EP1339921A1 - Offshore platform - Google Patents
Offshore platformInfo
- Publication number
- EP1339921A1 EP1339921A1 EP01991787A EP01991787A EP1339921A1 EP 1339921 A1 EP1339921 A1 EP 1339921A1 EP 01991787 A EP01991787 A EP 01991787A EP 01991787 A EP01991787 A EP 01991787A EP 1339921 A1 EP1339921 A1 EP 1339921A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- support frame
- further support
- conductors
- open
- seabed
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
- E02B17/00—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor
- E02B17/02—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor placed by lowering the supporting construction to the bottom, e.g. with subsequent fixing thereto
- E02B17/027—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor placed by lowering the supporting construction to the bottom, e.g. with subsequent fixing thereto steel structures
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
- E02D2250/00—Production methods
- E02D2250/0053—Production methods using suction or vacuum techniques
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method of installing an offshore platform.
- the present invention relates to installing an offshore production platform, which is an offshore platform that is provided with wellhead and/or production equipment only and not with drilling equipment.
- the platform is suitably installed in water depths in the range of from 15 to 100 m.
- the present invention further relates to an offshore platform.
- USA patent specification No. 4 739 840 discloses a method of installing an offshore platform.
- the known method comprises lowering to the sea floor a support frame including interconnected open-ended vertical pipes; lowering conductors into the seabed to a predetermined depth through the open-ended pipes of the support frame such that the upper ends of the conductors extend above the water surface; and lifting the support frame to a predetermined level and securing the support frame to the conductors . Because the support frame is in one piece, this method allows installation of an offshore platform in relatively shallow water only, wherein relatively shallow waters have water depths in the range of from 15 to 50 m. British patent specification No.
- 2 222 189 discloses a method of installing an offshore platform, which method comprises lowering to the sea floor a first support frame including interconnected open-ended vertical pipes; lowering conductors into the seabed to a predetermined depth through the open-ended pipes of the support frame such that the upper ends of the conductors extend above the water surface; and attaching to the upper ends of the conductors a further support frame that is provided with a platform deck.
- the later method is more flexible and can be used in deeper waters, because the platform includes two separate support frames.
- the conductors serve as foundation piles and as the legs of the offshore platform.
- the method of installing an offshore platform according to the present invention comprises the steps of:
- each further support frame includes interconnected open-ended pipes and has the same cross-section as the first support frame, and wherein the suction piles are fixed in the seabed;
- the present invention further relates to an offshore platform comprising a bottom structure comprising a polygonal base resting on the sea floor having suction piles joined to its corners and fixed in the seabed and a first support frame connected to the polygonal base including interconnected open-ended pipes that are arranged perpendicular to the base, conductors extending from above the water surface into the seabed through the open-ended pipes of the first support frame, and at least one further support frame having the same cross-section as the first support frame and including interconnected open-ended pipes extending around the conductors, wherein each further support frame is secured to the conductors at a predetermined level.
- FIG. 1 shows schematically an initial stage of the method of installing an offshore platform according to the present invention
- Figure 2 shows schematically a further stage of the method according to the present invention
- Figure 3 shows schematically the platform according to the present invention.
- the first step of the method of installing an offshore platform according to the present invention comprises lowering a bottom structure 1 to the sea floor 2.
- the bottom structure 1 comprises a polygonal base 5 and a first support frame 8 that is connected to the polygonal base 5.
- the polygonal base 5 has suction piles 10 joined to its corners 11. In Figure 1 only two of the three suction piles 10 are shown.
- the first support frame 8 is connected to the polygonal base 5 by means of structural elements 12 and structural elements 13, and the first support frame 8 includes open-ended pipes 15 that are arranged perpendicular to the polygonal base 5.
- the open-ended pipes 15 are interconnected by means of horizontal structural elements 17 at their lower ends, horizontal structural elements 19 at their upper end and inclined structural elements 20.
- Lowering the bottom structure 1 is done using a crane on a barge or the hoisting means of a drilling rig that is arranged on a jack-up platform. Neither the barge nor the jack-up platform are shown.
- the polygonal base 5 rests on the sea floor 2, and two further support frames 22 and 24 are lowered to the bottom structure 1 so as to form a set of support frames 8, 22 and 24 that are releasably interconnected.
- Each further support frame 22 and 24 includes open-ended pipes 25, which open-ended pipes 25 are interconnected by means of horizontal structural elements 27 at their lower ends, horizontal structural elements 29 at their upper end and inclined structural elements 30.
- open-ended pipes 25 are interconnected by means of horizontal structural elements 27 at their lower ends, horizontal structural elements 29 at their upper end and inclined structural elements 30.
- each further support frame 22 and 24 has the same cross-section as the first support frame 8. Elements that facilitate the interconnection are not shown.
- conductors 33 are lowered into the seabed to a predetermined depth below the sea floor 2.
- the conductors 33 are driven through the open- ended passages formed by the open-ended pipes 25 and 15 of the two further support frames 24 and 22 and the first support frame 8.
- the length of the conductors 33 is so selected that the upper ends ,34 of the conductors 33 extend to above the water surface 36.
- Driving the conductors 33 is done using suitable pile-driving equipment from the barge or the jack-up platform (not shown) .
- the two further support frames 24 and 22 are lifted to a predetermined level above the sea floor 2.
