Claims
- 1. A system for use in performing maintenance work on an unmanned offshore platform, comprising a sea-going support craft for transporting a maintenance crew to the platform for performing maintenance work on the platform, a power generator on the craft, and at least one operating device on the platform, the platform having a line connected at one end to said operating device and provided with connector means at its other end, the power generator being connectable to the connection means when the support craft is in attendance on the platform such that the power generator can supply power to said operating device.
- 2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the or one of the operating devices is a hoisting apparatus for raising the support craft to an elevated position, enabling the crew to transfer from the craft to the platform superstructure.
- 3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein means remotely operable from the craft, are provided on the platform for lowering the line to the craft.
- 4. A system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the power generator is an electrical power generator.
- 5. A system according to claim 2, wherein the power generator is an electrical power generator and said electrical power generator is arranged to be driven by the marine engine of said craft, said engine being adapted to run when the support craft is held in its elevated position.
- 6. A system according to claim 2, wherein the power generator is an electrical power generator and said electrical generator is arranged to run independently of the marine engine of said craft, the generator being adapted to run when the support craft is held in its elevated position.
- 7. An unmanned offshore platform having a self-sustainable power supply, a first electrical circuit including at least one first electrical device arranged to be powered by the power supply, and a second electrical circuit including at least one second electrical device, said second electrical circuit having no permanent power source on board the platform but having an electrical connection means for connecting to an external source of power on a sea-going support craft for transporting maintenance crew to the platform.
- 8. An unmanned offshore platform according to claim 7, wherein the self-sustainable power supply comprises a self-sustainable energy source and a battery arranged to be recharged by the self-sustainable energy source.
- 9. An unmanned offshore platform according to claim 8 and including two or more self-sustainable energy sources to provide alternative sources of energy.
- 10. An unmanned offshore platform according to claim 8, wherein the self-sustainable energy source is a thermal electric generator arranged to burn gas from a gas well, for which said platform is a production platform.
- 11. An unmanned offshore platform according to claim 8 or 10, wherein the self-sustainable energy source is a photo-voltaic solar source.
- 12. An unmanned offshore platform according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the second electrical circuit is connected to the first electrical circuit through one-way converter means, to enable to external source of power on the support craft to re-charge the battery and energize the first electrical circuit when said external source of power is connected to the second electrical circuit.
- 13. An unmanned offshore platform according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the at least one first electrical device comprises at least one of (i) a motor for driving a hydraulic package, (ii) a motor for operating an umbilical winch for lowering to the support craft an umbilical power line connected between said second electrical circuit and said connection means, (iii) instrumentation and (iv) navigational aids.
- 14. An unmanned offshore platform according to claim 13, wherein the umbilical winch motor is operable by remote control from the support craft, or from a host platform.
- 15. An unmanned offshore platform according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the at least one second electrical device(s) comprise at least one of (i) a winch motor for raising and lowering the support craft between sea level and an elevated position alongside a platform superstructure (ii) an electrically powered crane on the platform and (iii) an electrical distribution board.
- 16. An unmanned offshore platform according to any one of claims 7 to 9, including a support craft, raising and lowering apparatus on a platform superstructure, comprising a primary load-bearing line for connection to the craft, means operable for raising and lowering the primary line, a load member, a plurality of secondary lines connected to the load member, docking means on the load member for engagement with corresponding docking means on the support craft, and means operable for raising and lowering the secondary lines independently of the load bearing line, said load member acting as a guide for the primary line.
- 17. A system for use in performing maintenance work on an unmanned offshore platform, comprising a sea-going support craft for transporting a maintenance crew to the platform, an operating device on the platform, a hoisting apparatus on the platform which can be coupled to said support craft and is operable therefrom to raise the support craft from the sea to an elevated position alongside the platform superstructure, means on the platform remotely operable from the craft for lowering a line, connected to said operating device and said hoisting apparatus, to the craft before it is raised from the sea, and connector means for connecting the lowered line to the craft such that the latter can supply power to said operating device and said hoisting apparatus.
- 18. A method of performing maintenance work on an unmanned offshore platform using a maintenance crew, wherein the crew:(i) are transported in a sea-going support craft to the platform; (ii) connect a hydraulic pressure source on the craft to a hydraulic hoisting apparatus on the offshore platform; (iii) operate the hoisting apparatus from the craft to raise the support craft from the sea to an elevated position; (iv) transfer from the craft in elevated position to the platform superstructure; and (v) perform said maintenance work.
- 19. A method according to claim 18, wherein after said maintenance work has been completed, the crew transfer back to the support craft in the elevated position, operate the hoisting apparatus to lower the craft down to the sea, and are transported away from the offshore platform in the craft.
- 20. A system for use in performing maintenance work on an unmanned offshore platform, comprising a sea-going support craft for transporting a maintenance crew to the platform, a hydraulic pressure source on the support craft, a hydraulic hoisting apparatus on the platform which can be coupled to said support craft and is operable therefrom to raise the support craft from the sea to an elevated position alongside the platform superstructure, means on the platform remotely operable from the craft for lowering a hydraulic line, connected to said hoisting apparatus, to the craft before it is raised from the sea, and connector means for connecting the lowered line to said hydraulic pressure source, such that the latter can supply hydraulic power to said hoisting apparatus.
- 21. A system according to claim 2, claims 5 or 6 as appended to claim 2, or claim 17 or claim 20, wherein the hoisting apparatus comprises a primary load-bearing line for connection to the craft, means operable for raising and lowering the primary line, a load member, a plurality of secondary lines connected to the load member, docking means on the load member for engagement with corresponding docking means on the support craft, and means operable for raising and lowering the secondary lines independently of the load bearing line, said load member acting as a guide for the primary line.
- 22. A method of performing maintenance work on an unmanned offshore platform using a maintenance crew, wherein the crew:(i) are transported in a sea-going support craft to the platform; (ii) transfer from the craft, floating alongside the platform, to the platform superstructure; (iii) connect one end of a line of the platform, connected at its other end to an operating device on the superstructure, to a generator of power on the craft, for energising said operating device; and (iv) perform said maintenance work, step (iii) being performed before, during or after step (ii).
- 23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the generator of power, the line and the operating device are all hydraulic.
- 24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the generator of power, the line and the operating device are all electrical.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
9906453 |
Mar 1999 |
GB |
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Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of international application number PCT/EP00/02444 filed Mar. 20, 2000 (status, abandoned, pending, etc.).
US Referenced Citations (8)
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1525501 |
Sep 1978 |
GB |
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Mar 1980 |
GB |
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GB |
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Aug 2000 |
GB |
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Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
The Patent Office, British Patent Office, Search Report Under Section 17, Application No. GM 9906453.7, Jul. 26, 1999, 4 pages. |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
PCT/EP00/02444 |
Mar 2000 |
US |
Child |
09/956421 |
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US |