EP2776633B1 - A footing for a marine structure support leg, and method of installing and removing a jack-up platform - Google Patents
A footing for a marine structure support leg, and method of installing and removing a jack-up platform Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2776633B1 EP2776633B1 EP12768856.2A EP12768856A EP2776633B1 EP 2776633 B1 EP2776633 B1 EP 2776633B1 EP 12768856 A EP12768856 A EP 12768856A EP 2776633 B1 EP2776633 B1 EP 2776633B1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- footing
- leg
- chamber
- platform
- legs
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 11
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 30
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 23
- 230000003319 supportive effect Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000013535 sea water Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000001802 infusion Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002689 soil Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000003570 air Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004927 clay Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004941 influx Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003129 oil well Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000035515 penetration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008439 repair process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007779 soft material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003643 water by type Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
- E02B17/00—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor
- E02B17/0004—Nodal points
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
- E02B17/00—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor
- E02B17/02—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor placed by lowering the supporting construction to the bottom, e.g. with subsequent fixing thereto
- E02B17/021—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor placed by lowering the supporting construction to the bottom, e.g. with subsequent fixing thereto with relative movement between supporting construction and platform
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
- E02B17/00—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor
- E02B2017/0056—Platforms with supporting legs
- E02B2017/006—Platforms with supporting legs with lattice style supporting legs
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
- E02B17/00—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor
- E02B2017/0056—Platforms with supporting legs
- E02B2017/0073—Details of sea bottom engaging footing
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
- E02B17/00—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor
- E02B2017/0056—Platforms with supporting legs
- E02B2017/0073—Details of sea bottom engaging footing
- E02B2017/0082—Spudcans, skirts or extended feet
Definitions
- the invention concerns marine vessels having one or more legs which are connected to the vessel's hull, and where the leg or legs are movable with respect to the hull such that the hull may be elevated above the water surface.
- Such vessels are commonly referred to as "jack-up vessels”. More specifically, the invention relates to a footing for a support leg for a marine structure as set out in the preamble of claim 1, and to methods of operating the invented footing.
- US 3,183,676 (Tourneau ), which describes a jack-up vessel having three height-adjustable legs slidably connected to a hull. Each leg is moved with respect to the hull via a rack-and-pinion system, driven by powerful motors. Hydraulic actuation is also common. Thus, the legs can be moved downwards, into contact with the seabed and elevate the hull above the water surface. The hull can then be used as a stable work platform to perform a number of tasks such as oil well drilling, maintenance, repairs, etc. Jack-up vessels are widely used in the offshore oil and gas industry.
- the hull is buoyant, so that the vessel may be floated (often self-propelled) to the desired work location when the legs are retracted.
- the legs When the vessel has reached its desired location, the legs are extended into supporting contact with the seabed, in order to elevate and support the hull.
- the lower end of each leg is typically provided with an enlarged foot or so-called "spud-can". This lower end portion is designed to engage and if necessary penetrate into the seabed.
- the seabed is oftentimes of a soft material such as mud, silt and clay, into which the spud-can will penetrate. Penetration depths of 5 to 10 metres are common.
- a common problem with mobile jack-up vessels that are installed on a soft seabed is that a considerable force is required to overcome the suction pressures around and on the spud-can when the leg is being pulled out of the seabed.
- the required leg pull-out force depends on factors such as soil composition, spud-can shape, spud-can embedment depth, and extraction rate.
- the pull-out forces must be kept below certain values, determined by stability criteria for the vessel.
- the state of the art also includes US 4,761,096 (Lin ), which describes a system by means of which the problem of high pull-out forces may be mitigated.
- a water-jetting system is connected to a spud-can, in which water under high pressure may be fed through several nozzles underneath and on top of the spud-can. This reduces pull-out resistance by minimizing the suction and friction resistance of the seafloor soils.
