A mining riser pipe is extended toward a water bottom, and a lower portion of an insertion pipe connected to a lower portion of the mining riser pipe is inserted into the water bottom. A liquid is supplied into the insertion pipe, and a rotation shaft extends inside both pipes and stirring blades attached to a lower portion of the rotation shaft are rotated inside the insertion pipe, thereby drilling and dissolving mud inside the insertion pipe into a slurry. Then, the mud S is raised to an upper portion of the insertion pipe by a stirring flow generated by the stirring blades, and the raised mud slurry is lifted above the water through the mining riser pipe 2, and a rotation speed of the stirring blades is lower in an initial process at an early stage of the drilling than in a subsequent process.

A mining riser pipe is extended toward a water bottom, and a lower portion of an insertion pipe connected to a lower portion of the mining riser pipe is inserted into the water bottom. A liquid is supplied into the insertion pipe, and a rotation shaft extends inside both pipes and stirring blades attached to a lower portion of the rotation shaft are rotated inside the insertion pipe, thereby drilling and dissolving mud inside the insertion pipe into a slurry. Then, the mud S is raised to an upper portion of the insertion pipe by a stirring flow generated by the stirring blades, and the raised mud slurry is lifted above the water through the mining riser pipe 2, and a rotation speed of the stirring blades is lower in an initial process at an early stage of the drilling than in a subsequent process.

A seafloor haulage system (10), for lifting seafloor materials from the seafloor to the surface, that has a line member (150), preferably synthetic rope, that extends at least partially between the seafloor and the surface and a container (400), preferably a plurality of containers, capable of carrying a load connected to the line member (150). The containers have a steerable element (410), such as a rudder, that enables the container to manoeuvre as it is propelled, typically towed by the line member, through the water.

A seafloor haulage system (10), for lifting seafloor materials from the seafloor to the surface, that has a line member (150), preferably synthetic rope, that extends at least partially between the seafloor and the surface and a container (400), preferably a plurality of containers, capable of carrying a load connected to the line member (150). The containers have a steerable element (410), such as a rudder, that enables the container to manoeuvre as it is propelled, typically towed by the line member, through the water.

Amines and amine derivatives that improve the buffering range, and/or reduce the chelation and other negative interactions of the buffer and the system to be buffered. The reaction of amines or polyamines with various molecules to form polyamines with differing pKa's will extend the buffering range, derivatives that result in polyamines that have the same pKa yields a greater buffering capacity. Derivatives that result in zwitterionic buffers improve yield by allowing a greater range of stability.

Amines and amine derivatives that improve the buffering range, and/or reduce the chelation and other negative interactions of the buffer and the system to be buffered. The reaction of amines or polyamines with various molecules to form polyamines with differing pKa's will extend the buffering range, derivatives that result in polyamines that have the same pKa yields a greater buffering capacity. Derivatives that result in zwitterionic buffers improve yield by allowing a greater range of stability.

Embodiments of the invention provide apparatus and method for seabed resources collection. The apparatus comprises a main module and a plurality of seabed resources collecting devices releasably attached to the main module, wherein the main module and the plurality of collecting devices are configured to be launched from a surface vessel towards a seabed; the main module includes a control module which is configured to determine a mining path for each of the collecting devices based on characteristics of the seabed, control each of the collecting devices to collect seabed resources along the determined mining path and control transfer of the seabed resources collected by the collecting devices, wherein each collecting device is configured to be released from the main module after the apparatus is launched, and to collect seabed resources along the mining path determined by the main module after being released.

Provided is an undersea mining base capable of corresponding with slopes and undulations of seabed ore deposits. The undersea mining base includes a seabed mineral mining device configured to form a pit in a seabed ore deposit and a platform equipped with the seabed mineral mining device and capable of self-traveling in at least one of an X direction and a Y direction.

Provided is an undersea mining base capable of corresponding with slopes and undulations of seabed ore deposits. The undersea mining base includes a seabed mineral mining device configured to form a pit in a seabed ore deposit and a platform equipped with the seabed mineral mining device and capable of self-traveling in at least one of an X direction and a Y direction.

A submarine shallow hydrate exploitation device, including an exploitation unit and a collection unit. The exploitation unit includes: a submarine ship working on a seabed; a drain chamber arranged on the submarine ship, wherein a pressure valve is arranged at a top of the drain chamber, one-way drain holes are formed in a bottom of the drain chamber, and water from massive hydrates is controlled to be discharged out of the drain chamber; a high-speed spiral bit configured to mine and convey sediments; a rotary ring arranged at an inlet end of the drain chamber and configured to connect the drain chamber with the high-speed spiral bit to provide rotation power for the high-speed spiral bit; a steering arm arranged on the submarine ship and configured to realize a rotation of the high-speed spiral bit; a crusher arranged on the submarine ship and configured to crush dried massive hydrates.