EP1568600B1 - Arrangement and method for attaching a support element to a wall at the sea bottom - Google Patents

Abstract

The top end of a cable (or chain) (12) is wound using a winch (12 1) on a floating support or boat (20a, 20b). The other end is connected to a suspension attachment (10, 36) on the structure (1, 32) or a flotation device (19) connected to the structure. The e.g. cable (12) is sufficiently long to allow winding up or down, such that the lower section (13) hangs below the attachment point (10, 36). The two or more cables are preferably arranged symmetrically about the structure periphery. Weighting blocks strung low down along the cable, are preferably metal and swaged onto it. When the cable is curved, the blocks come into contact, limiting its curvature. The minimum radius of curvature (Ro) at the low end (13), maintains a minimum distance, preventing contact between cable and structure during descent or ascent. The weights are cylindrical, with conical ends. A comparable variant of this design relies on a chain capable of adopting only limited curvature. Flotation devices (19) are located above the structure. Further floats (4, 33) are integrated high in the structure, above the attachments, keeping the center of gravity below the center of pressure exerted upon it and the first floats. An independent claim is included for the corresponding method.

Description

The present invention relates to a device and a method for installing and anchoring a base on a wall at the bottom of the sea.

It may be, in particular, a wall, a ship stranded or a tank of a ship stranded on which one wishes to intervene.

More specifically, said base can be part of any module carrying various functions such as lifting means, connecting means or assembly means for performing different operations at said wall after anchoring thereof on the wall.

Said base may, more particularly, be used for anchoring any device, in particular a shuttle tank for collecting a fluid from a tank on the wall of which said base is anchored as will be explained below.

The present invention also relates to a device and a method for installing and anchoring a base on a wall at the bottom of the sea and, if necessary, piercing said wall, in particular to recover, pass a fluid through the orifice thus created on said wall.

This latter type of device and process is particularly useful when it is desired to implement a process and an installation for the recovery of effluents at sea and more particularly of polluting effluents contained in a cast and damaged ship resting at the bottom of the sea. sea.

When the tankers sank, the ship usually sank after being seriously damaged and after losing part of its cargo. When the depth of water is important, for example 100 or 200 meters, the recovery of the wreck or its bailout, is not generally considered, but the hull must be completely emptied and rinsed, so that the corrosion of the structure over time, creating localized holes or widespread, does not lead to the release of the contents of the ship, creating pollution that can last for years, even decades.

Many methods and devices have been studied and used in the past to try to recover highly polluting cargoes, either by installing a bottom-surface link to transfer said cargo to a surface-positioned vessel, or by filling a shuttle tank, and then once closed, by returning it to the surface where it will be loaded on board a surface ship, or towed to a port where it can be emptied.

These processes are not satisfactory for various reasons, either because they are technically unreliable, or because they are too difficult to implement and because the operations take too much time, or they cause secondary pollution. because the recovery rate is not satisfactory and this, especially since the process must be implemented at great depth.

1. 1) on descend un réceptacle comprenant un orifice inférieur à l'aide de moyens de positionnement et d'ancrage à proximité et à la verticale d'au moins une ouverture dans la coque et/ou la cuve du navire mettant en communication l'intérieur de la cuve du navire avec l'extérieur, de manière à récupérer lesdits effluents polluants s'écoulant de ladite ouverture par remontée de ceux-ci dans ledit orifice inférieur dudit réceptacle, et
2. 2) lorsque ledit réceptacle est rempli d'effluents polluants, on remonte ledit réceptacle en surface, et
3. 3) on vide ledit réceptacle dans une installation ou navire en surface à travers lesdits moyens de vidange accessibles en surface.
4. 4) on répète les étapes 1) à 3) jusqu'à ce que la quantité voulue d'effluents soit récupérée.

In particular, it has been described in FR 2 804 935 in the name of the applicant, a process for the recovery of pollutant effluents, lighter than water and little or not miscible with water, contained in a tank of a sunken and / or damaged ship resting at the bottom of the sea which comprises the following steps in which:

1. 1) a receptacle comprising a lower orifice is lowered by means of positioning and anchoring means in the vicinity and vertically of at least one opening in the hull and / or the tank of the vessel connecting the interior of the vessel of the vessel with the outside, so as to recover said polluting effluents flowing from said opening by raising them in said lower orifice of said receptacle, and
2. 2) when said receptacle is filled with polluting effluents, said receptacle is raised to the surface, and
3. 3) emptying said receptacle in a facility or vessel surface through said draining means accessible on the surface.
4. 4) steps 1) to 3) are repeated until the desired amount of effluent is recovered.

In a first variant embodiment described in FR 2 804 935 said receptacle consists of a bell whose open base constitutes said lower orifice and covers a leakage zone of said effluents, said zone comprising one or more said openings in the hull and / or vessel of said vessel, and the anchoring means of said receptacle on the vessel comprising cables connecting attachment points fixed on the periphery of said receptacle base and attachment points on the vessel.

In a second variant embodiment described in FR 2 804 935 said receptacle consists of a substantially tubular rigid container, which is held in a vertical position by means of floats installed at least at the upper end or at each upper and lower end of said container, said upper and lower ports of said container being closable so that said receptacle can be raised to the surface and installed in a floating horizontal position when said orifices are closed, said receptacle can then be towed to an installation or a storage vessel of said effluents.

Other embodiments of shuttle tanks have been described in the European patent applications EP 03 358 003.6 and EP 03 358 019.2 . In these various embodiments, the shuttle tank is anchored directly on the wall of the tank.

To connect the shuttle tank to the wreck, it is possible to use existing orifices intended for example to take samples of cargo, or to use the manholes used for access to the tanks of the personnel of the ship. maintenance or inspection. But in fact, the wreck is usually broken and only exceptionally in position horizontal on the bottom of the sea. It often lies on the side or upside down and it is then impossible to simply recover the cargo, and it is necessary to make holes in the shell that then allow to install and to anchor a base on the wall to facilitate the sampling operations by ensuring optimal recovery of the highly polluting cargo or allowing direct sampling at the location of said piercings.

Multiple techniques have been developed in the context of pressurized pipes to make load taps, called "hot-taps". In such operations, a pressure pipe is pierced in a confined pressure-resistant environment, so that the pressurized fluid is not likely to escape during the entire operation.

Multiple variants have been developed in order to simplify the installation operations of the apparatus and in particular to avoid having to weld the body of the stitching on the presswork. For this purpose, the body of the stitching is fixed to the pipe under pressure by means of mechanical bonding or clamping or clamps surrounding said pipe, the seal between the two being provided by an elastomer seal or better, by a metal-metal type joint. But the tensile strength properties exerted on these devices are much lower compared to those required according to the present invention for securing a base or a module with a wall at the bottom of the sea when said base is intended to withstand traction. a filled shuttle tank.

In the case of the anchoring of a base or a module on a wreck lying on the bottom of the sea and drilling of said wall, if the depth is low, for example 50 to 100m, advantageously used divers to perform the establishment of the stitching and it is preferred then to secure said stitching to the shell more solidly by said plungers. But, at greater depth, these interventions become very complex and are preferably carried out by robotic systems, which makes the task very delicate. It is then preferred to fix said stitching mechanically, either by using magnets or electromagnets, or by making drill-holes in said shell which allows to simply fix the base and the support of the stitching provided with a valve insulation, an elastomeric seal being compressed between said base or said stitching support and the hull of the wreck.

We know them U.S. Patents 3,831,387 and EP 0 730 543 , which is considered to be the closest state of the art, which describe the attachment of a module or base to a wreck by means of a piercing-tapping device. But in these systems, the anchored module on the wall is intended to evacuate the cargo of the wreckage to the surface by means of a pipe by pumping, so that the traction exerted on the module or base is relatively reduced.

So, in US 3,831,387 and EP 0 730 543 , the extraction module, on which is intended to come connect a recovery pipe of an effluent in a tank at the bottom of the sea, is anchored by conventional screwing and bolting means.

More particularly, in US 3,831,387 , fixing a module on the wall is made by drilling the wall with a tool having on its leading face a conventional drill that pierces the wall, followed by a tapping tool that creates a thread in the hole drilled in the wall, the tapping tool itself being followed by a threaded portion at the same pitch adapted to cooperate with the thread of the wall orifice, the latter acting as a nut. This device is effective for fasteners requiring only a low tensile strength and therefore low holding force and can be effective only if the wall traversed is of good quality and of sufficient thickness to create a thread, which is often not the case of wrecks, whose sinking is often due to a large age or a lack of maintenance.

• un premier module comprenant des moyens d'extraction d'un matériau fluide destiné à être extrait à travers l'ouverture d'un conteneur tels que des moyens de pompage, et
• un deuxième module destiné à être ancré sur la paroi dudit conteneur comprenant des moyens de fermeture de l'ouverture du conteneur,
• ledit premier module comprenant également des moyens de perçage de la paroi et fixation dudit second module sur la paroi et des moyens de formation d'une grande ouverture sur la paroi du conteneur,
• lesdits premier et second modules pouvant être connectés l'un à l'autre puis déconnectés.

And in EP 730 543 an installation comprising a device for extracting a fluid material from a container comprising:

• a first module comprising means for extracting a fluid material intended to be extracted through the opening of a container such as pumping means, and
• a second module intended to be anchored to the wall of said container comprising means for closing the opening of the container,
• said first module also comprising means for piercing the wall and fixing said second module on the wall and means for forming a large opening on the wall of the container,
• said first and second modules being connectable to one another and then disconnected.

In EP 730 543 , the means for piercing the wall and anchoring it on the wall, for fixing said second module consist of a similar system of drill / tap as described in US 3,831,387 giving a limited holding force, especially in the case of wreckage in poor condition.

An object of the present invention is to provide device and method for drilling and fixing a base on a wall at the bottom of the sea which are more mechanically reliable and simpler to perform and implement, particularly at great depth, and in particular in more severe conditions of use requiring a strong resistance to mechanical traction that can undergo said base anchored on said wall of a wreck in very poor maintenance condition.

