Containment unit and method of using same

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to containment and control of an oil spill caused by a damaged or broken riser in deep water. More specifically, the present invention relates to a reusable unit that will contain oil spills to a specific location and will also allow oil to be harvested as it flows to the top of the unit while minimizing or even eliminating any environmental clean-up impact or cost. The unit of the present invention is dropped over a damaged or broken riser in a closed position, the unit is released and stabilized in sections until the surface is reached and the containment unit is completely erected.

1 . A containment unit for containing a leak of a material into an ambient fluid, the containment unit comprising:
 a weighted base for being disposed around the leak, wherein the weighted base comprises first and second end pieces, the first and second end pieces being spaced apart from each other to provide an opening configured to allow the ambient fluid to enter the containment unit and comingle with the material;   a flotation unit attachable to the weighted base, wherein the flotation unit comprises a flotation device,   one or more additional flotation units attachable to and stackable on the flotation unit, the additional flotation units comprising additional flotation devices; and   a barrier wall configured to contain the material.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The containment unit of  claim 1 , wherein the base is square, rectangular, or circular. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The containment unit of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises reinforced concrete supported by a brace. 
     
     
         6 . The containment unit of  claim 5 , wherein the brace is metal. 
     
     
         7 . The containment unit of  claim 6 , wherein the metal is aluminum. 
     
     
         8 . The containment unit of  claim 5 , wherein the brace is PVC filled with concrete. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The containment unit of  claim 1 , wherein the flotation unit is square, rectangular, or circular. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The containment unit of  claim 1 , wherein the flotation device comprises coated foam supported by a brace. 
     
     
         14 . The containment unit of  claim 13 , wherein the brace is metal. 
     
     
         15 . The containment unit of  claim 14 , wherein the metal is aluminum. 
     
     
         16 . The containment unit of  claim 13 , wherein the brace is PVC filled with concrete. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The containment unit of  claim 13 , wherein the coated foam is Styrofoam coated with plastic or rubber. 
     
     
         19 . The containment unit of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier wall is flexible. 
     
     
         20 . The containment unit of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier wall comprises Kevlar or rubber. 
     
     
         21 . The containment unit of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier wall is reinforced. 
     
     
         22 . The containment unit of  claim 2   1 , wherein the barrier wall is reinforced with rubber coated cables or solid PVC piping. 
     
     
         23 . The containment unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a storm cap. 
     
     
         24 . The containment unit of  claim 1 , wherein the flotation units are anchored to the ocean floor, tugboats, or barges. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The containment unit of  claim 1 , wherein the containment unit is compressed for storage and the additional flotation units are sequentially releasable from compressed states into erected states at different respective depths of the ambient fluid. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The containment unit of  claim 31 , wherein the containment unit is a transfer tank. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . (canceled)