Floating oil containment and absorbent barrier system

Abstract

A floating oil containment system including a series of containment sections each having a boom portion and a collection curtain extending downwardly therefrom. The containment sections are connectable in series by fasteners inserted along their edges to form a floating oil containment system of a desired size and/or configuration. The collection curtain further generally is formed from an oil and/or chemical absorbent material that will absorb the oil or chemical materials, whereupon the containment section or collection curtain thereof can be removed and replaced for continued remediation of the spill site.

1 . A floating oil containment system for containment and absorption of oil spills, comprising:
 A floating boom portion including a buoyant material;   a collection curtain formed from a water permeable, oil absorbent fabric material and connected to and extending downwardly from the floating boom portion,   whereby the floating boom portion is provided with a sufficient level of buoyancy to enable the boom portion to float with the collection curtain supported by the floating boom portion and extending therebelow for collection and absorption of oil from the oil spill.   
     
     
         2 . The floating oil containment system of  claim 1  and wherein the collection curtain is removably attached to the floating boom portion. 
     
     
         3 . The floating oil containment system of  claim 1  and wherein the buoyant material included within the floating boom portion comprises polystyrene blocks, air bladders, or expandable foam materials. 
     
     
         4 . The floating oil containment system of  claim 1  and wherein the floating boom portion and collection curtain are integrally formed, and further comprising vertical lifting belts arranged along side portions of the collection curtain and floating boom portion, the vertical lifting belts including a series of fastener connections at spaced locations therealong to facilitate connection of additional sections of the floating oil containment system in series. 
     
     
         5 . The floating containment system of  claim 1  and wherein said oil absorbent material further comprises a water permeable filtering sheet material having an apparent opening size of about 0.175 mm to about 1.0 mm. 
     
     
         6 . A floating containment system adapted to contain a chemical spill, comprising:
 at least one containment section, comprising a floating boom portion adjacent an upper end of said containment section, and a collection curtain releasably mountable to said floating boom portion and extending downwardly therefrom,   a buoyant material received within said floating boom portion to provide buoyancy to said at least one containment section when said at least one containment section is used in a body of water; and   at least one connector located adjacent at least one side edge of said collection curtain for engaging and releasably connecting an additional containment section to said at least one containment section;   wherein said collection curtain comprises a chemical and/or oil absorbent fabric material adapted to absorb liquid chemicals or oil, and wherein, upon saturation of said collection curtain with liquid chemicals or oil, said collection curtain is releasable from its mounting to said floating boom portion for replacement of said collection curtain without also requiring removal and replacement of the floating boom portion of the at least one containment section.   
     
     
         7 . The floating containment system of  claim 6  and wherein said oil absorbent fabric material of said collection curtain comprises a spun bond or melt blown polypropylene or polyester sheet material. 
     
     
         8 . The floating containment system of  claim 7  and wherein said oil absorbent material further comprises a water permeable filtering sheet material having an apparent opening size of about 0.175 mm to about 1.0 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The floating containment system of  claim 7  and further comprising a weighting material received within a pocket adjacent a lower end of said collection curtain. 
     
     
         10 . The floating containment system of  claim 9  and wherein said weighting material comprises a chain. 
     
     
         11 . The floating containment system of  claim 9  and wherein said weighting material comprises a series of weights connectable to said lower end of said collection curtain. 
     
     
         12 . The floating containment system of  claim 7  and wherein said collection curtain further comprises reinforcing members arranged at spaced locations along said collection curtain.