EP2739790A1

EP2739790A1 - Method and device for separating pipes

Info

Publication number: EP2739790A1
Application number: EP12737555.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hermann Josef VON WIRTH; Torsten KLEINEN
Original assignee: Aker Wirth GmbH
Current assignee: Mhwirth GmbH
Priority date: 2011-08-04
Filing date: 2012-07-19
Publication date: 2014-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 2032-07-19
Also published as: EP2739790B1; US9453384B2; DE102011052399B4; DE102011052399A1; KR20140054101A; WO2013017420A1; US20140157963A1; KR101740776B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for separating upright pipes (1) of larger length and larger diameter having the lower ends thereof anchored in the ground, in particular anchoring pipes (2a) of an offshore oil drilling or delivery platform (100), in which a cutting assembly (3) is lowered into the pipe (1) through the upper end of the pipe to be separated (1) up to a separation zone (4), and progressively acts against the pipe (1) over the circumference and the separation process occurs by means of a water jet (15) emitting from at least one water jet nozzle (5), wherein the pipe wall (6) is severed by a cut (7) having an at least approximately constant cutting width (B), which runs skewed through the pipe wall (6), to create two complementarily conical cut surfaces (7c, 7d), wherein the water jet (15) of the at least one water jet nozzle is aligned at an angle (α) to the plane (E) running perpendicular to the pipe axis (A) to effect the skewed cut (7).

Description

Method and device for separating pipes

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for separating upright, anchored with its lower end in the ground pipes of greater length and larger diameter, typically a length approximately between 30 and 200 m and a diameter of about 1800 mm, in particular anchoring pipes an offshore oil drilling or production platform. The wall thickness is typically 50 to 100 mm.

Depending on the nature of the seabed, on which offshore oil drilling or production platforms are located, the steel anchoring pipes of these platforms are only embedded in the seabed, for example driven into the seabed and held in place by friction. If this is not sufficient, the alternative is to introduce into the recessed foot of the anchoring pipes underwater concrete or the like, which may escape partially from the lower end of the tube in the surrounding seabed and after curing forms an artificially anchored in the seabed foundation its anchoring effect is added to the effect of the weight of the concrete, which fills the lower part of the respective tube up to a certain height. When dismantling platforms, regulations often require that the anchoring pipes be separated a bit below the seabed. Methods and apparatus for separating upright, with its lower end anchored in the ground pipes of greater length and larger diameter are already known. In particular, DE 196 20 756 A1 discloses such a method and such a device. A disadvantage of known methods and devices is that under the extremely harsh environmental conditions (often high-pressure seawater, mixed with drilled concrete or seabed) sometimes undesirably reliable function o- / / and a lot of effort is required to the severed pipe support or intercept.

The invention has set itself the task of providing a method and an apparatus which is improved in terms of these disadvantages. This object is achieved by the method set forth in claim 1 and the device reproduced in claim 4.

In the inventive method for separating upright, anchored with its lower end in the ground pipes of greater length and larger diameter, in particular anchoring pipes of an offshore oil drilling or production platform is through the upper end of the pipe to be separated a cutting deade in the pipe up to lowered a separation zone. The cutting unit acts progressively against the pipe over the circumference. The separation process takes place by means of a water jet emerging from at least one water jet nozzle. The pipe wall is cut to create two complementary conical cut surfaces by a cut with at least almost constant cutting width, which extends obliquely through the pipe wall. To effect the oblique cut, the water jet of the at least one water jet nozzle is oriented at an angle a, which can be, for example, between 5 ° and 60 °, to the plane E running perpendicular to the pipe axis A. Based on the (wandering) cutting axis, this angle α preferably remains constant. The term "water jet nozzle" are in the following, unless otherwise specified in the context, also referred to several water jet nozzles. Whenever "upright pipes" are referred to above or below, they do not necessarily mean a vertical orientation of the pipes, and pipes inclined from the vertical and extending from the floor upwards are also covered.

The water jet cutting is reliable even under harsh environmental conditions, especially if, as preferred, the pipe wall is cut in one operation, since then only a very low feed is necessary, and avoid existing rocks, without causing damage.

The separation zone is preferably below the seabed.

The angle α is preferably 30 °.

The weight of the tube and any associated components is not intercepted by additional devices in the separation process in one embodiment. It has been shown that this can be dispensed with because of the self-centering, conically complementary cut surfaces. As a result, a significant cost savings can be achieved. The pipe is even after the separation process to a limited extent further resilient. Because the self-centering minimizes the risk that a lateral offset of the tubes in the separation zone occurs and thereby the bearing surfaces are reduced to such an extent that they no longer withstand the forces, also due to any corrosion damage.

In one embodiment, a plurality of water jet nozzles are evenly distributed over the circumference of the cutting unit. Particularly preferably, two water jet nozzles are provided, which are particularly preferably arranged diametrically. As a result, the separation process is faster compared to just a single water jet, with justifiable overhead.

Preferably, after rotation through 360 ° divided by the number of water jet nozzles, lifting and lowering of the cutting unit occurs continue powered water jet, so that in the direction of the tube axis extending cuts arise. In the case of only a single water jet nozzle, lifting and lowering are thus preferably carried out after a 360 ° rotation, with two diametric water jet nozzles preferably after a rotation of 180 °. The vertical cuts always run at the point where two cuts meet. The then resulting cutting scheme is able to compensate for variations in height during the cutting process, so even if a secure separation of the tube to cause, if the height of the cutting unit varies relative to the pipe during the cutting process.

The resulting in height variations, optionally one or more jumps having cut surface is also referred to in the context of this document as a conical cut surface. In the event that material is present in the pipe in the zone in which it is to be separated, such as seabed or concrete, with which the pipe may be poured out for better anchoring in the ground, this material is preferred when lowering the cutting unit from above Drilled through the pipe and indeed to below the separation zone.

The cutting unit is preferably firmly connected to the drill string, more preferably flanged.

To accelerate the separation process, the inner wall of the pipe is preferably cleaned in the region of the separation zone. So it is concrete or sea bottom, which can still adhere to the pipe walls after any drilling. This is preferably done by roller drill bits. These can, if they are in the area of the separation zone, be switchable or constantly, so be during the entire drilling or lowering operation in use.

The following method steps are preferably provided:

Drilling of the material in the pipe, such as seabed or concrete, to below the separation zone, - raising the drill string by about 0.5 m and height fixation of the drill string,

Switching off the main hydraulic drive of the drill string and connecting an auxiliary hydraulic drive,

Extension and positioning of the at least one water jet nozzle,

- Start-up of the water jet.

The following further method steps can be provided: After boring, it is possible to connect water pipes and any electrical lines of the drill string, preferably via quick couplings. These can therefore still be unbound during the lowering or drilling process. After commissioning of the water jet can be maintained until a sensor, preferably a hydrophone, detects the passage of the water jet through the pipe wall. Then the auxiliary hydraulic drive can be put into operation. The feed rate, ie the rotational speed of the auxiliary hydraulic drive, can be increased until the sensor detects an incomplete section and then reduces it until a complete passage of the water jet through the pipe wall is detected again. Thereupon, the cutting process can be aborted and completely carried out elsewhere (slightly higher or lower) with the thus obtained and optimized parameters. All parameters can be saved here. Preferably, abrasive particles are added to the water. Thus, the separation process is a so-called "abrasive jetting process." Water jet nozzles used for this process are also referred to as "water abrasive jet cutting nozzles" or in short "WAS cutting nozzles." An air jacket is preferred around the water jet multiple air jets, resulting in better performance.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention loose solids from the interior of the. During the separation process Pipe transported out. Surprisingly, it has been found that this accelerates the separation process and improves the quality of the conical cut surfaces. An explanation for this could be that despite the relatively small cutting width, which is effected during the separation process, the separation process negatively affecting amounts of loose solids, such as sand between the cut surfaces in the pipe interior passes.

The outward transport is preferably carried out by using the so-called air lifting method known per se. In this, air is injected into the drill string interior in a hollow drill string which is at least substantially filled with water at a location below the water surface, preferably in the vicinity of the location in which the transport is to take place. The drill string has a suction opening below the injection point. Due to the change in density of the water column caused by the injected air, a flow is produced upwards in the interior of the drill string, which sucks and removes water and loose solids in the vicinity of the suction opening into the interior of the drill string.

If the method according to the invention also includes the step of boring the pipe filled, for example, with concrete, then, using the same air lifting method, dissolved material, for example concrete particles, can also be conveyed out of the pipe interior during the drilling process.

In its device side aspect, the object is achieved by a device for separating upright, with its lower end in the ground anchored pipes of greater length and larger diameter, in particular anchoring pipes of an offshore oil drilling or production platform, the device comprises a cutting unit, which is lowered through the upper end of the tube to be separated in this up to a separation zone. In this preferably axially narrow separation zone, the cutting unit progressively acts on the inner circumference of the tube in the peripheral direction and cuts through the tube. To effect the separation process at least one water jet nozzle is provided. Positioning means are provided, which position the water jet nozzle in such a way to the pipe wall that the leak from the water jet nozzle de water jet at an angle α to the plane perpendicular to the tube axis plane so incident on the pipe wall that result in the successful separation of two complementary conical cut surfaces. In this way, in the separation zone after separation, the pipes lie flat against one another at these cut surfaces. They center themselves, so that the pipe can continue to absorb forces, in particular compressive forces to a limited extent. A support or a catching of the separated pipe can be dispensed with.

Preferably, the angle α is 5 ° to 60 °, more preferably about 30 °. It has been found that in this way a sufficient self-centering, given tolerable tensile or compressive forces in the circumferential direction in the pipe wall at the cut surfaces is given and increases the cutting length only to a tolerable extent. By tensile or compressive forces in the circumferential direction, the forces are meant that arise due to the conical shape of the cut surfaces and spread a pipe end and want to squeeze the adjacent pipe.

More preferably, two water jet nozzles are provided.

A drill head is preferably arranged below the cutting unit, by means of which material located in the lower region of the pipe, such as seabed or concrete or the like, with which the pipe can be poured out for better anchoring, can be drilled to a depth via the inner cross section of the pipe. so that the cutting unit can be brought to the intended separation zone for use.

The drill head is preferably rotatably driven. The cutting unit is preferably fixedly connected to the drill head or to the drill pipe.

Preferably, additional auger bits are provided which clean the inner wall of the pipe of concrete or seabed debris or the like. These are preferably radially biased. They can be constantly engaged or switchable, so that only in the area of the separation zone is used. Preferably, an auxiliary hydraulic drive is provided in addition to the main hydraulic drive of the drill string, which can be brought into use during the separation process and provides only a small torque and rotates extremely slowly and is characterized by a particularly uniform speed. The speed may be, for example, one revolution per two hours. As a result, the required uniform and slow feed for the water jet nozzles is achieved, thus achieving a secure separation.

The positioning means preferably comprise a guide carriage with guide rollers, which can be brought into contact with the tube inner wall. The water jet nozzle is preferably fixed and connected at a selected angle to the guide carriage, so that the water jet nozzle is automatically aligned at the correct constant angle to the pipe wall when the carriage abuts against the pipe wall, as well as the constant nozzle spacing is ensured to the cutting surface.

Preferably, extension means are provided which comprise a pneumatic cylinder and a spring. The water jet nozzle is thus preferably extendable with the guide carriage and more preferably by a pneumatic cylinder. Thus, there is provided a retracted position of water jet nozzle with carriage, which is preferably taken during the lowering and recovery of the cutting unit in the pipe and an extended position when the cutting unit comes into use. To the water jet nozzle are preferably provided a plurality of air nozzles. By blowing out air during the cutting process, the water jet is separated from the ambient water and avoided so that the water jet is slowed down by ambient water and so the efficiency of the device is reduced.

As stated, two water jet nozzles may be diametrically located, in the same plane. Each nozzle needs to cut only half the circumference. As a result, the cutting time is almost halved compared to only a single water jet nozzle. In a likewise conceivable larger number of Water jet nozzles, evenly distributed around the circumference, are equivalent in number to each other.

In one embodiment, two water jet nozzles are arranged behind one another in the same plane to a pair of water jet nozzles. Each nozzle must cut the full circumference and the cutting time is twice as long as two diametrical water jet nozzles. The advantage here is that a higher level of security is achieved that the full cross-section is completely severed. Because one of the two water jet nozzles cuts through with at least almost certainty, even with any jumps (ie irregularities) in the feed.

It is conceivable that a plurality of diametrical or uniformly distributed over the circumference water jet nozzle pairs are provided. In the embodiment of the method according to the invention in which, after a rotation through 360 ° divided by the number of water jet nozzles lifting and lowering of the cutting unit is still connected with the water jet, the number of water jet nozzles means the number of water jet nozzle pairs. Preferably, at least one sensor is provided, which detects the passage of the water jet through the pipe wall, preferably a hydrophone. In this way, a secure complete cutting of the tube can be achieved with the shortest possible cutting time. Very particular preference is given to an embodiment of the device according to the invention in which means are provided with which loose solids can be transported out of the interior of the tube during the separation process. By "loose solids" is meant, in particular, seabed which, during the separation process, passes between the cut surfaces into the interior of the pipe where it can obstruct the separation process is, it is preferably the same means with which the dissolved material is transported out during this drilling process. The means are preferably designed such that the outward transport of the loose solids takes place with the aid of the air lifting method. For this purpose, a suction opening communicating with the inner volume of the drill string and preferably above the cutting unit on the drill string are provided on the drill string, on which the cutting unit is arranged, below the cutting unit, an air injection opening communicating with its inner wall. To the Lufteinblasoffnung a permanently connected to the drill string air line may be connected, which is connected to a arranged outside the pipe compressor compressor.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a supporting construction with a lifting platform lifted therefrom; FIG.

Fig. 2 shows schematically a side view of a support structure;

Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of a drilling operation in the air lifting method;

4 shows a side view of a drill head according to the invention with the cutting unit arranged firmly above it in the retracted position;

Fig. 5 is a view as in Figure 4 in a larger section.

Fig. 6 is a view as in Fig. 4 with cutting unit in extended

Position;

Fig. 7 is a view as in Figure 6 looking in the direction of the tube axis.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of Fig. 6; 8a is a detail view of Fig. 4th

FIG. 9 shows a detail view from FIG. 6 with a sectional diagram; FIG. FIG. 10 shows a further detail view from FIG. 6 with a changed viewing angle; FIG.

Fig. 1 1 is a purely schematic representation of the method and apparatus of the invention; Fig. 12 a support leg 2 with anchoring tubes 2a;

FIG. 13 shows a further embodiment of a cutting unit intermediate piece; FIG. 14 shows a schematic side view of a device according to the invention during the separation process;

Fig. 15 shows the detail X in Fig. 14 in an enlarged view. FIG. 1 shows an example of an oil drilling or conveying platform 100 which is already separated into its main components and which comprises an actual platform 20 which, in the mounted state, is supported on a supporting structure designated as a whole by 21. The entire equipment normally arranged on the platform 20, such as boring device, accommodation, etc., has already been dismantled and is no longer reproduced in the drawing. For mounting and dismounting of the oil well or conveyor plate molds 100 and / or the support structures 21 crane ships 46 are used, the cranes 19 have their lifting height above the sea level can be 100 m and more. In the illustrated phase, the actual platform 20 depends on the release of the support structure 21 already on the cranes 19. From the support structure 21 is shown in Fig. 1 only above the sea level 23 (Fig. 2) located part, the 30 m to 40 m high. The support structure 21 is formed as a tower or bock-like framework with support legs 2 and truss-like cross braces and by means of their reaching down into the water (indicated by dash-dotted lines) Anchoring pipes 2a anchored under the water surface in the seabed. For this purpose, the tubes 1 are also filled with concrete in their lower area. The water is usually between 30 and 200 m deep and it can be embedded by a comparable distance in the seabed, each anchoring tube 2a, z. B. be rammed. The anchoring pipes 2a are therefore very long. They consist of large pipes 1 of 1800 mm in particular diameter and considerable wall thickness of 80 mm in particular.

FIG. 2 illustrates the disassembly situation of a support structure 21, which differs structurally somewhat from FIG. 1. The upper parts 26 of the support legs 2 are cut off at the freely accessible separation point 22 and still belong to the actual platform 20, which is lifted as shown in FIG. 1 of the cranes. The support structure 21 protrudes above the sea level 23 and extends down to the seabed 8 along a distance corresponding to the depth of the water. The anchoring pipes 2a extend deeply into the seabed and can be fundamentally formed in the seabed at their lower ends by injected underwater concrete or the like 8 anchored. In the task of an oil drilling or conveying platform 100 is often required that the anchoring pipes 2a are separated at a distance 24 of a few meters below the seabed 8 separation points or separation zones 4 of their deep into the seabed 8 reaching lower ends. The separation zones 4 are difficult to reach from the outside.

Fig. 3 shows general information regarding the so-called air lifting principle. There is provided an air lifting pipe or drill string 29, at the lower end of a drill head 36 is arranged. This may be, for example, a rock drill head or rock drill bit. In the drill string 29, a compressed air line 27 is guided at the upper end via an air lift-flushing head 31. The compressed air is guided down the drill string to the compressed air inlet valve 30. There it flows through a suction opening 48 into the interior of the drill string 29 and creates a buoyancy, is raised by the drill head 36 dissolved seabed through the interior of the drill string. This overburden or excavation 34 passes through an outlet hose 33 into a spoil Grübe 35. At the upper end of the drill string, a power rotary head or a rotary drive 32 is provided. Around the drill string around a standpipe 28 is arranged.

Since the separation zone 4 is difficult to reach from the outside, the tube 1 is severed from the inside. In the embodiment shown in the figures is the method and the device that is used when the pipe 1 is filled to above the separation zone 4 with concrete 16 or soil or the like. Fig. 4 shows the drill string 37, which is designed as air lift pipe or strand 29. At its lower end a rock drill bit or rock drill bit 36 is arranged. Between the drill head 36 and the drill string 37, a cutting unit adapter or cutting unit adapter 47 is arranged. This is in each case connected by means of a flange with the drill head and with the drill string. The cutter assembly adapter 47 may be attachable to a conventional drill pipe 37 and a conventional drill bit. Fig. 5 shows a larger portion of the drill pipe 37. In the upper part of Fig. 5, a stabilizer 38 can be seen, which is supported in the tube 1 and in the the drill pipe 37 is rotatably mounted. It can be provided several drill collars. Fig. 6 shows the cutting unit 3 in action. The cutting unit 3 comprises two water jet nozzles 5, 5 '. The water jet nozzles are progressively displaceable in a plane E substantially perpendicular to the tube axis A in the circumferential direction of the tube 1. The two water jet nozzles are diametrically opposed. It is also possible that they are arranged directly next to each other to ensure a safe cut and to increase the redundancy (not shown in the figures). As can be seen in particular from FIG. 8, a plurality of air nozzles 14 are arranged around each water jet nozzle 5. The water jet nozzles 5, 5 'are respectively positioned by positioning means 9a, which comprise a guide carriage 1 1, 1 1' with guide rollers 12, 12 '. Each water jet nozzle 5, 5 ^' is So on a carriage 1 1, 1 1 'arranged, each having four guide rollers 12, 12'. In the extended position of the water jet nozzles 5, 5 ^' are the guide rollers 12, 12' on the pipe inner wall. The water jet nozzles 5, 5 'are each firmly mounted on the guide carriage 11, 11' in such a way that the water jet 15 does not strike the pipe wall 6 parallel to the plane E, which runs perpendicular to the tube axis A. In particular, FIG. 8 shows that the water jet nozzle 5 or the water jet issuing from it assumes an angle α of 30 ° to this plane E instead. The same applies to the other water jet nozzle 5 '. The cutting width B is small and almost constant. In this way, when the carriages 1 1, 1 1 'have completely traveled the inner circumference of the tube 1 and the water jets have completely severed the tube, complementary, conical cut surfaces 7 c, 7 d created. The tube above the separation zone 4 thus supports itself in a self-centering manner on the tube remaining below the separation zone 4. It does not necessarily have to be supported or intercepted.

