Subsea capture system and method of using same

Abstract

A subsea capture system, comprising a plurality of leak sources on a sea floor, the leak sources having a density less than sea water; and a capture device located above the plurality of leak sources, the capture device comprising an internal surface inclined to collect the plurality of leak sources at one more collection points located at a top of the capture device.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A subsea capture system, comprising:
 a plurality of leak sources on a sea floor, the leak source fluids having a density less than sea water; and   a capture device located above the plurality of leak sources, the capture device comprising an internal surface inclined to collect the plurality of leak sources at one or more collection points located at a top of the capture device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the leak sources comprise oil. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the leak sources comprise natural gas. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the leak sources comprise fluid from a hydrocarbon reservoir. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the internal surface of the capture device is inclined at an angle from 15 degrees to 75 degrees relative to horizontal. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the internal surface of the capture device is inclined at an angle from 30 degrees to 60 degrees relative to horizontal. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of leak sources comprise from about 3 to about 10 leak sources. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the capture device comprises a major dimension across a base of the device from about 5 meters to about 100 meters. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the capture device comprises a diameter across a base of the device from about 10 meters to about 50 meters. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the capture device comprises a flexible sheet material. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a riser connected to the collection point. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a separator fluidly connected to the collection point. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a liquid storage vessel fluidly connected to the collection point. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the capture system has a fluid seal or partial seal to the sea floor. 
     
     
         15 . A method of capturing subsea leaks, comprising:
 locating a plurality of leak sources on a sea floor, the leak source fluids having a density less than sea water;   installing a capture device above the plurality of leak sources, the capture device comprising an internal surface inclined relative to horizontal; and   collecting the plurality of leak sources at one or more collection points located at a top of the capture device.