1300 results about "Oil spill" patented technology

Image analysis techniques may be employed to identify moving and / or static object within a sequence of spatial data frames (102, 300). Attributes of interest may be identified within a sequence of spatial data frames (102, 300). The attributes of interest may be clustered and examined across frames of the spatial data to detect motion vectors. A system (200) may derive information about these attributes of interest and their motion over time and identify moving and / or static objects, and the moving and / or static objects may be used to generate natural language messages describing the motion of the attributes of interest. Example uses include description of moving and / or static objects in data such as weather data, oil spills, cellular growth (e.g., tumor progression), atmospheric conditions (e.g., the size of a hole in the ozone layer), or any other implementation where it may be desirable to detect motion vectors in a sequence of spatial data frames.

Several methods and devices are provided herein to generate shock waves that are used in the oil industry for well drilling, hydrocarbon or gas exploitation, fracking process or improved oil recovery (IOR), enhanced oil recovery (EOR), cleaning of process waters, oil spills byproducts and oil pipes, which can be used as independent systems or as auxiliary systems concomitantly with other existing technologies. The different devices consist of generating shock waves utilizing either one or more laser sources, or a self-generated combustible gas supply, or a micro-explosive pellet, or piezocrystals, or a piezofiber composite structure.

A polymer composition for use in the removal and recovery of oil slicks or spills floating on the surfaces of bodies of water or present on land, such as beaches comprising a foam of a blend of polyethylene and an ethylene-alkyl acrylate copolymer and a process for using such foams in the selective removal of oil from fresh water or salt water and the recovery of the absorbed oils from the foams is disclosed. The polymer composition is also for use in other applications in which absorption of liquids is desired.

A compact hydrogen generator is coupled to or integrated with a fuel cell for portable power applications. In the process of producing hydrogen for the generator via thermocatalytic decomposition (cracking, pyrolysis) of hydrocarbon fuels in an oxidant-free environment, novel carbon products are produced with filamentary surfaces, “octopus”-like carbon filaments, single carbon nanotube fibers and the like. Two novel processes are disclosed for the production of carbon filaments and a novel filamentous carbon product useful in the clean-up of oil spills on the surface of water. The apparatus can utilize a variety of hydrocarbon fuels, including natural gas, propane, gasoline, and sulfurous fuels. The hydrogen-rich gas produced is free of carbon oxides or other reactive impurities, so it can be directly fed to any type of a fuel cell. The hydrogen generator can be conveniently integrated with high temperature fuel cells to produce an efficient and self-contained source of electrical power.

Aerial dispersion systems that may be employed to allow rapid and temporary conversion of aircraft for aerial dispersion purposes, such as aerial fire-fighting. The aerial dispersion systems may be implemented using modular components that may be configured for compatibility with conventional cargo loading and unloading systems of modern aircraft, including side-loading cargo systems of wide body passenger and cargo aircraft having high lift capacities. The aerial dispersion systems may be rapidly installed in a large fleet of high capacity aircraft in response to a wildfire or other rapidly-developing emergency such as an oil spill, chemical or biological contamination incident, building or refinery fire, etc. After use, the aircraft of the fleet may be rapidly de-modified and returned to original condition. The aerial dispersion systems may be operated with a fleet of aircraft in a coordinated manner, for example, as part of an aerial firefighting formation having multiple aircraft sharing information and / or common control.

The present invention contemplates a system comprising a pumping module coupled to an intermediate flow inlet (IFI) wherein said IFI is coupled to a base structure disposed on the flow line that routes production from one or more oil wells, allowing for the quick and easy installation or recovery of a subsea pumping module by cable from an inexpensive vessel. The present invention also allows for the hydraulic isolation of the subsea pumping module by means of on-off valves on the IFI whereby the pumping module can be easily installed or removed without causing underwater oil spills. Sealing of the connection is of the metal-metal type. It is also possible to pass a pig through the present system for clearing the flow lines.

Compositions and methods for remediation of oil spills in a oil spill impacted water environment are described. The methods may further include degrading spilled oil by oxidation or bioremediation.

