US2913880A - Drilling barge - Google Patents

Description

NOV- 24, 1959 E. c. RECH-rm ETAL 2,913,880

DRILLING BARGE 1o sheds-sheet 1 Original Filed July 19, 1950 w A am Innen/Z012? Eerhard Cem'lb MMM?? Nov. 24, 1 959 DRILLING BARGE 10I Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed July` 19, 1950 ll M III/061150115 Zerhdl'd C Jannes E'. Steele j l||q 0 m 1 e 1 M M -I, Z

Nov. 24, 1959 E. c. RECHTIN ETAL. 2,913,880

Y DRILLING BARGE Original Filed July 19,l 1950 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 24, 1959 E. c. RECHTIN ETAL 2,913,880

DRILLING BARGE Original Filed July 19, 195C l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 zal .J8/'5 ai waag JMW@ E Nov. 24,1959 E. c. RECHTIN ET AL 2,913,880

DRILLING BARGE Original Filed July 19, 1950 1 l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 alba/niais JKL v' Eerard C. eth'l/ a i Janne@ E Steele.

Nov. 24, 1959 E, c. REHT1N\Err AL 2,913,880

l DRILLING BARGE: Y* original Filed July- 19, 195o "1 0 sheets-sheet e vJ1 l /5 gl/ [Men/016' Mefhard- 0. ech'fv James ESZeel. v

j. f f QM Nov. 24, 1959 E. c. RECHTIN ET AL 2,913,880

DRILLING BARGE 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 Original Filed July 19, 1950 menare Jaunes E'. Steele Alfalfa@ v Eberhardt 0. lleehilv Nov. 24, 1959 Original Filed July 19, 1950 lO Sheets-Sheet 9 Pkwyff 2 i 4l 449 t I 4 i M o a "u i 56 f 40 4'0 V35 XZ t f5 I vil 4@ r? 5f Jui i v if a j i l 3 7? 5M 7? A J1 N I I 30 f4* e 3g y l 44' zfffwn 0.1566111121/ Nov. 24, 1959 original Filed July 19, 195o E. c.REcHT1N ET AL DRILLING BARGE 10 Sheets-Sheet lO [Well/0125* lrlwdt i lie/d@ Jaimes E.' Steele.

and

DRILLING BARGE Eberhardt C. Rechtin and James E. Steele, Beaumont,

Tex., assignors to Bethlehem Steel Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania t Continuation o'f application SerialNo. 174,692, July `19, 1950. This application August 5,- 1955, Serial No. 526,617

47 Claims. (Cl. 61-46.5)

This application is a continuation of our previous application for Improvement in Drilling Barge tiled another position for additional drilling operations afterA it has served its purpose. o

The drilling of oil wells in relatively shallowwaters as in the Gulf of Mexico adjacent to the states of Texas and Louisiana has resulted in the extensive use of piling to support theV `drilling platforms and superstructuren Hitherto piling has usually been considered a portion of a permanent structure. t

Now however, since some of the holes drilled are probably going to be unproductive the problem of economically recovering the piling has arisen.

The Federal Government also will not permit operators to leave piling protruding appreciably above the bottom of the gulf, or to abandon platforms when not in use because of the dangers to navigation.

At present the platforms are in fairly shallow water and the piling used has been steel tubing of moderate diameter, of an average of 24 inches. Such pilingcan usually be pulled, jetted or worked loose by equipment of reasonable size. In some cases, however, difficulty has been encountered even with this smaller piling and the practice of dynamiting the piling from within has been resorted to. This practice is destructive and dangerous and otherwise unsatisfactory. Underwater cutting has been tried but can be successful only at moderate depths.

As explorations continue it will be necessary to work in greater and greater depths, farther and fartherout to sea. This will require larger and heavier piling of greater diameter for two reasons. First of course, is the necessity of providing a stiff and rigid support for the drilling platform to resist the side thrust of wind and wave. Secondly, the unsupported length of piling increases with the depth. Since the diameter of the-tubing will increase with the depth of water and the thickness of plate used will also increase proportionately it follows that the weight of piling to be handled will increase about as the cube of the depth of the water worked in.

Experience has shown that the effort required to pull a pile after it has set may vary from two to eight times the force necessary to drive it. Obviously, therefore, the super-piling needed for the greater depths contemplated will require lifting equipment of great size and cost. Floating lifting equipment capable of pulling even 200 tons is very rare, yet we must consider piling capable of supporting 200 tons or more consequently requiring a lifting effort of 400 to 1600 tons.

