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Method and apparatus for mitigating environmental impact due to fluid leaks

  • US 8,079,412 B2
  • Filed: 03/03/2009
  • Issued: 12/20/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2008
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An environmental enclosure for a wellhead fluid conduit comprising:

  • a structural enclosure adapted to surround said wellhead fluid conduit;

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

    a leaked fluid capture basin established as a lower part of said at least one structural enclosure,at least one sealer that seals all spatial gaps around said wellhead fluid entrance conduit portion and said wellhead fluid exit conduit portion at said at least one opening;

    a visual inspection opening allowing visual inspection of enclosed components, wherein said visual inspection opening is filled by an opening filler that is removable to enable said visual inspection; and

    a wellhead fluid leak detector established within said environmental enclosure;

    wherein, but for said environmental enclosure, said wellhead would be exposed to an atmospheric environment,wherein well fluid enters said environmental enclosure through said wellhead fluid entrance conduit portion and exits said environmental enclosure through said wellhead fluid exit conduit portion,wherein a portion of said environmental enclosure abuts a ground surface underlying said environmental enclosure,wherein said environmental enclosure is affirmatively thermally insulative so as to have a R factor of at least five,wherein said wellhead fluid conduit comprises conduit selected from the group consisting of barren lixiviant conduit and lixiviant conduit, andwherein said environmental enclosure is vermin tight.

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