Patent Application
20200123727
Not applicable
Not applicable
The present invention relates to marine platforms such as oil and gas well drilling platforms. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for elevating the deck area of a fixed marine platform to better protect equipment that is located on the deck area from the effects of a storm (e.g., hurricane, tsunami, typhoon) that generates heightened wave action.
There are many fixed platforms located in oil and gas well drilling areas of oceans and seas of the world. Such marine platforms typically employ an undersea support structure that is commonly referred to as a jacket. These jackets can be many hundreds of feet (meters) tall, being sized to extend between the seabed and the water surface area. Jackets are typically constructed of a truss-like network of typically cylindrically shaped pipe, conduit or tubing that is welded together. The jackets can be secured to the seabed using pilings that are driven into the seabed. The jacket is then secured to the piling. The part of the offshore marine platform that extends above the jacket and above the water surface is typically manufactured on shore and placed upon the jacket using known lifting equipment such as a derrick barge. This upper portion is the working part of the platform that is inhabited by workers.
Marine platforms can be used to perform any number of functions that are associated typically with the oil and gas well drilling and production industry. Such platforms can be used to drill for oil and gas. Such platforms can also be used to produce wells that have been drilled. These fixed platforms typically provide a deck area that can be crowded with extensive equipment that is used for the drilling and/or production of oil and gas.
When storms strike over a body of water, offshore marine platforms are put at risk. While the jacket and platform are typically designed to resist hurricane force wind and wave action, equipment located on the deck of the marine platform can easily be damaged if hurricane generated wave action reaches the deck area.
An additional consequence of wave action reaching the platform deck is catastrophic platform collapse, which happened in several instances during recent storms (e.g., hurricane Katrina in the United States Gulf of Mexico).
The present invention solves these prior art problems and shortcomings by providing a method and apparatus for elevating the deck area of an existing marine platform so that equipment that occupies the deck can be further distanced from the water surface. The method of the present invention provides more clearance, more freeboard and more protection to deck area equipment during severe storms such as hurricanes.
The present invention includes a method of elevating a marine platform that is supported by a plurality of hollow metallic leg sections that extend above and below a water line of a body of water, comprising the steps of: (a) cutting one of the leg sections at a position next to the water line to provide a cut at a selected elevation, (b) attaching a plurality of hydraulic rams to the leg sections with a first padeye having a first height, each ram having a hollowed cylinder and an extensible push rod and first and second end portions, the rams being attached to the leg section at the end portions, one end portion being attached to the leg section above the cut and the other end portion being attached to the leg section below the cut, and wherein each ram has a retracted and an extended position, (c) surrounding each ram with telescoping sleeves, one sleeve sliding within the other sleeve, (d) repeating steps “a” through “b” for the other leg sections of the platform, (e) elevating the platform a first distance by extending each ram to the extended position, wherein one sleeve travels away from the other sleeve, (f) removing the first padeye for each ram, (g) attaching a second padeye having a second height that is greater than the first height, and (h) elevating the platform an additional, second distance.
Preferably, the present invention further comprises placing the rams on the outside of the leg section and circumferentially spacing the rams around the leg section.
Preferably, in step “b” at least one sleeve is comprised of a plurality of connectable half cylinder sections and attaching the sleeve in step “b” includes affixing the connectable half cylinder sections to the leg to form the sleeve.
Preferably, the present invention further comprises affixing lugs above the cut and attaching the rams to the lugs.
Preferably, the sleeves laterally stabilize the leg sections during step “e”.
Preferably, in step “c” there are at least three rams attached to each leg section.
Preferably, in step “c” there are between two (2) and eight (8) rams attached to each leg section.
Preferably, each leg section is elevated above the cut a distance of more than four feet (1.2 m).
Preferably, each leg section is elevated above the cut a distance of more than five feet (1.5 m).
Preferably, each leg section is elevated above the cut a distance of between about 5 and 30 feet (1.5 and 9.1 m).
Preferably, each leg section is carrying a load of between 100 and 2,000 tons (90.7 and 1,814 metric tons).
Preferably, the present invention further comprises the step of welding the sleeves to the leg sections after step “e”.
Preferably, the present invention further comprises the step of temporarily supporting the leg section above the cut with a pin that extends through aligned openings of the sleeve and the leg section.
Preferably, the present invention further comprises reinforcing the leg section next to the pin with a section of curved plate welded to the leg section on its outer surface.