Indeed, when the cargo to be recovered in the wreck is relatively fluid, the diameter of the drilling of the hull for evacuating said cargo is small diameter, for example 100mm to 300mm, and the transfer lines to the surface of a similar diameter, coupled to pumping means, are then generally sufficient.

On the other hand, when the cargo is extremely viscous and the wreck is located at very great depth, for example beyond 1000m, even at 3000 or 4000m, the method of installing a pipe between the seabed and the surface becomes almost impossible because of the very high pressure drop generated along the pipe. Indeed, even with extremely powerful pumping at the wreckage, flow rates remain low and the risk of creating caps and blockage of the pipe are important.

This is why we prefer to use a shuttle that is descended from the surface, which is filled, then once full, it goes back to the surface where it is, is towed to the port, or emptied to a storage vessel, then down to the bottom for a new cycle. To minimize the number of trips, we try to increase the unit capacity of the shuttles, which can represent a volume of 250 to 300m ³ or more.

In addition, for these extremely viscous cargoes, it is sought to avoid the use of pumps, because their operation at very great depth is very delicate because of the power required and it is then preferred to increase the diameter of the pump. orifice pierced in the hull, so that the crude oil can rise naturally by the simple variation in density between said crude oil and seawater. Such an orifice can then reach a diameter of 700 to 800mm, or even more, for oils with very high viscosity, for example from 500,000 to 1 million centistokes, or more.

Thus, the stitching device must have a very large diameter of passage and the piercing machine of the shell must be able to drill a hole corresponding to said diameter of passage, that is to say 700 to 800mm or more. It must therefore be extremely powerful and be firmly attached to the hull to stay in place without moving or vibrate during the entire drilling phase. In addition, when filling the shuttle, the latter is positioned vertically from the opening of the shell, and is advantageously fixed by a cable to said stitching device, which represents a significant traction.

Thus, when the shuttle is full, because of the density difference between seawater and crude oil, it exerts a vertical thrust that can reach 20 to 30 tons for a 300m ³ shuttle; this vertical thrust generates an upward vertical pull in said cable connected to said stitching device, as well as in the fastening means of said stitching device on the hull of the wreck.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fluid recovery system from the seabed without using pumping means. More particularly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and an installation for recovering the contents of the bunkers of a ship, for example a tanker, resting on the seabed, in significant water depths, especially higher at 3000 meters, or even up to 4000 to 5000 meters, and which do not have the disadvantages of the prior methods and devices and, in particular, which are more technically reliable, easier and easier to implement.

• une structure support supérieure dessous laquelle ladite embase est solidarisée, ladite embase comprenant des premiers orifices cylindriques,
• ladite structure supérieure supportant des boulons d'ancrage aptes à être entraînés en coulissement et en rotation à travers lesdits premiers orifices de l'embase,
• lesdits boulons comprenant à leurs extrémités :
  • . des premiers moyens de coupe aptes à percer des seconds orifices circulaires dans ladite paroi, et
  • . des premiers moyens de blocage automatique de l'embase aptes à ancrer la dite embase sur la dite paroi après percement;
• chaque dit boulon comprenant une zone filetée apte à coopérer avec chaque dit écrou dans lequel il est engagé, de sorte que, lorsque ledit écrou vient buter sur ladite embase autour desdits premiers orifices, ledit écrou est apte à se bloquer fixement contre ladite embase, et le vissage dudit boulon dans ledit écrou provoque alors l'ancrage de ladite embase sur la paroi par serrage de celle-ci entre ledit écrou fixe et lesdits premiers moyens de retenue automatique, ces derniers étant aptes à venir en appui contre la face interne de la paroi après avoir traversé lesdits seconds orifices, et
• lesdits premiers moyens de retenue automatique sont constitués par des segments en forme d'anneaux ouverts aptes à être insérés en force de par leur élasticité dans des gorges à l'extrémité inférieure desdits boulons au dessus desdits premiers moyens de coupe, lesdits segments étant maintenus dans lesdites gorges par des bagues périphériques appliquées contre la surface externe des boulons au niveau desdits segments, de préférence en coulissant à jeu réduit, de telle sorte que lesdites bagues périphériques, de par leur diamètre plus important que celui desdits seconds orifices, sont retenues par la face supérieure de la paroi après perçage desdits seconds orifices, et sont aptes à libérer ainsi lesdits segments en extension radiale élastique partiellement hors desdites gorges dans lesquelles ils restent bloqués après passage par coulissement longitudinale à travers lesdits seconds orifices de la paroi, lesdits segments en extension radiale partielle étant ainsi aptes à venir en appui contre la face interne de la paroi, en périphérie desdits seconds orifices, après avoir traversé lesdits seconds orifices, et permettant ainsi le serrage de la paroi par les boulons entre ledit écrou et ledit segment en extension par coulissement en sens inverse desdits boulons résultant de leur rotation, lorsque les boulons sont actionnés en rotation et coulissement en sens inverse depuis l'intérieur vers l'extérieur de ladite paroi.

To do this, the present invention provides a device for installing and anchoring a rigid base intended to be anchored to a wall at the bottom of the sea, characterized in that it comprises:

• an upper support structure below which said base is secured, said base comprising first cylindrical orifices,
• said upper structure supporting anchor bolts adapted to be slidably and rotatably driven through said first holes of the base,
• said bolts comprising at their ends:
  • . first cutting means adapted to pierce second circular orifices in said wall, and
  • . first automatic locking means of the base adapted to anchor said base on said wall after drilling;
• each said bolt comprising a threaded zone adapted to cooperate with each said nut in which it is engaged, so that, when said nut abuts on said base around said first orifices, said nut is able to lock firmly against said base, and the screwing of said bolt into said nut then causes the anchoring of said base on the wall by clamping it between said fixed nut and said first automatic retaining means, the latter being able to bear against the inner face of the wall after passing through said second orifices, and
• said first automatic retaining means are constituted by segments in the form of open rings able to be inserted in force by their elasticity in grooves at the lower end of said bolts above said first cutting means, said segments being maintained in said grooves by peripheral rings applied against the outer surface of the bolts at said segments, preferably sliding with reduced clearance, so that said peripheral rings, by their greater diameter than that of said second orifices, are retained by the upper face of the wall after drilling said second orifices, and are thus able to release said segments in elastic radial extension partially out of said grooves in which they remain blocked after passing by longitudinal sliding through said second holes of the wall, said segments in extension partial radial etan t thus able to come into abutment against the inner face of the wall, at the periphery of said second orifices, after passing through said second orifices, and thus allowing the wall to be clamped by the bolts between said nut and said segment in extension by sliding in opposite direction of said bolts resulting from their rotation, when the bolts are actuated in rotation and sliding in the opposite direction from the inside to the outside of said wall.

It is understood that the term "automatic locking of the base on the wall" that said blocking occurs automatically after piercing said second orifices, and means "automatic wall retaining means" means that are suitable to come up automatically bearing against the inner face of the wall after passing through said second holes of the wall.

• une structure support supérieure dessous laquelle ladite embase est solidarisée de manière réversible par l'intermédiaire de moyens de liaison réversible,
• ladite structure supérieure supportant des boulons d'ancrage constitués de tiges cylindriques filetées, d'axe s'étendant dans une direction longitudinale ZZ', aptes à être entraînés d'une part en coulissement dans ladite direction longitudinale ZZ' à l'aide de vérins et d'autre part en rotation autour de leurs dits axes longitudinaux à l'aide de moteurs, lesdits vérins et moteurs étant supportés par ladite structure supérieure,
• lesdits boulons comprenant à leurs extrémités :
  • . des premiers moyens de coupe, tels que trépan ou scie-cloche, aptes à percer des seconds orifices circulaires dans ladite paroi lorsque lesdits boulons sont appliqués en pression contre la paroi et en rotation axiale selon leur axe longitudinale ZZ',
• ladite embase étant apte à être posée sur ladite paroi et comprenant des premiers orifices cylindriques d'axes ZZ' aptes à être traversés par lesdits boulons (c'est-à-dire lorsque lesdits boulons coulissent longitudinalement) et dans lesquels, les extrémités libres desdits boulons comprenant desdits premiers moyens de coupe et desdits premiers moyens de blocage, sont aptes à être logées en position initiale avant ancrage,
• lesdits premiers moyens de blocage automatique de l'embase comprenant des écrous et des premiers moyens de retenue automatique de la paroi, chaque dit boulon comprenant une zone filetée apte à coopérer avec un dit écrou dans lequel il est engagé, le sens du filetage étant tel que, lorsque ledit boulon est actionné en rotation et coulisse dans ladite direction longitudinale ZZ' vers ladite paroi, de manière à ce que ledit boulon traverse un dit premier orifice de l'embase et perce un dit second orifice de ladite paroi, lesdits rotation et coulissement se font sans déplacement relatif dudit boulon par rapport audit écrou, puis lorsque ledit écrou vient buter sur ladite embase (c'est-à-dire par coulissement en direction de ladite paroi), ledit écrou est apte à se bloquer fixement contre ladite embase, ledit écrou comportant de préférence une sous-face rugueuse, et le sens dudit filetage permet que la rotation dudit boulon provoque alors un coulissement longitudinal en sens inverse dudit boulon (c'est à dire en s'éloignant de ladite paroi) avec déplacement relatif dudit boulon par rapport audit écrou fixe dans la zone filetée, et provoque ensuite l'ancrage de ladite embase sur la paroi par serrage de celle-ci entre ledit écrou fixe et lesdits premiers moyens de retenue automatique.