The present invention relates to systems, methods, and machines for tracking a fluid spill. The method includes obtaining real-time location data for a number of tracking devices from a positioning satellite data repository, integrating the location data of each of the tracking devices into a comprehensive spatial data repository, determining a deployment location for each of the tracking devices, identifying, responsive to the deployment locations, a fluid-spill subset of the tracking devices that were deployed in the fluid spill, determining a fluid spill location based on the geographic locations of the fluid-spill subset, and generating a geographic map depicting the fluid spill location. A new sensor-driven paradigm is used that combines practical data gathering methods with advanced enterprise information technologies. The sensor-driven paradigm provides real-time situational awareness to emergency responders and executive stakeholders working from remote locations during an oil spill or chemical fluid release.

A polymer composition for use in the removal and recovery of oil slicks or spills floating on the surfaces of bodies of water or present on land, such as beaches comprising a foam of a blend of polyethylene and an ethylene-alkyl acrylate copolymer and a process for using such foams in the selective removal of oil from fresh water or salt water and the recovery of the absorbed oils from the foams is disclosed. The polymer composition is also for use in other applications in which absorption of liquids is desired.

The present invention relates to an oil spill identification system and oil spill identification sensors to be used in connection with this system. The system is used primarily on fixed offshore structures, but may also be used on fixed onshore constructions. The sensor comprises a combination of a radar and at least a microwave radiometer. The data collected are transmitted to a control station. Preferably, the transmittal takes place at pixel level between the sensors and the control station. The control station processes the data received at pixel level and transmits data to an end-user, preferably through the internet. The invention also relates to a method for utilizing the system and a use of the system.

The invention relates to a seabed-based multipoint in-situ long-term observing system which comprises a platform frame, a floating body material, an underwater sound communication apparatus, a beacon receiver, a monitoring cabin, a control cabin, a release control cabin, a central rotary table, a balancing weight and a microelectrode probing system. A main body of the platform frame is of a cylindrical shape and is divided into four layers from top to bottom; the floating body material, the underwater sound communication apparatus and the beacon receiver are mounted in the first layer, the monitoring cabin, the control cabin and the release control cabin are mounted in the second layer, the central rotary table is mounted in the third layer, and the balancing weight is mounted in the fourth layer. The seabed-based multipoint in-situ long-term observing system provided by the invention effectively realizes a multipoint precise positioning function so as to acquire data of a plurality of probing points in a probing region as required. Finally, spatial distribution information of an active diffusion field can be analyzed to provide an important data support for marine environment effect estimation of oil spill and aquo-complex decomposing process, thereby providing support and service for key projects such as submarine oil extraction and pilot production of natural gas hydrates.

Several methods and devices are provided herein to generate shock waves that are used in the oil industry for well drilling, hydrocarbon or gas exploitation, fracking process or improved oil recovery (IOR), enhanced oil recovery (EOR), cleaning of process waters, oil spills byproducts and oil pipes, which can be used as independent systems or as auxiliary systems concomitantly with other existing technologies. The different devices consist of generating shock waves utilizing either one or more laser sources, or a self-generated combustible gas supply, or a micro-explosive pellet, or piezocrystals, or a piezofiber composite structure.

An aerial fire suppression system that is used to put out major fires from the air. This invention is usually used in conjunction with a helicopter. This invention uses a constant flow of water to put out a major forest fires. The aerial fire suppression system uses a fire hose 14 to supply the helicopter with a constant flow of water. The other end of the fire hose connects to the hose boom unit 20. The hose boom unit 20 lifts the fire hose above the trees to create an obstruction free path from the helicopter and the water supply. The hose boom unit 20 supply water by connecting to a fire truck, water truck, fire hydrant, lake or any water supply or fire suppression solution. This invention may also be used to clean up oil spills.

The invention provides a portable airborne marine oil spill remote sensing monitoring system, and relates to the marine pollution monitoring field. The system comprises an infrared / ultraviolet / multispectral digital camera, a central control and display system as well as a data management and image processing operation software system. The central control and display system records image information acquired by the infrared / ultraviolet / multispectral digital camera, and superposes the information with an electronic chart for on-line or off-line track playback; and the data management and image processing operation software system which is arranged in a portable industrial control computer of the central control and display system reads the image information, identifies oil spill on line, computes contaminated area on line and identifies thick oil film. The system has the advantages that the portable airborne marine oil spill remote sensing monitoring system can be expediently equipped on various ocean patrol planes without power supply from the planes; when a marine oil spill accident happens, the system can track the marine oil spill in real time, estimate oil spillage and the contaminated area, and evaluate the oil spill elimination effect.