,u 2,913,880 Patented Nov. 24, 1959A ice One of the objects of the invention relates to a barge providing a combination, comprising a superstructure having anupper and lower deck forming a drilling platform and means for supporting drilling equipment and a buoyant member of the pontoon type for temporarily supporting superstructure and particularly useful for transporting well drilling equipment and for firmly supporting s aid equipment at the well drilling location. The drilling platform and superstructure are provided with tubular guide members which extend downwardly therefrom and are in telescopic relation with the tubular guideV members mounted in and extending upwardly from the buoyant `members adapted to receive pile members constituting the legs for supporting the drilling platform and superstructure. i o

Another object of the invention relates to the wedging and shoring devices for holding the buoyant member of the barge more securely in place in the submerged position.`

` Another object of our invention relates to the` design of large piling to overcome the objection of great handling weight and theyextrerne difficulty of withdrawing the piling after use.

Another` object of the invention relates to a practical means of transporting the piling sections to a marine site y by 'means of built-in buoyancy and retaining the buoyancy in the piling sections while withdrawing or placing the piling sections in position.

Another object of the invention relates to the improved meansfor making a joint between the `piling sections V so that they can be quickly connected together or detached from each other.

A further object of our inventionA relates to friction means for supporting the strings Vof piling sections before the lower ends of the strings of piling reach the bed of the body ofl water and for holding the strings of piles while sections are being detached.

Another object of the invention relates to the means for controlling the sinkingand raising of the buoyant member and for holding the buoyant member in the submerged position. l

Another object of the invention relates to the manner of transferring the weight of the drilling platform and superstructure from the buoyant member to thexed piling. i

Another object of the invention relates tothe means "foriconnecting" or detaching the retractable sectionsrof piling from the expendable sections.

.Another object of the invention relates to the manner of coupling and uncoupling the rod running longitudinally through the piling.

Other and further objects of the` invention will be on which like characters of reference indicate like parts. I i A-Figure 1 is an end elevation of the offshore drilling barge shown in the towing position.

Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the offshore drilling barge shown in Fig. 1, but shown in the drilling position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 3 3 of Fig.,6, showing a yoke, one of the transfer cylinders and one of gripping devices for holding or releasing one of piles, drawn on a larger scale.

Fig. 4 is a detail of the gripping device.

Fig.' `5 'is a detail front elevation of one of the gripping wedges and the guides therefor.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on the lineY 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a transverse .section taken on the line 7-7 of l Fig. 3. u i l Fig. 8 is a Vertical section illustrating one form Vof lift- 3 ing cap we may use and showing the manner of attaching 1t tothe upper end of a pile.

Flg. 9 is a transverse section through the lifting cap takenvon the line 9--9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. l()Y is a transverse section taken on the lineA 1010 of Fig. 8;

Fig. Il is a vertical section of one of the wedging and shonng devices with parts broken away taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 12 is a bottom plan view of the wedging device shown in Fig. 1l. y

Fig. 13 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a detail front elevation of one of the shoring devices.

Fig. 1'5 isa detail front elevation of the bracket to which the top' end of the operating rod for the Wedging slide 1s attached.

FFigll is a detail section taken on the line 16'-16 of Fig. 17 is a bottom plan of the base casting for one of the slides.

Fig. 18 is a side elevation of the base casting shown in Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is an end elevationl of one of the slides.

Fig. 20 is an end elevationV of the base casting shown in Figs, 17 and 18.-

2l is a side elevation of the slide shown in Fig. 19.

F1g. 22 is a vertical section drawn on a larger scale illusltrating the top and bottom ends of a pair of retractable pllmg sections and showing the coupling for the rod which runs longitudinally through the piling and the manner of detaching the latches from the driving ring by means ofl a pair of wrenches.

Fig. 23 is a vertical section of one ofthe hydraulic rams for controlling the submerging and raising the buoyant member of the barge.

Fig. 24 is a side elevation of a multiple Wrench used 1n connection with the apparatus.

Fig. 25 is an enlarged detail view of one of the ush plugs for one of the forcing holes showing the manner of applying the multiple wrench thereto. Fig. 26 is a side elevation with parts broken away showmg a yoke and one of the transfer cylinders and modified form of lifting cap we may use with the lifting bars connecting the lifting cap and yoke together.

Fig. 27 is a vertical section taken on the line 27-27 of Fig. 26.

Fig. 28 is a vertical section taken through the top of an expendable pile section with retractable pile section mounted thereon and showing the latchesv for connecting them together.

Fig. 29 is an enlarged view showing the latches for connecting the ends of a pair of retractable piling sections together.

Fig. 30 is a vertical section of the top portion of an expendable pile section.

Fig. 3'1 is a vertical section showing a modified form of latches for connecting expendable and retractable pile sections together.

Fig. 32 is a vertical section of the top portion of a retractable pile section.

Fig. 33 is a vertical section of the bottom portion of an expendable pile section.

Fig. 34 is a detail in side elevation of one of the spring latches used in Fig. 31, and

Fig. 35 is a transverse section through the expendable pile section taken on the line 35-35 of Fig. 3l.

Referring now to the various characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the superstructure of the barge having an upper deck 2 and a lower deck 3 forming the drilling platform and for carrying the required machinery for the purpose intended and further provided with three` stories 4, and 6 for the crew. The upper deck 2 forming the drilling platform is provided with a pipe rack 7 for the drill pipe or casing and a derrick 8 for manipulating the same and the superstructure is further provided with movable cranes 9.

The superstructure 1 and upper and lower decks 2 and 3 are adapted to be temporarily supported by a buoyant member 10 of the pontoon type and are connected together by means of telescopic tubes 11 and 12. The upper tubes 11 are rigidly secured to the upper and lower decks of the superstructure and extend downwardly therefrom, while the lower tubes 12 have their lower end portions rigidly secured to the buoyant member 10 and extend upwardly therefrom.

The buoyant member 10 is formed with an open drilling bay 13 through which the drilling pipey strings are lowered by the derrick 8 during the drilling operations and is further provided with ballast tanks 14 for water and the like and a pump room 15 with means mounted therein for controlling the supply of water to and from the ballast tanks, said pump room having an access trunk 16 thereto extending from the lower deck 3 to the buoyant member 10.

In order to assist in submerging and raising the buoyant member 10 four rams 17 are provided which are connected one to each corner of the lower deck 3 and the top corners of the buoyant member 10 as shown more clearly` in- Fig. 23 each of these rams are provided with a base member 18 having a drain 19 connected thereto and an outer tubular cylinder member 20 which is connected near its upper end by braces 21 to a pair of the lower tubes 12. A piston 22 is mounted for vertical movement in the tubular cylindrical member 20 and provided with a piston rod 23 which has its upper end secured to the corner of the lower deck 3 as at 24 and having a pipe connection 25 which extend tothe lower deck 3 Where the fluid thereto is controlled by suitable valves.

In order to more fully protect the piston rod 23 it is provided with a waterproof collapsible boot 26.

As shown in Fig. l the barge is illustrated in the towing position and the upper portion of the buoyant member 10 extends above the water line. In this position the barge is towed to the desired locality to drill an oil well, and anchored.

When the barge is in the drilling position as shown in Fig. 2 the buoyant member 10 is submerged and the upper and lower decks 2 and 3 and the superstructure 1 are supported on piles which are formed in sections.

It will be noted by referring more particularly to Figs. 22 and 28 to 33 inclusive that there are two types of piling sections showny which are intended to work together to form each pile as a whole. One we designate as an Expendable Pile, and the other is named Retract` able Pile.

The expendable pile 27 is merely a conventional piece of tubular piling of a` diameter necessary to carry the load and is adapted to be driven into the soil and remain there permanently to form a foundation for the retractable piling sections. This expendable pile 27 is fitted with two bulkheads 28 and 29 to enclose its interior and to render it watertight and buoyant when it is placed in the water.

The lower bulkhead 29 is preferably of thinner material, lightly secured, and is expected to tear loose when the pile section is driven into the soil. The upper bulkhead 28 is of stouter material and should resist the driving action, particularly as it will be near the surface of the soil. A driving ring 30 is fitted near the upper end of the piling which also serves to catch a latch for connecting a retractable piling section, and drain holes 31 are formed in the upper end of the pile section between the bulkhead 28 and the driving ring 30.

It should be noted that these expendable piling sections 27 can be madeA in any desired lengths, limited only by the handling equipment available.

The retractable piling section 32 also consists of tubing but preferably of thicker plating.

This piling generally is expected to be free standing in water. f and consequentlyV is designed to have suicient stiffness to resist columnar bending and side thrust. It may be made in standard lengths of fifty feet each. The retractable piling section 32, near its upperend is provided with a driving ring 33 and are each fitted with two bulkheads 34 and 35 near the end. These bulkheads are permanent, and are connected centrally by means of a pipe 36 which extends to the lower bulkhead 35 and is welded thereto while the upper end portionl of the pipe 36 is welded to the upper bulkhead 34, and extends beyond the same a short distance and is provided with a stop 37.

The lower end of each retractable piling section 32 is provided with a sleeve 38 which extends downwardly therefrom and the lower end of sleeve is reinforced with a ring 39 intended to engage the driving ring tted in the upper end of the next section below.

A pair of long flat bar springs 40 having their upper ends secured to the inside of the sleeve 38 and projecting downwardly therefrom with their lower ends'projecting a short distance below the end of the sleeve is provided with latches 41 which are arranged to slide over the driving ring 33 lon the adjacent pile section and latch thereon thereby preventing withdrawal. i

In Fig. 28 is shown a latch connection between the expendable and retractable piling sections 27 and 32 respectively and another latch between two retractable pile sections 32. The latch connection between the expend able and retractable pile sections is provided with toggle links 42 which have their outer ends pivoted as at 43 to ears 44 extending inwardly from the lower ends of the dat bar springs 40, while the inner ends of the toggle links are pivoted as at 45 to a tension bar 46. The upper end of the tension bar is provided with a threaded socket 47 to receive a threaded pin 48 having a flanged head portion 49 and also has a threaded recess 50 for receiving the lower threaded end of a rod 51, said rod being made in sections. The rods 51 for operating the toggle linkage in the pile sections are coupled together as follows: The sleeve 38 of the retractable section of piling 32 immediately above the expendable section is entered into the upper end of the expendable section. The at bar springs 40 are forced inward as the wedge shaped end of the latches 41 engage the driving ring 30 and then spring outward as the latches pass beyond the driving ring thus locking the two sections together. As the flat bar springs 40 are forced inward they will actuate the toggle system thus raising the operating rod 51 and finally Vallowing it to drop back into position. The sleeve 38 of the second section of the retractable pile 32 is then entered into the top end of the first causing its latches to operate as above described. In this case, however, the at bar springs 40 are not connected with the operating rod 51 and therefore do not move it. It will be noted that the operating rod in the first section has a threaded funnel 52 at its upper end. The operating rodl 51 in the second section has a threaded pin 48 on its lower end. After the second pile section has been lconnected to the first the ianged head 49 of this pin 48 will rest at the top of the threads in the funnel. To complete the connection the turning lever and'locking bar 53 at the top of the second section is lifted to a horizontal position and rotated thereby turning the rod in the second section and engaging the threads at its lower end. This completes the joint and the third section of piling may now belentered into the second, locked to it with the flat barsprings and its rod screwed into that below. This operation can be repeated to produce a string of piling of the desired length. On removing the retractable piling sections the operating rod 51 is pulled upwardly at the top of the string of piling section, thereby unlatching the joint between the expendable and retractable piling sections as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 28. The retractable piling sections are provided adjacent to each latch withl threaded forcing holes54 which are normally closed -by 'means of flush plugs 55. The string of retractable piling mayv then be raised vertically by means of a crane or derrick and the sections separated from each other by unscrewing the couplings one at a time, removing flush plugs 55 and depressing the springs by means of a multiple wrench 56 as indicated in Fig. 22. The toggle arrangement is not used for unlatching any joint except that between the expendable and retractable piling sections. The stop 37 on pipe 36 shown on the drawings is necessary to insure that the proper joint is unscrewed at the proper time as the piling section is being separated. It will be noted that all of the retractable pile sections are identical in the lower ends of spring latch bars 60 each having a `slot` 61 formed therein for engaging inclined latch projections 62. The inner ends of the toggle linkage 5.7 is pivoted as at 63 to the lower end of a tension bar 64, having a' threaded socket 65 for a threaded pin 66 having a ilanged head 67 and having a threaded recess therein for receiving the threaded end of an operating rod 68. In order to limit the inward movement of the spring latch bars 60 stops 69 are used. We may use riveting instead of welding for connecting the sleeve 70 to the lower end of the retractable pile section 32 and the reinforcing ring 71 therefor. The driving ring 72 in the upper end of expendable pile section 27 is also riveted in place.

Assuming a location has been selected for attempting to drill an oil well the drilling barge (using this term to designate the whole apparatus), is stocked with working materials such as mud, pipe, water, fuel and provisions and a crew aboard is towed to the site selected. The barge is then anchored. It is usual to drive a test pipe of small diameter to develop data on the penetration necessary to support the desired loads. From these data it will be possible to select a length of expendable piling which when driven into the soil to 'approximately its full length will provide the needed bearing. Such piling in desired lengths are fabricated ashore and oated to the location. Retractable piling sections in sufficient nurnber of units to reach the bottom are also fabricated ashore and oated to the site. In oating the expendable piling sections 27 the drain holes 31 may be used for attaching hooks or cables to the section. A similar hole 73 is formed in the retractable piling sections for this purpose.

