Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
  • B63B35/44—Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
  • B63C11/00—Equipment for dwelling or working underwater; Means for searching for underwater objects

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a structure for transporting and installing or recovering underwater equipment.
• the invention also relates to a method for transporting and installing or recovering underwater equipment using such a structure.
• submarine deposits such as the exploitation of oil or gas
• it is customary to place on the seabed equipment, such as for example manifolds, collectors or pumps or pumps. separators.
• the underwater equipment to be installed are brought near the operating site by a floating barge or a transport vessel.
• the equipment is lifted and lowered by the crane equipped with a cable and then placed on the seabed.
• the first disadvantage is the capacity of the hoist cranes which in some cases requires the addition of controllable buoyancy modules under the underwater equipment to be placed on the seabed in order to reduce the tension on the descent cable.
• the second disadvantage is that when lifting the equipment of the ship or the transport barge, this equipment is suspended from a cable above the water level. When the equipment is lowered to the bottom of the water, it will have to go below the water level.
• the equipment will undergo significant movements at the time of crossing the water level, which will have a direct impact on the cable carried by the crane. These movements cause in this cable, successive tensions and releases, as well as in the support means of this cable.
• a method described in US Pat. No. 7,011,473 is also known, which consists in towing the underwater equipment with a ship to its installation site below the surface of the water and maintain this equipment by a buoy located on the surface of the water.
• Another method described in application US 2008/0035327 consists in placing the underwater equipment in a support cage and fixing this cage carrying the underwater equipment below a transport barge.
• the support cage assembly and underwater equipment was lowered using a winch and this equipment is placed on the seabed and disconnected from the support cage. Then, the support cage is raised below the hull of the barge.
• the main disadvantage of this method is the towing of subsea equipment below the water level to the installation site.
• the invention aims to avoid these disadvantages by providing a structure that allows, by simple means to implement, transport and installation or recovery of underwater equipment.
• the subject of the invention is therefore a structure for transporting and installing or recovering underwater equipment, characterized in that it comprises:
• the floating shell has the shape of a U
• the U-shaped floating hull has two opposite and parallel lateral branches, each carrying at least one leg and interconnected by a central branch,
• the two lateral branches are formed by two floats and the central branch is formed by a transverse beam carried by said lateral branches and movable to slide on said beam as a function of the width of the platform carried by the shuttles,
• the displacement means in the water comprise a traveling crane supported by the platform and comprising at least one support cable passing through said platform through an opening and provided, at its free end, with a hooking member on said equipment,
• the temporary anchoring means comprise, on the one hand, at least two substantially vertical columns, carried by the platform and provided at their lower ends with means for positioning said equipment and, on the other hand, means for tension and attachment to said crane cable,
• the positioning means comprise a recessed portion of substantially conical shape, formed at the bottom of each column and projecting portions of substantially conical shape, provided on the equipment and intended to cooperate each with a recessed portion; each recessed portion is covered with a flexible material, such as an elastomer,
• the tensioning and hooking means comprise at least two slings having a first end connected to the equipment and a second end connected to said crane cable by a chain capable of cooperating with a locking element in tension on the platform; form,
• the platform comprises means for adjusting the spacing of said at least two columns in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shell and in a direction perpendicular to this longitudinal axis,
• each column with respect to the platform is adjustable
• the temporary fixing means comprise at least one clamp or at least one jaw or at least one explosive bolt.
• the invention also relates to a method for transporting and installing an underwater equipment by means of a structure as defined above, characterized in that it consists of the following steps:
• the invention also relates to a method for recovering and transporting underwater equipment by means of a structure as defined above, characterized in that it consists of the following steps: - to move the structure to the recovery site of the equipment placed on the seabed,
• FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a transport, installation or recovery structure according to the invention
• FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the rear part of the structure according to the invention
• FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the structure with the platform carried by the shuttles in the high position
• FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a shuttle of the structure
• FIG. 5 is a partial vertical sectional view of the mechanical means for moving a leg of the structure;
• FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line 6-6 of FIG. 5
• FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view in vertical section of the locking means of a shuttle on a leg of the structure, according to the invention.