- the further support frame 22 is raised to about half way the distance between the sea floor 2 and the water surface 36, and the further support frame 22 is raised to the top of the conductors 33. Having raised the further support frames, they are secured to the conductors 33 by any suitable means, such as welding, swaging and grouting.
- the offshore platform according to the invention is used in the production of hydrocarbons from an underground formation via a well. In order to get the well a borehole is drilled and completed in the known manner.
- This borehole is drilled when the platform is in the stage as shown in Figure 2, thus before lifting the further support frames 22 and 24.
- a jack-up platform provided with a drilling rig is used, and drilling and completing the borehole is done through the conductors 33.
- the lateral spacing of the conductors 33 is limited by the lateral skidding of the drilling rig. If applied in relatively deep water, suitably, the further support frames are raised and the lowermost further support frame is secured at its predetermined position before drilling commences. This way of supporting the conductors improves the stability of the conductors during drilling.
- the drilling rig on a jack-up platform can only be displaced over a limited distance limits the lateral spacing of the conductors.
- the conductors form the foundation of the known offshore platform, and consequently, if the foundation needs to be improved, the lateral spacing of the conductors has to be enlarged.
- the foundation of the offshore platform of the invention is improved because it comprises the conductors and the suction piles. Consequently, there is no need to enlarge the lateral spacing of the conductors.
- the first step of the method comprises lowering to the sea floor the bottom structure; allowing the suction piles to enter into the seabed; and lowering the at least one further support frame to the bottom structure so as to form the set of interconnected support frames.
- the first step of the method comprises lowering to the sea floor the set of releasably interconnected support frames comprising the bottom structure and the at least one further support frame; and allowing the suction piles to enter into the seabed.
- the platform is provided with a deck. Schematically the deck is shown in dashed lines in Figure 3, and the deck is referred to with reference numeral 40.
- the deck can be placed on the uppermost further support frame 24 after the support frame 24 has been lifted to its predetermined level and secured to the conductors 33.
- the deck is already present on the further support frame 24, when this support frame is lowered to the bottom structure 1.
- the deck is raised as well.
- the polygonal base of the bottom structure is a triangle.
- the polygonal base is a square or a rectangle. The same applies to the shape of the cross-section of the first support frame and the further support frames.
- each structural element 13 is connected to the middle of the corresponding open-ended pipe 15.
- the structural element 13 is connected to the top of the open-ended pipe 15 where it intersects with the structural elements 19.
- the number of further support frames is at least two, and more suitably 2, 3 or 4.
- suction piles is used. This term is intended to cover as well devices that are known in the art as suction anchors or suction cans .
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Foundations (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
- Revetment (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP01991787A EP1339921B1 (en) | 2000-12-05 | 2001-12-03 | Offshore platform |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP00204340 | 2000-12-05 | ||
EP00204340 | 2000-12-05 | ||
PCT/EP2001/014279 WO2002046537A1 (en) | 2000-12-05 | 2001-12-03 | Offshore platform |
EP01991787A EP1339921B1 (en) | 2000-12-05 | 2001-12-03 | Offshore platform |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1339921A1 true EP1339921A1 (en) | 2003-09-03 |
EP1339921B1 EP1339921B1 (en) | 2007-04-04 |
Family
ID=8172377
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP01991787A Expired - Lifetime EP1339921B1 (en) | 2000-12-05 | 2001-12-03 | Offshore platform |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20020081157A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1339921B1 (en) |
AU (2) | AU3165802A (en) |
DK (1) | DK1339921T3 (en) |
MY (1) | MY131158A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2002046537A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
AU2016314786A1 (en) * | 2015-09-04 | 2018-03-08 | Icon Engineering Pty Ltd | A fixed to bottom jacket system and method of installation for an offshore structure |
US11274409B2 (en) | 2017-12-06 | 2022-03-15 | Fmc Technologies, Inc. | Universal block platform integrated platform block |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB8403568D0 (en) * | 1984-02-10 | 1984-03-14 | Earl & Wright Ltd | Constructing offshore platform |
US5356239A (en) * | 1992-01-17 | 1994-10-18 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | Universal modular platform method and apparatus |
US5722494A (en) * | 1995-10-18 | 1998-03-03 | Union Oil Company Of California | Stacked template support structure |
ID26811A (en) * | 1998-04-02 | 2001-02-08 | Suction Pile Technology B V | SEA BUILDING. |
-
2001
- 2001-12-03 EP EP01991787A patent/EP1339921B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-12-03 AU AU3165802A patent/AU3165802A/en active Pending
- 2001-12-03 MY MYPI20015488A patent/MY131158A/en unknown
- 2001-12-03 WO PCT/EP2001/014279 patent/WO2002046537A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2001-12-03 DK DK01991787T patent/DK1339921T3/en active
- 2001-12-03 AU AU2002231658A patent/AU2002231658B2/en not_active Ceased
- 2001-12-05 US US10/011,661 patent/US20020081157A1/en not_active Abandoned
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO0246537A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DK1339921T3 (en) | 2007-08-06 |
AU3165802A (en) | 2002-06-18 |
US20020081157A1 (en) | 2002-06-27 |
EP1339921B1 (en) | 2007-04-04 |
AU2002231658B2 (en) | 2006-11-23 |
MY131158A (en) | 2007-07-31 |
WO2002046537A1 (en) | 2002-06-13 |
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