The first operation to be performed after driving the test pile is to drive the piling. It is desirable to sink several or all of the piling simultaneously to obtain better alignment and to prevent undue strain lon a single pile caused by the lateral movement of the barge. This is done by building up several strings of piling until the lower end of each string of piling is about ive or ten feet above the bottom and then releasing them simultaneously,` the piles being intially driven into the soil by their own weight.

In handling the sections of piling shown in building up the strings of piling the pile section itself will be handled by a crane using hooks or the like for engaging the holes 31 in the expendable pile section and the holes 73 in the retractable pile sections.

In building up these strings of piling as each section of pile is set, it has to be held in place until another section is attached. The piling sections are lowered by means of a crane and a friction grip is closed on the pile section to take the weight of the pile string while the crane sets another section. Referring now to Figs. 3 to 7 which illustrates one form of gripping and releasing device we may use. Attached to thetop of the upper deck 2 adjacent.l to the upper end of the upper telescopic tube 11 isv a casti- 7 steel wedging ring 74 having a plurality of lugs 75 extending outwardly therefrom and attached to the upper deck 2 by means of bolts 76. The wedging ring 74 has an inclined inner face 77 for engaging the outer faces 78 of a plurality of wedge blocks 79, each having their inner edges adapted to engage the pile. The wedge blocks 79 are held in position by means of guides 80 which extend downwardly from a yoke 81. To allow a slight rocking movement of the wedge blocks '79 they are each provided with a pin 82 which extends into slots 83 in the guides 80. Attached to the opposite sides of the upper end of the telescopic tube 11 are a pair of transfer cylinders 84, having fluid pressure connections S and 86. Each transfer cylinder 84 has a piston 87 working therein having piston rods 88 having their upper ends secured to brackets 89 extending from the yoke S1' by means of nuts 90. The yoke 81 is further provided with flanges 91 to which lifting bars 92 are pivoted by means of pins 93.

In Figs. 26 and 27 we have shown another form of gripping and releasing device in which a pair of transfer cylinders 94 are attached to the upper portion of the upper telescopic tube 11. These transfer cylinders 94 each have a piston 95 working therein with its piston rod 96 extending upwardly and pivoted as at 97 to brackets 98 on a yoke 99. The transfer cylinders 94 have liuid pressure connection 100 and 101 which are controlled by means of a four way valve 102.

Leaf springs 103 are attached to the upper end of the telescopic tube 11 and extend downwardly therefrom and are provided at their lower ends with blocks 104 which extend through openings 105 in the telescopic tube 11 and have friction surfaces 106 on their inner faces. The outer surfaces of these blocks are inclined as at 107 to engage the inclined inner surfaces 108 of the yoke 99. When fluid pressure is admitted to the top of the transfer cylinders 94 the yoke will be lowered and the inclined surfaces 107 and 108 will engage each other thereby forcing the friction surfaces 106 in gripping engagement with the pile section.

In building up the strings of piling sections the expendable piling section 27 is first placed in the telescopic tubing 11 and 12; this is done by a crane having hooks for engaging the drain holes 31. The jaws of the gripping blocks being open, the crane raises the pile section into a vertical position and inserts the lower end into the upper end of the upper tube 11 and then lowers it until the upper end of the expendable pile section is a short distance above the yoke. The yoke is then lowered by means of the transfer cylinders for the friction blocks to engage the expendable pile. The hooks of the crane are then detached from the holes 31 in the expendable pile section and inserted in the holes 73 in the retractable pile section 32 which is raised into a vertical position by means of the crane and the sleeve 38` at its lower end inserted in the top of expendable pile section 27 with the latches 41 engaging the driving ring 30 thereby connecting the two sections together as shown in Fig. 28. The friction blocks then being released from the expendable pile section and the two sections lowered by means of the crane until the upper end of the retractable pile section is a short distance above the yoke. The yoke is then lowered again by means of the transfer cylinders for the friction blocks to engage the retractable pile section. The hooks of the crane are then detached from the retractable pile section just set and inserted in the holes 73 of another retractable pile section which is then raised into a vertical position and its sleeve 38 inserted in the top end of the retractable piling just set until the latches engage the driving ring 33 thereby coupling the two retractable piling sections together. The friction blocks are then released from the. first. retractable piling section and the three piling sections lowered by means ofthe crane until the upper endof this last section of the retractable pile is a short distance4 above theyoke. Thisoperation for-placing the retractable sections in position is then repeated until the: lower end ofi the string of pile section is just above tle ocean bed'.

