Modular pressure management oil spill containment system and method

Abstract

A modular pressure management oil spill containment system is constructed on the floor of an ocean to contain an oil spill caused by a wild well blowout. A base containment module including a hollow wall and at least one pressure relief valve is submerged below a surface of the ocean, positioned on a portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the wild well and its hollow wall is reinforced. At least one additional containment module including a hollow wall and at least one pressure relief valve is submerged below the ocean surface, positioned on top of the base containment module and its hollow wall is also reinforced. A plurality of riser assemblies are connected between at least a portion of the pressure relief valves of the containment modules and at least one containment vessel. The pressure relief valves are controlled to manage the containment of the oil spill.

1 . A method of controlling the containment of an oil spill caused by a wild well blowout on a floor of an ocean, the method comprising:
 (a) submerging a base containment module below a surface of the ocean, the base containment module including at least one pressure relief valve;   (b) positioning the base containment module on a portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the wild well;   (c) submerging at least one additional containment module below the ocean surface, the additional containment module including at least one pressure relief valve;   (d) positioning the additional containment module on top of the base containment module;   (e) connecting a plurality of riser assemblies between at least a portion of the pressure relief valves of the containment modules and at least one containment vessel; and   (f) controlling the pressure relief valves to manage the containment of the oil spill.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the containment modules are configured to circulate chemicals to prevent the formation of methane hydrates inside the containment modules and the pressure relief valves without releasing the chemicals into the ocean. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the wild well blowout is caused by a defective blowout preventer (BOP) that is circumvented by the base containment module. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each of the pressure relief valves is configured to be remotely controlled, either wirelessly or via a wired or hydraulic connection, to maintain an open position, a partially open position or a closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each of the containment modules includes a hollow wall comprising a reinforcement cavity between an inner wall and an outer wall. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each of the pressure relief valves selectively allows oil and/or gas spewing from the wild well to flow through the hollow wall at a controlled rate. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising:
 filling the reinforcement cavity with reinforcement material in order to reinforce the hollow wall and to form a seal between the containment modules. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the base containment module includes a bottom opening that is positioned on the portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the wild well. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the base containment module comprises an annular rim that connects the bottom of the inner wall to the bottom of the outer wall. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 fastening the base containment assembly to the ocean floor via a seabed connection to provide a seal with the ocean floor. 
 
     
     
         11 . A modular pressure management oil spill containment system for controlling the containment of an oil spill caused by a wild well blowout on a floor of an ocean, the system comprising:
 a base containment module including at least one pressure relief valve; and   at least one additional containment module including at least one pressure relief valve, wherein the base containment module is submerged below a surface of the ocean and positioned on a portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the wild well, the additional containment module is submerged below the ocean surface and positioning on top of the base containment module, a plurality of riser assemblies are connected between at least a portion of the pressure relief valves of the containment modules and a containment vessel, and the pressure relief valves are controlled to manage the containment of the oil spill.   
     
     
         12 . The modular pressure management oil spill containment system of  claim 11  wherein the containment modules are configured to circulate chemicals to prevent the formation of methane hydrates inside the containment modules and the pressure relief valves without releasing the chemicals into the ocean. 
     
     
         13 . The modular pressure management oil spill containment system of  claim 11  wherein the wild well blowout is caused by a defective blowout preventer (BOP) that is circumvented by the base containment module. 
     
     
         14 . The modular pressure management oil spill containment system of  claim 11  wherein each of the pressure relief valves is configured to be remotely controlled, either wirelessly or via a wired or hydraulic connection, to maintain an open position, a partially open position or a closed position. 
     
     
         15 . The modular pressure management oil spill containment system of  claim 11  wherein each of the containment modules includes a hollow wall comprising a reinforcement cavity between an inner wall and an outer wall. 
     
     
         16 . The modular pressure management oil spill containment system of  claim 11  wherein each of the pressure relief valves selectively allows oil and/or gas spewing from the wild well to flow through the hollow wall at a controlled rate. 
     
     
         17 . The modular pressure management oil spill containment system of  15  wherein the reinforcement cavity is filled with reinforcement material in order to reinforce the hollow wall and to form a seal between the containment modules. 
     
     
         18 . The modular pressure management oil spill containment system of  claim 11  wherein the base containment module includes a bottom opening that is positioned on the portion of the ocean floor that circumvents the wild well. 
     
     
         19 . The modular pressure management oil spill containment system of  claim 14  wherein the base containment module comprises an annular rim that connects the bottom of the inner wall to the bottom of the outer wall. 
     
     
         20 . The modular pressure management oil spill containment system of  claim 19  wherein the base containment assembly is fastened to the ocean floor via a seabed connection to provide a seal with the ocean floor.