REMOTE-CONTROLLED UNDERWATER VEHICLE FOR SUCTION OF OIL FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF AN ICE SURFACE

Abstract

A remote-controlled underwater vehicle may be used to extract oil from an underside of a closed ice cover. Further, a system for extracting oil from an underside of a closed ice cover may comprise such a remote-controlled underwater vehicle and a submarine that can receive the remote-controlled underwater vehicle and store oil retrieved by the remote-controlled underwater vehicle. Finally, a method can be employed to extract oil from an underside of a closed ice cover.

Claims

1.-12. (canceled)

13. A remote-controlled underwater vehicle for extracting oil from an underside of a closed ice cover, wherein the remote-controlled underwater vehicle has underwater buoyancy and comprises: drive means; a pump for extracting fluid; means for localizing oil; means for connecting to a parent ship, the means for connecting having a first connection for communication, a second connection for supplying power to the remote-controlled underwater vehicle, and a third connection for conveying extracted fluid to the parent ship; and a first floatation panel.

14. The remote-controlled underwater vehicle of claim 13 wherein the means for localizing oil comprises sonar or multibeam sonar.

15. The remote-controlled underwater vehicle of claim 13 wherein the means for localizing oil comprises an acoustic Doppler profiler.

16. The remote-controlled underwater vehicle of claim 13 wherein the means for localizing oil comprises an infrared spectrometer.

17. The remote-controlled underwater vehicle of claim 13 wherein the means for localizing oil comprises a visual camera.

18. The remote-controlled underwater vehicle of claim 13 wherein the means for localizing oil comprises a gas chromatograph.

19. The remote-controlled underwater vehicle of claim 13 wherein the means for localizing oil comprises a mass spectrometer.

20. The remote-controlled underwater vehicle of claim 13 wherein the means for localizing oil is a first means for localizing oil, the remote-controlled underwater vehicle comprising a second means for localizing oil, wherein the first and second means for localizing oil are selected from a group consisting of sonar, multibeam sonar, an acoustic Doppler current profiler, an infrared spectrometer, a visual camera, a gas chromatograph, and a mass spectrometer, wherein the first means for localizing oil is different than the second means for localizing oil.

21. The remote-controlled underwater vehicle of claim 13 wherein the drive means comprises a first thruster.

22. The remote-controlled underwater vehicle of claim 21 wherein the first thruster is disposed vertically to generate buoyancy or downward thrust.

23. The remote-controlled underwater vehicle of claim 21 wherein the drive means comprises at least two second thrusters, which at least two second thrusters are disposed horizontally to generate propulsion.

24. The remote-controlled underwater vehicle of claim 13 wherein the pump for extracting fluid separates oil and water.

25. A system for extracting oil from an underside of a closed ice cover, the system comprising: a submarine; and a remote-controlled underwater vehicle connected with the submarine, wherein the remote-controlled underwater vehicle has underwater buoyancy and comprises: drive means, a pump for extracting fluid, means for localizing oil, means for connecting to the submarine, the means for connecting having a first connection for communication, a second connection for supplying power to the remote-controlled underwater vehicle, and a third connection for conveying extracted fluid to the submarine; and a first floatation panel.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the submarine comprises: means for generating power; means for controlling the remote-controlled underwater vehicle; means for storing oil; means for localizing oil; and means for receiving the remote-controlled underwater vehicle.

27. A method for extracting oil from an underside of a closed ice cover, the method comprising: (a) heading to an accident site laying under the closed ice cover with a submarine; (b) determining a position of the oil at the accident site with the submarine; (c) deploying a remote-controlled underwater vehicle having underwater buoyancy from the submarine, wherein the remote-controlled underwater vehicle comprises: drive means, a pump for extracting fluid, means for localizing oil, means for connecting to a parent ship, the means for connecting having a first connection for communication, a second connection for supplying power to the remote-controlled underwater vehicle, and a third connection for conveying extracted fluid to the parent ship, and a first floatation panel; (d) approaching the position of the oil with the remote-controlled underwater vehicle; (e) determining a more-precise position of the oil with the remote-controlled underwater vehicle; (f) approaching the more-precise position of the oil with the remote-controlled underwater vehicle; (g) extracting the oil with the remote-controlled underwater vehicle; (h) transferring the oil to the submarine via the third connection for conveying extracted fluid; (i) storing the oil; and (j) retrieving the remote-controlled underwater vehicle with the submarine.

28. The method of claim 27 comprising approaching a location for disposing of the oil that has been extracted and stored.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein determining the position of the oil at the accident site with the submarine in step (b) comprises determining a first position of the oil and a second position of the oil, wherein the method comprises performs performing steps (d) through (i) with respect to the first and second positions.