It will be understood that as each piling section is placed in position the operating rod 51 has to be coupled together. This is done by swinging the turning lever 53 into a horizontal position and rotating the funnel until the parts are threaded together. The turning lever 53 is then swung downwardly in a vertical position where it will engage the stop 37 to limit the rotating movement of the funnel 52. After all of the strings of pilingl sections have been built up in the manner above described, another section is set up on the top so that the string extends well above the upper deck, the strings of. piling are then released from the friction blocks simultaneously and the piles are dropped and initially driven into the ocean bed by their own weight. The piles arev then power driven to the desired depth.

As the piling is driven into the oceain bed it is expected that the lower bulkhead 29 of the expendable' pile 27 will fail, allowing sand and mud to fill the pile up to the upper bulkhead 28. Water will also ow into the space above this bulkhead through the drain holes 31l located just below the driving ring 30.

During all this operation the whole weight has been supported by the buoyant member 10 of the barge. andv ample stability has been provided at all times. The whole structure however, being buoyant, will have vertical motion along the piles as a result of wave action. When all the piles are driven the weight of the upper and lower decks 2 and 3 and the superstructure 1 is transferred to the piling by fastening them to the piles.

This is accomplished in the following manner referring lirst more particularly to Figs. 26 and 27. The upper end of each telescopic tube 11 extends above the upper deck 2 and is open at the top into which the piling sections are inserted. When the piles are driven they upper retractable piling section has its top end portion which is open extending above the top of the telescopic tube 11. A lifting cap 109 having a tubular portion 110 which is reinforced at its lower end by means of a ring 111 is seated in the upper end of the retractable piling section 32 to engage the driving ring 33. The lifting cap 109 is provided with latches 112 adapted to engage the driving ring 33 and flat bar springs 113 for normally holding the latches in the latched position. For releasingl the latches they are provided with a toggle linkage 114 which is pivoted to the lower ends of the flat bar springs 113 as at 115 and pivoted centrally as at 116 to the lower end of a piston rod 117. having a piston 118 on its upper end working in an air cylinder 119 which mayv be controlled by a suitable valve located on the upper deck 2 for releasing the latches. The lifting cap 109 at' its upper end is provided with two cross beams 120 having top and bottom cover plates 121 and 122, centrally disposed connecting plates 123 and lifting eye bolt 124. The two cross beams 120 have their ends extending laterally beyond the sides of the piling and are provided with holes 125 to register with spaced holes 126 in the Teshaped lifting bars 92 for receiving pins 127 for connecting them together. The yoke 99 is mounted for sliding movement on the upper end of the telescopic tube 11. This yoke 99 is provided with ears 128 having holes 129 adapted to register with holes 126 in the T-shaped lifting bars 92 to receive pins 130 for connecting these members together. The yoke is also provided with spaced brackets 98 to which the upper ends of the piston rods 96 are pivoted as at 97. Th-e lower ends of said pistons are provided with pistons 95 working the transfer cylinders 94 which are rigidly secured to the upper telescopic tube 11 and the superstructure. These transfer cylinders 94 are controlled by a four-way valve 102 preferably mounted on the lower deck 3.

The nal object is to support. the upper and lower decks. 2 and 3 andthe superstructure 1 on the piling through the lifting cap 109, 'r-shaped lifting bars 92, yoke 99 and the transfer cylinders 94 which are an ntegral part of the superstructure.

In this transfer method the movement is taken between the pistons 95 and the transfer cylinders 94. T-shaped lifting bars 92, yokes 99 and piston rods 96 are connected to the lifting caps 109 which are set in the top of the piles. The top and bottom of the transfer cylinders 94 are connected to each other to allow fluid to pass from one to the other as the structure moves the cylinders 94, the pistons being held stationary by the connections to the piles. When all are set, the valve connections between the ends of the cylinders are closed thereby trapping the iiuid in the cylinders and stopping the motion. This can be made a gradual operation, if there is excessive movement of ythe structure by closing the valves slowly.` This stops the motion and leaves the cylinders -ready to take the weight of the structure. The cylinders may be connected to a high pressure manifold having valves for individual adjustment.

Up to this point the buoyant member of the barge is still supporting the major part of the load. The only load on the piles is that exerted by the structure to compensate for a change in the buoyancy of the buoyant member as the swells rise and fall. Due to the incompressibility of the hydraulic fluid, the structure is held in one position while the pressure varies with the change in buoyancy. As the ballast tanks 14 in the buoyant member are being lled, the pressure will increase until all theload is taken by the piling. The structure will then remain stationary. Additional lling of the ballast tanks beyond this point tends to submerge the buoyant member.

