Method and apparatus for mitigating environmental impact due to fluid leaks
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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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.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An environmental enclosure for a wellhead fluid conduit comprising:
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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, and wherein said environmental enclosure is vermin tight. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An environmental enclosure for a wellhead fluid conduit comprising:
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a structural enclosure adapted to surround said wellhead fluid conduit and at least one wellhead fluid leak detector; and a vermin impenetrable floor of said structural enclosure, at least one opening through said vermin impenetrable floor, said at least one opening sized to accommodate said wellhead fluid entrance conduit portion and said wellhead fluid exit conduit portion; at least one sealer that seals all spatial gaps at said at least one opening; a wellhead fluid leak notification system that effects a sensible indication in the event of detection of a wellhead fluid leak by said wellhead fluid leak detector and that automatically generates information in the event of said detection, wherein said information facilitates an identification of the wellhead location of said wellhead fluid leak; a visual inspection opening that allows visual inspection of enclosed components, wherein said visual inspection opening is filled by a opening filler that is removable to enable said visual inspection; and a leaked fluid capture basin established towards a lower portion of said structural enclosure, wherein, but for said environmental enclosure, said wellhead would be exposed to an atmospheric environment, wherein wellhead 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 said environmental enclosure is affirmatively thermally insulative and has an R factor of at least five, wherein a lower portion of said environmental enclosure is established substantially at a ground atmosphere interface and said structural enclosure does not penetrate into ground below, and wherein said wellhead fluid conduit comprises conduit selected from the group consisting of barren lixiviant conduit and lixiviant conduit. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification