EP1797245B1 - Offshore oil-drilling rig - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an offshore operating platform.

Offshore platforms of the self-elevating type, such as oil rigs, generally include legs, including three in number, resting on the seabed, and a movable bridge mounted and adjustable in height along the legs and including operating equipment and living quarters.

The lower end of each leg is equipped with a foot or a base to bear on the seabed when the platform is installed on a site of exploitation. This foot or base of each leg has a contact surface with the seabed which is limited to support the weight of the platform that under calm sea conditions and for a relatively short time.

Therefore, for a long stay corresponding to the normal duration of a production campaign, the legs of the platform must be firmly anchored in the seabed.

For this, it is known to fix each foot of the legs of the platform by means of piles deeply sunk into the ground. But, this provision is, given the size of such piles, a long and expensive operation because it requires the intervention of heavy equipment and whose operating cost is extremely high.

Another solution commonly used to anchor the legs of the platform in the seabed is to associate each leg, a box open at its base and provided with a valve. The depression of each box in the bottom is made under the weight of the entire platform. In other cases, each box is associated with a pumping unit so as to reduce the pressure inside the box and to penetrate this box in the seabed to a desired depth. These boxes associated with a pumping unit are referred to by specialists as the "suction pile".

Generally, each box is fixed and projecting below the foot or the base of the corresponding leg which has drawbacks.

Indeed, during the transport of the previously assembled platform from the assembly site to the operating site, either by floating the platform or by a barge, these caissons which have a height of several meters, are in water and provide significant platform forward resistance and therefore additional energy expenditure.

In addition, this arrangement poses problems when assembling the boxes on the lower end of the legs of the platform. Indeed, the lower end of each leg is submerged in most cases so that the handling of these boxes requires a heavy infrastructure and complex because of the volumes to manage because these boxes have a diameter of about 17 to 20 meters and a height that can reach several meters.

We know in the document US-A-2,994,202 an offshore operating platform, of the type comprising a bridge mounted on legs each having, at its lower part, a support base on the seabed and a box open at its base and intended to penetrate the bottom Marine to anchor the platform, each box is placed inside a leg and anchored in the seabed. The box is held relative to the corresponding leg in a low position by the pressure of a fluid.

The maintenance by the pressure of a fluid poses problems which reside mainly in the fact that it is difficult to maintain this pressure at a predetermined value and, as a result, a constant locking. In addition, in case of leakage in the hydraulic system the box can be unlocked from the leg.

The invention aims to remedy these drawbacks by proposing an offshore operating platform whose installation cost on a marine site is reduced.

• au moins deux bras opposés, montés sur l'extrémité inférieure du caisson et s'étendant au-dessus dudit caisson,
• au moins deux butées inférieures opposées, disposées à l'intérieur et à l'extrémité inférieure de la jambe et destinées à coopérer chacune dans la positon basse de ce caisson, avec une butée disposée à l'extrémité supérieure du caisson, et
• au moins deux butées intermédiaires opposées, disposées à l'intérieur de la jambe au-dessus des butées inférieures et destinées à bloquer chacune une extrémité inférieure d'un bras dans ladite position basse du caisson.

The invention therefore relates to an offshore operating platform, of the type comprising a movably mounted bridge on legs each having, at its lower part, a support base on the seabed and a box open at its base and intended to penetrate the seabed to anchor the platform, each box being disposed inside a leg and being movable in the axis of this leg between a retracted high position and a low position projecting from the base of the leg and anchored in the seabed, each box comprising mechanical locking means on the leg in the lower position of said box, characterized in that the mechanical locking means of each box comprises:

• at least two opposing arms, mounted on the lower end of the box and extending above said box,
• at least two opposite lower stops arranged inside and at the lower end of the leg and intended to cooperate each in the lower position of this box, with a stop disposed at the upper end of the box, and
• at least two opposite intermediate stops, disposed inside the leg above the lower stops and for each blocking a lower end of an arm in said lower position of the box.

