Update July 20, 2010:
This page was originally posted on June 3rd, 2010. in the
mean time, BP has been able to shut off the flow of oil and is
nearing complete containment of the leak. We still feel this idea
has merit as a back-up measure for the possibility of future spills.
If you would like to know more about our approach, please contact
us.
Update June 25, 2010: The cross-section
of the skirt has been made "aerodynamic" to reduce the
drag forces of the sea current.
Update June 16, 2010: We have narrowed the
frontal area of the skirt to minimize the sail effect based on
the calculated expansion of the gases over the mile-long distance.
The top of the buoy is no longer teathered to the sea floor, instead
flowing freely with the current whereby each incremental section
flows with the current rather than fighting it.
Update June 10, 2010: The methane gas is
captured with the top section of a baloon over the top of the
buoy. Oil and gases are pulled from under the canopy for further
processing.
Launch June 3, 2010: After many weeks of
having the idea in mind, we have decided to publish this approach
on our website.
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The Oil Containment Buoy uses a flexible
membrane with weights and floats to contain the oil spill close
to the source. |
The oil is leaking, and there is no current
method to capture all of the leaking oil. By corralling the oil
and coaxing it to the surface, the oil is no longer running wild.
A flexible membrane in a conical or similar increasing cross-sectional
shape is buoyed at the top and weighted at the bottom. The bottom
is weighted to the floor and surrounds a leaking oil well, the
top sits on the surface of a body of water. The membrane does
not allow oil to escape into the body of water. Oil is collected
at the top. The bottom allows fresh water to enter to help carry
the oil to the surface.
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"We need to move
from the beaches closer to the source so that we reduce the volume
of water from the ocean in general down to a small corral." |
By containing the oil as close to the source
as possible, we can keep it from further destroying our environment.
Anyone who has tried to put a garden hose onto an open spigot
knows that it's a difficult task. The oil well in the Gulf of
Mexico does not even have the benefit of a threaded connection
or a clean cut to connect a pipe to. However, taking a bag and
putting it over the same spigot makes the escaping water manageable.
The natural solution is to shut it off, but until we figure out
how to do that, we need to contain the oil that is escaping. Right
now, we are attempting to contain the oil at the beaches and wetlands.
This is way too far away from the source, and does nothing for
the plumes lurking in the water column.
The oil must be contained, but we are working at two extremes.
One at the beaches, and one at the well head. BP is working on
the well head and we all wish them God speed in getting it done.
However, we need to move from the beaches closer to the source
so that we reduce the volume of water from the ocean in general
down to a small corral.
By containing the oil leak to the smallest area without causing
blowouts and ice crystals, we can eliminate further damage to
the environment. |
General
principles relating to fluids and gases changing pressures [back
to top]
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"Ice crystals accumulating
in 'Top Hat' was a foregone conclusion before it was ever attempted."
Methane
clathrate. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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A reduction in pressure will cause a reduction
in temperature.
Anyone who has ever used an aerosol can knows that the can gets
cold as you use it. The basic principle is that that when pressure
is released, temperature drops. The ideal
gas law is:
PV=nRT
Where P = pressure, V = volume, n = the amount of substance,
and T = temperature. R is a constant. As we look at the mixture
of oil and gas leaving the damaged oil well, the variables that
change are P and T. So as the pressure reduces when the oil and
methane gas leave the well head from 18,000 feet below seal level
to 5000 feet and onward, the temperature will naturally drop.
This drop is very sudden at the well head as is evidenced by the
massive amount of oil leaking from the well.
A quick reduction in pressure will lead to ice crystals.
This sudden pressure drop leads to a quick temperature drop,
enough to cause the gasses to liquefy and solidify into ice
crystals. Now jam a bunch of ice crystals into an inverted
funnel and you will have a problem. Ice crystals accumulating
in the "Containment Dome" (not to metion the same experiment
with "Top Hat") was a foregone conclusion before it
was ever attempted.
Working with the laws of physics will allow us to contain the
oil
If we instead allow the oil and gas mixture to find equilibrium
within the immediate water column, it will be easier to work with.
It's much the same as corralling sheep or cattle. You can force
each animal by putting them all on one leash, or you can corral
them to move where you want them to.
The Oil Containment Buoy is designed with a small but generous
area at the ocean floor. As the oil flows up the column (since
it is lighter than water) it is allowed to expand. Once it reaches
the surface, it can be collected.
The rate of collection at the surface must exceed the rate of
oil flowing from the damaged well head. When this happens, fresh
water is allowed to enter through the base of the Oil Containment
Buoy. This fresh water helps lift the oil up the column and keeps
the oil from escaping through the bottom of the Oil Containment
Buoy Skirt. |
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NCOM
Currents in the Gulf of Mexico. Deepwater Horizon coordinates
are 28°44'12"N
88°23'13"W (28.74°N, 88.39°W) Longitude and
Latitude. |
How do we contain the methane gas?
The top challenge of this approach may be containing the methane
gas. A big bubbly collection of oil with natural gas may be very
volatile. We do not know enough about this aspect, but it seems
possible to contain the gas as it rises up the column.
As we continue to develop this concept, we envision a floating
oil rig with a skirt as described extending to the sea floor.
Just below the surface of the water would be an inverted bowl
that gradually captures the gas and oil to separate and process
them.
Are there other ideas? Please
comment.
How do you make a mile-long tent?
Circus tents are the first thought. There are many capable manufacturers
able to create sections of tent that can be locked together as
the Oil Containment Buoy is deployed.
What about currents?
A mile-long skirt used in this concept would effectively become
a very large sail. The ocean
current would exert huge forces on the side walls. The good
news is that the current is quite slow at the Deep Water Horizon
site. Nonetheless, provisions must be made to allow the skirt
and buoy to sway with the current. In addition, the overall frontal
area must be minimized to reduce the sail effect. |
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Can you help?
Can we help?
Contact us! |
The Oil Containment Buoy Project is an effort
to quickly and effectively eliminate further damage to our environment
by containing the oil leak as close to the well head as possible.
Time is of the essence. We all need to work together towards a
solution.
If you can help, if we can help, or if you know someone who can,
please
send them a link to this page, or contact
us via email or phone at:
626 683 9101.
Send
a link to this page
Contact us
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a comment
phone at: 626 683 9101.
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