• FIG. 8 is a schematic elevational view of an embodiment of the anchoring means of an underwater equipment below the platform of the structure, according to the invention.
• FIGS. 9 to 16 are diagrams showing the various stages of transport and installation of underwater equipment by means of the structure according to the invention.
• FIG. 17 is a schematic view from above of a variant of the platform carried by the shuttles.
• FIG. 18 is a schematic side view of the platform of FIG. 17 with the underwater equipment.
• FIGs. 1 to 3 schematically shows a structure 10 for the transport and installation or recovery of underwater equipment such as for example manifolds, collectors, pumps or separators or any other equipment under- for example the exploitation of submarine deposits, such as the exploitation of oil or gas.
• underwater equipment such as for example manifolds, collectors, pumps or separators or any other equipment under- for example the exploitation of submarine deposits, such as the exploitation of oil or gas.
• the structure 10 comprises a U-shaped floating shell 11 having two parallel and opposite lateral branches 11a interconnected by a central branch 11b.
• the two lateral branches 11a are formed by two floats extending parallel to each other and leaving between them a free space and the central leg 1 1b is formed by a transverse beam 1 1 c carried by said side branches 11 a.
• the transverse beam 11c forming the central branch is constituted by a lattice of tubes interconnected by longitudinal elements.
• the lateral branches 11a of the structure 10 are slidably displaced relative to each other on the transverse beam 11c so as to adjust their spacing, as will be seen later.
• the float of each lateral branch 11a comprises means 13 for moving on the transverse beam 11c formed for example by an assembly comprising guide rails and a rack-and-pinion system, not shown, and of known type.
• the float of each lateral branch 11a is equipped with locking means, not shown, on the transverse beam 1 1c so as to maintain the spacing between these two lateral branches 11a constant and determined.
• the shell 11 has at its open portion, that is to say opposite to the central branch 11b, a door generally designated by the reference 15.
• This door 15 is formed of two beam sections 16 opposite and movable by sliding each on a lateral branch 11a.
• the two beam sections 16 are movable between a spaced position, as shown in FIG. 3, in which they release the entry of the structure 10 for the positioning of a ship or barge and a closed position of this entry of the structure 10, as shown in FIG. 1, in which they are close together and in contact with each other.
• each lateral branch 11 of the shell 11 comprises means 17 for moving each beam section 16.
• These means 17 consist for example of an assembly, not shown, comprising guide rails and a rack-and-pinion system. or by any other means of known type and locking systems, not shown, between the beams.
• each lateral branch 11a also has locking means, not shown, of the corresponding beam section 16 in the closed position or in the open position.
• the shell 11 is equipped with legs 20 movable vertically relative to the hull 11 in buoyancy.
• the shell 11 is equipped with four legs 20 arranged in pairs on each lateral leg 11a of the shell 12.
• Each leg 20 has for example a triangular section as shown in the figures, or a square or circular section. As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 5 and 6, each leg 20 is conventionally formed of three ribs 21 interconnected by a trellis of metal beams 22. Each leg 20 is associated with mechanical displacement means designated by the general reference 23.
• the mechanical means of displacement 23 are housed in a supporting frame also called “jack-house", which is supported by the hull 11.
• each leg 20 comprise, on the one hand, two opposite plates 24 each carried by a rib 21 of the corresponding leg 20 and each having on each lateral face a series of teeth 24a. forming on the two chords 21, a double rack.
• the mechanical displacement means 23 also comprise several sets 25 distributed on either side of each plate 24, according to the height thereof.
• Each set 25 comprises a geared motor 26 driving a pinion 27 which meshes with a series of teeth 24a of the corresponding plate 21.
• each plate 24 is associated with six pinions 27 each driven in rotation by a geared motor unit 26.