- a footing for a support leg for a marine structure comprising a base connected to the lower end of the leg and configured for supportive interaction with a seabed and having a cavity fluidly connected with one or more orifices to the outside of the base, characterized by a housing having an internal chamber which at a first end is fluidly connected to the cavity; and valve means arranged in the chamber and operable between an open position and a closed position to allow fluid flow into the chamber.
- the footing comprises a fluid line connected to an inlet to the chamber and configured for selectively feeding fluid under pressure into the chamber.
- the fluid may be a liquid (such as water) or a gas (such as air).
- the chamber has at a second end a fluid opening to the outside of the housing and the valve means comprises a valve assembly arranged to control fluid flow through the opening.
- the valve assembly comprises one or more valve members having biasing means that are arranged to bias the valve members in a closed state of the valve assembly.
- the biasing means comprises one or more buoyancy elements that are arranged to keep the valve members into a closed state of the valve assembly when the footing is immersed in water.
- the valve assembly comprises one or more butterfly valves.
- the valve means comprises in one embodiment a valve arranged to allow flow of seawater surrounding the housing into the chamber.
- the housing comprises a pipe which extends upwards from the base and the opening is arranged a vertical distance from the cavity.
- the base is in one embodiment a spud-can and the orifices are arranged on the underside of the spud-can.
- the orifices are in one embodiment arranged in an annular groove.
- the leg is slidably connected to the marine structure and the marine structure is a buoyant jack-up platform.
- the valve assembly is opened due to the suction force being generated in the chamber by the upward motion of the leg.
- an amount of water is injected into the chamber via a fluid line before step ii, whereby water is forced out of the orifices and through any mud, silt, or similar surrounding the base.
- a jack-up platform comprising a deck structure and a plurality of jack-up legs, characterized in that each leg comprises a footing according to the invention.
- the footing according to the invention is in the illustrated embodiment mounted at the bottom of a jack-up leg 4.
- a jack-up leg is commonly known in the art and comprises three pipes 8a interconnected in a triangular configuration via bracing 8c.
- Holes 8b provide for interaction with the jack-up mechanism (not shown) on a platform 2.
- the leg 4 is connected at its lower end to spud-can 6, see e.g. figures 2 and 11.
- Figure 14 illustrates a situation where the spud-cans are embedded in soft mud and/silt on the seabed B.
- the spud-can 6 comprises a number of orifices, or nozzles, 31 arranged on the lower side, three of which are arranged in a circumferential groove 30 (see figures 10 and 13 ).
- the orifices 31 are connected via internal channels to a cavity 29.
- a housing in the shape of a pipe 14 is connected to the upper side of the spud-can 6 such that the interior chamber 32 of the pipe is in fluid connection with the cavity 29 via the lower pipe end 21.
- the pipe 14 extends upwards from the spud-can and has an opening 20 at its upper end.
- a valve assembly 12 is arranged in the pipe via a flange plate 22, thus dividing the pipe into a lower pipe part 14a and an upper pipe part 14b.
- the height h is dimensioned according to the intended depth on which the leg is intended to be used, for example around 20 metres.
- the pipe 14 is structurally connected to the leg via support plates 16.
- the valve assembly comprises in the illustrated embodiment three butterfly valves 24 in a housing 23 and connected to the flange plate 22.
- the butterfly valves are of the two-flap type where each of the valve flaps 26 is rotatably supported by a hinge 27.
- the butterfly valves are arranged to close against a flange ring 25 and are configured such that they are open when subjected to a force in the downward direction (cf. arrow marked "D" in figure 10 ), i.e. allowing an influx of water through the opening 20 and into the chamber 32.
- valve flaps 26 are furnished with buoyancy elements 28 (shown schematically in figure 10 ), thus biasing each valve to a closed state when the footing is immersed in water and there is no significant pressure differential across the valve.
- a fluid infusion pipe 10 is connected to the housing via an opening 11, allowing fluid to be fed into the chamber 32.
