Deepwater containment system and method of using same background

Abstract

An oil and gas collection system, comprising a source of oil and gas flowing into a body of water; a collector located adjacent the source of oil and gas; a riser to transport the oil and gas towards a surface of the body of water, a first end of the riser fluidly connected to the collector; and a separator fluidly connected to a second end of the riser, the separator adapted to separate the oil and gas into a first oil rich stream and a second gas rich stream, the separator comprising an oil rich stream outlet and a gas rich stream outlet. In some embodiments, the source of oil and gas comprises a blow out preventer.

1 . An oil and gas collection system, comprising:
 a source of oil and gas flowing into a body of water;   a collector located adjacent the source of oil and gas;   a riser to transport the oil and gas towards a surface of the body of water, a first end of the riser fluidly connected to the collector; and   a separator fluidly connected to a second end of the riser, the separator adapted to separate the oil and gas into a first oil rich stream and a second gas rich stream, the separator comprising an oil rich stream outlet and a gas rich stream outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the source of oil and gas comprises a blow out preventer. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the collector is sealed to the source of oil and gas. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the collector is open to the source of oil and gas and the body of water. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the collector comprises a containment dome. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the riser is anchored to a sea floor beneath the body of water. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the riser is anchored to a sea floor with a suction pile driven into the sea floor. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a manifold located between the collector and the riser. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump with an outlet feeding into the first end of the riser. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the separator provides buoyancy to the riser. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the separator is floating on a surface of the body of water. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the separator is submerged a distance beneath a surface of the body of water, for example from about 50 meters to about 250 meters. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the separator is operating at a pressure from about 50 to about 250 psi. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a flare at a surface of the body of water, the flare fluidly connected the gas rich stream outlet. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a trap at a first end of the riser, the trap comprising an access port for cleaning out the trap. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a vessel floating on a surface of the body of water, the vessel fluidly connected the oil rich stream outlet. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the oil rich stream comprises a portion of gas, the vessel further comprising a separator to separate the portion of gas from the oil. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the separator on the vessel is a low pressure separator, for example operating a pressure less than about 50 psi. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the vessel further comprises a flare adapted to burn the portion of gas. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second riser to transport the oil and gas towards a surface of the body of water, a first end of the riser fluidly connected to the collector; and   a second separator fluidly connected to a second end of the riser, the separator adapted to separate the oil and gas into a first oil rich stream and a second gas rich stream, the separator comprising an oil rich stream outlet and a gas rich stream outlet.   
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 locating a source of oil and gas flowing into a body of water;   collecting at least a portion of the oil and gas;   flowing the collected oil and gas to a surface of the body of water;   separating at least a portion of the oil from the gas;   flowing the portion of oil to a floating vessel; and   burning at least a portion of the gas.