More particularly, the device according to the invention comprises

• an upper support structure below which said base is reversibly secured by means of reversible connection means,
• said upper structure supporting anchor bolts consisting of threaded cylindrical rods, axially extending in a longitudinal direction ZZ ', adapted to be driven on the one hand in sliding in said longitudinal direction ZZ' by means of jacks and secondly in rotation about their longitudinal axes by means of motors, said jacks and motors being supported by said upper structure,
• said bolts comprising at their ends:
  • . first cutting means, such as trephine or bell-saw, capable of piercing second circular orifices in said wall when said bolts are pressed against the wall and in axial rotation along their longitudinal axis ZZ ',
• said base being able to be placed on said wall and comprising first cylindrical orifices of axes ZZ 'able to be traversed by said bolts (that is to say when said bolts slide longitudinally) and in which, the free ends of said bolts comprising said first cutting means and said first locking means, are able to be housed in the initial position before anchoring,
• said first automatic locking means of the base comprising nuts and first means for automatically retaining the wall, each said bolt comprising a threaded zone adapted to cooperate with a said nut in which it is engaged, the direction of the thread being such that, when said bolt is rotated and slides in said longitudinal direction ZZ 'towards said wall, so that said bolt passes through said first orifice of the base and pierces a said second orifice of said wall, said rotation and sliding are carried out without relative displacement of said bolt with respect to said nut, then when said nut abuts on said base (that is to say by sliding in direction of said wall), said nut is able to lock firmly against said base, said nut preferably having a rough underside, and the direction of said threading allows that the rotation of said bolt then causes a longitudinal sliding in the opposite direction of said bolt (ie away from said wall) with relative movement of said bolt relative to said fixed nut in the threaded zone, and then causes anchoring said base on the wall by clamping it between said nut fixed and said first automatic retaining means.

It is therefore understood that the outer face of the wall is held in abutment against the base by said fixed nut and, said retaining means automatically bear against the inner face of the wall after piercing said second orifices and sliding in the opposite direction of said bolts.

The term "longitudinal sliding" means a displacement in the longitudinal direction, which can be doubled by a rotation relative to the longitudinal axis.

Said base may be a platform with flat bearing surface suitable for being placed on a flat wall. But, said base may also comprise lower spacers preferably at or near said first orifices on the underside of the base so as to allow it to be laid on a surface, in particular on a deformed wall surface, therefore not necessarily flat. .

Buoyancy elements may be incorporated in the device for installing and anchoring a base according to the invention to control its buoyancy, especially during its descent to the seabed from the surface, to make it in equilibrium hydrostatic, but also at the time of approach and installation of the device according to the invention against the wall to be pierced. This approach and this pose can be carried out with the aid of an outside operator and, in particular, by means of a submarine vehicle controlled remotely, in particular from the surface, of the ROV ("Remotely Operated Vehicle") type. ), in particular if there is reason to incline the device according to the invention for its anchoring on a strongly inclined wall, or on a vertical wall.

However, if the device is to be installed on an upper wall of an underwater object, in particular on a tank or on a vessel at the bottom of the sea, said upper wall being substantially horizontal, the device installation and anchoring, a base according to the invention, can be placed directly without the aid of outside operator.

Here it is understood by substantially horizontal that said wall can be inclined as far as it is possible to lay said base sufficiently stable to allow its anchoring.

The sliding in the opposite direction of the bolts means that the bolts partially withdraw from the inside of said wall towards the outside thereof, that is to say if necessary go up.

The diameter of said first orifices of the base is slightly greater than that of the bolts

The reversible connection means between the base and the upper structure may be hooks released by a remote-controlled underwater vehicle, especially from the surface (ROV), or by hydraulic cylinders or mechanical operated by said ROV.

A major advantage of the anchoring system according to the invention is to avoid the creation of a thread in said second orifices of the wall whose mechanical performance is not known which can be particularly affected by the corosion.

Said bolts can be rotated directly by a motor or preferably by means of a device itself actuated in rotation such as driving guns.

• ladite structure supérieure supporte des canons d'entraînement desdits boulons et des moteurs aptes à actionner lesdits canons en rotation autour de leurs axes ZZ', lesdits canons comprenant des logements creux cylindriques d'axe dans la direction longitudinale ZZ' dans lesquels sont logés les parties supérieures desdits boulons d'ancrage, et
• lesdits canons, lorsqu'ils sont en rotation, sont aptes à entraîner en rotation lesdits boulons grâce à des éléments de guidage complémentaires situés respectivement dans lesdits logements creux et sur lesdites parties supérieures des boulons, de préférence des éléments mâles tels que des clavettes longitudinales rapportées à la surface des boulons et des éléments femelles complémentaires tels que des rainures ou gorges correspondantes dans ledit canon, et
• chaque dit boulon comprend une zone filetée apte à coopérer avec un dit écrou situé en dessous desdits éléments de guidage rapportés.
  On comprend que lesdits éléments de guidage à la surface du boulon sont rapportés à la surface du boulon après que le boulon ait été vissé dans l'écrou. D'autre part, on comprend que lesdits éléments de guidage autorisent le coulissement longitudinal relatif desdits boulons par rapport aux dits canons.
  Lesdits canons peuvent être montés fixes sur la structure supérieure, lesdits boulons étant entraînés en coulissement directement par des vérins à l'intérieur desdits canons.
  Dans un mode de réalisation avantageux, les canons sont montés coulissant sur un bâti, et le dispositif selon l'invention est caractérisé en ce que
• ladite structure support supérieure comporte un bâti de guidage sur lequel peuvent coulisser dans une direction longitudinale ZZ', sous l'action de dits vérins montés fixes sur ledit bâti, des chariots supportant desdits moteurs aptes à actionner desdits canons d'entraînement en rotation autour de leurs axes dans la dite direction longitudinale ZZ', et
• lesdits boulons comprennent une zone filetée située en dessous de leurs dits éléments de guidage, et coopèrent avec des écrous dans lesquels ils sont engagés au niveau de ladite zone filetée, de sorte que l'extrémité inférieure desdits canons est en contact glissant avec la face supérieure desdits écrous, de préférence par l'intermédiaire d'une bague en bronze et lesdits boulons d'ancrage sont aptes à coulisser longitudinalement à frottement dur à l'intérieur desdits canons de sorte qu'ils restent en place et ne s'échappent pas vers le bas de leur propre poids.

Thus, in a particular embodiment of the device according to the invention:

• said upper structure supports driving guns of said bolts and motors adapted to actuate said guns in rotation about their axes ZZ ', said guns comprising cylindrical hollow housings of axis in the longitudinal direction ZZ' in which the parts are housed upper ones of said anchor bolts, and
• said guns, when in rotation, are adapted to rotate said bolts by means of complementary guide elements located respectively in said hollow housing and on said upper parts of the bolts, preferably male elements such as longitudinal keys reported on the surface of the bolts and complementary female members such as corresponding grooves or grooves in said barrel, and
• each said bolt comprises a threaded zone adapted to cooperate with a said nut located below said reported guide elements.
  It is understood that said guide members on the surface of the bolt are attached to the surface of the bolt after the bolt has been screwed into the nut. On the other hand, it is understood that said guide elements allow the relative longitudinal sliding of said bolts relative to said guns.
  Said guns can be mounted fixed on the upper structure, said bolts being slidably driven directly by cylinders inside said guns.
  In an advantageous embodiment, the guns are slidably mounted on a frame, and the device according to the invention is characterized in that
• said upper support structure comprises a guide frame on which can slide in a longitudinal direction ZZ ', under the action of said cylinders mounted fixed on said frame, carriages supporting said engines adapted to actuate said rotary drive guns around their axes in the said longitudinal direction ZZ ', and
• said bolts comprise a threaded zone situated below said guide elements, and cooperate with nuts in which they are engaged at said threaded zone, so that the lower end of said guns is in sliding contact with the upper face; said nuts, preferably via a bronze ring and said anchor bolts are longitudinally displaceable with hard friction inside said guns so that they stay in place and do not escape to the bottom of their own weight.

The sliding contact between the lower end of the barrels and the upper face of said nuts can be done through a ball bearing seal or equivalent.

As soon as the nut abuts on the upper face of the base, because of its rough lower surface, it stops rotating and becomes fixed relative to said base. The anchor bolt continues its rotation although the sliding of the bolt towards the wall exerts a strong thrust on said nut, which is made possible thanks to the bronze ring.

It is understood that the diameter of the lower cylindrical end of said bolts may have a diameter dimensioned at will and therefore the diameter of said segments in extension is such that their mechanical retention by the inner face of the wall is able to withstand a significant tension of several tens of tons, exerted upwards on said base after anchoring it on the wall.

In practice, use is made of said first circular cutting means capable of producing said second circular orifices. More particularly, the diameter of said second orifices is from 30 to 125 mm, more particularly from 35 to 75 mm, corresponding to said first orifices of 40 to 150 mm, more particularly of 45 to 90 mm.

If the wall on which one seeks to anchor the base, is the wall of a tank having a hole through which escapes a polluting fluid contained in the tank at the bottom of the sea, said base can be used to adapt any device extraction. More particularly, said base can itself be used for anchoring any device including a shuttle reservoir for collecting a fluid from a tank on the wall of which said base is anchored.

In a device intended for recovering a fluid flowing through an opening in said wall, said base comprises a first large cylindrical central orifice with axis in said longitudinal direction ZZ ', in particular a first large orifice of less than 300 mm, more particularly from 300 to 1500 mm, more particularly from 500 to 800 mm.

It may also be advantageous to make a large corresponding orifice in the wall to facilitate the evacuation of a fluid from a tank on the wall of which said base is anchored.

• la dite structure supérieure supporte un second moyen de coupe circulaire, de préférence du type trépan ou scie-cloche, apte à découper un second grand orifice central d'axe longitudinal ZZ' dans la paroi, notamment de plus grand diamètre que lesdits seconds orifices, et des moyens de type vérins et moteurs aptes à faire coulisser dans ladite direction longitudinale ZZ' et à actionner en rotation d'axe dans ladite direction longitudinale ZZ', ledit second moyen de coupe, et
• ledit premier grand orifice central de l'embase étant positionné en coïncidence avec ledit second moyen de coupe circulaire et étant apte à être traversé par ledit second moyen de coupe lorsque celui-ci est en coulissement longitudinal vers ladite paroi, et apte à être obturé par un moyen de fermeture, de préférence du type guillotine à translation horizontale. Ledit moyen de fermeture peut être actionnable de l'extérieur, de préférence par un robot commandé à distance du type ROV ou actionnable automatiquement.