An additional means is necessary to prevent a swell from lifting the buoyant member high enough to hit the superstructure. To overcome the change in buoyancy after the ballast tanks 14 have been filled enough to leave the structure, we use for this purpose hydraulic rams 17 as shown more clearly in Fig. 23. By the use of these rams in sinking it, positive buoyancy can always be maintained in the buoyant member of the barge. It will be raised when the ballast tanks 14 are emptied by allowing the force of buoyancy to force the fluid out of the rams through a suitable throttling valve which affords control.

These rams 17 when under pressure are designed to exert a total downward force on the barge of about 600 tons which is sufficient to sink the barge about two feet deeper than it would normally oat due to ballasting alone. After the buoyant member has been submerged it is desirable to use wedging and shoring devices for hold-4 ing the buoyant member more securely in place.

Referring now to Figs. 11 to 21 inclusive which illustrates means for accomplishing this purpose. Each of the lower telescopic tubes 12 is rigidly secured to the buoyant member 10 and extends downwardly to a point near the bottom of the buoyant member where it is'provided with a recess 131 through which the piles extend. This recess 131 is open at the bottom having side walls 132 and top walls 133. The top wall 133 has a plurality of tubular trunks 134 connected thereto which extend to the deck of the buoyant member and are welded thereto as at 135. The tubular trunks 134 are formedwith offset plate portions 136 to form a passageway for the upper portion of the sliding clamps 137. The sliding clamps each have a contact engaging face 138, a vertical ange 139 and a horizontal flange 149 which is slotted as at 141. The horizontal flange 140 is mounted in a slideway 142 of a base casting 143 which is secured to the top wall 133 and is slotted as at 144 and provided with an ear 145. A toggle linkage 146 has one end pivoted to the sliding clamps 137 as at 147, and the other end pivoted to theear 145 of the base casting 143 as at 148. The central portion of the toggle linkage is pivoted as at 149 to an operating rod 150 which extends upwardly through slots 141, 144, tubular trunks134 supporting `10 bearing 151 to a bracket 152 which is secured to the upper end of the lower telescopic tube 12. The bracket 152 is provided with a guideway 153 for receiving a washer 154 on the threaded upper end 155 of the operating rod for receiving a nut 156.

The top end of the lower telescopic tube 12 is also provided with a plurality of shoring devices as indicated in Figs. 13 and 14. These shoring devices consist of small plate struts 157 hinged as at 158 to the top of the lower tube 11 so that they fold down out of the Way when the tubes are telescoped. After the barge has been sunk these plates are raised up as shown on the drawings so that they will bear on the pads 159 secured to the upper tubes 11 in the proper position. A retaining pin 160 is then slipped in place to keep the plate from being blown or washed out of position.

The operation of this device is as follows:

Prior to driving the piling each operating rod 150 ispushed down to its lowest position by means of the nuts 156 at the upper thread end of the rod 155. This actuates each toggle linkage 156 in the recess 131 at the bottom of the buoyant member 10 which retracts the sliding clamps 137 as indicated in Figs. 11 and 12. The piling is now inserted in the tubes 11 and 12 and driven. The end of the pile is prevented from catching on the sliding clamps by a permanent guiding wedge 161 attached to the inside of the lower tube 12 above the sliding clamps 137. After the piling vhas been driven and the weight of the upper and lower decks 2 and 3 and the superstructure 1 is transferred to the piling the ballast tanks 14 are lled and the buoyant member 10 sunk out of the way of the wave action. The four operating rods 150 are then pulled upward by means of the nuts 156 on the upper end 155l of each rod. This tends to straighten out each linkage 146 forcing each sliding clamp 137 into contact with the piling. All the operating rods 150 are tightened rmly so that the sliding clamps 137,

by their independent action, grip the piling snugly even` though the piling is slightly eccentric to the lower tube 12.

The shoring device is for use in keeping the buoyant member 10 from rising of its own accord either by action of storm waves or due to consumption of supplies within the barge.

It will be noted that the buoyant member 10 is kept from sinking beyond a predetermined point by the interlocking of rings 162 and 163 fastened to the top of the lower tube 12 and near the bottom of the upper tube 11 respectively. These rings have a wedging action which centers the tubes, take up play between the tubes, and thereby adds to the rigidity of the entire structure. The upper tube 11 is also provided with another reinforcing ring 164 around the bottom of the tube.