The present invention includes a method of elevating a marine platform that is supported by a plurality of hollow metallic leg sections that extend above and below a water line of a body of water, comprising the steps of: (a) cutting one of the leg sections at a position next to the water line to provide a cut at a selected elevation, (b) attaching a plurality of hydraulic rams to the leg sections, each ram having a hollowed cylinder and an extensible push rod and first and second end portions, the rams being attached to the leg section at the end portions with first padeyes of a first height, one end portion being attached to the leg section above the cut and the other end portion being attached to the leg section below the cut, and wherein each ram has a retracted and an extended position, (c) surrounding each ram with telescoping sleeves, one sleeve sliding within the other sleeve, (d) repeating steps “a” through “b” for the other leg sections of the platform, (e) elevating the platform an initial distance by extending each ram to the extended position, (f) removing the first padeye for each ram in sequence and replacing the first padeye with a second padeye having a second height that is greater than the first height, and (h) elevating the platform deck an additional distance.
The present invention includes a method of elevating a marine platform that is supported by a plurality of hollow metallic leg sections that extend above and below a water line of a body of water, comprising the steps of: (a) cutting one of the leg sections at a position next to the water line to provide a cut at a selected elevation, (b) attaching a plurality of rams to the leg sections, each ram having a hollowed cylinder and an extensible push rod and first and second end portions, the rams being attached to the leg section at the end portions, one end portion being attached to the leg section above the cut and the other end portion being attached to the leg section below the cut at a first padeye having a first height, and wherein each ram has a retracted and an extended position, (c) repeating steps “a” through “b” for the other leg sections of the platform, (d) elevating the platform a first distance by extending each ram to the extended position, (e) replacing each first padeye with a second padeye having a height greater than said first height, and (f) extending the ram to elevate the platform a second distance.
Preferably, the present invention further comprises two sleeves that surround each ram, wherein one sleeve elevates above the other sleeve in step “d”.
Preferably, the present invention further comprises the step of welding one of the sleeves to the leg.
Preferably, the sleeves includes an outer lower sleeve and an inner upper sleeve.
For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:
The present invention provides a marine platform deck elevating system 10 that is shown generally in
In
Legs 14 can be of a constant diameter or can include tapered sections 13, wherein the diameter of the upper leg section 15A is less than the diameter of the lower leg section 15B. Leg 14 can thus include a number of different leg sections such as a lower, larger diameter leg section 15B, a tapered leg section 13, and an upper, smaller diameter leg section 15A that is positioned above the tapered section 13. The method and apparatus of the present invention can be used to elevate the deck 16 to a new elevation 20 (see
In
In
In
Before attachment of the sleeve sections 45, 46, four cuts are made through leg 14 as shown in
After the sleeve sections 45, 46 have been installed, a cut can be made to encircle the leg 14 thus severing it in two parts. In order to complete the cut, slots are provided in the sleeve sections 45, 46. In
After installing the upper bushing sleeve 29, circular cut openings 49 are made through the leg 14 at the openings 35, 36 in the sleeve sections 27, 28. These cut openings 49 enable pin 50 to be placed through the openings 67, 68 in sleeve sections 45, 46 respectively as well as through the openings 49 in upper bushing sleeve 29. Pin 50 prevents uplift from damaging the platform 11 should a storm produce excess wave action before the method of the present invention can be completed.
Each of the sleeve sections 45, 46 provides lugs to which hydraulic pistons can be attached. Sleeve section 45 provides a plurality of lugs 51. Sleeve section 46 provides a plurality of lugs 52. Each of the lugs provides an opening for enabling a pinned connection to be made between the lugs 51, 52 and the hydraulic pistons 64. Lugs 51 provide openings 53. Lugs 52 provide openings 54. In a preferred method and apparatus, four pairs of lugs 51, 52 are thus provided to the extension sleeve 44. Each pair of lugs 51, 52 can be spaced circumferentially about sleeve 44, about 90 degrees apart.