- the infusion pipe 11 extends up along the leg 4, having connection points and valves 18 at regular intervals, for easy connection to a source of pressurized fluid (not shown) on the platform.
- the pressurized fluid may be a liquid (e.g. seawater) or a gas (e.g. air).
- the leg In use, for example during installation, the leg is extended into the water, towards the seabed, and the submerged cavity 29 and chamber 32 will fill with water.
- the connection valves 18 are closed.
- the submerged buoyancy elements 28 will cause the valve assembly 12 to close and the pressure in the chamber and cavity (which is open to the surrounding water via the orifices 31) will be equal to the ambient pressure.
- this equal pressure will prevent mud or silt from entering the cavity 29 and chamber 32.
- the process may be initiated by injecting a fluid under pressure (e.g. water of air from a topsides pump, not shown) into the chamber 32 via the pipe 10 and opening 11.
- a fluid under pressure e.g. water of air from a topsides pump, not shown
- the injected fluid generates a higher pressure in the chamber that in the water surrounding the pipe 14, the result being that the fluid(s) (water or water and air) inside the chamber 32 is forced out through the orifices 31 and thus jetting away adjacent mud or silt.
- the chamber may advantageously be furnished with a pressure sensor (not shown), such that the operator will know when the pressure in the chamber is starting to drop, thus giving an indication that the spud-can may be elevated out of the seabed.
- the pipe 14 height h is conveniently dimensioned according to the intended depth on which the leg is intended to be used, thus ensuring that the opening 20 is submerged when the leg is installed on the seabed.
- one or more optional valves 33 are installed on the pipe, in a lower part of the pipe (see figures 2 , 6 , 12 , illustrating one such valve).
- the valve may be opened when the leg is to be pulled out from the seabed, allowing surrounding seawater to flow through the chamber, as described above.
- the valve 33 is kept in a closed state until there is a sufficient overpressure in the chamber.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
- Motorcycle And Bicycle Frame (AREA)
Description
- The invention concerns marine vessels having one or more legs which are connected to the vessel's hull, and where the leg or legs are movable with respect to the hull such that the hull may be elevated above the water surface. Such vessels are commonly referred to as "jack-up vessels". More specifically, the invention relates to a footing for a support leg for a marine structure as set out in the preamble of
claim 1, and to methods of operating the invented footing. - The state of the art includes
US 3,183,676 (Tourneau ), which describes a jack-up vessel having three height-adjustable legs slidably connected to a hull. Each leg is moved with respect to the hull via a rack-and-pinion system, driven by powerful motors. Hydraulic actuation is also common. Thus, the legs can be moved downwards, into contact with the seabed and elevate the hull above the water surface. The hull can then be used as a stable work platform to perform a number of tasks such as oil well drilling, maintenance, repairs, etc. Jack-up vessels are widely used in the offshore oil and gas industry. - One advantage of the jack-up vessel is its mobility. The hull is buoyant, so that the vessel may be floated (often self-propelled) to the desired work location when the legs are retracted. When the vessel has reached its desired location, the legs are extended into supporting contact with the seabed, in order to elevate and support the hull. The lower end of each leg is typically provided with an enlarged foot or so-called "spud-can". This lower end portion is designed to engage and if necessary penetrate into the seabed. One such example is illustrated in
figure 3 in the above mentionedUS 3,183,676 . The seabed is oftentimes of a soft material such as mud, silt and clay, into which the spud-can will penetrate. Penetration depths of 5 to 10 metres are common. There exist various spud-can designs and shapes, for example having a shallow, conical underside. - A common problem with mobile jack-up vessels that are installed on a soft seabed is that a considerable force is required to overcome the suction pressures around and on the spud-can when the leg is being pulled out of the seabed. The required leg pull-out force depends on factors such as soil composition, spud-can shape, spud-can embedment depth, and extraction rate. The pull-out forces must be kept below certain values, determined by stability criteria for the vessel.