The invention belongs to the marine oil spill processing technology field and relates to a hot-air balloon device for marine oil slick collection and processing. The invention comprises the main body of a hot-air balloon device, a vortex generator and an oil-water separation device. The hot-air balloon device is symmetrically arranged along the central revolution axis. The main body of the hot-air balloon device comprises a power motor, a main body control system and a chemical reagent sprayer. The vortex generator comprises a universal shaft coupling and a vortex generator blade; the vortex generator rotates the sea water to generate vortexes and inhales mixtures into the device. The oil-water separation device comprises an oil suction pump, an oil storage tank, an oil interface detector, a water interface detector and a drainage pump; wherein the oil storage tanks are independently symmetric to the lower part of the two sides of the main body of the hot-air balloon device; a flexible oil storage bag is provided; after filled with oil, the flexible oil storage bag can float naturally in the sea. The invention can significantly increase the efficiency of oil slick collection and treatment, has good stability and flexibility in running and allows the implementation of multiple operations at the same time. The invention with a simple structure and easy manufacturing is suitable for treating large-scale marine oil spill accidents.

The submarine has a plurality of oil spill detection and removal means, oil / water separating device and oil store tanks. Lights and camera sets are installed in a manner allowing a visual control over the movement of the submarine and over the process of oil removal. A telescopic boom, a sail suction platform and deck suction means are provided to collect the oil spill from the surface of water and from beneath the ice. A bottom suction compartment is provided to collect the oil spill rising from the sea floor to the surface.

Methods for detecting a liquid under a surface and characterizing Ice are provided The liquid may be a liquid hydrocarbon such as crude oil or fuel oil or mineral oil The surface may be ice, snow, or water, and the method may be practiced in an arctic region to detect oil spills, leaks, or seepages The methods may be used with a range finder to characterize marine ice The methods may include a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tool with antenna to send a radio-frequency (RF) excitation pulse or signal into volume of substances being detected, detect an NMR response signal to determine the presence of the liquid of interest The NMR response may include a relaxation time element and an intensity level and may include a free induction signal (T2*), a spin echo signal (T2), a train of spin echo signals (T2), or a thermal equilibrium signal (T 1).

The invention discloses an oil spill type recognition method based on a fluorescence spectrum, which comprises the processes of establishing an oil spill recognition model and recognizing oil spill types based on the oil spill recognition model, wherein the process of establishing the oil spill recognition model comprises the following steps: establishing a primary recognition model and establishing a secondary recognition model, wherein the secondary recognition model is the global optimum secondary recognition model which is selected by using a particle swarm optimization algorithm based onspectrums of known oil spill types; and the process of recognizing the oil spill types based on the oil spill recognition model comprises the following steps: using the primary recognition model to recognize the oil spill types, and judging whether to use the secondary recognition model for recognition according to the primary recognition result. By using a hierarchical recognition classificationmethod, the invention increases the quantity of recognizable oil spill types, and improves the recognition efficiency and the adaptive capability of the method.

The invention discloses a sea surface oil spilling detection method of a complete polarization synthetic aperture radar (SAR). The method comprises the following steps of: carrying out adaptive threshold value segmentation on a complete polarization SAR image to obtain complete polarization SAR images getting rid of the sea surface; selecting a training sample and a testing sample from the complete polarization SAR images getting rid of the sea surface; training an SVM (Support Vector Machine) detector, and normalizing polarization characteristic vectors of the detector, which comprise a scattering entropy H, a scattering angle alpha, a negative entropy A, a co-polarization ratio gamma, a cross polarization ratio eta, a depolarization ratio delta, a co-polarization phase difference phi HH-VV and a cross polarization phase difference phi HH-VV; and finally, detecting and identifying spilled oil and suspected objects by using the SVM and outputting a detection result. The method has thecharacteristics of high detection speed and low false alarm rate and is suitable for the sea surface oil spilling detection of the SAR.

A containment system having a containment dome and a seal plate which is attached to an oil wellhead casing or riser to prevent oil spills and contamination when an oil leak occurs. The containment dome is sealed to the seal plate by a compression mechanism so that oil will not leak from the containment dome. The containment dome can provide a wellhead patch to a wellhead system wherein the wellhead patch can interface with a capping stack. Chemicals can be injected into the containment dome to prevent hydrates from forming. All aspects of controlling and operating an oil wellhead can be performed through the containment dome and seal plate, and all aspects of installation, regulation, and control of the containment dome can be performed by remote operating vehicles under water.