• dans la position haute escamotée du caisson, seule l'extrémité inférieure de ce caisson dépasse au-dessous du socle de la jambe et dans la position basse en saillie du caisson, seule l'extrémité supérieure dudit caisson est disposée dans la jambe,
• la jambe comporte au moins un organe d'appui sur le caisson dans la position haute de ce caisson,
• chaque jambe comprend des membrures et ledit organe d'appui sur le caisson est formé par une butée d'appui fixée sur une membrure à l'intérieur de la jambe correspondante,
• la distance séparant les butées d'appui et le socle de la jambe est inférieure à la hauteur du caisson de cette jambe, et
• les bras sont inclinés vers l'extérieur du caisson et déplaçables entre cette position inclinée et une position sensiblement verticale lors de la translation du caisson.

According to particular modes of implementation:

• in the high retracted position of the box, only the lower end of this box protrudes below the base of the leg and in the low position projecting from the box, only the upper end of said box is disposed in the leg,
• the leg comprises at least one support member on the box in the upper position of this box,
• each leg comprises chords and said support member on the box is formed by a bearing abutment fixed on a chord inside the corresponding leg,
• the distance separating the abutments and the base of the leg is less than the height of the casing of this leg, and
• the arms are inclined towards the outside of the box and movable between this inclined position and a substantially vertical position during the translation of the box.

• la Fig. 1 est une vue schématique en élévation d'une plate-forme d'exploitation en mer, conforme à l'invention, et en position de flottaison,
• la Fig. 2 est une vue schématique en coupe transversale d'une jambe de la plate-forme et selon la ligne 2-2 de la Fig. 1,
• la Fig. 3 est une vue schématique en élévation et à plus grande échelle de la partie inférieure d'une jambe de la plate-forme, conforme à l'invention,
• la Fig. 4 est une vue schématique en perspective d'un caisson d'ancrage d'une jambe de la plate-forme, conforme à l'invention,
• la Fig. 5 est une vue schématique en perspective de la partie inférieure d'une membrure d'une jambe de la plate-forme, conforme à l'invention,
• les Figs. 6 et 7 sont des vues schématiques en élévation montrant les étapes d'installation sur un site d'exploitation de la plate-forme, conforme à l'invention.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• the Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of an offshore operating platform, in accordance with the invention, and in a floating position,
• the Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of one leg of the platform and along line 2-2 of the Fig. 1 ,
• the Fig. 3 is a schematic view in elevation and on a larger scale of the lower part of a leg of the platform, according to the invention,
• the Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of an anchoring box of a leg of the platform, according to the invention,
• the Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the lower part of a chord of a leg of the platform, according to the invention,
• the Figs. 6 and 7 are schematic views in elevation showing the steps of installation on a site of exploitation of the platform, according to the invention.

On the Fig. 1 schematically shows an offshore operating platform, including self-elevating, comprising a bridge 1 provided with operating equipment and usual living quarters.

The bridge 1 is movably mounted on vertical legs 2 which each have a triangular section, as shown in FIG. Fig. 2 . These legs 2 may also have a square or circular section and they may be three or four, evenly distributed on the bridge 1.

As shown in Fig. 2 each leg 2 is formed of three ribs 3 connected to each other by a trellis of metal beams 4. On the Figs. 1 , 6 and 7 only two members 3 have been shown for simplification purposes.

The displacement of the bridge 1 on the legs 2 is effected by means of drive mechanisms, not shown, housed for each leg, in a supporting frame 5 also called by the "jack-house" specialists. Each supporting frame 5 is supported by the bridge 1 and the drive mechanisms are formed, in a conventional manner by geared motor assemblies each driving an output pinion cooperating with racks 6 disposed on the frames 3 of each leg 2, and that shown to the Fig. 2 . These legs 2 are intended to bear on the seabed 7 ( Fig. 6 and 7 ) when the platform is in the drilling or operating position and, for this purpose, each leg 2 ends, at its lower part, with a base 8.

In addition, each leg 2 comprises, at its lower part, a box 10 open at its base and which is intended to penetrate into the seabed 7 to a desired depth so as to anchor the corresponding leg 2 in this seabed, as we will see later.

Conventionally, each box 10 is connected to a pumping unit, not shown, so as to reduce the pressure inside the box 10 and to make it penetrate the seabed 7 at the time of installation of the plate on the operating site.

These boxes are called by the specialists under the name of "pile section".

In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures and as shown on a larger scale at the Fig. 3 , the casing 10 of each leg 2 is disposed inside the corresponding leg 2 and is displaceable in the axis of this leg 2 between an upper retracted position ( Fig. 1 and 3 ) in which only the lower end 10a of this box 10 protrudes below the base 8 of the leg 2 and a low protruding position ( Fig. 7 ) in which only the upper end 10b of this box 10 is disposed in the leg 2.

