Method and apparatus for containing a defective blowout preventer (bop) stack using bopstopper assemblies having remotely controlled valves and heating elements

Abstract

A method and apparatus are described for containing oil and/or gas spewing from a defective blowout preventer (BOP) stack located on a floor of an ocean using BOPstopper assemblies. A BOPstopper containment assembly is submerged below a surface of the ocean and positioned on a portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the defective BOP stack. Then, a BOPstopper valve assembly is submerged below the ocean surface and positioned on top of the BOPstopper containment assembly to contain the oil and/or gas. Each of these BOPstopper assemblies may comprise a plurality of flooding valves used to submerge the BOPstopper assemblies. Furthermore, each of these BOPstopper assemblies may comprise a plurality of reinforcement material input valves for reinforcing the assemblies with reinforcement material (e.g., cement and/or mud). The flooding valves and the reinforcement material input valves may be remotely controlled from a vessel floating on the ocean surface.

1 . A method of containing at least one of oil or gas spewing from a defective blowout preventer (BOP) stack located on a floor of an ocean, the method comprising:
 (a) submerging a containment assembly below a surface of the ocean;   (b) positioning the containment assembly on a portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the defective BOP stack;   (c) submerging a valve assembly below the ocean surface; and   (d) positioning the valve assembly on top of the containment assembly to contain the at least one of oil and gas.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the containment assembly comprises a plurality of flooding valves configured to be remotely controlled, either wirelessly or via a wired or hydraulic connection, from a vessel floating on the ocean surface to maintain an open position, a partially open position or a closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 (e) opening at least one of the flooding valves to submerge the containment assembly below the ocean surface; and 
 (f) closing the at least one flooding valve after the containment assembly is positioned on the portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the defective BOP stack. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the containment assembly comprises a hollow wall having a reinforcement cavity, and a plurality of reinforcement material input valves, the method further comprising:
 (e) reinforcing the containment assembly by filling the reinforcement cavity of the hollow wall of the containment assembly with reinforcement material via at least one of the reinforcement material input valves, wherein the reinforcement material comprises at least one of cement or mud, and the reinforcement material input valves are configured to be remotely controlled, either wirelessly or via a wired or hydraulic connection, from a vessel floating on the ocean surface to maintain an open position, a partially open position or a closed position. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the valve assembly comprises a plurality of flooding valves configured to be remotely controlled, either wirelessly or via a wired or hydraulic connection, from a vessel floating on the ocean surface to maintain an open position, a partially open position or a closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising;
 (e) opening at least one of the flooding valves to submerge the valve assembly below the ocean surface; and 
 (f) closing the at least one flooding valve after the valve assembly is positioned on top of the containment assembly. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the valve assembly comprises a hollow cavity and a plurality of reinforcement material input valves, the method further comprising:
 (e) reinforcing the valve assembly by filling the hollow cavity of the valve assembly with reinforcement material via at least one of the reinforcement material input valves, wherein the reinforcement material comprises at least one of cement or mud, and the reinforcement material input valves are configured to be remotely controlled, either wirelessly or via a wired or hydraulic connection, from a vessel floating on the ocean surface to maintain an open position, a partially open position or a closed position. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the valve assembly further comprises at least one large diameter high pressure valve that is surrounded by the hollow cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the large diameter high pressure valve is remotely controlled, either wirelessly or via a wired or hydraulic connection, from a vessel floating on the ocean surface to maintain an open position, a partially open position or a closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the large diameter high pressure valve is maintained in an open position when the valve assembly is submerged below the ocean surface, and the large diameter high pressure valve is maintained in a closed position after the valve assembly is positioned on top of the containment assembly. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus for containing at least one of oil or gas spewing from a defective blowout preventer (BOP) stack located on a floor of an ocean, the apparatus comprising:
 a containment assembly configured to be submerged below a surface of the ocean and positioned on a portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the defective BOP stack; and   a valve assembly configured to be submerged below the ocean surface and positioned on top of the containment assembly to contain the at least one of oil and gas.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the containment assembly comprises a plurality of flooding valves configured to be remotely controlled, either wirelessly or via a wired or hydraulic connection, from a vessel floating on the ocean surface to maintain an open position, a partially open position or a closed position. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the flooding valves is opened to submerge the containment assembly below the ocean surface, and the at least one flooding valve is closed after the containment assembly is positioned on the portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the defective BOP stack. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the containment assembly comprises a hollow wall having a reinforcement cavity, and a plurality of reinforcement material input valves, and the containment assembly is reinforced by filling the reinforcement cavity of the hollow wall of the containment assembly with reinforcement material via at least one of the reinforcement material input valves, wherein the reinforcement material comprises at least one of cement or mud, and the reinforcement material input valves are configured to be remotely controlled, either wirelessly or via a wired or hydraulic connection, from a vessel floating on the ocean surface to maintain an open position, a partially open position or a closed position. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the valve assembly comprises a plurality of flooding valves configured to be remotely controlled, either wirelessly or via a wired or hydraulic connection, from a vessel floating on the ocean surface to maintain an open position, a partially open position or a closed position. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein at least one of the flooding valves is opened to submerge the valve assembly below the ocean surface, and the at least one flooding valve is closed after the valve assembly is positioned on top of the containment assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the valve assembly comprises a hollow cavity and a plurality of reinforcement material input valves, and the valve assembly is reinforced by filling the hollow cavity of the valve assembly with reinforcement material via at least one of the reinforcement material input valves, wherein the reinforcement material comprises at least one of cement or mud, and the reinforcement material input valves are configured to be remotely controlled, either wirelessly or via a wired or hydraulic connection, from a vessel floating on the ocean surface to maintain an open position, a partially open position or a closed position. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the valve assembly further comprises at least one large diameter high pressure valve that is surrounded by the hollow cavity. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the large diameter high pressure valve is remotely controlled, either wirelessly or via a wired or hydraulic connection, from a vessel floating on the ocean surface to maintain an open position, a partially open position or a closed position. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the large diameter high pressure valve is maintained in an open position when the valve assembly is submerged below the ocean surface, and the large diameter high pressure valve is maintained in a closed position after the valve assembly is positioned on top of the containment assembly.