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(11) | EP 1 659 261 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Diagrams for collection of gas from ventures from the sea's bottom |
| (57) The present invention refers to a gas collection system from the sea bottom's vents,
used to collect gaseous emissions found on the sea or ocean's bottom, from the entire
area of sediments deposits with hydrates without lithologic coverage. The system, in a first version, is destined to depths accessible to a diver and consists of some conical rooms 1 connected at their superior part with some conduits 2, to some collecting conduits 3, further connected to an other conduit 4 which will lead the mixture of sea's water and gas to a gas separator station, not shown, located somewhere below the sea level, in water or on the shore. Each connection conduit 2 with collecting conduit 3 is provided with a valve 5 and before it, with a gas detector 6. The system, in a second version, is destined to depths inaccessible to divers and consists of rooms 1', open at the bottom, provided with entrance holes b and connected at its superior part with conduits 2', which are connected with collectors 3', rooms 1' and conduits 2' and 3'. These are installed on a horizontal platform 7 provided with some legs c, with some steel cable 8 and with a conduit 4', for connection to the gas separator, platform 7 is provided at its corners with a reversible propeller 9. The rooms 1 are provided with some legs a and some entrance holes b, placed on the lateral walls, near their base. The platform 7 may have in horizontal plan a trapeze shape in order to be installed in concentric circles. Each platform 7 is being connected through some radial conduit 4' to a major conduit 10, which leads to the separation station. |
[0001] On certain zones from the sea and ocean's bottom take place leaks of gas, directed upwards; gasses as helium, methane, butane, propane, carbon dioxide, and sulphur dioxide. These gasses reach the sea or ocean's surfaces, going further into the atmosphere, polluting it.
[0002] The runnings are in the form of ventures jets, seepages or emissions of the entire surface of deposits of sediments with hydrates without lithological covering.
[0003] The distribution of these runnings in the respective areas and their flows are very different. The sea depth, the flora and fauna, the water's chemical content and the variation of the sea bottom's profile are major factors which must be considered when a technology for the collection of these gasses is to be established.
[0004] For the collection of respective gasses from the sea or ocean's bottom, accounting all the above-mentioned factors, two types of main technological diagram of collection of gasses are taken into consideration, as follows:
- A technological diagram for gas collection from the sea or ocean's bottom at a depth where a diver can reach in order to be able to do certain work under the water.
- A technological diagram for gas collection from the sea or ocean's bottom at a depth unreachable by a diver in order to be able to do certain work under the water.
[0005] The diagram for depths reachable by a diver consists of some pyramidal rooms open at the bottom, rooms whose walls are provided with some holes at a short distance from their bottom. The rooms are seated, one by one, over each jet or gas emission from the sea or ocean's bottom. The top of each room is connected through a system of pipes set on the sea's bottom with a gas separator placed somewhere at a depth not too far below the sea's level, in water or on the shore. The discharge conduit of each room is provided with a gas detector, which determines the presence or absence of the gas inside the conduit; the same conduits are also provided with a valve.
[0006] The gas collection with this diagram is realized as follows: the jets or gas emissions captured inside the rooms are activated by the sea's water, which is running from the sea's bottom into the rooms through the wall's holes and conduits towards a separator placed somewhere below the sea's level. The running is possible due to the level difference between the water from inside the conical rooms and the gas separator according to the vessels communication principle. The process is continuous and takes place as long as the jets and emission do; process detected at each room, with its detector, as shown above.
[0007] If the detector shows no gas, the diver descends in the water and closes the afferent room's valve. It will continue to do so until the jets or emissions are exhausted or until the gas collection process is no longer justifiable. At the end of collection, the entire apparatus can be recuperated. The diagram can be extended over a large area of gas collection.
[0008] The diagram for collection in depths unreachable by divers to do certain operation on the sea or ocean's bottom is similar to the one mentioned above and works under the same principle, with one following exception: the diagram is realized on a metallic platform, which is launched from the sea surface to the sea's bottom by a steel cable connected to the platform's four corners. The diagram collection is connected to the gas separator, which is placed somewhere below sea level, by a conduit to which one or more diagrams or collection blocks can be connected. The respective conduit, in its way towards the shown separator, is sustained in a vertical position by a steel cable, which also serves as the anchor to a specific apparatus for gas extraction found on the sea or ocean surface. Each platform is provided with some propellers that allow the horizontal movement of platform or block in a desired location.
[0009] Each diagram has a single valve placed on the diagram's connecting conduit, with the conduit, which goes to the separator.
[0010] An example of realization of principle diagram one for each of the two versions presented above is further presented, as shown in Fig. 1-7.
[0011] Fig. 1. Represents a lateral view of a principle diagram for gas collection from the sea or ocean bottom at a depth where a diver can reach.
[0013] Fig. 3. Represents a lateral view through a conical room and its connection with the collecting conduit from Fig. 1.
[0014] Fig. 4. Represents a lateral view through principle diagram of gas collection from the sea or ocean bottom at a depth where a diver can't reach.
[0016] Fig. 6. Represents a lateral view through a conical room and connection with collection conduit from Fig. 4.
[0017] Fig. 7. Represents an arrangement in a horizontal plan of diagrams or blocks of gas collection from depth.
[0018] The first principle diagram A for gas collection from accessible depths for a diver, consists in some conical rooms 1 connected through some conduits 2 with some collection conduits 3, collecting conduits which are connected with conduit 4 which goes to a separation station of gas from water, station located somewhere below the sea level, in water or on the shore.
