Oil Spill Containment and Clean-Up Apparatus and Method

Abstract

An oil spill containment and clean-up apparatus uses an absorbent containment barrier for stopping the spread of the spill and for absorbing the spill for disposal as the barrier is collapsed around the spill. A skimmer boat is also employed, with adjustable skimmer positions to reduce the amount of water collected with the spill in order to maximize efficiency. Oil collection pans can be mounted on cranes for remote collection.

1 . An oil spill containment and recovery system for oil spills in the water, the system comprising:
 a. A boom deployment system for containing the oil spill in a defined area;   b. A recovery vessel positioned within the defined area and including an oil recovery system for removing the oil from the water, the recovery vessel including at least one movable gate having an upper edge and positioned in a side wall of the vessel, the gate selectively open from the water into the vessel;   c. A control system for moving the upper edge of the gate to place it at a position to maximize the flow of oil into the vessel while minimizing the flow of water; and   d. A storage tank in the vessel for storing the oil collected through the gate.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a float system attached to the gate and movable with the water level for adjusting the position of the top edge of the gate. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a crane recovery system mounted on the vessel, the crane recovery system including a movable crane and a collection pan mounted on the crane and adapted to be placed in the water for collecting oil, a conduit for transferring the oil collected in the pan from the pan to the vessel. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further including mounting means for the crane adapted for permitting the crane to be moved about the ship. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , including a float system for supporting the pan in the water. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the float system is adjustable for making minor adjustment of the position of the pan in the water. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the boom comprises a sponge-like compressible sorbent material circumscribing a durable, flexible core. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , including a wringer through which the boom passes for compressing the boom as it is retrieved from deployment for wringing out the oil from the sorbent material is the boom is returned to a stowed position. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel further includes the boom deployment and collection system mounted directly on the vessel. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the boom deployment system is a separate vessel. 
     
     
         11 . A boom deployment system for an oil spill containment and recovery system for oil spills in the water, the boom deployment system comprising;
 a. A boom storage reel;   b. A first length of compressible boom wound about the reel;   c. A deployment system for unwinding the boom from the reel and deploying it in the water to contain an oil spill to a defined area;   d. A wind-up system for withdrawing the boom from the water and winding it about the reel for storage; and   e. A wringer for compressing the boom and extracting any oil therein as the boom is withdrawn from the water.   
     
     
         12 . The boom deployment system of  claim 11 , wherein the compressible boom comprises a durable flexible core and an outer sheath made of a compressible sorbent material. 
     
     
         13 . The boom deployment system of  claim 11 , including a plurality of boom storage reels each have a length of compressible boom wound thereabout, wherein the multiple lengths of compressible boom may be secured to one another in end-to-end relationship for deploying a combined boom of a length greater than a single boom length. 
     
     
         14 . An oil spill containment and recovery system for oil spills in the water, the system comprising:
 a. A boom deployment system for containing the oil spill in a defined area;   b. A recovery vessel positioned within the defined area and including an oil recovery system for removing the oil from the water, the oil recovery system comprising a crane recovery system mounted on the vessel, the crane recovery system including a movable crane and a collection pan mounted on the crane and adapted to be placed in the water for collecting oil, a conduit for transferring the oil collected in the pan from the pan to the vessel.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further including mounting means for the crane adapted for permitting the crane to be moved about the ship. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , including a float system for supporting the pan in the water. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the float system is adjustable for making minor adjustment of the position of the pan in the water. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , the recovery vessel including
 a. At least one movable gate having an upper edge and positioned in a side wall of the vessel, the gate selectively open from the water into the vessel;   b. A control system for moving the upper edge of the gate to place it at a position to maximize the flow of oil into the vessel while minimizing the flow of water; and   c. A storage tank in the vessel for storing the oil collected through the gate.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further including a float system attached to the gate and movable with the water level for adjusting the position of the top edge of the gate. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the boom comprises a sponge-like compressible sorbent material circumscribing a durable, flexible core. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , including a wringer through which the boom passes for compressing the boom as it is retrieved from deployment for wringing out the oil from the sorbent material is the boom is returned to a stowed position