When it is necessary to create an opening in said wall, in a device according to the invention capable of drilling a second large central orifice in said wall, the device is characterized in that:

• said upper structure supports a second circular cutting means, preferably of the trephine or bell-saw type, capable of cutting a second large central orifice of longitudinal axis ZZ 'in the wall, in particular of larger diameter than said second orifices, and means of the type cylinders and motors able to slide in said longitudinal direction ZZ 'and to rotate axially in said longitudinal direction ZZ', said second cutting means, and
• said first large central orifice of the base being positioned in coincidence with said second circular cutting means and being able to be traversed by said second cutting means when it is sliding longitudinally towards said wall, and able to be closed by closure means, preferably of the guillotine type with horizontal translation. Said closure means can be operable from the outside, preferably by a robot controlled remotely type ROV or automatically operable.

The term "large central orifice" of the base or the wall, that said first or second orifices are arranged around said respective large holes of the base and the wall. Thus, if the base is a parallelepiped platform, it may include 4 said first holes defining the 4 corners of a rectangle, within which, preferably at the center of which will be disposed said large orifice.

• 1-on descend, depuis la surface, un dit dispositif selon l'invention, et
• 2-on pose ladite embase sur ladite paroi , et
• 3-on actionne, en coulissement longitudinal vers la paroi et en rotation, lesdits boulons et lesdits premiers moyens de coupe (9) pour percer des premiers orifices dans ladite paroi, et
• 4-on serre lesdits premiers moyens de blocage contre la face interne de la paroi, par rotation et coulissement longitudinal en sens inverse desdits boulons vers l'extérieur de la paroi, et
• 5-le cas échéant, on désolidarise ladite structure supérieure et ladite embase et l'on remonte ladite structure supérieure en surface.
  La présente invention a également pour objet un procédé dans lequel on réalise le perçage d'une paroi au fond de la mer à l'aide d'un dispositif selon l'invention, caractérisé en ce que l'on réalise les étapes 1 à 4 ci-dessus, à l'aide d'un dit dispositif de pose et d'ancrage d'une embase et apte à réaliser un second grand orifice dans la paroi selon l'invention et on réalise les étapes ultérieures suivantes :
• 5-on réalise la découpe dudit second grand orifice central dans ladite paroi par rotation et coulissement longitudinal vers la paroi dudit second moyen de coupe, et
• 6-on dégage par coulissement longitudinal en sens inverse vers l'extérieur de la paroi ledit second moyen de découpe, de préférence en retenant ladite rondelle de paroi découpée, et
• 7-on obstrue ledit second orifice de l'embase à l'aide de dit moyen de fermeture, de préférence du type à guillotine, et
• 8-on désolidarise ladite structure supérieure par rapport à ladite embase et l'on remonte ladite structure supérieure en surface.

The present invention also relates to a method of laying and anchoring a base on a substantially horizontal wall of the sea, with the aid of a device according to the invention, characterized in that the successive stages:

• 1 descends from the surface, a said device according to the invention, and
• Said base is placed on said wall, and
• 3, said bolts and said first cutting means (9) are actuated, in longitudinal sliding towards the wall and in rotation, to pierce first orifices in said wall, and
• 4-clamping said first locking means against the inner face of the wall, by rotation and longitudinal sliding in the opposite direction of said bolts to the outside of the wall, and
• If necessary, said upper structure and said base are separated from each other and said upper structure is raised to the surface.
  The present invention also relates to a method in which the drilling of a wall at the bottom of the sea is carried out using a device according to the invention, characterized in that steps 1 to 4 are carried out. above, with the aid of a said device for laying and anchoring a base and capable of producing a second large orifice in the wall according to the invention, and the following subsequent steps are carried out:
• Cutting said second large central orifice in said wall by rotation and longitudinal sliding towards the wall of said second cutting means, and
• 6, the second said cutting means is disengaged longitudinally in the opposite direction towards the outside of the wall, preferably by retaining the cut-off wall washer, and
• Said second orifice of the base is obstructed by means of said closure means, preferably of the guillotine type, and
• Said upper structure is disengaged from said base and said upper structure is raised to the surface.

• 1. on réalise un procédé de pose et ancrage d'une embase et perçage de la paroi de ladite cuve à l'aide d'un dispositif selon l'invention, selon un procédé tel que défini ci-dessus, et
• 2. on descend ledit réservoir navette depuis la surface jusqu'au dessus de ladite embase, et
• 3. on ancre ledit réservoir navette sur ladite embase de manière à ce que l'ouverture inférieure dudit réservoir navette coïncide avec ledit premier grand orifice central de ladite embase, et
• 4. on ouvre ledit moyen de fermeture dudit premier grand orifice de ladite embase et on laisse s'écouler naturellement ledit fluide contenu dans la cuve plus léger que l'eau de mer, dans ledit réservoir navette, par l'orifice inférieur dudit réservoir navette, et
• 5. lorsque ledit réservoir navette est rempli de fluide, on remonte ledit réservoir navette en surface après avoir refermé ledit dispositif de fermeture dudit premier grand orifice de ladite embase, et
• 6. on stocke ledit réservoir navette rempli de fluide dans un navire en surface et/ou on vide ledit réservoir navette dans ledit navire et/ou on le transporte dans un site pour y être vidé, et
• 7. le cas échéant, on répète les étapes 1 à 6 avec un même réservoir navette ou un autre réservoir navette jusqu'à ce que la quantité voulue soit récupérée.

Another subject of the present invention is also a method for recovering a thick fluid such as a pollutant effluent that is lighter than the water contained in a tank of a sunken and / or damaged vessel resting at the bottom of the sea. , in which :

• 1. a method of laying and anchoring a base and piercing the wall of said vessel is carried out using a device according to the invention, according to a method as defined above, and
• 2. said shuttle reservoir is lowered from the surface to the top of said base, and
• 3. anchoring said shuttle reservoir on said base so that the lower opening of said shuttle reservoir coincides with said first large central orifice of said base, and
• 4. said closing means of said first large orifice of said base is opened and said fluid contained in the tank lighter than the sea water, in said shuttle reservoir, is allowed to flow naturally through the lower orifice of said shuttle tank; , and
• 5. when said shuttle reservoir is filled with fluid, said surface shuttle reservoir is raised after having closed said closure device of said first large orifice of said base, and
• 6. storing said fluid-filled shuttle tank in a surface vessel and / or emptying said shuttle tank into said vessel and / or transporting it to a site for emptying;
• 7. If necessary, repeat Steps 1-6 with the same shuttle tank or other shuttle tank until the desired amount is recovered.

• la figure 1 est une coupe en vue de côté de la cuve ou d'une épave sur laquelle est installé un réservoir navette relié à une embase selon l'invention, en cours de remplissage,
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe de l'embase d'un dispositif de piquage selon l'invention en phase d'approche lors de sa descente vers l'épave, selon BB-B'B' de la figure 3.
• la figure 3 est une vue en plan partielle d'une embase selon l'invention associée à une coupe selon AA-A'A' de la figure 2,
• les figures 4a, 4b et 4c sont des coupes en vue de côté d'une partie d'une structure supérieure montrant un boulon d'ancrage muni d'un outil de forage et de moyens de blocage en vue de l'ancrage d'une embase sur la coque de l'épave, représenté en cours de forage (figure 4a), puis en cours de serrage des moyens de blocage (figure 4b), et enfin, en fin de blocage (figure 4c),
• les figures 5a, 5b et 5c sont des vues de côté des moyens de coupe et moyens de blocage de la figure 4, détaillant la forme d'un segment de blocage à l'état contraint en cours de forage (figures 5a et 5b gauche), puis déployé après forage (figure 5b droite ― figure 5c),
• les figures 6a, 6b et 6c représentent une coupe en vue de côté d'un dispositif selon l'invention, comprenant une structure supérieure de piquage munie de moyens d'ancrage d'une embase sur la coque d'une épave ou une paroi de cuve au fond de la mer, après ancrage de ladite embase et après percement d'un orifice principal d'évacuation dans ladite paroi, le moyen de coupe du type scie-cloche étant partiellement rétracté dans le corps principal de la structure supérieure (figure 6a), puis la scie-cloche étant complètement rétractée, et le moyen de fermeture de type guillotine de l'orifice principal de l'embase étant en cours de fermeture (figure 6b), et, après fermeture complète de la vanne à guillotine de l'embase (figure 6c), la structure supérieure est déconnectée de l'embase,
• les figures 7a, 7b et 7c représentent en coupe une vue de côté du moyen de coupe principal du type scie-cloche de la structure supérieure, équipé d'un dispositif de retenue de la rondelle après perforation de la coque de la paroi,
• la figure 7d représente une coupe en vue de côté d'une partie dudit moyen de coupe et dudit moyen de retenue séparé dudit moyen de coupe après rupture d'une goupille de cisaillement,
• la figure 8 représente un dispositif d'ancrage d'une embase et perçage d'une paroi selon l'invention montrant les moyens de liaison réversibles entre ladite embase et la structure supérieure supportant les moyens d'ancrage et de perçage,
• les figures 9a, 9b et 9c montrent un dispositif de pose et d'installation d'une embase par ancrage sur une paroi, en cours de pose (figure 9a), après ancrage (figure 9b) et avec installation d'un moyen de levage sur ladite embase (figure 9c),
• la figure 10 représente une variante de réalisation d'un moyen d'ancrage des figures 4a, 4b et 4c dans lequel les moyens d'actionnement en rotation 8 desdits boulons d'ancrage sont fixes et lesdits boulons d'ancrages sont actionnés en coulissement longitudinal relatif par rapport aux dits moyens d'actionnement en rotation.
• La figure 11 représente la descente d'un dispositif d'ancrage et perçage selon l'invention contrôlée par une chaîne de stabilisation et des éléments de flottabilité.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description, given in an illustrative and nonlimiting manner, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a sectional view of the side of the tank or a wreck on which is installed a shuttle tank connected to a base according to the invention, during filling,
• the figure 2 is a sectional view of the base of a stitching device according to the invention in the approach phase during its descent to the wreck, according to BB-B'B 'of the figure 3 .
• the figure 3 is a partial plan view of a base according to the invention associated with a section along AA-A'A 'of the figure 2 ,
• the Figures 4a, 4b and 4c are cross-sectional views of a portion of an upper structure showing an anchor bolt provided with a drill bit and locking means for anchoring a base to the hull of the wreckage, shown during drilling ( figure 4a ), then during tightening of the locking means ( figure 4b ), and finally, at the end of blocking ( figure 4c )
• the Figures 5a, 5b and 5c are side views of the cutting means and locking means of the figure 4 , detailing the shape of a blocking segment in the constrained state during drilling ( Figures 5a and 5b left), then deployed after drilling ( figure 5b right - figure 5c )
• the Figures 6a, 6b and 6c represent a sectional side view of a device according to the invention, comprising an upper stitching structure provided with means for anchoring a base on the hull of a wreck or a tank wall at the bottom of the sea, after anchoring said base and after piercing a main discharge port in said wall, the bell-saw type cutting means being partially retracted into the main body of the upper structure ( figure 6a ), and then the bell saw being completely retracted, and the guillotine type closing means of the main orifice of the base being closed ( figure 6b ), and after complete closing of the guillotine valve of the base ( Figure 6c ), the upper structure is disconnected from the base,
• the Figures 7a, 7b and 7c show in cross-section a side view of the main cutting device of the bell-saw type of the upper structure, equipped with a device for retaining the washer after perforation of the shell of the wall,
• the figure 7d is a sectional side view of a portion of said cutting means and said retaining means separate from said cutting means after breaking of a shear pin,
• the figure 8 represents a device for anchoring a base and drilling a wall according to the invention showing the reversible connection means between said base and the upper structure supporting the anchoring and drilling means,
• the Figures 9a, 9b and 9c show a device for installation and installation of a base by anchoring on a wall, during installation ( figure 9a ), after anchoring ( figure 9b ) and with the installation of a lifting means on said base ( Figure 9c )
• the figure 10 represents an alternative embodiment of a means for anchoring the Figures 4a, 4b and 4c wherein the rotational actuating means 8 of said anchor bolts are fixed and said anchor bolts are actuated in relative longitudinal sliding with respect to said rotational actuating means.
• The figure 11 represents the descent of an anchoring device and drilling according to the invention controlled by a stabilization chain and buoyancy elements.