- The state of the art also includes
US 4,761,096 (Lin ), which describes a system by means of which the problem of high pull-out forces may be mitigated. A water-jetting system is connected to a spud-can, in which water under high pressure may be fed through several nozzles underneath and on top of the spud-can. This reduces pull-out resistance by minimizing the suction and friction resistance of the seafloor soils. - Other state of the art includes
US 4000624 A ,US 4109477 A andUS2009/0269144 . Such high-pressure jetting systems are typically driven by pumping systems which need to be of high grade materials in order to operate in the corrosive environments caused by seawater. The pumping systems are consequently costly and require frequent maintenance.
The present applicant has devised and embodied this invention in order to overcome certain shortcomings of the prior art and to obtain further advantages. - The invention is set forth and characterized in the main claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention.
It is thus provided a footing for a support leg for a marine structure, the footing comprising a base connected to the lower end of the leg and configured for supportive interaction with a seabed and having a cavity fluidly connected with one or more orifices to the outside of the base, characterized by a housing having an internal chamber which at a first end is fluidly connected to the cavity; and valve means arranged in the chamber and operable between an open position and a closed position to allow fluid flow into the chamber.
In one embodiment, the footing comprises a fluid line connected to an inlet to the chamber and configured for selectively feeding fluid under pressure into the chamber. The fluid may be a liquid (such as water) or a gas (such as air).
In one embodiment, the chamber has at a second end a fluid opening to the outside of the housing and the valve means comprises a valve assembly arranged to control fluid flow through the opening. - The valve assembly comprises one or more valve members having biasing means that are arranged to bias the valve members in a closed state of the valve assembly. The biasing means comprises one or more buoyancy elements that are arranged to keep the valve members into a closed state of the valve assembly when the footing is immersed in water. The valve assembly comprises one or more butterfly valves. The valve means comprises in one embodiment a valve arranged to allow flow of seawater surrounding the housing into the chamber.
- In one embodiment, the housing comprises a pipe which extends upwards from the base and the opening is arranged a vertical distance from the cavity.
- The base is in one embodiment a spud-can and the orifices are arranged on the underside of the spud-can. The orifices are in one embodiment arranged in an annular groove.
- In one embodiment of the invention, the leg is slidably connected to the marine structure and the marine structure is a buoyant jack-up platform.
- It is also provided a method of installing a jack-up platform which is floating in a water surface and having one or more legs that are extendible to a seabed, and each leg comprising a footing according to the invention, characterized by lowering the legs until the base has assumed supportive contact on or a distance below the seabed while keeping the valve means in a closed state, and continuing moving the legs with respect to the platform until the platform is supported by the legs at a distance above the water surface.
- It is also provided a method of removing a jack-up platform which is supported a distance above a water surface via one or more legs that are in supportive contact with the seabed via a footing according to the invention, characterized by (i) lowering the platform to the water surface by moving the legs with respect to the platform; (ii) continuing moving the legs upwards and opening the valve means such that water is allowed to flow into the chamber and further into the cavity and exit the base via the orifices.
- In one embodiment of the method of removing the jack-up platform, the valve assembly is opened due to the suction force being generated in the chamber by the upward motion of the leg. In one embodiment of the method, an amount of water is injected into the chamber via a fluid line before step ii, whereby water is forced out of the orifices and through any mud, silt, or similar surrounding the base.
- It is also provided a jack-up platform, comprising a deck structure and a plurality of jack-up legs, characterized in that each leg comprises a footing according to the invention.
