DEEP SEAFLOOR MINING WITH MINING VEHICLE, PUMPING SOLIDS THROUGH A JUMPER AND RISER TO SURFACE VESSEL OR SHIP

摘要

591647 A method of deep sea mining on a seafloor to minimise damage to mining equipment. The method comprises mining solids from the seafloor with a subsea miner, pumping the solids from the subsea miner through a jumper, and pumping the solids from the jumper through a riser to a surface vessel. The distance between the subsea miner and at least one subsea pump module is monitored or measured. The distance between the subsea miner and the at least one subsea pump module is adjusted to within a tolerance to minimize a force on the subsea miner from the subsea pump module. The solids comprise seafloor massive sulfide deposits. The method further comprises dewatering the solids, discharging a quantity of wastewater used to pump the solids near to the seafloor.