On the Figures 1 to 8 and 10 , there is shown a base 2 consisting of a flat platform anchored to the upper wall 1b of a vessel 53 containing a thick fluid consisting of a polluting effluent 51, said vessel resting at the bottom of the sea 52. A shuttle tank 30 is anchored on the base 2 to recover said escaping fluid and be raised to the surface 500 as described in more detail below.

Said base comprises a large central orifice 13 cylindrical allowing the evacuation of said thick fluid back through said large orifice 13 by its lighter density than seawater.

On the figures 2 , 6a, 6b, 6c and 8 , there is shown a device for installing and anchoring said base adapted to drill a large central orifice 26 in said wall, so as to allow the discharge of said thick fluid 51 from the tank 53 through said orifice.

• une embase 2 et
• une structure support supérieure 4.

The device 1a comprises:

• a base 2 and
• an upper support structure 4.

Said base comprises hooks 3 operable by an external operator such as an ROV 50 to separate it from the upper structure 3 after inking the base 2 on the wall 1b.

The upper structure 4 consists of a parallelepiped welded frame comprising longitudinal guide rails 4a along which four carriages 4b can slide respectively along which can slide 4b in a longitudinal direction ZZ '.

The welded frame 4 supports within it a main drilling body 17 fixed with respect to said frame and supporting at its base second cutting means 14, consisting of a hole saw or bit capable of producing circular perforations of a diameter of at least 300 mm, more particularly from 300 to 1500 mm, more particularly from 500 to 800 mm, corresponding to said second large central orifice in the wall 1b. Said main body 17 encloses a rotation actuating motor 17a (not visible) and a jack 16 allowing longitudinal sliding in the direction ZZ 'relative of said second cutting means 14 with respect to said main body 17.

The side carriages 4b support four anchor bolts 5 whose structure and operation are explained below.

The carriages 4b are actuated in longitudinal sliding direction ZZ 'along the rails 4a by cylinders 7 fixedly mounted on said rails 4a.

Anchor bolts consist of threaded cylindrical rods.

The carriages 4b support driving guns 6 adapted to be actuated in rotation by motors 8b, also supported by said carriages 4b. The guns 6 comprise cylindrical hollow housings of longitudinal axis in the direction ZZ 'in which are housed the upper parts of the anchor bolts 5. Said anchor bolts 5 are rotated by rotation of said guns 6 by means of elements complementary guide 5a, consisting on the one hand of longitudinal keys connected to the surface of the upper part of the bolts 5, which cooperate with longitudinal grooves on the inner surface of said guns in said hollow housing on the inner surface of said guns 6.

• des premiers moyens de coupe circulaire 9 consistant en des trépans ou scies-cloches aptes à former desdits seconds orifices 12 dans ladite paroi de forme circulaire de diamètre d'au moins 30, plus particulièrement de 30 à 125 mm, plus particulièrement encore de 35 à 75 mm, lorsque lesdits boulons sont appliqués en pression contre la paroi par coulissement longitudinal vers le bas et en rotation axiale simultanée selon leur axe longitudinal ZZ', et
• desdits premiers moyens de blocage automatiques 7, 10a, 10 b, aptes à ancrer ladite embase 2 sur ladite paroi 1b après percement.

The bolts 5 comprise at their lower ends:

• first circular cutting means 9 consisting of drill bits or bellsaws capable of forming said second orifices 12 in said circular wall with a diameter of at least 30, more particularly from 30 to 125 mm, more particularly from 35 to 75 mm, when said bolts are applied in pressure against the wall by longitudinal sliding downwards and in axial rotation simultaneously along their longitudinal axis ZZ ', and
• said first automatic blocking means 7, 10a, 10b, adapted to anchor said base 2 on said wall 1b after drilling.

Said base 2 comprises, in fact, first orifices 11, of diameter slightly greater than said anchor bolts 5 and thus able to be traversed by said anchor bolts when they are in longitudinal sliding ZZ ', it being understood that in the initial position of rest before anchoring, when said base and said upper structure are secured, said first cutting means 9 and said first locking means 7, 10a, 10b, 10c are housed inside said first cylindrical orifices 11 of said base.

In the left part of the cup of the figure 2 the passage of the anchor bolt 5 is represented through the first orifice 11 of the base, corresponding to the plane BB of the plan view of the figure 3 . In the central part and the right part of the same figure 2 , there is shown the bell saw 14 and a guillotine valve 15 for closing the main orifice 13 of large diameter of the base, corresponding to the plane B'B 'of the figure 3 . said figure 3 corresponding, in its left side to the plan view according to AA of the figure 2 and, in its central part and its hatched right side, at the section along A'A 'of the figure 2 .

Each said anchor bolt 5 comprises a threaded zone, adapted to cooperate with a nut 7 located below said attached guide elements 5a. The direction of the threading is such that, when said cannons and bolts are in rotation and slide in the longitudinal direction downwards, that is to say toward said wall, to carry out the drilling of said wall then anchoring the base on said wall, said nut is positioned so that it abuts against the upper face of said base, after said second orifice 12 has been pierced in said wall, said first means of circular section 9 and after said automatic retaining means 10a, 10b, 10c are activated. Indeed, said first automatic locking means comprise said nut 7 as well as said first automatic retaining means 10a, 10b, 10c, which cooperate in the following manner. Said first automatic retaining means 10a, 10b, 10c, are integrated in said anchor bolts 5 and located above said first cutting means 9. Said first automatic retaining means are constituted by segments 10a in the form of rings. open members adapted to be resiliently inserted by virtue of their elasticity in grooves 10c at the lower end of said bolts 5 above said first cutting means 9. Said segments 10a are held in said grooves 10c by peripheral rings 10b sliding with reduced clearance on the outer surface of the bolts at said segments 10a. Said peripheral rings, due to their greater diameter than that of said second orifices, are retained by the upper face of the wall 1b after drilling of said second orifices, and are thus able to release said segments 10a in elastic radial extension partially out of said grooves 10c. in which they remain locked after sliding longitudinally through said second orifices 12 of the wall. Thus said segments 10a in partial radial extension prevent their passage in the opposite direction through the wall and thus allow the wall to be clamped by the bolts between said nut and said segment 10a in extension by rotation and sliding in the opposite direction of said bolts, as it will be explained below. Indeed, when said nuts 7 abut on said base and lock firmly against it, the actuation in rotation of said barrels and thus said bolts being maintained, then causes a screwing bolt, so a longitudinal sliding in the opposite direction of said bolts inwardly of said barrel, i.e. from the inside of the wall to the outside, insofar as said nut is prevented from rotation by the fact that the lower end of said 6 is in sliding contact via a bronze ring 7a with the upper face of said nut 7.

Said base comprises a first large central orifice 13 of axis in the longitudinal direction ZZ ', said large central cylindrical orifice 13 of said base comprises an upper peripheral flange 19 which cooperates with a lower flange 18 at the base of said main body 17 supporting said second circular cutting means 14 bit-type or bell-saw, for cutting a said second large central orifice 26 in the wall 1b by sliding longitudinally through said first large cylindrical central orifice 13 of said base. The reversible connecting hooks 3 maintain said upper flanges 19 of the base and lower 18 of said upper structure, one against the other, said second cutting means 14 is slidable longitudinally in said direction ZZ '. A thick and deformable seal 20, preferably of elastomer, is installed on the underside of said base 2 at the periphery of said first large central orifice 13 adapted to seal between said base and the wall after cutting. the wall, and shims 21 are installed around said first orifices 11 on the underside of the base adapted to allow the stable installation of the base on the wall in the case where it would be deformed if necessary.

On the Figures 4a, 4b and 4c it is shown that said anchor bolt 5 slides longitudinally along the axis ZZ ', with hard friction, so that it remains in place and does not escape downwards by its own weight. The anchor bolt is constituted by a cylindrical rod of substantially constant diameter, the upper portion of which is inserted with hard friction into the driving barrel. The key 5a makes it possible to drive said anchor bolt in rotation while permitting sliding along the axis ZZ 'when a large traction force is exerted downwards on said anchor bolt. In its upper and middle part, the cylindrical rod is threaded with a step to the left and collaborates with the nut 7 initially in contact with the lower end of the drive barrel.

