Embodiments described herein relate, generally, to temporary platforms and/or cantilevered decks, attachable to an offshore structure, and readily removable from the structure for repositioning, repurposing, and/or uninstallation. More specifically, embodiments usable within the scope of the present disclosure can include temporary platforms attachable to offshore production platforms, control structures, storage structures, and/or similar offshore structures, usable to perform or facilitate a variety of operations, eliminating the need for the continuous presence of boats (e.g., elevating boats) and/or similar vessels normally used when conducting such operations.
In the detailed description of various embodiments usable within the scope of the present disclosure, presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
One or more embodiments are described below with reference to the listed Figures.
Before describing selected embodiments of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein. The disclosure and description herein is illustrative and explanatory of one or more presently preferred embodiments of the invention and variations thereof, and it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in the design, organization, order of operation, means of operation, equipment structures and location, methodology, and use of mechanical equivalents may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
As well, it should be understood that the drawings are intended to illustrate and plainly disclose presently preferred embodiments of the invention to one of skill in the art, but are not intended to be manufacturing level drawings or renditions of final products and may include simplified conceptual views, as desired for easier and quicker understanding or explanation of the invention. As well, the relative size and arrangement of the components of each embodiment may differ from that shown and still operate within the spirit of the invention as described throughout the present application.
Moreover, it will be understood that various directions such as “upper”, “lower”, “bottom”, “top”, “left”, “right”, and so forth are made only with respect to explanation in conjunction with the drawings, and that the components may be oriented differently, for instance, during transportation and manufacturing as well as operation. Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept(s) herein taught, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiments described herein, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and non-limiting.
Embodiments usable within the scope of the present disclosure relate to platforms, decks, and/or other types of surfaces able to be temporarily (e.g., removably) attached to an offshore structure, such as an oil production platform, control structure, storage structure, or other similar offshore structures. In use, embodiments described herein can be adjusted (e.g., repositioned) on the offshore structure, removed and placed at a different location on the structure (e.g., for use in performing different operations), and/or removed for use with another structure.
Conventionally, when performing repair and maintenance operations, such as welding operations, on an offshore platform or similar offshore structure, work ships and/or other types of vessels must be rented and used for the duration of the operations. Use of a single vessel to perform operations on a platform can cost tens of thousands of dollars per day. Use of a more complex vessel, such as a jack-up rig, derrick barge, etc., can cost as much as one hundred thousand dollars per day, or more. A basic welding operation can require thirty days, or more, to complete, causing the rental costs for the required vessels to render such operations prohibitively expensive, especially when coupled with the additional costs for materials, equipment, personnel, and other related expenses. Further, vessels are subject to wave motion, inclement weather, and other unpredictable and/or uncontrollable circumstances, which can further increase the time and resources required to complete an operation. Additionally, elevating boats and similar vessels are also restricted to operations within a limited depth of water.
Typically, space on an offshore platform is limited, thus permanent or semi-permanent storage and/or placement of welding equipment, as well as various other types of equipment and/or facilities, such as workover equipment, storage areas, living quarters, helipads, and the like is not often practical. However, when a need for such equipment or facilities arises, work ships and/or other types of vessels must be used, as described previously.
Alternatively, decks and/or platforms can be added to existing offshore structures to provide the necessary space for additional operations; however, permanent additions to offshore structures are subjected to cumbersome and costly regulations, and can require long-term use of expensive vessels for installation. Additionally, the addition of decks and/or platforms most commonly requires welding, which is prohibited under certain conditions and/or in proximity to certain types of facilities, or requires that portions of a production platform or similar structure be shut-in while welding operations occur, which can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per day. Further, the addition of a deck and/or platform to an offshore structure requires engineering specific to the features of one particular offshore structure (e.g., its dimensions, the spacing between and the location of existing support structures).