- These and other characteristics of the invention will be clear from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example, with reference to the attached drawings wherein:
-
Figure 1 is a side view of a jack-up leg having the footing according to the invention; -
Figure 2 is an enlargement of the section marked "A" infigure 1 , illustrating the footing at the bottom of the jack-up leg; -
Figure 3 is another side view of the jack-up leg illustrated infigure 1 ; -
Figure 4 is an enlargement of the section marked "B" infigure 3 ; illustrating the top of the jack-up leg; -
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the housing according to the invention; -
Figure 6 is a schematic side view of the housing illustrated infigure 5 ; -
Figure 7 is an enlargement of the section marked "C" infigure 6 ; illustrating an upper portion of the housing; -
Figures 8 and 9 are perspective views of a valve assembly for use in connection with the housing; -
Figure 10 is a schematic side view of a butterfly valve having buoyancy elements; -
Figure 11 is a schematic top view of the base according to the invention; -
Figure 12 is a sectional drawing along the section line A-A infigure 11 ; -
Figure 13 is a perspective view illustrating the underside of the base; and -
Figure 14 is a schematic sketch of a marine structure supported by jack-up legs having the base and housing according to the invention. - Referring initially to
figures 1, 2 and14 , the footing according to the invention is in the illustrated embodiment mounted at the bottom of a jack-upleg 4. Such jack-up leg is commonly known in the art and comprises three pipes 8a interconnected in a triangular configuration via bracing 8c. Holes 8b provide for interaction with the jack-up mechanism (not shown) on aplatform 2. Theleg 4 is connected at its lower end to spud-can 6, see e.g.figures 2 and11. Figure 14 illustrates a situation where the spud-cans are embedded in soft mud and/silt on the seabed B. The spud-can 6 comprises a number of orifices, or nozzles, 31 arranged on the lower side, three of which are arranged in a circumferential groove 30 (seefigures 10 and 13 ). Theorifices 31 are connected via internal channels to acavity 29. A housing in the shape of apipe 14 is connected to the upper side of the spud-can 6 such that theinterior chamber 32 of the pipe is in fluid connection with thecavity 29 via thelower pipe end 21. Thepipe 14 extends upwards from the spud-can and has anopening 20 at its upper end. At a height h above the spud-can avalve assembly 12 is arranged in the pipe via aflange plate 22, thus dividing the pipe into alower pipe part 14a and an upper pipe part 14b. The height h is dimensioned according to the intended depth on which the leg is intended to be used, for example around 20 metres. Thepipe 14 is structurally connected to the leg viasupport plates 16. - Referring now to
figures 8 and 9 , the valve assembly comprises in the illustrated embodiment threebutterfly valves 24 in ahousing 23 and connected to theflange plate 22. Referring additionally tofigure 10 , the butterfly valves are of the two-flap type where each of the valve flaps 26 is rotatably supported by ahinge 27. The butterfly valves are arranged to close against aflange ring 25 and are configured such that they are open when subjected to a force in the downward direction (cf. arrow marked "D" infigure 10 ), i.e. allowing an influx of water through theopening 20 and into thechamber 32. - In a preferred embodiment the valve flaps 26 are furnished with buoyancy elements 28 (shown schematically in
figure 10 ), thus biasing each valve to a closed state when the footing is immersed in water and there is no significant pressure differential across the valve. - A
fluid infusion pipe 10 is connected to the housing via an opening 11, allowing fluid to be fed into thechamber 32. The infusion pipe 11 extends up along theleg 4, having connection points andvalves 18 at regular intervals, for easy connection to a source of pressurized fluid (not shown) on the platform. The pressurized fluid may be a liquid (e.g. seawater) or a gas (e.g. air). - In use, for example during installation, the leg is extended into the water, towards the seabed, and the submerged
cavity 29 andchamber 32 will fill with water. Theconnection valves 18 are closed. The submergedbuoyancy elements 28 will cause thevalve assembly 12 to close and the pressure in the chamber and cavity (which is open to the surrounding water via the orifices 31) will be equal to the ambient pressure. Thus, as the spud-can is lowered into the mud or silt on the seabed, this equal pressure will prevent mud or silt from entering thecavity 29 andchamber 32. - When the platform is to be moved, and the legs are to be retracted from the seabed, the upward movement of the leg will generate a suction force in the cavity and chamber, thus sucking the butterfly valves open. As the leg continues its upward movement, water will flow into the
opening 20, through thepipe 14, and out of theorifices 31. - In the event that the spud-can is firmly embedded in the seabed and difficult to move due to suction forces between the spud-can and the soft seabed, the process may be initiated by injecting a fluid under pressure (e.g. water of air from a topsides pump, not shown) into the
chamber 32 via thepipe 10 and opening 11. Thus the injected fluid generates a higher pressure in the chamber that in the water surrounding thepipe 14, the result being that the fluid(s) (water or water and air) inside thechamber 32 is forced out through theorifices 31 and thus jetting away adjacent mud or silt. The chamber may advantageously be furnished with a pressure sensor (not shown), such that the operator will know when the pressure in the chamber is starting to drop, thus giving an indication that the spud-can may be elevated out of the seabed.