The lower end of the anchor bolt 5 is equipped with a 65mm diameter hole saw which will pierce said second ports of the wreck's hull. At a distance of 5 to 10 cm above the teeth of the saw-bell, said cylindrical rod has a peripheral groove 10c detailed on the figure 5b . This groove 10c receives an open ring 10a shown on the Figures 5a and 5c , whose outside diameter at rest ( figure 5c ) is 80 mm, thus greater than the diameter of the hole, which corresponds substantially to the diameter of the hole saw which is 65 mm. During the preparation of the anchor bolt, before its introduction into the driving barrel 6, said open ring 10a is picked up on itself ( figure 5a ) so that its outer diameter corresponds substantially to that of said cylindrical rod, that is to say 65 mm. A sliding ring 10b with reduced clearance maintains said ring 10a in a picked configuration, as explained on the figure 5b . Thus, the anchor bolt has up to said sliding retaining ring, a substantially constant diameter of 65 mm. During drilling, the hole saw 9 enters the steel of the hull of the wreck and then crosses it. The descent of the tool 9 continues until the sliding ring 10b abuts the outside of the shell. At this moment, the ring 10a in the picked up position is engaged in the hole drilled to the diameter 65 mm and the tool continues its progression towards the inside of the shell. Then, when the ring 10a in the picked up position opens completely inside the shell, it is naturally released thanks to its elasticity and resumes its initial diameter of 80 mm, as illustrated in FIGS. Figures 4b and 4c, 5b and 5c .

The tool 9 continues to descend and turn until the driving barrel 6 comes to force on the nut 7 when it abuts on the outside of the shell as shown in the illustration. figure 4b . Said nut 7 has on its underside a rough surface, for example a knurling or a reported washer and glued, friction material similar to the brake pads, and on its upper face, in contact with the drive barrel, a ring reported 7a facilitating sliding, for example a bronze ring. So during the whole phase initial drilling, the thrust of the drill 9 is transmitted to the anchor bolt 5 through said nut 7, the torque being transmitted by the key 5a; said nut rotates at the same time as the anchor bolt: it therefore remains fixed with respect to the anchor bolt. On the other hand, as soon as the nut abuts on the hull of the wreck, it stops rotating because of its rough lower surface, and becomes fixed with respect to said hull, as shown in FIG. figure 4c . The anchor bolt continues its rotation although the drill 9 exerts a strong thrust on said nut, which is made possible by the bronze ring 7a. The thread having a left-hand pitch, has the effect of tightening the bolt 5 which then goes up inside the driving barrel 6 until the ring 10a, in naturally expanded position abuts on the inner face of shell. When the hydraulic motor 86 reaches its maximum torque, it locks and the tightening is completed.

On the figure 6a the base 2 fixed to the hull of the wreck is shown in sectional view by four rock bolts 5. The main bell saw 14 pierced the large diameter orifice 26 through the hull and the saw -cloche 14 is being raised inside the main body 17.

On the figure 6b the bell saw 14 is completely retracted and the ROV 50 actuates with its hydraulic arm the closing of the guillotine valve 15.

On the Figure 6c , we released the connecting hooks 3, not shown, which secured the flange 19 of the base and the flange 18 of the main body 17 and we note the entirety of the upper structure 4. The training guns 6 anchor bolts 5 slide longitudinally with hard friction on said anchor bolts and are naturally released. The base 2 is then ready to receive the shuttle reservoir 30 for the transfer of the highly polluting cargo, as explained on the figure 1 .

The base 2 comprises a closing means 15 or integrated isolation valve of the guillotine type, with horizontal translation, operable from the outside. Said guillotine is operated horizontally by an external actuator 15a, integral with a threaded rod 15b cooperating with an integral nut 15c of said guillotine, as shown in FIG. figure 3 . Thus, by rotating the actuator 15a in one direction, the guillotine is moved and the valve 15 is closed, while it is opened by reversing the direction of rotation. The actuator 15a may be a hydraulic or electric motor, but a ROV 50 hydraulic tool is advantageously used to actuate the opening or closing of the valve 15 as shown in FIG. figure 6b . The guillotine valve 15 is shown completely open on the figures 2 and 6a , while it is represented during closing on the plan view of figures 3 and 6b and completely closed on the Figure 6c .

Said seal has a thickness such that after compression during the anchoring of the base on the wall, its thickness corresponds to that of said shims. For this purpose, the seal 20 shown as having the same thickness as the wedges 21 may, in fact, at rest have a double or triple thickness.

The longitudinal sliding of said second cutting means 14 is ensured by a jack 16 with a rod issuing from said main body 17 allowing a visual check of the positioning of said second cutting means 14 with respect to said wall 1b, in particular during the cutting of the wall, said control being performed by the ROV camera.

Said second cutting means 14 is adapted to cooperate with a retaining means 22 of the wall washer 1c 1b cut after cutting thereof. This advantageously makes it possible to prevent the washer from remaining on the surface of a thick fluid that one would like to evacuate through said large orifice of the wall by obstructing it, as represented on the Figures 7a, 7b and 7c .

Said second retaining means 22 comprises a third circular cutting means 23 adapted to cooperate with said second cutting means 14 and piercing a third hole of smaller diameter than said second large central opening 26 in the wall portion to be cut by said second cutting means 14, before said second cutting means 14 has cut said large orifice. Said second retaining means 22 of the washer is a second automatic locking means constituted by the combination of a second elastic open annular segment 24 inserted in force and held in a peripheral groove, by a third ring 25 covering it, at the lower end of a cylindrical rod supporting said third cutting means. The diameter of said third ring 25 is greater than that of said third small hole of the wall so that, after cutting said third orifice and after passing through the wall by said cylindrical rod supporting said third cutting means, said second segment 24 is released in radial radial extension partially out of its groove while remaining therein, which allows to retain and reassemble said washer when said second cutting means 14 is retracted inside said main body 17.

More specifically, Figures 7a, 7b and 7c illustrate a preferred version of a second bell-saw type cutting means 14 to which is attached a second cylindrical driving gun 14 ₁ having a cylindrical hole 14 ₂ within which is installed a said second cylindrical retaining means 22 provided with a drive key 22a, and retained by a shear pin 22b. The lower part of said second cylindrical retaining means 22 is equipped with a third circular sawing device of the bell-saw type 23, of 65 mm, of an open ring 24 located in a groove of said second cylindrical retaining means 22, and of a second sliding ring 25, as described above with regard to Figures 4a, 4b and 4c .

The hole saw 23, 65 mm in diameter, attacks the wall 1b first, then crosses it completely. The ring 24 resumes its natural diameter of 80 mm after having crossed the wall. The main bell saw 14 then attacks the wall 1b and passes through it completely.

When the drilling is completed, the washer 1c remains trapped in the retaining ring 24. When removing the hole saw 14 within the main body 17, the washer 1c is thus recovered.

In case of a problem during drilling, if the retaining means has penetrated the shell and if the ring 24 has passed through the wall and has returned to its natural diameter, it is possible to remove the main cutting tool 14 by pulling vertically upward and forcing, the separation of said second retaining means 22 and said second driving gun 14 ₁ being ensured by the breaking of the shear pin 22b. Said second retaining means 22 and the ring 24 then remain on the wall, but can be simply pushed into the inside of the tank, thanks to the manipulator arm of the ROV 50. The main drilling saw can then be put back in place to a new attempt.

• 1. on descend depuis la surface, un dispositif 1a selon l'invention, et
• 2-on pose la face inférieure de ladite embase 2 sur ladite paroi 1b,
  Un ROV 50 surveille les opérations de remplissage au moyen d'une camera vidéo embarquée.
  La zone d'accostage sur la paroi 1b a été préalablement nettoyée et inspectée par le ROV, puis la position des plats à boudin et raidisseurs 1d de coque (figure 2) a été déterminée au moyen de dispositifs de contrôle ultra-son conventionnels, de manière à ce que les divers perçages décrits ci-avant n'interfèrent pas avec lesdits raidisseurs.
• 3-on actionne, en coulissement longitudinal vers la paroi et en rotation, lesdits boulons 5 et lesdits premiers moyens de coupe 9 pour percer des seconds orifices 12 dans ladite paroi, et
• 4-on serre lesdits premiers moyens de blocage 10a, 10b contre la face interne de la paroi, par coulissement longitudinal en sens inverse desdits boulons vers l'extérieur de la paroi, et
• 5-on réalise la découpe dudit second grand orifice central 26 dans ladite paroi par rotation et coulissement longitudinal vers la paroi dudit second moyen de coupe 14, et
• 6-on dégage par coulissement longitudinal en sens inverse vers l'extérieur de la paroi ledit second moyen de découpe 14, de préférence en retenant ladite rondelle de paroi découpée, et
• 7-on obstrue ledit second orifice de l'embase à l'aide de dit moyen de fermeture 15, de préférence du type à guillotine, et
• 8-on désolidarise ladite structure supérieure 4 par rapport à ladite embase et l'on remonte ladite structure supérieure en surface.

The method of installing the base, piercing the wall and anchoring the base on the wall comprises the following steps:

• 1. a device 1a according to the invention is lowered from the surface, and
• 2-we put the lower face of said base 2 on said wall 1b,
  ROV 50 monitors filling operations using an on-board video camera.
  The docking zone on the wall 1b was previously cleaned and inspected by the ROV, then the position of the flange plates and stiffeners 1d of hull ( figure 2 ) has been determined by means of conventional ultrasonic control devices, so that the various holes described above do not interfere with said stiffeners.
• 3, the said bolts 5 and the said first cutting means 9 are actuated, in longitudinal sliding towards the wall and in rotation, to pierce second orifices 12 in the said wall, and
• 4-clamping said first locking means 10a, 10b against the inner face of the wall, by longitudinal sliding in the opposite direction of said bolts to the outside of the wall, and
• Cutting said second large central orifice 26 in said wall by rotation and longitudinal sliding towards the wall of said second cutting means 14, and
• 6 is disengaged by sliding longitudinally outwardly of the wall said second cutting means 14, preferably retaining said cut wall washer, and
• Said second orifice of the base is obstructed by means of said closure means 15, preferably of the guillotine type, and
• Said upper structure 4 is disengaged from said base and said upper structure is raised to the surface.