Description

[0057] The remote-controlled underwater vehicle according to the invention will be explained in more detail below based on the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0058] FIG. 1 Perspective view of a remote-controlled underwater vehicle.

[0059] FIG. 2 Semitransparent view of a remote-controlled underwater vehicle.

[0060] FIG. 3 Perspective view of a remote-controlled underwater vehicle with suction pipe

[0061] FIG. 4 Perspective view of a remote-controlled underwater vehicle with water jet lance

[0062] FIG. 5 Semitransparent view of a remote-controlled underwater vehicle with separator.

[0063] FIG. 6 Submarine with a remote-controlled underwater vehicle.

[0064] FIG. 7 Method for extracting oil from the underside of a closed ice cover.

[0065] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary remote-controlled underwater vehicle 10. The latter has first means for localizing oil 20, for example a multibeam sonar, as well as second means for localizing oil 22, for example a visual camera. The remote-controlled underwater vehicle 10 has headlamps 24 to illuminate the environment. The remote-controlled underwater vehicle 10 has a pump 30 to pick up oil. Floatation panels 40 generate a slight buoyancy for the remote-controlled underwater vehicle 10, so that the latter can be easily kept afloat or moved back and forth by means of the first thruster 60. Second thrusters 62 are used for moving in the horizontal plane. The remote-controlled underwater vehicle 10 is provided with a rack 50 arranged on the outside for stabilization and protection purposes.

[0066] FIG. 2 additionally shows evaluation electronics 26 for the means for localizing oil as well as the third connection for conveying extracted fluid 32, by way of which the oil conveyed with the pump 30 is brought to the submarine (not depicted).

[0067] FIG. 3 shows the remote-controlled underwater vehicle 10 depicted on FIG. 1 with an additional suction pipe 70. The distance from the ice cover and oil can be increased by the suction pipe 70, which can reduce the probability of both a collision with the ice and a contamination of the first thruster 60 and second thruster 62 by the oil.

[0068] FIG. 4 shows the remote-controlled underwater vehicle 10 depicted on FIG. 1 with an additional device for generating a water jet 80. The device for generating a water jet 80 generates a water jet (water jet lance), which can be used to additionally clean the underside of the ice.

[0069] FIG. 5 shows the remote-controlled underwater vehicle 10 depicted on FIG. 2 with an additional separator 90. The separator 90 is designed as a phase separator.

[0070] FIG. 6 shows a submarine 100, which is connected with the remote-controlled underwater vehicle 10 by a connection means 110. The remote-controlled underwater vehicle 10 removes oil 130, which has accumulated under the ice 120.

[0071] FIG. 7 shows a method for extracting oil from the underside of a closed ice cover.

[0072] In step 200, the submarine heads for the accident site lying under the closed ice cover.

[0073] In step 210, the rough position of the oil at the accident site is determined with the submarine.

[0074] In step 220, the remote-controlled underwater vehicle is deployed from the submarine.

[0075] In step 230, the rough position of the oil is approached with the remote-controlled underwater vehicle.

[0076] In step 240, the exact position of the oil is determined with the remote-controlled underwater vehicle.

[0077] In step 250, the exact position of the oil is approached with the remote-controlled underwater vehicle.

[0078] In step 260, oil is extracted with the remote-controlled underwater vehicle, and transferred to the submarine via the third connection for conveying extracted fluid and storing the oil.

[0079] Steps 230 to 260 can be repeated.

[0080] In step 270, the remote-controlled underwater vehicle is retrieved with the submarine.

[0081] In an embodiment of the method, a location for safely disposing the collected oil is approached in step 280.

[0082] In another alternative embodiment of the method, the accumulated oil is deposited in at least one suitable storage container on the ground in step 290 and waited until the ice melts in step 300, and the at least one storage container is retrieved with a surface vessel in step 310.

REFERENCE LIST

[0083] 10 Remote-controlled underwater vehicle [0084] 20 First means for localizing oil [0085] 22 Second means for localizing oil [0086] 24 Headlamp [0087] 26 Evaluation electronics [0088] 30 Pump [0089] 32 Third connection for conveying extracted fluid [0090] 40 Floatation panel [0091] 50 Rack [0092] 60 First thruster [0093] 62 Second thruster [0094] 70 Suction pipe [0095] 80 Device for generating a water jet [0096] 90 Separator [0097] 100 Submarine [0098] 110 Connection means [0099] 120 Ice [0100] 130 Oil [0101] 200 Step a) [0102] 210 Step b) [0103] 220 Step c) [0104] 230 Step d) [0105] 240 Step e) [0106] 250 Step f) [0107] 260 Step g) [0108] 270 Step h) [0109] 280 Step i) [0110] 290 Step j) [0111] 300 Step k) [0112] 310 Step l)