• the structure 10 also includes, associated with each of the legs 20, a shuttle designated by the general reference 30 which is movable by the leg
• the shuttles 30 associated with the legs 20 are moved simultaneously by the legs 20.
• each shuttle 30 is formed by a body 31 having a vertical leg 32 extending substantially parallel to the ribs 21 of the corresponding leg.
• the vertical leg 32 is formed of two vertical and parallel beams 32a.
• the branch 32 is provided, on the one hand, at its upper part with a plate 33 extending substantially perpendicularly to said branch 32 and, on the other hand, at its lower part, with a horizontal support sole plate 35. a platform generally designated 60 (Fig. 1), which will be described later.
• the plate 33 has an opening 34 having a section of complementary shape to the cross section of the corresponding leg 20 and, in this case, a triangular section.
• the plate 33 is connected to the sole 35 by stiffening beams 36.
• Each shuttle 30 is provided with locking means 40 on the corresponding leg 12.
• These locking means 40 shown in more detail in FIG. 7, are formed by at least one counter-rack 41 and, preferably, by at least one counter-rack 41 for each plate 24.
• the counter-rack 41 is displaceable by at least one actuating member 42 and, preferably, by two actuating members 42 constituted for example by hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders in order to move the counter-rack 41 between a retracted position and a locking position engaged on one of the series of teeth 24a of the corresponding leg 20.
• the assembly consisting of the counter-rack 41 and the actuating members 42 are carried by the plate 33 of each shuttle 30.
• the shell 1 1 also comprises, at each leg 20, means 50 for guiding the corresponding shuttle 30 between the respectively low (Fig. 1) and high (Fig. 3) positions.
• the means 50 for guiding the shuttle 30 of each leg 20 comprise two vertical columns 51 extending substantially parallel to the corresponding leg 20.
• Each column 51 cooperates with a passage 52 formed in the soleplate 35 of the shuttle 30 and each of these passages 52 has a section of shape conjugate to the section of the corresponding column 51.
• the two columns 51 are interconnected by a connecting plate 53 extending substantially perpendicular to said columns 51 which have a central passage 54
• FIG. 4 having a section of complementary shape to the cross section of the corresponding leg 20 and, in this case, a triangular section.
• the connecting plate 53 forms a guide for the corresponding leg 20.
• the structure 10 For transport and installation or recovery of underwater equipment 1, such as a manifold, a collector, a pump or a separator, the structure 10 comprises a platform 60 carried by the shuttles 30 each associated with a leg 20.
• the platform 60 has a central opening 61 closable for example by two pivoting panels, not shown.
• the structure 10 also comprises:
• the displacement means shown schematically in FIG. 1 comprise a crane 65 supported by the platform 60 and comprising at least one support cable 66 passing through this platform 60 through the opening 61.
• the cable 66 is provided, at its free end, with a d hooking 67 on the equipment 1.
• the crane 65 makes it possible to move the cable 66 parallel to the lateral branches 11a of the shell 11 or perpendicularly to these lateral branches 11a.
• the crane 65 may comprise several cables 66 for hooking up the equipment 1.
• the displacement means may be constituted by any other appropriate system.
• FIG. 8 there is shown schematically a preferred embodiment of the means for temporarily anchoring the subsea equipment 1 below the platform 60.
• These anchoring means designated by the general reference 70 comprise at least two rigid columns 71 and preferably four columns 71 substantially vertical and carried by the platform 60.
• the four columns 71 are evenly distributed in a square or a rectangle.
• the columns 71 are adjustable in height so that the underwater equipment 1 is below the surface of the water when the shuttles 30 carrying the platform 60 are in the low position.
• the columns 71 are slidably movable by appropriate means of known type, below the platform 60 in a direction substantially parallel to the lateral branches 11a of the shell 11 depending on the dimensions of the subsea equipment 1 to carry.
• the columns 71 can be vertically movable and locked to the platform 60 by appropriate means, of known type and not shown, in order to adjust their length so that the free ends of these columns 71 pass through. below the surface of the water in the lower position of the shuttles 30.