1. 1. on descend ledit réservoir navette 30 depuis la surface 40 jusqu'au dessus de ladite embase 2, et
2. 2. on ancre ledit réservoir navette sur ladite embase de manière à ce que l'ouverture inférieure 31 dudit réservoir navette coïncide avec ledit premier grand orifice central 13 de ladite embase, et
3. 3. on ouvre la vanne de fermeture 15 dudit premier grand orifice 13 de ladite embase en laissant s'écouler naturellement ledit fluide contenu dans la cuve plus léger que l'eau de mer, dans ledit réservoir navette, par l'orifice inférieur 31 dudit réservoir navette, et
4. 4. lorsque ledit réservoir navette est rempli de fluide, on remonte ledit réservoir navette en surface après avoir refermé ledit premier grand orifice de ladite embase, et
5. 5. on stocke ledit réservoir navette rempli de fluide dans un navire en surface et/ou on vide ledit réservoir navette dans ledit navire et/ou on le transporte dans un site pour y être vidé, et
6. 6. le cas échéant, on répète les étapes 1 à 6 avec un même réservoir navette ou un autre réservoir navette jusqu'à ce que la quantité voulue soit récupérée.

A method for recovering thick fluid 51 comprises the following additional steps:

1. 1. said shuttle reservoir 30 is lowered from the surface 40 to the top of said base 2, and
2. 2. anchoring said shuttle reservoir on said base so that the lower opening 31 of said shuttle reservoir coincides with said first large central orifice 13 of said base, and
3. 3. the closing valve 15 of said first large orifice 13 of said base is opened by naturally flowing said fluid contained in the tank lighter than the seawater, in said shuttle tank, through the lower orifice 31 of said shuttle tank, and
4. 4. when said shuttle reservoir is filled with fluid, said shuttle reservoir is raised to the surface after having closed said first large orifice of said base, and
5. 5. storing said fluid-filled shuttle tank in a surface vessel and / or emptying said shuttle tank in said vessel and / or transporting it to a site for emptying;
6. 6. if necessary, repeat steps 1 to 6 with the same shuttle tank or other shuttle tank until the desired amount is recovered.

Said shuttle reservoir 30 comprises a flexible or rigid main envelope 30a with a cylindrical peripheral wall surmounted by a rigid dome 30b having a profile in the form of a shell in vertical section, said dome preferably containing buoyancy elements 30c such as foam syntactical control to control its rise to the surface under the simple action of buoyancy, preferably shifting the center of buoyancy of said shuttle tank filled with fluid upwards relative to its apparent center of gravity in the water.

On the figure 11 , the descent of a device 1a comprising a buoyancy element 42 to which the device is suspended by a cable 44, which makes it possible to control the speed of descent of the device 1a and the ascent of the upper structure 4.

As shown on figures 1 and 11 , the speed of descent of a said device 1a for laying and anchoring the base 2 or a said shuttle reservoir 30, if applicable, or for ascending a said upper structure 4 or the said shuttle tank 30 is also controlled. 30, where appropriate, with a stabilizing device comprising at least one cable or linkage chain 40 extending from the surface, preferably from a surface vessel, to said upper structure 4 or said shuttle reservoir 30, the where appropriate, at which its end is connected, said cable or said connecting chain 40a, 40b having a lower portion weighted, preferably by blocks 41 arranged in a string along said cable or by larger links heavier said chain, such that the weight of the length of said lower portion of said cable or chain hanging below its point of connection 43 to said upper structure 4 or below its point of connection 55 to said shuttle reservoir 30 can be adjusted from the surface, preferably by means of a winch on board a surface vessel and on which the upper end of said cable or chain is unwound or rolled up, so as to control the descent rate or respectively of said upper structure 4 or said shuttle tank 30 as the case may be. Suitably, the link stabilizer chain 40b is connected to a connection point 43 at the base of the buoyancy member 42 to which said upper structure is suspended.

Said blocks 41 of said cable or large heavy links of said link chain, in said lower portion of said second cable or chain have a shape such that when said cable or said string is bent, two adjacent blocks or two links adjacent heavies abut against each other thus limiting the local radius of curvature of said cable or said chain.

On the Figures 9a, 9b and 9c , there is shown an alternative embodiment in which said base 2 is anchored to receive lifting means 60.

Finally, on the figure 10 , there is shown an alternative embodiment of the anchor bolts with respect to the embodiment of the Figures 4a, 4b and 4c in which the cylinders 8a, 8b engines and drive guns 6 are fixed relative to the frame 4, and the longitudinal sliding of the anchor bolts is by relative longitudinal sliding of the anchor bolt relative to the drive barrel. rotation 6.

The shuttle reservoir 30 is kept close to the base 2 by means of anchoring means comprising at least one crowbar anchoring cable connected to a first attachment point 54 fixed on the lower part of said reservoir and at least one second anchor point 55 on said base 2.

Advantageously, when said shuttle tank is full, an automatic disconnection step is performed for said anchor means preferably performs automatically when the shuttle tank has reached a predetermined filling level, especially when the tank is full or almost full.

More particularly, at least one said anchoring cable 54 cooperates with a first automatic disconnection device on which is exerted a traction corresponding to the buoyancy pressure exerted on said shuttle tank and its cargo, traction transmitted by said anchoring cable, said disconnecting device having the effect of causing disconnection of said anchoring cable by de-securing said anchoring cable 54 from said base 2 or by breaking said anchor cable, and allowing the at least partial rise of said shuttle reservoir when this traction reaches a first determined threshold value, preferably when said shuttle tank is filled with effluents.

More particularly, the operator at the surface is thus informed, via a camera embedded in the ROV, of the end of the filling, and the ROV can release the cable 54, which makes it possible to raise the tank to the surface by perfectly controlling said ascent thanks to the 40-41 chain system.

The anchoring of the base to the wall has been described by means of four bolts forming a rectangle, but additional bolts will advantageously be envisaged so as to ensure perfectly reliable anchoring, in the event that the drilling and tightening of one or more bolts would fail.

Similarly, in configurations requiring less security, it may be necessary to consider only two anchor bolts, or even one.

The said retaining means have been described as being composed of an elastic segment 10a in the picked up position, held by a ring 10b, but it is in the spirit of the invention to consider cleats, cylinders or balls which can move radially in orifices or grooves and urged outwards by springs, said cleats, cylinders or balls being held in the picked up position by the sliding ring with reduced clearance 10b and released by the force of said springs to create the stop on the inner face of the wall during removal of the bolt outwardly of said wall.

Claims (16)

1. A device (1a) for installing and anchoring a base (2) that is designed to be anchored on a wall (1b) at the sea bottom, the device comprising an upper support structure (4) with said base (2) being secured to the bottom thereof, said base including first cylindrical orifices (11),and the device being characterized in that:

   · said upper structure (4) supports anchor bolts (5) suitable for being driven in sliding and in rotation through said first orifices (11) of the base (2);

   · said bolts comprising at their ends:

   · first cutter means (9) suitable for piercing said circular orifices (12) in said wall (1b); and

   · first means (7, 10a, 10b, 10c) for automatically blocking the base and suitable for anchoring said base on said wall (1b) after it has been pierced;

   · said first means for automatically blocking the base comprising nuts (7) and first automatic wall retaining means (10a, 10b, 10c);

   · each said bolt (5) has a threaded zone suitable for co-operating with each said screw (7) in which it is engaged, whereby, when said nut (7) comes into abutment against said base around said first orifices (11), said nut is suitable for becoming blocked in stationary manner against said base, and screwing said bolt in said nut then causes said base to be anchored to the wall by the wall being clamped between said stationary nut (7) and said first automatic retaining means (10a, 10b, 10c), which means are suitable for bearing against the inside face of the wall (1b) after passing through said orifices (12); and

   · said first automatic retaining means are constituted by segments (10a) in the form of open annuluses suitable for being inserted by force against of their resilience into grooves (10c) at the bottom ends of said bolts (5) above said first cutter means (9), said segments (10a) being held in said grooves (10c) by peripheral rings (10b) pressed against the outside surfaces of the bolts level with said segments (10a), preferably in sliding with small clearance, such that said peripheral rings, because of their diameter that is greater than the diameter of second orifices, are retained by the top face of the wall (1b) after said second orifices have been made, and are thus suitable for releasing said segments (10a) to expand resiliently radially in part out from said grooves (10c) in which they remain blocked after passing by longitudinal sliding through said second orifices (12) in the wall, said segments (10a) expanded radially outwards in part thus being suitable for coming to bear against the inside face of the wall (1b) at the periphery of said second orifices (12) after passing through said second orifices, thereby enabling the wall to be clamped by the bolts between said nut and said expanded segment (10a) by said bolts sliding in reverse as a result of their rotation when the bolts (5) are actuated in rotation and in sliding in the opposite direction from the inside towards the inside of said wall.
2. A device (1a) according to claim 1 for installing and anchoring a base (2) that is to be anchored on a wall (1b) at the sea bottom, the device being characterized in that it comprises:

   · an upper support structure (4) with said base (2) secured in reversible manner therebeneath via reversible connection means (3);

   · said upper structure (4) supporting anchor bolts (5) that are constituted by threaded cylindrical rods of axes that extend in a longitudinal direction ZZ', suitable for being driven both in sliding in said longitudinal direction ZZ' by means of actuators (8a) and also in rotation about their said longitudinal axes by means of motors (8b), said actuators and said motors being supported by said upper structure;

   · said bolts including at their ends first cutter means (9) such as a circle cutter or a crown saw, suitable for piercing circular second orifices (12) in said wall when bolts are pressed against the wall and rotated about their longitudinal axes ZZ';