The water exits the water jet nozzles 5, 5 'at a very high speed. Fig. 9 shows the sectional diagram 7a of the water jets. After both water jet nozzles 5, 5 'have passed through the complete inner circumference of the tube 1 together, so after a 180 ° rotation of the cutting unit 3, the cutting unit 3 is raised and lowered slightly. This results in sections 7e running in the direction of the tube axis (only recognizable on one side in FIG. 9) which compensates for a height variation of the cutting unit 3 during the cutting process, which can last for several hours. The raising and lowering of the cutting unit when the water jet is turned on to an extent so that the tube 1 is severed sure of the expected height variations.

The water jet nozzles 5, 5 'and the positioning means 9a are extended by means of extending means 9 from a retracted position to an extended position. The extension means 9 comprise a substantially straight pivoting arm 40, and a pneumatic cylinder 10. The pivoting arm 40 points at an nem end rotatably mounted on the carriage 1 1 or 1 1 'on. At its opposite end it is rotatably mounted on the other cutting unit 3. In a middle region of the pivot lever, which is arranged closer to the cutting machine side bearing than at its other end, engages the pivot arm 40 via a rotatable connection to the free end of the piston rod of the pneumatic cylinder 10. The pneumatic cylinder 10 itself is also rotatably or pivotally attached to the cutting unit 3.

For example, as shown in Fig. 6, three additional roller bits 18, 18 ', 18 ^" are arranged on the drill head 36. These clean the inner wall of the tube 1 in the region of the separation zone 4 of concrete 16 or seabed 8 remaining thereon Roller bits 18, 18 ', 18 ^" are each biased by a pneumatic cylinder 18a (FIG. 11). The cutting unit 3 is thus associated with an annular region in the separation zone to the metal of the tube 1 of adhering material cleaning device, which includes the additional roller drill bits 18, 18 ^' , 18 ^" .

Above and below the water jet nozzles 5, 5 'and their extension means 9 and positioning means 9a fenders 39 are provided. These are rigid and protect the water jet nozzles and the extension means and positioning means in the retracted position of the water jet nozzles 5, 5 '.

When the pneumatic cylinder 10 is acted upon in the retracted position of the water jet nozzles 5, 5 'with air pressure and then he pivots the pivot arm 40 from a voltage applied to the periphery of the cutting unit 3 position in a spread apart from this extent extended position in which the carriage 1 1 rests against the pipe inner wall.

FIG. 11 illustrates the device according to the invention and the method according to the invention in a highly schematic manner. The elements are in part not drawn in their "correct" position, showing the drill pipe 37 at the lower end of which is the drill head 36. To the right of this is shown an additional roller drill bit 18 biased by a pneumatic cylinder 18a Drill head 36, the elements of the cutting unit 3 are shown the extension means 9 can be seen, which include the pneumatic cylinder 10 and the pivot lever 40. The carriage 1 1 is not shown. It is a water jet nozzle 5 can be seen and a water jet 15. Unlike shown in Fig. 1 1, the water jet 15 only an extremely small expansion. The water jet nozzle 5 is connected by means of a water line 13 with a mixing valve 44, are mixed over the abrasive particles 43. The high-pressure water pump 41 is shown, with the further water line 42. On the other side of the drill string 37, a compressor 45 can be seen. The compressed air line leads shown on the right side of the drill string via the Lufthebespülkopf 31 to the compressed air inlet valve 30, via which the compressed air for the air lifting method is blown into the drill pipe 37. Shown on the other side of the drill string 37, the air pressure line extends to the cutting unit 3. There it divides again in a line to the pneumatic cylinder and another line to the air nozzles 14th

