Method and Apparatus for Mitigating Environmental Impact Due to Fluid Leaks

• US 20100059217A1
• Filed: 03/03/2009
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UR Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Satellite Systems & Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Short, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,079,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/75.110
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/0122 Collecting oil or the like from a submerged leakage cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or the like E02B15/04
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/117 Detecting leaks, e.g. from tubing, by pressure testing

Abstract

Embodiments of the inventive technology may provide a leaked fluid detection and response system in one aspect, and in another aspect, an environmental enclosure for at least a component of such leaked fluid detection system. Various embodiments of the leaked fluid detection and response system may provide wireless communication of detected leaks and a PLC that automates response and provides information regarding the presence of a leak. Enclosures may, in various embodiments, comprehensively surround enclosed components, thermally insulate enclosed components, include a leaked fluid capture basin, be aerodynamically streamlined, and/or be vermin-tight.

Claims

1. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus comprising:

at least one well fluid leak detector established to generate information regarding the presence of a leak of a well fluid from a well fluid conduit;

a communication system configured to convey said information;

a programmable logic controller configured to act according to said information;

a response system coordinated with said programmable logic controller to automatically act in the event of detection of said well fluid leak; and

at least one power supply that powers said at least one well fluid leak detector, said communication system, said programmable logic controller and said response system.

2. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said well fluid comprises a well fluid selected from the group consisting of:

barren lixiviant, lixiviant, in-situ mining fluid, in-situ leach mining fluid, in-situ recovery mining fluid, in-situ uranium mining fluid, slurry mining fluid, slurry uranium mining fluid, disposal well fluid, uranium mining disposal well fluid, production well fluid, uranium mining production well fluid, injection well fluid, uranium mining injection well fluid, water, hot mineralized water, hydrocarbon mining fluid, hydrocarbon leach mining fluid, oil well fluid, oil, natural gas mining fluid, and natural gas.

9. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said well fluid conduit comprises a well fluid conduit selected from the group consisting of:

well head conduit, valve station conduit, bell hole conduit, a transition hole conduit.

11. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said well fluid conduit is established at an interface of earth and atmosphere.

19. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said communication system is at least partially wireless.

20. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 19 wherein said communication system operates under any one or more of the protocols selected from the group consisting of RS232, RS422, RS485, 802-11, ethernet and zigbee.

21. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 19 wherein said communication system uses one or more of the methodologies selected from the group consisting of bluetooth, mesh, point to point and point to multi-point.

22. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 21 wherein at least one of said radios is a coordinator.

23. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 21 wherein at least one of said radios is a repeater.

24. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said response system comprises a human notification system.

25. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 24 wherein said human notification system effects a sensible indication in the event of a leak.

29. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 25 wherein said human notification system comprises a leak location identifier.

30. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said response system comprises an automatic shutdown system.

31. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 30 wherein said response system further comprises a human notification system that effects a sensible indication in the event of a leak.

32. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 31 wherein said programmable logic controller comprises a programmed requirement of leak notification receipt acknowledgement.

42. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 1 further comprising a functionality verification system.

43. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 42 wherein said functionality verification system comprises a leak simulator.

52. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 1 further comprising an environmental enclosure for said well fluid conduit.

53. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 52 wherein said environmental enclosure comprises a structural enclosure adapted to surround said well fluid conduit;

and at least one opening through said at least one structural enclosure, said at least one opening sized to accommodate a well fluid entrance conduit portion of said well fluid conduit and a well fluid exit conduit portion of said well fluid conduit, wherein well fluid enters said environmental enclosure through said well fluid entrance conduit portion and exits said environmental enclosure through said well fluid exit conduit portion.

54. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 53 further comprising at least one sealer that seals all spatial gaps at said at least one opening.

57. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 53 wherein said structural enclosure comprises a leaked fluid capture basin established as a lower part of said structural enclosure.

58. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 53 wherein said environmental enclosure is affirmatively thermally insulative.

60. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 53 wherein said structural enclosure is streamlined relative to an anticipated horizontal wind.

3-8. -8. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

12-18. -18. (canceled)

26-28. -28. (canceled)

33-41. -41. (canceled)

44-51. -51. (canceled)

55-56. -56. (canceled)

59. (canceled)

61-86. -86. (canceled)

87. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit comprising:

a structural enclosure adapted to surround said well fluid conduit; and

at least one opening through said at least one structural enclosure, said at least one opening sized to accommodate a well fluid entrance conduit portion of said well fluid conduit and a well fluid exit conduit portion of said well fluid conduit;

a leaked fluid capture basin established as a lower part of said at least one structural enclosure,

wherein well fluid enters said environmental enclosure through said well fluid entrance conduit portion and exits said environmental enclosure through said well fluid exit conduit portion.

88. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 87 further comprising at least one sealer that seals all spatial gaps at said at least one opening.

91. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 87 wherein said environmental enclosure is affirmatively thermally insulative.

93. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 87 wherein said structural enclosure is streamlined relative to an anticipated horizontal wind.

96. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 87 wherein said well fluid conduit comprises a well fluid conduit selected from the group consisting of:

barren lixiviant conduit, lixiviant conduit, in-situ mining fluid conduit, in-situ leach mining fluid conduit, in-situ recovery mining fluid conduit, in-situ uranium mining fluid conduit, slurry mining fluid conduit, slurry uranium mining fluid conduit, well head, disposal well fluid conduit, uranium mining disposal well fluid conduit, production well fluid conduit, uranium mining production well fluid conduit, injection well fluid conduit, uranium mining injection well fluid conduit, hydrocarbon mining fluid conduit, water conduit, hot mineralized water conduit, hydrocarbon leach mining fluid conduit, oil well fluid conduit, oil conduit, natural gas mining fluid conduit, and natural gas conduit.

100. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 87 wherein said environmental enclosure is for said well fluid conduit and at least one well fluid leak detector.

105. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 87 further comprising an visual inspection opening allowing visual inspection of enclosed components, wherein said visual inspection opening is filled by a removable opening filler to enable said visual inspection.

107. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 87 wherein said environmental enclosure is vermin tight.

89-90. -90. (canceled)

92. (canceled)

94-95. -95. (canceled)

97-99. -99. (canceled)

101-104. -104. (canceled)

106. (canceled)

108-149. -149. (canceled)

150. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit comprising:

a structural enclosure adapted to surround said well fluid conduit; and

a vermin impenetrable floor of said structural enclosure,

wherein well fluid enters said environmental enclosure through said well fluid entrance conduit portion and exits said environmental enclosure through said well fluid exit conduit portion.

151. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 150 further comprising at least one opening through said vermin impenetrable floor, said at least one opening sized to accommodate said well fluid entrance conduit portion and said well fluid exit conduit portion.

152. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 151 further comprising at least one sealer that seals all spatial gaps at said at least one opening.

153. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 152 wherein said at least one sealer comprises cured EPF.

154. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 152 wherein said at least one sealer comprises an elastic shroud.

155. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 150 wherein said vermin impenetrable floor is a leaked fluid capture basin.

156. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 150 wherein said environmental enclosure is affirmatively thermally insulative.

157. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 156 wherein said affirmatively thermally insulated environmental enclosure has an R factor of at least 5.

158. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 150 wherein said structural enclosure is streamlined relative to an anticipated horizontal wind.

159. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 158 wherein said at least one structural enclosure is pyramidal in shape.

160. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 158 wherein said at least one structural enclosure comprises an exterior surface that is no less than 20 degrees relative to vertical.

161. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 150 wherein said well fluid conduit c a well fluid conduit selected from the group consisting of:

barren lixiviant conduit, lixiviant conduit, in-situ mining fluid conduit, in-situ leach mining fluid conduit, in-situ recovery mining fluid conduit, in-situ uranium mining fluid conduit, slurry mining fluid conduit, slurry uranium mining fluid conduit, well head, disposal well fluid conduit, uranium mining disposal well fluid conduit, production well fluid conduit, uranium mining production well fluid conduit, injection well fluid conduit, uranium mining injection well fluid conduit, hydrocarbon mining fluid conduit, water conduit, hot mineralized water conduit, hydrocarbon leach mining fluid conduit, oil well fluid conduit, oil conduit, natural gas mining fluid conduit, and natural gas conduit.

162. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 150 wherein, but for said environmental enclosure, said well fluid conduit would be exposed to outdoor environment.

163. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 150 wherein said environmental enclosure is established substantially at a ground atmosphere interface.

164. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 150 wherein said structural enclosure does not penetrate into ground below.

165. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 150 wherein said environmental enclosure is for said well fluid conduit and at least one well fluid leak detector.

166. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 165 wherein said structural enclosure is adapted to surround said well fluid conduit and said at least one well fluid leak detector.

167. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 165 further comprising a solar panel established externally of said environmental enclosure and configured to provide power to said at least one well fluid leak detector.

168. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 165 further comprising at least one water sealing jacket established around said at least one leak detector.

169. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 150 wherein either said well fluid entrance conduit portion of said well fluid conduit or said well fluid exit conduit portion of said well fluid conduit comprises a well casing portion.

170. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 150 further comprising a visual inspection opening allowing visual inspection of enclosed components, wherein said visual inspection opening is filled by a removable opening filler to enable said visual inspection.

171. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 170 wherein said removable opening filler comprises a cork.

172. An environmental enclosure for a well fluid conduit as described in claim 150 wherein said environmental enclosure is vermin tight.

173-179. -179. (canceled)