As mentioned above, thepipe 14 height h is conveniently dimensioned according to the intended depth on which the leg is intended to be used, thus ensuring that theopening 20 is submerged when the leg is installed on the seabed. However, under certain circumstances it may be necessary or convenient to install the leg in shallower waters, i.e. in depths less than h; whereby theopening 20 will be above water. Therefore, one or moreoptional valves 33 are installed on the pipe, in a lower part of the pipe (seefigures 2 ,6 ,12 , illustrating one such valve). The valve may be opened when the leg is to be pulled out from the seabed, allowing surrounding seawater to flow through the chamber, as described above. In the event that the fluid infusion pipe is used, thevalve 33 is kept in a closed state until there is a sufficient overpressure in the chamber.
Although the invention is described with reference to a pipe connected to the upper side of a spud-can, it should be understood that the housing may have shapes other than that of a pipe, and may be an integral part of the spud-can.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to a truss jack-up leg, the skilled person will understand that the invention is applicable also on other types of legs.
Claims (13)
- A footing for a support leg (4) for a marine structure (2), the footing comprising a base (6) connectable to a lower end of a leg and configured for supportive interaction with a seabed (B) and having a cavity (29) fluidly connected with one or more orifices (31) to the outside of the base, the footing further comprising a housing (14) having an internal chamber (32) which at a first end is fluidly connected to the cavity (29); and valve means (12; 33) arranged in the internal chamber (32) and operable between an open position and a closed position to allow fluid flow into the internal chamber (32), characterised in that the valve means comprises a valve assembly (12) having one or more butterfly valves (24) having buoyancy elements (28) and- during installation of the leg, the cavity (29) and the internal chamber (32) will fill with water and the buoyancy elements (28) then causes the valve assembly (12) to close, and- when the leg is to be retracted, the upward movement of the leg will generate a suction force in the cavity (29) and in the internal chamber (32), thus sucking the butterfly valves (24) open.
- The footing of claim 1, wherein the chamber (32) at a second end has a fluid opening (20) to the outside of the housing, and the valve assembly (12) is arranged to control fluid flow through the opening (20).
- The footing of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve means comprises a valve (33) arranged to allow flow of seawater surrounding the housing into the chamber (32).
- The footing of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (14) comprises a pipe which extends upwards from the base (6) and the opening (20) being arranged a vertical distance (h) from the cavity (29).
- The footing of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base (6) is a spud-can and the orifices (31) are arranged on the underside of the spud-can.
- The footing of claim 5, wherein the orifices (31) are arranged in an annular groove.
- The footing of claim 1, further comprising a fluid line (10) connected to an inlet (11) to the chamber (32) and configured for selectively feeding fluid under pressure into the chamber.
- The footing of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the leg (4) is slidably connected to the marine structure (2) and the marine structure is a buoyant jack-up platform.