• each column 71 is provided at its lower end with means for positioning the underwater equipment 1 constituted by a recessed portion 72 and by projecting portions 2 of substantially complementary conical shape, provided on the equipment 1 and intended to cooperate each with a recessed portion 72.
• Each recessed portion 72 is covered with a flexible material, such as an elastomer.
• the anchoring means 70 also comprise means for tensioning and hooking the cable 66 of the overhead crane 65.
• These tensioning and gripping means comprise, for example, at least two slings 75 having a first end 75a connected to the equipment. 1 and a second end 75b connected to the cable 66 by a chain 76 adapted to cooperate with a locking element 76a in tension on the platform 60.
• the lower ends of the columns 71 are connected by a transverse beam 77 and the lower ends of the columns 71 are also connected to the platform 60 by means of tension systems, such as a cable or a chain 78 stretched by a winch 79 carried by the platform 60.
• the means for temporary anchoring of the underwater equipment 1 below the platform 60 may also be constituted by at least one jaw, or at least one clamp or at least one explosive bolt located at the lower ends of each column 71.
• the locking member 76a is not necessary.
• the opening of the jaws or clamps or the explosion of the bolts must be simultaneous.
• the transport and installation of underwater equipment 1 by the structure 10 on an operating site are carried out as follows.
• the structure 10 is floated to a recovery zone of the underwater equipment 1, with the shuttles 30 and the platform 60 in the lower position, that is to say applied against the lateral branches 11 a of the shell 11, as shown in FIG. 9, and the legs 20 are lowered.
• the shuttles 30 are locked on the legs 20.
• the locking shuttles 30 on the legs 20 is made by actuating the cylinders
• the platform 60 is raised via shuttles 30 and legs 20, the shell 11 of the structure 10 remaining buoyant.
• the geared motor units 26 are actuated to drive the pinions 27 which mesh the series of teeth 24a of the plates 24 of each leg 20 to move by means of the legs 20, the shuttles 30 in the up position, as shown in FIG. Fig. 10.
• each shuttle 30 is guided by the columns 51 which slide in the passages 52.
• the door 15 is opened and a vessel or barge 5 carrying the underwater equipment 1 is brought between the lateral branches 11a of the hull 11 in order to place the underwater equipment 1 to be deposited on the seabed, at the below anchoring means 70 carried by the platform 60.
• the shuttles 30 are lowered through the legs 20 to secure the underwater equipment 1 with the anchoring means 70, as shown, on the Figs. 8 and 12.
• the cable 66 of the traveling crane 65 is connected via the slings
• the cable 66 is stretched and the protruding parts 2 of the equipment 1 come into contact with the flexible material of the recessed portion 72 of the columns 71.
• “Stop-chain” carried on the upper face 60b of the platform 60 are engaged in the links of the chain 76.
• the cable 66 is then released and the weight of the equipment 1 is then taken over only by the element of lock 76a of the chain 76 and the chain itself.
• the crushing of the elastomer makes it possible to correctly position the chain links 76 with respect to the locking element 76a.
• the structure 10 is moved to the installation site of the equipment 1 on the seabed.
• the shuttles 30 are lowered through the legs 20 to place the underwater equipment 1 below the water level, as shown in FIG. 15.
• This underwater equipment 1 is unlocked from the platform 60 and is gradually lowered to the seabed by the cable 66 of the overhead crane
• the cable 66 is disconnected from this underwater equipment 1, then is reassembled.
• the structure 10 can be used for the transport and installation of other underwater equipment.
• the structure 10 can also be used for the recovery and transport of underwater equipment previously placed on the seabed.
• the structure 10 is moved to the recovery site of the underwater equipment 1 placed on the seabed, and the platform 60 is lowered via the legs 20 and shuttles 30 locked on said legs 20 of in order to bring the anchoring means 70 below the level of the water.