   · said base being suitable for being placed against said wall and having cylindrical first orifices (11) on the axes ZZ' suitable for passing said bolts and suitable for receiving in an initial position prior to anchoring the free ends of said bolts including said first cutter means (9) and said first blocking means (7, 10a, 10b, 10c) ; and

   · said first automatic blocking means comprising nuts (7) and said first automatic wall retaining means (10a, 10b, 10c), each said bolt having a threaded zone suitable for co-operating with a said nut (7) in which it is engaged, the handedness of the thread being such that when said bolt is actuated in rotation and slides in said longitudinal direction ZZ' towards said wall so that said bolt passes through said first orifice (11) of the base and pierces a said second orifice (12) in said wall, said rotation and sliding take place without said bolt (5) moving relative to said nut (7), and then when said nut (7) comes into abutment against said base, said nut is suitable for blocking in stationary manner against said base, said nut preferably having a rough under face, and the handedness of said thread enables the rotation of said bolt then to cause said bolt to slide longitudinally in the opposite direction with relative movement between said bolt and said stationary nut (7) in the threaded zone subsequently causing said base to be anchored on the wall by the wall being clamped between said stationary nut (7) and said first automatic retaining means (10a, 10b, 10c).
3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that:

   · said upper structure (4) supports barrels (6) for driving said bolts, and motors (8b) suitable for rotating said barrels about their axes ZZ', said barrels having cylindrical hollow housings about axes in the longitudinal direction ZZ' and receiving the top portions of said anchor bolts (5); and

   · said barrels (6), when in rotation, are suitable for driving said bolts in rotation by virtue of complementary guide elements (5a) situated respectively in said hollow housings and on said top portions of the bolts, preferably male elements such as longitudinal keys (5a) fitted to the surfaces of the bolts and complementary female elements such as corresponding grooves or slots in said barrels; and

   · each said bolt (5) has a threaded zone suitable for co-operating with a said nut (7) situated beneath said fitted guide elements (5a).
4. A device according to claim 3, characterized in that:

   · said upper support structure (4) comprises a guide frame (4a) on which carriages (4b) can slide in a longitudinal direction ZZ' under drive from said actuators (8a) mounted in stationary manner on said frame, the carriages (4b) supporting said motors (8b) suitable for actuating said drive barrels (6) in rotation about their axes in said longitudinal direction ZZ'; and

   · said bolts (5) include respective threaded zones situated beneath said guide elements (5a) and co-operating with nuts (7) in which they are engaged via said threaded zones, whereby the bottom ends of said barrels (6) are in sliding contact with the top faces of said nuts (7), preferably via bronze rings (7a), and said anchor bolts (5) are suitable for sliding longitudinally as a tight fit inside said barrels (6) so as to remain in place and not escape downwards under their own weight.
5. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said base includes a cylindrical first large central orifice (13) that is cylindrical about an axis extending in said longitudinal direction ZZ'.
6. A device according to claim 5, also suitable for piercing a second large central orifice (26) in said wall (1b), the device being characterized in that:

   · said upper structure (4) supports second circular cutter means (14), preferably of the circle cutter or crown saw type, suitable for cutting a second large central orifice (26) through the wall about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction ZZ', in particular an orifice of diameter larger than the diameter of said second orifices (12), and actuator and motor type means (16 and 17) suitable for causing said second cutter means (14) to slide in said longitudinal axis ZZ' and to be driven in rotation about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction ZZ'; and

   · said first large central orifice (13) in the base is positioned to coincide with said second circular cutter means and being suitable for passing said second cutter means (14) while it is sliding longitudinally towards said wall, and said first large orifice of the base is suitable for being closed by closure means (15) preferably of the horizontally movable guillotine type.
7. A device according to claim 6, characterized in that:

   · said upper structure (4) supports a main drill body (17) that is stationary relative to said structure, said main drill body (17) including said second cutter means (14) at its base and containing a motor (17a) for providing rotary drive and an actuator (16) for driving said second cutter means (14) in longitudinal sliding relative to said main body (17); and

   · said main body (17) includes a flange (18) at its bottom end, and said first large central orifice (13) in the base includes a top flange (19), said reversible connection means (3) between said upper structure and the base serving to interconnect said bottom flange (18) and said top flange (19).
8. A device according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterized in that:

   · a thick and deformable sealing ring (20), preferably made of elastomer, is installed beneath said base (2) at the periphery of said first large central orifice (13) and is suitable for providing sealing between said base and the wall after the wall has been cut; and

   · preferably spacers (21) are installed around said first orifices (11) under the base and suitable for enabling the base to be placed stably on the wall in the event that the wall is deformed, if at all.
9. A device according to claim 7 or claim 8, characterized in that the longitudinal sliding of said second cutter means (14) is driven by an actuator (16) with a rod extending from said main body (17), enabling the positioning of said second cutter means (14) relative to said wall (1b) to be monitored visually, in particular while cutting the wall.
10. A device according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that said second cutter means (14) is suitable for co-operating with second retaining means (22) for retaining the disk (1c) of the wall (1b) as cut away after cutting said second large central orifice in the wall.
11. A device according to claim 10, characterized in that said second retaining means (22) comprises third circular cutter means (23) suitable for co-operating with said second cutter means (14) so as to pierce a third orifice of smaller diameter than said second large central orifice (26) in the portion (1c) of the wall of disk shape that is to be cut away by said second cutter means (14) prior to said second cutter means (14) cutting said large orifice, and said second retaining means (22) for retaining said disk comprise second automatic blocking means constituted by the combination of a second resilient open annular segment (24) inserted by force and held in a peripheral groove by a third ring (25) covering it at the bottom end of a cylindrical rod supporting said third cutter means, the diameter of said third ring (25) being greater than the diameter of said third orifice of small diameter in the wall such that, after said third orifice has been cut and said cylindrical rod supporting said first cutter has passed through the wall, said second segment (24) is released to expand resiliently radially in part out from its groove while remaining held therein, thereby enabling said disk (1c) to be retained and raised when said second cutter means (14) is retracted in the longitudinal direction ZZ'.
12. A method of placing and anchoring a base on a substantially horizontal wall at the sea bottom with the help of a device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, the method being characterized in that the following successive steps are performed:

    1) a said device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 is lowered from the surface; and

    2) said base (2) is placed on said wall (1b); and

    3) said bolts (5) and said first cutter means (9) are actuated in longitudinal sliding towards the wall and in rotation in order to pierce said first orifices (11) in said wall; and

    4) said first blocking means (10a, 10b) are clamped against the inside face of the wall by said movements of said bolts in rotation and in longitudinal sliding in the opposite direction towards the outside of the wall; and

    5) where appropriate, said upper structure (4) is separated from said base (2) and said upper structure is raised to the surface.
13. A method according to claim 12, wherein a wall at the sea bottom is pierced with the help of a device according to any one of claims 6 to 11, the method being characterized in that steps 1) to 4) of claim 12 are performed with the help of a said device according to any one of claims 6 to 11, and the following subsequent steps are performed:

    5) said second large central orifice (26) is cut in said wall by causing said second cutter means (14) to move in rotation and in longitudinal sliding towards the wall; and

    6) said second cutter means (14) are disengaged by moving in longitudinal sliding in the opposite direction outwards from the wall, preferably while retaining said disk (1c) cut out from the wall; and

    7) said second orifice in the base is closed with the help of said closure means (15), preferably of the guillotine type; and

    8) said upper structure (4) is separated from said base and said upper structure is raised to the surface.
14. A method of recovering a thick fluid such as a polluting effluent, that is lighter than water, and that is contained in a tank of a sunken and/or damaged ship resting on the sea bottom, wherein:

    1) a method of placing and anchoring a base and of piercing the wall of said tank is performed with the help of a device according to any one of claims 6 to 11, using a method according to claim 12 or claim 13; and

    2) a shuttle tank (30) is lowered from the surface (40) to above said base (2) ; and

    3) said shuttle tank is anchored on said base so that the bottom opening (31) of said shuttle tank coincides with said first large central orifice (3) in said base; and

    4) said closure means (15) for closing said first large orifice (13) in said base are opened and said fluid contained in the tank is allowed to flow naturally into said shuttle tank through the bottom orifice (31) of said shuttle tank; and

    5) when said shuttle tank is full of fluid, said shuttle tank is raised to the surface after closing said closure device (15) for closing said first large orifice in said base; and

    6) said shuttle tank filled with fluid is stored on board a surface ship and/or said shuttle tank is emptied into said ship and/or it is transported to a site in order to be emptied; and

    7) where appropriate, steps 1) to 6) are repeated with the same shuttle tank or with another shuttle tank until the desired quantity has been recovered.
15. A method according to claim 14, characterized in that said shuttle tank (30) comprises:

    · a flexible or rigid main shell (30a) having a cylindrical wall surmounted by a rigid dome (30b) presenting a bullet-shaped profile in vertical section, said dome preferably containing buoyancy elements (30c) such as syntactic foam enabling it to rise to the surface merely under the action of buoyancy thrust, preferably offsetting the center of buoyancy of said shuttle tank filled with fluid upwards relative to its apparent center of gravity in water.
16. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the rate of descent of a said device (1a) for placing and anchoring the base (2) or a said shuttle tank (30), as appropriate, is controlled or the rate of raising a said upper structure (4) or said shuttle tank (30) where appropriate, is controlled with a stabilization device comprising at least one connection cable or chain (40a, 40b) extending from the surface, preferably from a surface ship, to said upper structure (4) or to said shuttle tank (30), where appropriate, to which its end is connected, said connection cable or chain (40a, 40b) including a weighted bottom portion, preferably weighted by blocks (41) disposed in a string along said second cable or by large links of greater weight of said chain, such that the weight of the length of said bottom portion of said cable or chain hanging below its point connection (43, 55) with said upper structure (4) or with said shuttle tank (30) can be adjusted from the surface, preferably with the help of a winch situated on board a surface ship and on which the top end of said cable or said chain is wound-in or wound-out so as to control the rate at which said upper structure (4) or said shuttle tank (30) where appropriate, is lowered or respectively is raised.

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