- A method of installing a jack-up platform (2) which is floating in a water surface (S) and having one or more legs (4) that are extendible to a seabed (B), and each leg comprising a footing of any one of claims 1 - 8, characterized by lowering the legs until the base (6) has assumed supportive contact on or a distance below the seabed while the buoyancy elements will cause the valve assembly to close, and continuing moving the legs with respect to the platform until the platform is supported by the legs at a distance (d) above the water surface.
- A method of removing a jack-up platform (2) which is supported a distance (d) above a water surface (S) via one or more legs (4) that are in supportive contact with the seabed (B) via a footing of any one of claims 1 - 8, characterized by (i) lowering the platform to the water surface by moving the legs with respect to the platform; (ii) continuing moving the legs upwards and opening the valve means such that water is allowed to flow into the chamber (32) and further into the cavity (29) and exit the base (6) via the orifices (31).
- The method of claim 10, wherein the valve assembly (12) is opened due to the suction force being generated in the chamber (32) by the upward motion of the leg.
- The method of claim 10 or claim 11, where an amount of fluid is injected into the chamber (32) via a fluid line (10) before step ii, whereby water is forced out of the orifices (31) and through any mud, silt, or similar surrounding the base.
- A jack-up platform, comprising a deck structure (2) and a plurality of jack-up legs (4), characterized in that each leg comprises a footing according any one of claims 1-8.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
NO20111491A NO333631B1 (en) | 2011-11-01 | 2011-11-01 | A foot for a maritime structure's support leg, and a procedure for installing and moving an upright platform |
PCT/EP2012/069744 WO2013064327A1 (en) | 2011-11-01 | 2012-10-05 | A footing for a marine structure support leg, and method of installing and removing a jack-up platform. |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2776633A1 EP2776633A1 (en) | 2014-09-17 |
EP2776633B1 true EP2776633B1 (en) | 2019-02-20 |
Family
ID=46970336
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP12768856.2A Active EP2776633B1 (en) | 2011-11-01 | 2012-10-05 | A footing for a marine structure support leg, and method of installing and removing a jack-up platform |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2776633B1 (en) |
NO (1) | NO333631B1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2013064327A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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WO2016144181A1 (en) * | 2015-03-12 | 2016-09-15 | Gustomsc Resources B.V. | Jack-up platform; leg for a jack-up platform; method for installing a jack-up platform |
NL2015623B1 (en) * | 2015-03-12 | 2016-10-14 | Gustomsc Resources Bv | Jack-up platform; Leg for a jack-up platform; method for installing a jack-up platform. |
CN105350535B (en) * | 2015-09-25 | 2017-04-05 | 江苏科技大学 | A kind of shoe for wind turbine installation vessel |
CN115341536A (en) * | 2022-08-29 | 2022-11-15 | 大连船舶重工集团有限公司 | Automatic water injection drainage prevent silt platform pile shoe |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US3183676A (en) | 1960-10-20 | 1965-05-18 | Robert G Letourneau | Mobile sea platform |
US4109477A (en) * | 1974-02-18 | 1978-08-29 | Salzgitter Maschinen Ag | Offshore driller rig |
US4000624A (en) * | 1975-06-10 | 1977-01-04 | Lin Offshore Engineering, Inc. | Multi-component offshore platform |
US4761096A (en) * | 1987-02-24 | 1988-08-02 | Lin Sheng S | Universal footing with jetting system |
US8011857B2 (en) * | 2005-09-13 | 2011-09-06 | Offshore Technology Development Pte Ltd | Extraction system for removable marine footing |
-
2011
- 2011-11-01 NO NO20111491A patent/NO333631B1/en unknown
-
2012
- 2012-10-05 EP EP12768856.2A patent/EP2776633B1/en active Active
- 2012-10-05 WO PCT/EP2012/069744 patent/WO2013064327A1/en active Application Filing
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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EP2776633A1 (en) | 2014-09-17 |
NO20111491A1 (en) | 2013-05-02 |
WO2013064327A1 (en) | 2013-05-10 |
NO333631B1 (en) | 2013-07-29 |
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