Embodiments usable within the scope of the present disclosure include decks (e.g., cantilevered decks) and/or platforms that can be temporarily secured to a desired location on an offshore structure, without requiring welding, and are, thus, not subjected to the same regulations and restrictions as permanent additions. The disclosed embodiments can be adjustably and removably secured to any offshore structure, independent of the specific dimensions and/or structural characteristics thereof. Thus, the disclosed embodiments can be usable for a large variety of purposes, and can be removed and/or repositioned (e.g., to be used for a different purpose and/or at a different location) efficiently, thus minimizing the required use of work ships and/or similar vessels. For example, an embodied platform that is intended for use in performing welding operations, could be installed at a selected height and location on an existing offshore structure, through use of a work ship or similar vessel, in as little as a single day. The temporary platform can then be retained on the offshore structure until the welding operations are complete, obviating the conventional costs associated with rental and use of vessels throughout an entire operation. Further, the embodied platform can be sized appropriately and spaced from the offshore structure such that expensive shutting in of the offshore structure during welding operations is unnecessary. After the platform is no longer needed for performance of welding operations, the platform could be uninstalled and removed for installation on another structure at another location, or alternatively, the platform could be repositioned elsewhere on the current offshore structure and used for the same or other purposes. For example, after use as a welding deck, the platform could be lowered and attached closer to the waterline for use as a dive deck, or otherwise repositioned for other purposes. Due to the ability of the disclosed embodiments to be used with any offshore structure, regardless of the dimensions or characteristics thereof, once operations requiring use of a deck and/or platform are completed, the platform could also be removed and transported for use on another offshore structure.
Though the uses of a temporary deck, attachable to various locations on an offshore structure are numerous, specific non-limiting embodiments can be used as coil decks, decks for containing living quarters, storage decks, crane decks (e.g., temporary petrochemical and/or offshore crane pedestals external to an existing platform), helicopter pads, diver support and/or dive intervention decks, paint and/or blast and/or sandblast containment decks, fabrication decks, P&A installation and/or removal decks, wireline decks, welding decks, personnel muster decks (e.g., for emergency gathering), boat landing decks, fire fighting decks, topside and/or bottom survey decks; laundry, shower, and/or galley decks; decks for storage of life boats, wastewater decks, water supply decks, decks for facility construction and/or repair, decks for pipeline tie-in and/or installation and/or umbilical subsea tie-in operations, extensions of existing platforms, platform decommissioning, and/or zero discharge decks. It should be noted that other uses for the embodiments described herein are also possible and that while the embodiments described herein may disclose particular uses, features, and/or equipment, such embodiments are not intended to be limiting with regard to the shape, dimensions, structure, parts, configuration, and/or other elements described.
Referring now to
The depicted temporary platform (10) is removably secured to two vertical supports (14, 16) of the offshore structure (12) at a selected height (H) using a plurality of clamps of which three clamps (18, 20, 22) are visible. The height (H) for placement of each clamp can be calculated and predetermined based on the characteristics of the offshore structure (12), the platform (10), the operations to be performed, and other similar considerations. Thus, depending on the specific characteristics of the offshore structure (12), e.g., the spacing of the vertical supports (14, 16), the position of any horizontal portions of the structure (12), and the like, the clamps (18, 20, 22) can be positioned at any available height, as needed. Additionally, the depicted temporary platform (10) can accommodate various offshore structures, independent of the spacing between the vertical supports (14, 16), due to the ability of the clamps (18, 20, 22) to be placed with any desired horizontal spacing therebetween, as needed. Specifically,
While the specific configuration of the temporary platform (10) can vary, the depicted embodiment shows each of the clamps (18, 20, 22) having a first portion, with a generally vertical, cylindrical shape, secured around one of the vertical supports (14, 16) of the offshore structure (12), and a second portion, attached to the first portion, shown having a generally horizontal, cylindrical shape, secured around one of the elongate horizontal portions (26, 28) of the receiver member (24). Specifically, the clamps (18, 20, 22) are shown having a central member (e.g., having two sections having the shape of half-cylinders, arranged perpendicular to one another), a first end member (having a half-cylinder shape, shown attached to the central member through use of bolts extending through overlapping flanges of the central and end members), and a second end member (having a half-cylinder shape, shown attached to an opposing end of the central member using bolts extending through overlapping flanges). The central and first end members thereby form a generally vertical, cylindrical shape that is secured about one of the vertical supports (14, 16), while the central and second end members form a generally horizontal, cylindrical shape that is secured about one of the elongate horizontal portions (26,
It should be understood that the configuration of the clamps (18, 20, 22) described above is merely exemplary. Other configurations adapted to secure to and/or around any manner of cylindrical or non-cylindrical portion of an offshore structure and/or receiver member can be used, and configurations adapted to secure to and/or around any manner of vertical or non-vertical portion of an offshore structure and/or any manner of horizontal or non-horizontal portion of a receiver member can be used without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, embodiments usable within the scope of the present disclosure can be secured to platform legs extending in a diagonal direction (e.g., having a batter or double batter), through use of clamps dimensioned and/or shaped for such a purpose, and/or one or more intermediate receiver members positioned between the clamps (18, 20, 22) and the receiver member (24).
