| abstract |
The invention relates to a process and to an installation for collecting free methane gas from the seabed, where it is in semi-stable deposits of methane hydrate. The process according to the invention comprises collecting the methane gas from the seabed and directing it upwards, in the form of a methane gas-seawater mixture, which is moved to an enclosure where the methane gas separation phase takes place, and seawater is sucked in and discharged back into the sea. The wet methane gas is then separated and cooled to condense the last fractions of seawater, after which it is liquefied. The installation according to the invention in which the method is applied consists of guide arms (A), on which are mounted platforms (B, C and 6) intermediate, lower and upper, intermediate platform (B) being intended to support reversible electric winches (D and E), used to move a flexible or telescopic pipe (21) and collectors (K), double reversible winches (F), by means of which some separators ( L) and a flexible pipe (50) can be operated in the radial direction, as well as reversible, double electric winches (G), used to change the positions of some lateral anchors (7). The lower platform (C) is intended to support, together with the intermediate platform (B), the components of a technological line (H or G), and the upper platform (6) can serve as a helioport. |