JPS5947770B2 - ice embankment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a waterproof dike, and more particularly to a waterproof dike for protecting drilling equipment from drift ice during oil drilling operations in icy and relatively shallow waters.

Located in the Arctic Circle, such as Alaska and Canada, and relatively shallow.

When drilling for oil in deep ocean areas, artificial islands made of reclaimed sand and gravel, or waterfowl made of thick sea ice have traditionally been used.

In this way, in relatively shallow ice-covered areas, the water basin hardly moves after freezing in winter, making it possible to perform excavation work on the ice; This makes work impossible.

Therefore, in order to carry out work outside the freezing season, it is necessary to construct a waterproof levee around the well, but to prevent drifting ice, a fairly large levee is required; At present, a satisfactory waterproof embankment has not been obtained because it is difficult to construct.

In order to meet the above-mentioned requirements, the present inventors have developed a waterproof product that can be manufactured on land rather than on site underwater, transported by sea or on ice to the site, and easily installed at the desired location. As a result of intensive study on embankments, the following invention was arrived at.

That is, the present invention is a box-shaped barge equipped with a mechanism for injecting and discharging ballast water, and an ice breakwater consisting of a plurality of inclined pillars or inclined plates that cover the top of the barge in the form of a roof.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a diagram in which the waterproof embankment of the present invention is installed around a mobile excavation rig, and the excavation rig 1 is moored with one mooring chain 2.

A plurality of waterproof embankments 3 of the present invention are installed around the excavation rig 1 to protect the excavation rig from drift ice.

The waterproof bank 3 is a box-shaped purge 5 (rectangular donut shape in Figure 1)
and an inclined column 4.

The box type barge 5 is a hollow box body, and a mechanism such as a pump (
(not shown).

The filling and draining mechanism can apply the technology used in conventional ballast tanks.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tilted pillar 4 is provided with a roof assembled on one side of a box-shaped barge 5, and has the shape of a houseboat as a whole.

This inclined column 4 may be a plate-like inclined plate, and in short, it is sufficient that it has a structure in which drift ice rides on this inclined part and does not flow in, as will be explained later.

The waterproof embankment may be in the shape of a part of an arc, or may be rectangular.

When surrounding the excavation equipment, it is preferable to surround it by installing two or more, preferably four or more waterproof embankments.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the waterproof embankment 3 installed in the sea, where the box-shaped barge 5 is installed on the seabed, and the upper half of the inclined column 5 is exposed to the sea.

FIG. 2 shows the drift ice 6 running aground on the waterproof embankment 3 and the ice sheet moving.

Next, a method for installing the waterproof embankment of the present invention will be explained.

Figures 3A to 3C show how to install a waterproof embankment before freezing or in the early stages of freezing.

First, in FIG. 3A, the waterproof embankment 3 made on land is sailed by a ship 7 and transported to the destination.

The waterproof bank 3 floats on the sea surface due to the buoyancy of the box-shaped purge 5.

FIG. 3B is a diagram showing seawater being injected into the purge by a seawater pump 8 installed in the box-shaped barge 5 at the destination, and the waterproof embankment 3 being lowered to the seabed.

Figure 3C shows the box type barge 5 when the seabed is weak due to sand etc.
The water jet 9 installed in the seabed digs into the seabed,
This is a diagram showing how the ship is placed on the bottom so that it can withstand the force of drift ice.

Figures 4 to 6 are diagrams showing how to install a waterproof embankment during the freezing season or the thawing season.

In Fig. 4A, a waterproof embankment 3 is placed on top of ice 6 that is frozen all over.
This is a diagram showing the bulldozer 10 being used to transport it, and Figure 4B is a diagram showing the AST (amphibious tractor) 11 being used to transport it on drift ice.

Figures 5A, B, and C are diagrams showing how to install the waterproof embankment 3 when the destination is frozen.First, place the waterproof embankment 3 on the ice as shown in Figure 5A, and then Cut with chainsaw 12.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, water is poured into the box-shaped barge 5 to lower the waterproof embankment 3 together with the ice floe 6.

At this time, the injected ballast water is adjusted to tilt the box barge 5.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5C, the water jet 9 is ejected to slide the ice plate 6 at the bottom and sink under the ice plate, and then the waterproof embankment 3 is landed directly on the seabed.

FIGS. 6A, B, and C show another method of installing a waterproof dike on frozen ice, in which the area where the waterproof dike is to be installed is first shredded with a chainsaw 12 (FIG. 6A).

Next, the shredded ice pieces 6 are removed using the crane 13 (Figure 6B).

In order to pull the ice barrier 3 into the open ice section 14 from which the shredded ice pieces 6 have been removed, the waterproof barrier 3 is pulled by the ASTIO using the rope 15 (FIG. 6C).

The waterproof embankment of the present invention has the following advantages.

(1) Since the basin is bent and destroyed by the sloped surface of the sloped column or plate, the water force received as a reaction force is reduced, and the waterproofing effect is increased.

(2) Since the ice chips are piled up on the slope, their weight stabilizes the waterproof embankment itself.

(3) The box-type barge's injection and drainage capacity allows for easy installation on the seabed.

(4) Due to the buoyancy of the box barge, it can be transported at sea or on ice.

(5) Since it can be installed regardless of whether it is in the early stages of ice formation or thawing, it is economical and can be installed in a short period of time even in emergencies.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 6 are diagrams showing the waterproof embankment of the present invention, FIGS. 1 to 2 are perspective views of the waterproof embankment, and FIGS. 3 to 6 are explanatory diagrams showing a method of installing the waterproof embankment. 1...Drilling equipment, 3...Waterproof embankment, 4.
... Slanted column, 5 ... Box barge, 6 ...
...Ice, 8...Seawater pump, 9...
・Water jet, 12...Chainsaw.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A waterproof embankment comprising a box-shaped barge equipped with a mechanism for injecting and draining ballast water, and a plurality of slanted columns or slanted plates that cover the top of the purge in the form of a roof.