A ring 55 is positioned above extension sleeve 44 as shown in
Hydraulic pistons 64 are provided for elevating that portion of the leg 14 that is above the cuts that are made through the leg 14 (see
Each hydraulic piston 64 can be comprised of a cylinder 65 and an extensible push rod 66. Each end portion of hydraulic piston 64 provides an opening 69 on cylinder 65 that enables a pinned connection to be formed between each end of hydraulic piston 64 and lugs 51, 52 or 58, 59. The upper end portion of each hydraulic piston 64 attaches with a pinned connection to a lug 58 or 59 that is a part of ring 55. The lower end portion of each hydraulic piston 64 forms a pinned connection with the lugs 51, 52 of extension sleeve 44 as shown in
Once the hydraulic pistons 64 have been installed to the position shown in
Once elevated, the various openings and slots in sleeve 44 can be covered for corrosion protection using a plurality of curved cover plate sections 71. To complete the repair, the sleeves 44 can be welded to the leg 14 and using shims as necessary between sleeve 44 and leg 14, tapered section 13 or sections 15A, 15B. While the method disclosed herein contemplates that the elevation process would preferably take place as one jacking operation, the invention should not be so restricted. The method of the present invention contemplates a method wherein the jacking process could be subdivided into several smaller (or shorter) jacking elevations. The legs 14 would be pinned off at an intermediate point and the jacks moved to a second set of lugs. Arrow 75 in
A plurality of legs 83 span between the lower deck portion 84 and the deck or upper deck 16. Each of the legs 83 will be elevated using the method and apparatus of the present invention. An alternate method and apparatus 80 shown in
In
The method and apparatus of the present invention employs two sleeves 95, 101 in order to accomplish the elevation of deck or upper deck 16 relative to lower deck portion 84.
The inner/upper sleeve 95 has sleeve openings 96. Sleeve opening 96 can be provided on sleeve 95 spaced 180 degrees apart as shown in
Multiple windows 100 are provided. The windows 100 (for example, four windows 100) are centered over each of the uncut portions of the leg 83 that are in between the partial cuts 90. In this fashion, once the sleeves 95 and rams 102 are attached as shown, the leg 83 upper 89 and lower 88 portions are structurally supported by the combination of sleeve 95 and rams 102. Cuts can be made through the windows 100 of the sleeve 95 to cut the remaining uncut portion of leg 83 so that the leg 83 is now cut 360 degrees and ready for elevation of upper part 89 relative to lower part 88.
In
A pin trough 105 can be employed (e.g., welded to a sleeve 95, 101 as shown) for holding a generally cylindrically shaped locking pin 50 prior to use. The pins 50 can be placed in the trough (see
In a fully extended position of
The platform 117 can include horizontal members 120 and diagonally extending members 121. In the drawings, a cut location 122 is shown wherein the selected vertically extending leg sections 118 will be cut to provide an upper leg section 123 and a lower leg section 124 (see
In order to elevate the upper leg section 123 relative to the lower leg section 124, there is provided a plurality of hydraulic rams 125, 126, 127, 128 (see
Annular flanges or ring plates 131, 132, 135, 136 are provided, one or more above cut location 122 and one or more below cut location 122 as shown. Each ring plate 131, 132, 135, 136 is connected (e.g., welded) to a sleeve 152 or 153 (see
In the drawings (see
The second step of the method employs hydraulic pressure to pressurize each of the hydraulic rams 125, 126, 127, 128. Before a lift from position 139 (
The fifth step of the method can be seen in
In the final step of
The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention.
All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise.
The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.
Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/809,052, filed 5 Apr. 2013; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/824,681, filed 17 May 2013; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/877,961, filed 14 Sep. 2013, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/188,263, filed 24 Feb. 2014, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/741,690, filed 15 Jan. 2013 (issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,657,532 on 25 Feb. 2014), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/861,589, filed 23 Aug. 2010 (issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,353,643 on 15 Jan. 2013), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/749,587, filed 16 May 2007 (issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,780,375 on 24 Aug. 2010), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/813,290, filed 10 Jun. 2010 (issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,002,500 on 23 Aug. 2011), U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/356,813, filed 21 Jun. 2010, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/824,005, filed 30 Aug. 2006, are each hereby incorporated herein by reference. International Patent Application No. PCT/US2010/046358, filed 23 Aug. 2010 (published as No. WO2011/162780 on 29 Dec. 2011), is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61877961 | Sep 2013 | US | |
| 61824681 | May 2013 | US | |
| 61809052 | Apr 2013 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16030020 | Jul 2018 | US |
| Child | 16582388 | US | |
| Parent | 15612576 | Jun 2017 | US |
| Child | 16030020 | US | |
| Parent | 15150888 | May 2016 | US |
| Child | 15612576 | US | |
| Parent | 14245678 | Apr 2014 | US |
| Child | 15150888 | US |