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Once operations requiring use of the temporary platform (10) are completed, the platform (10) can be removed from the offshore structure (12) through disengagement of the clamps (18, 20, 22). If desired, the temporary platform (10) can be repositioned at a different location on the offshore structure (12) (e.g., at a different height), such as when it is desired to use the temporary platform (10) for a different purpose, the clamps (18, 20, 22) can simply be removed from the vertical members (14, 16) and secured to other members of the offshore structure (12), removed from the vertical members (14, 16) and secured to the same members (14, 16) at a different height, or otherwise reconfigured (e.g., by repositioning the receiver member (24) within the clamps (18, 20, 22) to accommodate a different horizontal/positional configuration). Alternatively, the temporary platform (10) can be removed and used with a differing offshore structure having different dimensions and/or structural characteristics, due to the fact that the clamps (18, 20, 22) and receiver member (24) can accommodate a wide range of offshore structures. As such, a single temporary platform can be usable for a large number of purposes, and can be installed and/or readily repositioned efficiently, without requiring welding or similar permanent means of installation.
Embodiments of the present temporary platform can be installed through the following method:
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The receiver member (24) is shown having a plurality of recessions or similar engagement features (34, 35), configured to receive a platform structure, as described previously. Specifically, seven lower recessions (34) are shown, having a concave (e.g., C-shaped) form adapted to receive and hold a horizontal portion of a platform structure, while four upper engagement features (35) are shown having a rod, pin, catch, and/or other type of horizontal member therein, adapted to receive a hook, clamp, clasp, pin, or similar manner of fastener and/or protruding portion of a platform structure. While
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To reposition the temporary platform, the platform extensions (39, 41) and platform structures (31, 33) can be removed from the receiver member (24), and the receiver member (24) can be removed from the clamps (18, 20, 22). The clamps (18, 20, 22) can then be repositioned (e.g., removed and lowered) along the vertical support members (14, 16) and/or placed elsewhere on the offshore structure (12). In an embodiment, it can be possible to remove the platform extensions (39, 41) and platform structures (31, 33), while the receiver member (24) remains secured within the clamps (18, 20, 22), then to lower the clamps (18, 20, 22) and receiver member (24). In a further embodiment, it can be possible to move the platform extensions (39, 41), platform structures (31, 33), receiver member (24), and clamps (18, 20, 22, 23) along the vertical support members (14, 16) as a single unit. Removal and/or repositioning of the temporary platform can be performed through the same or similar means as those used to install the platform, e.g., through use of work ships, scaffolding, or other similar methods.
Embodiments described herein thereby provide temporary platforms and methods by which additional surface space can be provided to an offshore structure, usable for a large variety of purposes, that can be installed efficiently and inexpensively, and removed and/or repositioned (e.g., repurposed) as needed, also efficiently and inexpensively. The embodied platforms and methods comprise temporary additions to an offshore structure and thus avoid various regulations and requirements for permanent additions, while providing a stable surface directly attached to the offshore structure, that is not subject to the negative effects of wave motion or other forces, while avoiding both the large cost for rental of vessels. Further, the embodied platforms and methods can be used with a wide range of offshore structures, independent of the specific dimensions or features thereof, due to the ability of the platforms to be placed at any desired height and/or horizontal position.
While various embodiments usable within the scope of the present disclosure have been described with emphasis, it should be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention can be practiced other than as specifically described herein.
The present application claims priority to the co-pending United States Provisional Application, having the Ser. No. 61/520,926, filed Jun. 17, 2011, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 61520926 | Jun 2011 | US |
Child | 13507272 | US |