Fig. 12 shows by way of example a support leg 2 with anchoring tubes 2a to be separated off. The separation zone 4 is 6m below the seabed 8 and the water depth is 140m. The anchoring pipes 2a are filled with concrete and loaded. The anchoring pipes 2a and the support legs are inclined at an angle of about 9.5 °. The seabed consists of compact sand with layers of different composition (sand and organic sediments).

The method according to the invention can be carried out under harsh conditions such as strong wind, high waves and low temperatures. Limiting factor is the dynamic support safety of the support leg 2 with severed anchoring tubes 2a in harsh weather conditions.

3. The cutting unit adapter 47 in this embodiment itself comprises the additional roller bits 18, 18 ^' , 18 ^" two compressed air lines 27, 27 ^'shown. A ^27' can extend 1 1 and causes the air jacket around the jet of water to the carriage. the other 27 ^"leads to additional Rollenbohrmeißeln 18, 18 ^'and the further Rollenbohrmeißeln 18b 18b ^' and let them extend at the same time. The functions of the two compressed air lines are independently controllable.

Another variant of the method according to the invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15.

In Fig. 14 - a device according to the invention during the separation process is shown - schematically. Previously was with the help of their arranged at the lower end of Lufthebbohrstrangs 29 drill head 36 within the tube concrete 16 drilled to below the seabed 8 and then the Lufthebbohrstrang 29 has been raised to the position shown in Fig. 14. In this is the cutting unit 3 in a position in which the separation zone 4 is still below the seabed 8, but between the drill head and the surface O of the concrete 16 remains a free space.

Thus, in the tube 2a during the separation process still located or for example by the resulting during the separation process slots 49 loose solids, such as sea sediments 50 can not impede the separation or even block, during this separation process, the air lifting method continues to operate by - is shown in Fig. 15 - 30 air is injected into the Lufthebebohrstrang 29 through the compressed air line 27 and the compressed air inlet valve. The air flow is symbolized by the arrows in the compressed air line 27. Because of the upward flow generated thereby in the interior of the air hoist drill string, which is to be clarified by means of the arrows pointing upwards, sea sediment located within the anchoring pipe 2a is transported away. Here, as can be seen in FIG. 14, water is introduced through an inlet 51 provided above the sea level 23, symbolized in FIG. 14 by the large points, in a volume flow, so that the water level 23 'within the support tube 2a is regularly above the sea level 23. LIST OF REFERENCES:

100 offshore oil drilling or production platform

1 tube

2 support legs

2a anchoring pipes

3 cutting unit

4 separation zone

5, 5 'water jet nozzle

6 pipe wall

7 cut

7a sectional diagram

7b sections running in the direction of the tube axis

7c, 7d complementary conical cut surfaces

8 seabed

9 extension means

9a positioning means

10 pneumatic cylinders

1 1, 1 1 'carriage

12, 12 'guide rollers

13 water pipe

14 air jets

15 water jet

16 concrete

17 free

18, 18 ', 18 "additional roller bits

18a pneumatic cylinder

18b further drill bits

19 cranes

20 actual platform

21 support structure

22 freely accessible separation point

23 sea levels

23 'water level

24 Distance of the separation zone to the seabed 25 lower ends of the tubes. 1

26 upper parts of the support legs

27, 27 ^' , 27 ^" compressed air lines

28 standpipe

29 Air lifting pipe or strands

30 compressed air inlet valve

31 Air lift scavenger

32 power rotary head or rotary drive

33 discharge hose

34 overburden or excavation

35 mine pit

36 boring head

37 drill pipe

38 stabilizers

39 mudguards

40 swivel arm

41 high pressure pump (water)

