Tailing deposit tool

Abstract

A deep sea mining method includes providing a deep sea mining system for mining matter from a bottom of a body of water, the mining system including: a slurry line coupled with a pump system to transport the slurry from the bottom of the body of water; and a return line in fluid communication with the slurry line and distinguishable from the slurry riser, for transporting non valuable slurry part to the bottom of the body of water, the return line having a return line outlet proximate the bottom. The deep sea mining method further includes spreading the non valuable slurry part over the bottom of the body of water in a controlled manner.

Claims

1. Deep sea mining method comprising, providing a deep sea mining system for mining matter from a bottom of a body of water, the mining system comprising, a slurry line coupled with a pump system to transport said slurry from the bottom of the body of water, a return line in fluid communication with the slurry line and distinguishable from the slurry line, for transporting a non valuable slurry part to the bottom of the body of water, the return line having a return line outlet proximate said bottom, a spreading device coupled with the return line outlet, the spreading device comprising a boom member wherein the return line outlet is coupled with the spreading device through said boom member for moving the outlet relative to the bottom of the body of water, and the deep sea mining method further comprising spreading the non valuable slurry part over the bottom of the body of water in a controlled manner by moving the return line outlet over the bottom of the body of water.

2. Deep sea mining method according to claim 1, the mining system comprising a unit for processing mined matter, wherein the return line is in fluid communication with the slurry line through the processing unit.

3. Deep sea mining method according to claim 1, wherein spreading the non valuable slurry part over the bottom of the body of water comprises moving the return outlet over the bottom of the body of water in a desired pattern.

4. Deep sea mining method according to claim 1, wherein the matter comprises gashydrates.

5. Deep sea mining system according to claim 4, comprising a unit for processing mined matter, wherein the return line is in fluid communication with the slurry line through the processing unit.

6. Deep sea mining system for mining matter from a bottom of a body of water, the system comprising, a slurry line coupled with a pump system to transport said slurry from the bottom of the body of water, a return line, in fluid communication with the slurry line and distinguishable from the slurry line, for transporting a non valuable slurry part to the bottom of the body of water and having a return line outlet proximate said bottom, and a spreading device coupled with the return line outlet for spreading the non valuable slurry part over the bottom of the body of water in a controlled manner by moving the return line outlet over the bottom of the body of water, the spreading device comprising a boom member wherein the return line outlet is coupled with the spreading device through said boom member for moving the return line outlet relative to the bottom of the body of water.

7. Deep sea mining system according to claim 6, the spreading device comprising a vehicle for moving over the bottom of the body of water coupled with the return line outlet for moving the return outlet over the bottom of the body of water in a desired pattern.

8. Deep sea mining system according to claim 7, wherein the vehicle is remotely controllable.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be further elucidated referring to preferred embodiments shown in the schematic drawings wherein shown in:

(2) FIG. 1 in side view a mining system according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 in side view a further mining system according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 in side view an even further mining system according to the invention, and

(5) FIG. 4 in side view of another mining system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(6) In FIG. 1 a deep sea mining system 1 is shown. The system 1 is suitable for mining matter 2 from a bottom 3 of a body of water 4, typically a seafloor at a depth of between 200 and 3000 meters, more specifically between 400 and 2000 meters.

(7) The deep sea mining system 1 comprises a slurry line 5 for transporting slurry. The slurry contains seawater and excavated matter which is separated from the bottom 3 by an excavation device 13 known per se. The shown excavation device 13 has a cutter arm 11 which arm is provided with a cutting head 12. Here, the cutter arm 11 is hingeably coupled with an excavation device body 10. The slurry line is coupled with a pump system 6 to transport said slurry from the bottom of the body of water.

(8) The deep sea mining system 1 comprises a return line 7. The return line 7 is suitable for transporting slurry, in particular suitable for transporting a non valuable slurry part to the bottom 3 of the body of water 4. The return line 7 is in fluid communication with the slurry line 5. The return line 7 is distinguishable from the slurry line. The return line 7 has a return line outlet 16 as shown proximate to the seafloor 3.

(9) The deep sea mining system 1 comprises a spreading device 14 coupled with the return line outlet 16 for spreading the non valuable slurry part over the bottom 3 of the body of water 4 in a controlled manner. The spreading device 14 here comprising a boom member 15. The return line outlet 16 is coupled with the spreading device 14 through said boom member 15 for moving the outlet 16 relative to the bottom 3 of the body of water 4. The spreading device 14 may take the form of e.g. a crawler having a boom, a Remotely operated vehicle (ROV), which spreads the non valuable slurry part in a pre determined path, or dot pattern.

(10) The pump system 6 is coupled with a vessel 20 via a coupling line 9 for supplying the pump system 6 the required energy and controls. Here, the pump system 6 is supported by a pair of support members 23 which members are placed on the bottom 3 of the body of water 4.

(11) The other embodiments of FIG. 2-4 will be described at least in so far they differ with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

(12) In FIG. 2, the deep sea mining system 1 comprises a slurry line 5 for transporting slurry. The slurry line 5 is coupled with the vessel 20. The deep sea mining system 1 comprises a return line 7. The return line 7 is coupled with the vessel 20 as well such that the slurry is transported up to proximate the water surface 8. The return line 7 is in fluid communication with the slurry line 5 via the vessel 20. The mining system 1 comprises a unit (not shown) for processing mined matter, wherein the return line is in fluid communication with the slurry line through the processing unit. Here, the unit is place on the vessel 20.

(13) Here, the spreading device is a vehicle for moving over the seafloor while coupled with the return line outlet 16 for moving the return outlet over the bottom 3 of the body of water 4 in a desired pattern. The spreading device 14 is therefore provided with rolling members 21 suitable for a seafloor.

(14) In FIG. 3 the pump system 6 is a floating system which is able to float in a manner known per se and is kept in place via the coupling line 9 coupled with the vessel 20 at its upper end. Optionally, the spreading device body 17 may be suspended from an auxiliary vessel 21 by a suitable suspension means 22 like a cable.

(15) In FIG. 4 the slurry line 5 is coupled with the vessel 20. The return line 19 is coupled with the vessel 20 as well. The return line 7 is in fluid communication with the slurry line 18 via the vessel 20. The mining system 1 comprises a unit (not shown) for processing mined matter, wherein the return line is in fluid communication with the slurry line through the processing unit. Here, the unit is place on the vessel 20.

(16) The pump system 6 is a floating system which is able to float in a manner known per se and is kept in place via the coupling line 9 coupled with the vessel 20 at its upper end.

(17) Here, the spreading device is floating for moving over the seafloor while coupled with the return line outlet 16 for moving the return outlet over the bottom 3 of the body of water 4 in a desired pattern. The spreading device 14 is therefore provided with rolling members 21 suitable for a seafloor.

(18) In use of the shown mining systems 1 of FIG. 1-4, a non valuable slurry part is spread over the bottom 3 of the body of water in a controlled manner. This is beneficial since it enables to uncover or win useful sediments while covering of these is prevented.

(19) Preferably, the mined matter is processed. This processing may take place on board of the vessel 20 or elsewhere in the body of water 4, like on the bottom 3 of the body of water 4.

(20) It will also be obvious that the above description and drawings are included to illustrate some embodiments of the invention, and not to limit the scope of protection. Starting from this disclosure, many more embodiments will be evident to a skilled person which are within the scope of protection and the essence of this invention and which are obvious combinations of prior art techniques and the disclosure of this patent.