In general, the members 3 of each leg 2 comprise at least one support member on the corresponding box 10 in the upper position of this box 10 so as to prevent the rise of said box during the application of the lower end of this leg 2 on the seabed 7 and each box 10 has locking means on the corresponding leg 2 in its lower position so as to block the box 10 in the lower anchoring position of the corresponding leg 2 on the seabed 7.

As it appears on the Figs. 2 and 3 each support member on the casing 10 in each leg 2 is constituted by a horizontal abutment stop 20 and fixed on a chord 3 inside the leg 2 above the upper end 10b of the casing 10 in its high retracted position ( Fig. 3 ). The distance between the bearing stops 20 and the base 8 of the leg 2 is less than the height of the box 10 of the leg 2 so as to maintain the lower part 10a of the box 10 below the base 8 in the up position. retracted from this box 10.

Referring now more specifically to Figs. 3 to 5 , we will describe the locking means of a box 10 on a leg 2 in the lower position of the box 10, the locking means of the other boxes 10 being identical.

The box 10 has a cross section conjugate to the cross section of the leg 2 and, in this case, a triangular cross section.

The locking means of the box 10 comprise an arm 25 for each frame 3 of the leg 2 and mounted on the upper end 10b of the box 10, as appears in the Fig. 4 . The arms 25 extend above the box 10 and are inclined towards the outside of this box 10. In the embodiment shown in FIG. Fig. 4 each arm 25 has a first end 25a mounted articulated on the box 10 and a second end 25b, said free end which is provided with two opposite pins 26 extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the arm 25. Each arm 25 is displaceable between this inclined position in which the end 25b is held pressed against a frame 3 of the leg 2 and a substantially vertical position during the translation of the box 10 between the retracted high position and the low projecting position, as will be described later.

According to an embodiment shown in Fig. 4 , the displacement of each arm 25 is provided for example by a jack 27, such as for example a hydraulic cylinder, pneumatic or electric, disposed on the upper face of the box 10.

The displacement of each arm 25 may be provided by any other appropriate member of known type, such as for example an elastic member holding the corresponding arm 25 in its inclined position towards the outside of the box 10. Moreover, each arm 25 may have a shape suitable for this arm is inclined outwardly of the box in its normal position and an elastic portion holding the arm in this position.

The locking means of the box 10 in the low projecting position also comprise a lower stop ( Figs. 3 and 5 ) fixed on each chord 3, disposed inside and at the lower end of each chord 3 of a leg 2.

These stops 30 are intended to cooperate each with a stop 31 disposed at the upper end of the box 10 in the lower position of the box 10. To ensure the positioning of each stop 31 relative to a lower stop 30 during the descent of the box 10, each upper lateral edge of the stops 30 is equipped with a flange 30a forming with the opposite flange 30a a space 32 extending upwards and in the shape of a V ( Fig. 5 ) for guiding the corresponding stop 31.

Finally, the locking means of each box 10 comprise an intermediate stop 35 fixed on each frame 3, disposed inside the leg 2 above the lower stops 30. Each stop 35 is constituted, as shown in FIG. Fig. 5 two parallel elements 35a and forming between them a V-shaped space 36 for guiding and passing a stop 31 during the descent of the box 10.

In general, the locking means of each box 10 comprise at least two opposite arms 25, at least two opposite lower stops 30 and at least two intermediate stops 35 also opposed. In the case of a leg 2 of circular section these elements 25, 30 and 35 are preferably three in number each and in the case of a leg 2 with a square section, said elements 25, 30 and 35 are preferably in number of four each.

The installation of the platform on an operating site is carried out as follows.

The platform is brought to the site by floatation or on a barge. The legs 2 of the platform are in the raised position and the box 10 of each leg 2 is in the raised position retracted into the corresponding leg 2.

Each box 10 is held in this position for example by applying the ends 25b of the arms 25 to the ribs 3 of the legs 2 by means of the cylinders 27 or by any other appropriate means, such as for example a chain connecting the box 10 to the bridge 1 of the platform.

In this position only the lower part 10a of each box 10 protrudes below the base 8 of each leg 2.