42 more water pipe

43 abrasive particles

44 mixing valve

45 compressor

46 crane ship

47 Cutting unit adapter or cutting unit adapter

48 intake opening

49 slots

50 sea sediment

51 inlet

A pipe axis

B cutting width

E plane perpendicular to the tube axis

α angle

O surface

Claims

Patent claims:

Method for separating upright pipes (1) of greater length and larger diameter, anchored with their lower end in the ground, in particular anchoring pipes (2a) of an offshore oil drilling or production platform (100), in which the upper end of the pipe to be separated (100) 1) a cutting unit

(3) into the pipe (1) up to a separation zone

(4) is lowered, which acts progressively over the circumference against the pipe (1) and the separation process takes place by means of a water jet (15) emerging from at least one water jet nozzle (5, 5 ^' ), characterized in that the pipe wall (6) to create two complementary conical cut surfaces (7c, 7d) is severed by a cut (7) with at least almost constant cutting width (B), which runs obliquely through the pipe wall (6), the water jet being used to effect the oblique cut (7). (15) the at least one water jet nozzle is aligned at an angle (a) to the plane (E) running perpendicular to the pipe axis (A).

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the weight of the pipe (1) and any connected components is not absorbed by additional devices during the separation process.

Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that abrasive particles are mixed into the water of the water jet.

Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that after a rotation of 360 ° divided by the number of water jet nozzles (5, 5 ^' ), the cutting unit (3) is raised and lowered with the water jet switched on, so that in Cuts (7b) run in the direction of the pipe axis (A).

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that loose solids are transported out of the interior of the pipe during the separation process.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the transport out takes place using the air lifting process.

7. Device for separating upright pipes (1) of larger length and larger diameter, anchored with their lower ends in the ground, in particular anchoring pipes (2a) of an offshore oil drilling or production platform (100), with a through the upper end of the to be separated Pipe (1) in this cutting unit (3), which can be lowered up to a separation zone (4), which progressively comes into effect in this separation zone (4) on the inner circumference of the pipe (1) in the circumferential direction and cuts through the pipe (1), whereby To effect the separation process, at least one water jet nozzle (5, 5 ^' ) is provided, characterized in that positioning means (9a) are provided which position the water jet nozzle (5, 5 ^' ) to the pipe wall (6) in such a way that the water jet nozzle (5 , 5 ^' ) emerging water jet (15) hits the pipe wall (6) at an angle (a) to the plane (E) running perpendicular to the pipe axis (A) in such a way that when the separation is complete, two complementary conical cut surfaces (7c, 7d) result.

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the angle (a) is between 5° and 60°, preferably about 30°, and preferably two water jet nozzles (5, 5 ^' ) are provided.

9. Device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that a drill head (36) is arranged under the cutting unit (3), by means of which material located in the pipe, such as seabed or concrete (16) or the like, with which the pipe is anchored better can be poured out, can be drilled out to a depth over the inner cross section of the pipe (1), so that the cutting unit (3) can be used in the intended separation zone (4).

10. Device according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that roller drill bits (18, 18 ^' , 18 ^" ) are provided, which clean the inner pipe wall of concrete or seabed residues or the like.

1 1 . Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that, in addition to the main hydraulic drive of the drill string, an auxiliary hydraulic drive is provided, which can be used during the separation process and rotates extremely slowly and is characterized by a particularly uniform speed.

12. Device according to one of claims 7 to 1 1, characterized in that the positioning means (9a) comprise a guide carriage (1 1, 1 1 ^' ) with guide rollers (12, 12 ^' ) which can be brought into contact with the inner pipe wall.

13. Device according to one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that a plurality of air nozzles (14) are arranged around the water jet nozzle (5, 5 ^' ).

14. Device according to one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that means are provided with which loose solids can be transported out of the interior of the pipe during the separation process.

15. The device according to claim 14, characterized in that on the drill string below the cutting unit there is a suction opening communicating with the internal volume of the drill string and preferably above the cutting unit on the drill string there is an air inlet opening communicating with its internal volume.