for conducting concentrate to collector
55172, 210170, 210923, 405 60, 405210, E02B 2300
Patent
active
044472471
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a method for collecting oil and gas flowing uncontrolled into a body of water beneath the water surface, especially in a blow-out from a point at the sea bed, wherein discharging oil and gas from the blow-out location are caught and ascends towards the surface within a tubular shell body. Further, the invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method.
In the course of the last 10-15 years the exploitation of oil and gas deposits in geological layers beneath sea and ocean areas has become more and more common. The exploitation of these energy resources comprises several phases from the drilling of test wells up to and including the establishment of production facilities. Test drilling as well as production can take place from platform structure which are either resting directly on the sea bed or are maintained fixedly positioned and floating above one or more test or production wells. In spite of advanced technology and substantial safety measures, there is always a risk of accidents caused by e.g. human error, material fatigue, system malfunctioning or the influence of forces of nature. Such accidents may cause the disconnection of the pipe work between oil well and platform. The situation may then arise that oil or gas or a combination of these components flows uncontrolled into the sea. Due to their lower density, the components ascend towards the water surface and disperse with resulting pollution and detrimental effects to bird life and the environment of marine biology.
The natural gas emitted to the atmosphere at the surface of the sea will after intermingling with air constitute large explosive gas volumes. During escape of gas or a mixture of gas and oil over a period of time it may, therefore, be desirable or necessary to burn the gas as it emerges from the sea. The lighter fractions of oil (hydrocarbons) will also take part in the combustion process. A subsequent cooling of the released oil and further influence from the waves may lead to the formation of agglomerates and larger lumps which apparently sink after a period of time.
The conventional technology for the collection of the discharged oil has largely been to the effect that one attempts to collect the floating oil by means of oil dams which are laid out to collect the oil on the sea surface. Dams of different types have been constructed for use under different conditions. However, in practice they have proved to have shortcomings, in particular when the waves exceed a certain height. The oil dams also presuppose the participation of a suitable vessel for skimming of oil from the surface, in addition to the vessels required to maintain the dams in position against the weather. Collection of surface oil also involves the drawback that large quantities of water must be separated from the oil and returned to the sea. Usually there will also occur a substantial loss of lighter hydrocarbon fractions to the atmosphere due to evaporation.
Oil may be released from an oil well in quantities of the order of 10,000-50,000 barrels per 24 hours (1 barrel=42 US Gallons) which, according to the metric system, corresponds to 1500-8000 m.sup.3 per 24 hours. It is further not uncommon that an oil well can operate with a GOR figure of approximately 1000. (GOR=Gas/Oil Ratio defined as cubic feet of gas per minute and barrel of oil).
In metric units this means a gas emission or discharge of approximately 1700 m.sup.3 /h and barrel, or approximately 10,000 m.sup.3 /h and m.sup.3 oil. Thus, with an oil discharge in the range of 50-300 m.sup.3 /h, the gas discharge will be 500,000-3,000,000 m.sup.3 /h. Variations in excess of the above may very well occur depending upon the structure of the producing geological layer. One also has to expect variations in the GOR figure from one and the same well as a function of time.
The purpose of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus enabling the collection and the control of both oil and gas escaping into the ocean or into a lake beneath the water surface, both oil
REFERENCES:
patent: 3681923 (1972-08-01), Hyde
patent: 3745773 (1973-07-01), Cunningham
patent: 3762548 (1973-10-01), McCabe
patent: 3921558 (1975-11-01), Redshaw
patent: 4324505 (1982-04-01), Hammett
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