• the cable 66 of the overhead crane 65 is lowered into the water and connected to the underwater equipment 1.
• the underwater equipment 1 is raised to the anchoring means 70 which were previously placed in the water.
• the underwater equipment 1 is locked on the anchoring means 70 and the platform 60 carrying this underwater equipment 1 is raised via the legs 20 and the shuttles 30 so as to bring the underwater equipment 1 above the water level.
• the structure 10 is moved to a transport vessel or barge and the underwater equipment carried by the platform 60 is positioned above this vessel or barge.
• the platform 60 is lowered through the legs 20 and shuttles 30 to put the underwater equipment 1 on the ship or the barge.
• the anchoring means 70 and the cable 66 of the overhead crane 65 are disconnected from the underwater equipment 1 and the shuttles 30 and the platform 60 are raised via the legs 20.
• the ship or the barge carrying the underwater equipment 1 is evacuated from the structure 10.
• the structure 10 can receive platforms of different dimensions because of the adjustment of the spacing of the side branches 11a of the shell 11.
• the platform 60 is composed of a frame 100.
• This frame 100 comprises two sides 100a and 100b parallel to each other and resting on the shuttles 30. These two sides 100a and 100b are connected between they are two transverse sides 100c and 100d, the whole forming the platform 60.
• This frame 100 also comprises two beams 101 slidably mounted along the two transverse sides 100c and 100d and moving parallel to the other two sides 100a and 100b.
• Each beam 101 is in the form of a frame comprising two longitudinal sides 101a parallel to the sides 100a and 100b of the frame 100.
• the sides longitudinal members 101a of each beam 101 are interconnected by two transverse sides 101b each slidably mounted in a slide, respectively 102 formed in the transverse side 100c, and 103 formed in the transverse side 100d.
• each beam 101 can slide perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the shell 11 of the structure 10.
• Each beam 101 carries at least one column 71 and, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 17, two columns 71.
• Each column 71 is slidably mounted along and within the corresponding beam 101.
• each column 71 is supported by an element 105 slidably mounted in a slideway 106 formed in the longitudinal sides 101a of each beam 101.
• Each column 71 is thus movable along the slideway 106 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shell 11 of the structure 10.
• Each element 105 for supporting a column 71 comprises a locking means, not shown, either by clamping, or by means of at least one pin for securing the column 71 corresponding to the element 105.
• the transverse spacing that is to say perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shell 11 between the two pairs of columns 71 is adjustable and also the longitudinal spacing, that is to say parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shell 11 between the two columns of each pair of columns is also adjustable which allows to adjust the position of the columns according to the dimensions of the underwater equipment 1 to transport and install.
• the height of the columns relative to the platform is also adjustable to ensure that the equipment is placed below the surface of the water when the shuttles and the platform are in the down position.
• the structure according to the invention allows the transport and installation or recovery of underwater equipment by avoiding the transport of these underwater equipment below the water level and the suspension of these underwater equipment.
• marine by means of a flexible element, such as a cable or a chain when they enter the water, that is to say during their passage below the surface of the water.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Earth Drilling (AREA)
• Jib Cranes (AREA)
• Automatic Assembly (AREA)
• Ship Loading And Unloading (AREA)
• Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)
• Load-Engaging Elements For Cranes (AREA)
• Refuse Collection And Transfer (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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• 2008
  • 2008-06-13 FR FR0853933A patent/FR2932453B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2009
  • 2009-06-12 CN CN2009801290653A patent/CN102105350B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2009-06-12 US US12/997,275 patent/US8678733B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2009-06-12 AU AU2009259116A patent/AU2009259116B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2009-06-12 WO PCT/FR2009/051110 patent/WO2009150383A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2009-06-12 MY MYPI2011000643A patent/MY155759A/en unknown
  • 2009-06-12 AT AT09761934T patent/ATE549237T1/de active
  • 2009-06-12 EP EP09761934A patent/EP2285665B1/de not_active Not-in-force

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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