Claims
- 1. A pumpskid for use in installing and removing a suction anchor from the seafloor comprising:
- a piping system having a first port and a second port, the first port operably connectable to the suction anchor, the second port open to the surrounding sea;
- a pump operably disposed within the piping system between the first port and the second port; and
- a valving system disposed within the piping system having an installation configuration and a removal configuration, in the installation configuration, the valving system providing a path for water flow into the first port from the suction anchor, through the pump and out of the second port into the surrounding sea, in the removal configuration, the valving system providing a path for water to flow into the second port from the surrounding sea, through the pump and out of the first port into the suction anchor.
- 2. The pumpskid as recited in claim 1 further including a hydraulic motor operably coupled to the pump for driving the pump.
- 3. The pumpskid as recited in claim 1 wherein the first port further includes a male connector adapted for engagement with a suction port of the suction anchor.
- 4. The pumpskid as recited in claim 3 further comprising at least one O-ring extending around the periphery of the male connector for engagement with the suction port to form a water-tight seal.
- 5. The pumpskid as recited in claim 1 further comprising a latching mechanism for securing the first port to the suction anchor.
- 6. The pumpskid as recited in claim 1 wherein the latching mechanism comprises a plurality of latching piston rods and a plurality of hydraulic actuators each for selective actuation to extend the latching piston rods into engagement with a suction port of the suction anchor thereby securing the first port in engagement therewith and for retraction to disengage the first port from the suction port.
- 7. The pumpskid as recited in claim 1 wherein the valving system further comprises first and second pairs of valves, the first pair of valves including an installation valve and a removal valve, the second pair of valves including an installation valve and a removal valve.
- 8. The pumpskid as recited in claim 7 wherein the valving system is in the installation configuration when the installation valves of the first and second pairs of valves are open and the removal valves of the first and second pairs of valves are closed.
- 9. The pumpskid as recited in claim 7 wherein the valving system is in the removal configuration when the removal valves of the first and second pairs of valves are open and the installation valves of the first and second pairs of valves are closed.
- 10. The pumpskid as recited in claim 7 further comprising a linkages between the installation valve and the removal valve of the first pair of the valves that opens the installation valve of the first pair of the valves while closing the removal valve of the first pair of valves and closes the installation valve of the first pair of valves while opening the removal valve of the first pair of valves.
- 11. The pumpskid as recited in claim 7 further comprising a linkage between the installation valve and the removal valve of the second pair of valves that opens the installation valve of the second pair of valves while closing the removal valve of the second pair of valves and closes the installation valve of the second pair of valves while opening the removal valve of the second pair of valves.
- 12. A pumpskid for use in installing and removing a suction anchor from the seafloor comprising:
- a piping system having first port and a second port, the first port operably connectable to the suction anchor, the second port open to the surrounding sea;
- a pump operably disposed within the piping system between the first port and the second port; and
- a valving system disposed within the piping system having an installation configuration and a removal configuration, the valving system including first and second pairs of valves, the first pair of valves including an installation valve and a removal valve, the second pair of valves including an installation valve and a removal valve, in the installation configuration, the installation valves of the first and second pairs of valves are open and the removal valves of the first and second pairs of valves are closed providing a path for water flow into the first port from the suction anchor, through the pump and out of the second port into the surrounding sea, in the removal configuration, the removal valves of the first and second pairs of valves are open and the installation valves of the first and second pairs of valves are closed providing a path for water to flow into the second port from the surrounding sea, through the pump and out of the first port into the suction anchor.
- 13. The pumpskid as recited in claim 12 further including a hydraulic motor operably coupled to the pump for driving the pump.
- 14. The pumpskid as recited in claim 12 wherein the first port further includes a male connector adapted for engagement with a suction port of the suction anchor.
- 15. The pumpskid as recited in claim 14 further comprising at lease one O-ring extending around the periphery of the male connector for engagement with the suction port to form a water-tight seal.
- 16. The pumpskid as recited in claim 12 further comprising a latching mechanism for securing the first port to the suction anchor.
- 17. The pumpskid as recited in claim 16 wherein the latching mechanism comprises a plurality of latching piston rods and a plurality of hydraulic actuators each for selective actuation to extend the latching piston rods into engagement with a suction port of the suction anchor thereby securing the first port in engagement therewith and for retraction to disengage the first port from the suction port.
- 18. The pumpskid as recited in claim 12 further comprising a linkage between the installation valve and the removal valve of the first pair of the valves that opens the installation valve of the first pair of valves while closing the removal valve of the fist pair of valves and closes the installation valve of the fist pair of valves while opening the removal valve of the first pair of valves.
- 19. The pumpskid as recited in claim 12 further comprising a linkage between the installation valve and the removal valve of the second pair of valves that opens the installation valve of the second pair of valves while closing the removal valve of the second pair of valves and closes the installation valve of the second pair of valves while opening the removal valve of the second pair valves.
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/959,931 filed on Oct. 29, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,904.
This invention relates to a pumpskid useful in conjunction with a remotely operated vehicle for installing and removing suction anchors in deep water installations.
US Referenced Citations (18)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
610714 |
May 1978 |
SUX |
797955 |
Jan 1981 |
SUX |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
959931 |
Oct 1997 |
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