[0020] Inside each conduit 2, before valve 5 is provided a gas detector 6. The room 1 is provided with some legs a for its connection with the sea's bottom. The room 1 is also provided with some holes b, on the lateral walls, towards the bottom, to allow the water's entrance from the sea or ocean's bottom into the room 1.
[0021] The gas collection diagram A works as follows: over each jet or gas emission is placed a conical room 1 securely connected with the sea or ocean's bottom through legs a, then through conduit 2, the rooms are connected through valves 5 with collecting conduit 3 sitting on the sea's bottom, conduits which further are connected to conduit 4 also placed on the sea's bottom. Conduit 4 is further connected to the gas separator station placed in an area below the sea level, in water or on the shore.
[0022] Once the diagram is realized, the valves 5 are open and the water starts running according with the vessels communication principle from the sea's bottom through holes b of conical rooms 1, rooms 1, conduits 2, 3 and 4 towards the separator gas-water. Once this flow is achieved, the water activates the gas from jets or emission towards the separation station. The system so put in operation works continuously, without interruption, until the gas source is exhausted. Detector 6 connected one for each conduit 2, before valve 5, can detect the presence or absence of gas.
[0023] If the detector signals the absence of gas, the diver then descends into the water, closes the afferent valve, taking out from the circuit the respective running without gas. This procedure is continuous in the entire system until the gas sources are exhausted.
[0024] After the gas collection process is terminated from the respective location the entire system can be recuperated and adapted for being used on a different location, for the same purpose.
[0025] The second principle diagram B refers to the gas collection from the sea or ocean's bottom at depths un-reachable for the diver to operate.
[0026] This diagram B is similar to the first diagram A shown above. It consists from some conical rooms 1' with open bottom and of whose tops through conduits 2 are connected to collector 3', collector conduit which is further connected through a sleeve with a conduit 4', conduit that goes toward the sea or ocean's surface to a gas separator, located in water or on the shore, at a level below the sea level. The rooms 1', at the bottom, are provided with some legs a' for connection with the sea or ocean's bottom. The rooms 1' are also provided with some holes b' in the lateral walls, towards the bottom, to allow the water's circulation.
[0027] The conical rooms 1' and conduits 2' and 3' are sitting on a horizontal platform 7, well equilibrated, together making a collection block.
[0028] For descending and ascending the platform 7 equipped as shown above, the platform 7 is provided with some steel cables 8, connected one by one at each platform's 7 corner. Platform 7 is also provided with legs c.
[0029] The platform 7 is also provided with some reversible propellers 9, connected one by one at each platform's 7 corners. The conduit 4', which goes from platform 7 towards the mentioned separator, is up-held with some rings by a steel cable. The cable also serves as anchor for a gas extraction apparatus located on the sea or ocean's surface. Conduit 4' can be placed on the sea's bottom, on the entire area from platform 7 towards the gas separator, case in which the separator is located on the shore or on a platform at large.
[0030] More similar blocks can be connected to conduit 4', as could be seen on Fig. 7, when the separator is located either on the sea or on the shore.
[0031] The diagram B works in the following way:
On platform 7 all conical rooms 1' are installed in such a way that each room 1', when the platform or respectively block is launched on the sea or ocean's bottom, will cover a jet or a gas emission from the area where the gas collection has to be done. Rooms 1' are connected with conduits 2' and 3" from the platform 7. The reversible propellers 9 are connected on the platform's 7 corners. From the same platform's 7 corners are connected the steel cable 8.
[0032] The respective block is carefully launched on the sea or ocean bottom, on the area where the gas collection will take place, making sure that each conical room to be positioned on top of each jet or gas emission. This operation is being done with the help of the reversible propellers 9.
[0033] Once the platform 7 is in a working position, the block is connected with conduit 4' and the diagram is ready to work, in the same conditions as the first diagram.
[0034] If the gas collection area is large, then, as shown in Fig. 7, more blocks are installed, connected between them with conduits 4'.
[0036] In the situation where the platforms with the respective diagrams or blocks are connected with a separation station from the shore or with a gas separation station located on a platform at large, both located below the sea level, the connection conduits 4' are seated on the bottom of the sea or ocean.
1. System of gas collection from the sea bottom's ventures, in a first version destined
to the depths accessible to a diver, consisting of conical rooms 1, connected at its superior part with some conduits 2 to some collecting conduits 3 jointed further to an other conduit 4 which drives the sea water and gas mixture to a station of gas separation, not shown,
located somewhere below the sea level, in water or on the shore, each connection of
conduit 2 with collecting conduit 3 being provided with a valve 5 and before it, with a gas detector 6.
2. System of gas collection from sea bottom's vents, in a second version, destined to
depths un-accessible to a diver, consisting of conical rooms 1', open at the bottom, provided with holes b and connected at their superior part to conduits 2' which are connected to collector
3'. The rooms 1' and the conduit 2' and 3' are installed on a horizontal platform 7, provided with some legs c, with some steel cables 8 and with a conduit 4', for connection with the gas separator. Platform 7 is equipped with a reversible propeller 9 placed at its four corners.
3. System of gas collection from sea bottom's vents, according to claim 1, characterized as follows: rooms 1 are open at their inferior part, are sitting on some legs a of connection and are provided with some entrance holes b, in the lateral walls, towards the bottom.
4. A gas collection system from sea bottom's vents, according to claim 2, characterized by that the platform 7 may have in horizontal plan a trapeze shape in order to be placed so as to fit in
an concentric circle, each of the platform 7 being connected through some radial pipes 4' to a main conduit 10, which leads to the gas separation station.