Method and apparatus for fastening a blowout preventer (bop) stack containment assembly to an ocean floor

Abstract

A valve assembly is described for containing an oil spill caused by a defective blowout preventer. The valve assembly may include a hollow cavity having a floor, a ceiling and a wall, and a valve that protrudes through the ceiling and the floor of the hollow cavity. The hollow cavity may be configured to be reinforced by filling the hollow cavity with cement. The valve assembly may have a cylindrical geometric configuration. The valve may be configured to be maintained in an open position while the valve assembly is lowered below a surface of an ocean. The valve assembly may be positioned above a blowout preventer located on a floor of the ocean.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A valve assembly comprising:
 a hollow cavity including a floor, a ceiling and a wall; and   a valve that protrudes through the ceiling and the floor of the hollow cavity.   
     
     
         22 . The valve assembly of  claim 21  wherein the hollow cavity is configured to be reinforced by filling the hollow cavity with cement. 
     
     
         23 . The valve assembly of  claim 21  wherein the valve assembly has a cylindrical geometric configuration. 
     
     
         24 . The valve assembly of  claim 23  further comprising:
 at least one seal mounted along a perimeter of the floor of the hollow cavity. 
 
     
     
         25 . The valve assembly of  claim 21  wherein the valve that protrudes through the ceiling and the floor of the hollow cavity is configured to be maintained in an open position while the valve assembly is lowered below a surface of an ocean. 
     
     
         26 . The valve assembly of  claim 21  further comprising:
 at least one heating element configured to heat up the valve that protrudes through the ceiling and the floor of the hollow cavity. 
 
     
     
         27 . The valve assembly of  claim 21  further comprising:
 at least one cement input valve. 
 
     
     
         28 . The valve assembly of  claim 21  further comprising:
 a pressure monitor unit configured to monitor the pressure of at least one of oil or gas in a containment assembly on which the valve assembly is positioned on. 
 
     
     
         29 . The valve assembly of  claim 21  wherein the valve assembly is configured to be positioned above a blowout preventer located on a floor of an ocean. 
     
     
         30 . A valve assembly comprising:
 a cement filled cavity; and   a valve that protrudes through the cement filled cavity.   
     
     
         31 . The valve assembly of  claim 30  wherein the cavity includes a floor, a ceiling and a wall, and the valve protrudes through the ceiling and the floor of the cement filled cavity. 
     
     
         32 . The valve assembly of  claim 31  wherein the valve assembly has a cylindrical geometric configuration. 
     
     
         33 . The valve assembly of  claim 32  further comprising:
 at least one seal mounted along a perimeter of the floor of the hollow cavity. 
 
     
     
         34 . The valve assembly of  claim 30  wherein the valve that protrudes through the cement filled cavity is configured to be maintained in an open position while the valve assembly is lowered below a surface of an ocean. 
     
     
         35 . The valve assembly of  claim 30  further comprising:
 at least one heating element configured to heat up the valve that protrudes through the cement filled cavity. 
 
     
     
         36 . The valve assembly of  claim 30  further comprising:
 at least one cement input valve. 
 
     
     
         37 . The valve assembly of  claim 30  further comprising:
 a pressure monitor unit configured to monitor the pressure of at least one of oil or gas in a containment assembly on which the valve assembly is positioned on. 
 
     
     
         38 . The valve assembly of  claim 30  wherein the valve assembly is configured to be positioned above a blowout preventer located on a floor of an ocean. 
     
     
         39 . A valve assembly comprising:
 a valve; and   a hollow cavity circumventing the valve, wherein the hollow cavity is configured to be filled with cement.   
     
     
         40 . The valve assembly of  claim 39  wherein the valve assembly is configured to be positioned above a blowout preventer located on a floor of an ocean.