When the platform is on the operating site, the legs 2 are gradually lowered by means of the drive mechanisms carried by the bridge 1 and which act on the racks 6 of the chords 3 of said legs 2. These legs 2 are gradually lowered to the application of the bases 8 on the seabed 7, as shown in FIG. Fig. 6 . During the descent of each leg 2, the bearing stops 20 of the leg 2 are in contact with the box 10 so as to penetrate the lower portion 10a of the box 10 in the seabed 7.

After this first step, the next step is to anchor the legs 2 in the seabed 7 by means of the caissons 10.

In what follows, we will describe the anchoring of a box 10, the anchoring of the other boxes 10 being identical.

For this, the pressure inside the box 10 is reduced by means of the pump unit associated with the box 10 so as to cause a progressive descent of the box 10 which enters the seabed 7.

During this descent, the arms 25 are tilted by the cylinders 27 substantially in a vertical position so as to allow these arms 25 to pass between the bearing abutments 20 and between the intermediate stops 35. Always during this descent, the stops 31 of the box 30 pass into the space 36 between the elements 35a of the intermediate stops 35 and these stops 31 bear against the lower stops 30 of the ribs 3 of the legs 2, as shown in FIG. Fig. 7 .

In this position, the box 10 is pressed into the seabed 7 of the desired depth. Then, the arms 25 are tilted by means of the cylinders 27 towards the outside of the box 10 in such a way that the pins 26 come to bear against the intermediate stops 35 thus locking the box 10 in its low projecting and anchoring position. of the corresponding leg 2. The arms 35 thus prevent the raising of this box 10 and allow to pass the vertical forces of each leg 2 to the corresponding box 10. Then deck 1 of the platform is elevated to the desired height.

Alternatively, deck 1 of the platform can be raised before the caissons 10 are driven into the seabed 7.

The stops 30 and 31 which are in contact in the anchoring position of the legs 2 by the box 10 allow, in the case where the legs 2 are raised, these boxes 10 to follow the movement.

According to another embodiment, each box 10 can be completely retracted into the corresponding leg 2. In this case, 3 members are not equipped with bearing stops 20 and the lower end 10a of each box 10 is not projecting below the base 8 in the retracted high position of the box 10.

The platform according to the invention has the advantage, thanks to the retractable anchoring boxes in the legs, to have a reduced draft during its transport on a site of exploitation compared to the platforms of this type used so far.

Claims (6)

1. An offshore production platform of a type comprising a deck (1) moveably mounted on legs (2), each leg including, in its lower part, a stand (8) for bearing on the seabed (7) and a caisson (10) open at its base and designed to penetrate into the seabed (7) in order to anchor the platform (1), each caisson (10) being located inside a leg (2) and being moved along the axis of this leg (2) between a retracted high position and a low position extended with respect to the stand (8) of the leg (2) and anchored in the seabed, and each caisson (10) including means (25, 30, 31, 35) of locking it onto the leg (2) in the low position of said caisson (10), characterized in that means of locking are mechanic and comprise for each caisson (10):

   - at least two opposing arms (25) mounted on the top end of the caisson (10) and extending above said caisson (10),

   - at least two opposing bottom stops (30), located inside and at the bottom end of the leg (2) and each designed to cooperate, in the low position of this caisson (10), with a stop (31) located at the top end of the caisson (10), and

   - at least two opposing intermediate stops (35) located inside the leg (2) above the bottom stops (30) and each designed to lock the free end (25b) of an arm (25) in said low position of the caisson (10).
2. The platform according to claim 1, characterized in that in the retracted high position of the caisson (10), only the bottom end (10a) of this caisson (10) extends below the stand (8) of the leg (2) and in the extended low position of the caisson (10), only the top end (10b) of said caisson (10) is located inside the leg (2).
3. The platform according to claim 2, characterized in that the leg (2) includes at least one device (20) bearing on the caisson (10) in the high position of this caisson 10).
4. The platform according to claim 3, characterized in that each leg (2) comprises members (3) and in that the at least said device bearing on the caisson (10) is formed by a bearing stop (20) fixed to each member (3) inside the corresponding leg (2).
5. The platform according to claim 4, characterized in that the distance separating the bearing stops (20) and the stand (8) of the leg is less than the height of the caisson (10) of this leg (2).
6. The platform according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the arms (25) are inclined toward the outside of the caisson (10) and can be moved between this inclined position and an approximately vertical position during translation of the caisson (10).

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