Apparatus for detecting the presence of a targeted group of hydrocarbons, such as diesel / fuel oil, lube oil, motor oil, hydraulic oil, jet fuel, mineral oil and crude oil in a highly reliable manner even though present at only extremely low concentration. A high power, pulsed light source is focused into a collimated beam that is reduced by a set of filters to a band of pulsed light within a precise set of wavelengths and directed vertically onto a target surface, such as a body of water. All but a precise band of light wavelengths returning to the apparatus are blocked so that substantially all light which then reaches an internal photodetector is within such precise band of wavelengths; as a result receipt of such light programmed intervals following such pulses is indicative of the presence of a member of the targeted hydrocarbon group.

The invention discloses an oil absorption material using cellulose as a base and a preparation method thereof. The preparation method comprises the following steps: pretreating the raw material corn straws with sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite to extract cellulose, and carrying out acetylation modification on the cellulose with acetic anhydride to obtain the natural high-efficiency oil absorption material. The technical scheme disclosed by the invention has efficient adsorption effect on marine oil spill; the oil absorption rate can reach more than 60 times; and the preparation method has the advantages of simple process and easy recovery.

A method of recovering spilled hydrocarbon fluids from a body of water utilizing the increased oleophilic properties of reacted iron particles suspended in a magnetorheological (MR) fluid. The iron particles normally used to create MR fluids, are reacted with an organic compound containing an oleophilic chain end which attaches to the surface of the iron, prior to suspension in a liquid vehicle such as an organic oil. The reacted iron particles in the MR fluid are then applied to and mixed with a hydrocarbon spill on a body of water such as an oil spill, whereby subsequent exposure to a significant magnetic field provides for subsequent recovery of both the reacted magnetic particles and the hydrocarbon spill.

Viscous oil residues are located based on fluorescence polarization. Methods and apparatus in accordance with the invention may be integrated with autonomous and remotely operated undersea vehicles to map the location of oil spills.

A fuel vapor adjusting device includes an expansion chamber at a top portion of a fuel tank; an oil spill trip valve being connected to the expansion chamber, which can turn off when there's spilling oil or the fuel tank is fell down; and at least two canisters. Each canister includes a fuel vapor entrance port, a fuel vapor outlet port, and a fuel vapor recycling vent. The fuel vapor entrance port and the fuel vapor outlet port form a fuel vapor filtering passage, and the fuel vapor entrance port and the fuel vapor recycling vent form a fuel vapor recycling passage. The oil spill trip valve, the at least two fuel vapor filtering passages connect in series, and the oil spill trip valve, the at least two fuel vapor recycling passages connect in parallel.

Disclosed are systems and methods of detecting oil spills on the sea surface at night. According to some embodiments, implementations herein involve detection of the polarized reflectivity and the refractive index of the water and the oil using the polarization properties of the electromagnetic waves based on satellite data to accurately and quantitatively detect the position of the oil band spread on the sea.

The invention discloses a method for detecting oil spill at sea based on a full-polarized synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image. The method includes the following steps: pre-treating polarized SAR data which require analyzing to obtain a full-polarized SAR covariance matrix; conducting refining polarized Lee filtering on the covariance matrix; based on the filtered covariance matrix or through a Stokes vector calculated by the covariance matrix, extracting 6 polarized features to constitute a feature combination; inputting training sample features with ground verification label information to a maximum likelihood (ML) classifier, training the classifier and optimizing parameters of the classifier; taking polarized features as input, utilizing the ML classifier to conduct detection and classification on an oil membrane; processing a classification result based on morphology, utilizing verification information of actual measurement to evaluate classification precision. According to the invention, the method can increase performances of oil spill at sea detection and classification methods and promote the application of the full-polarized SAR in actual engineering problems such as monitoring of oil spill at sea.

A method of recovering spilled hydrocarbon fluids from a body of water utilizing the increased oleophilic properties of reacted iron particles suspended in a magnetorheological (MR) fluid. The iron particles normally used to create MR fluids, are reacted with an organic compound containing an oleophilic chain end which attaches to the surface of the iron, prior to suspension in a liquid vehicle such as an organic oil. The reacted iron particles in the MR fluid are then applied to and mixed with a hydrocarbon spill on a body of water such as an oil spill, whereby subsequent exposure to a significant magnetic field provides for subsequent recovery of both the reacted magnetic particles and the hydrocarbon spill.