- In-Figs. 8, 9 and 10, we have shown a modified form oflifting cap 165 we may use. This lifting cap has a tubular lower portion 166 which is reinforced at its lower end by means of a ring 167. The upper end of this lifting cap is provided with cross beams 168 which extend through the tubular portion 166, having top and bottom cover plates 169 and 170 respectively. The top cover plate 169 has a lifting lug 171 mounted thereon formed with an eye 172 for receiving means for lifting the cap. The cross beams 168 have their ends extending laterally beyond the sides of the piling and are provided with holes 173 to register with the spaced holes 174 in T-shaped lifting bars 175, for receiving pins 176 which are similar to the lifting bars 92 and connections, above described. The lower tubular portion 166 which is reinforced at its lower end by means of the ring 167 is adapted to be seated in the upper end of the retractable piling section 32 to engage a driving ring 177 having an inclined inner surface 178. This lifting cap 165 is further provided with a pair of latches 179 adapted to engage the driving ring 177 and flat bai springs 180 for normally holding the latches in the latched position. The

at bar springs 180 areeachprovided at an intermediatel point with an ear 181 extending outwardly between a pair of hinge lugs 182 and pivoted thereto by means of a hingle pin 183. The lower portion of each flat bar spring extends laterally and is provided at each side edge with vertically extending anges 184 to which is pivoted adjacent to latches by means of pins 185 the outer ends of a pair of toggle linkages 136, each pair pivoted centrally as at 187 to actuating bars 183 which have their upper ends extending above the top cover plate 169 and each formed with a perforation 159 for attaching means for raising the same to release the latches 179 from the driving ring 177.

Assuming now that after a period of time it becomes necessary to remove the piling the operations would be as follows: The wedging devices for holding the buoyant member more securely in the submerged position are released by pushing the operating rods 150 down to their lowest position by means of the nuts 156 which actuate the toggle linkages 146 and retract the sliding clamps 137 from the pile. The wedge blocks 79 are then released from the pile. The buoyant member 10 is now raised after releasing plate strut locks 157 by pumping out ballast tanks 14, its upward movement being controlled by releasing the pressure in hydraulic rams 17, until the telescopic members 11 and 12 are closed. This will cause the weight of the superstructure to be supported by the telescopic tubes, the iiuid pressure in the transfer cylinder varying with wave action. When the buoyant member has developed sufficient buoyancy to support all the weight, the valves connecting the upper and lower portions of cylinder 94 are opened allowing the superstructure to move vertically with wave motion. Lifting cap 109 and T-shaped lifting bars 92 are then removed, freeing the superstructure from the piles. The operating rod 51 is then pulled upward at the top of the string of piling thereby actuating the toggle linkage 42 and releasing the latches 41 from the driving rings 30 in the expendable piling section 27 thereby detaching the retractable piling sections. The operating rod 51 should extend up to a point adjacent to the lifting cap 109. After the lifting cap hasbeen removed if the end of the operating rod 51 is not high enough to be easily gripped, an additional short length of rod 51 may be added. The hooks of a crane are then attached in the holes 73 in the top section of the retractable piling and the crane assisted by the buoyancy of the retractable piling sections raises the string of retractable piling sections 32 high enough to remove the first section. The wedge blocks 79 should then engage the next section while the top section is being removed. This is accomplished by removing the flush plugs 55 and using a pair of wrenches 56 as shown in Fig. 22 for detaching the latches from the driving rings 33. The crane can then remove this section. The remaining retractable piling section can then be removed in a similar manner.

It will be understood that this description applies to the removal of the retractable piling sections 32 for one pile but the same operations will apply to all the piles.

The barge will then be in the position shown in Fig. l ready to be transported to another location.

Although we have shown and described our invention in considerable detail, we do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown and described, but may use such substitutions, modifications or equivalents thereof, as are embraced within the scope of our invention, or as pointed out in the claims.

We claim:

1. A marine structure comprising a buoyant member', a framework mounted on said buoyant member, a platform surmounting said framework, first pile guides mounted on said buoyant member, second pile guides mounted on said platform in vertical alignment with said first pile guides, `said buoyant member and said first pile guides being in vertically separable relationship with said platform and said second pile guides, piles extending through said first and second pile guides and engaging a marine oor, means to secure the platform to the piles, submerging means to submerge said buoyant member, and clamping means associated with said first pile guides adjustable to and from said piles to restrict relative movement between said piles and said first pile guides.

2. A marine structure as in claim 1, said submerging means including ram means operatively interposed between said platform and said buoyant member.

3. A marine structure comprising an operating platform, support means to buoyantly support said operating platform at a substantial distance above water level, a pile extending through said platform and support means and in engageable relationship with the marine floor, said support means and said operating platform being in vertically separable relationship with each other, gripping means to frictionally engage said operating platform with said pile, submerging means to submerge said support means below water level, and clamping means to restrict relative movement between said pile and said support means, said gripping means comprising a yoke, a friction member arranged adjacent said pile, and means to move said yoke to force said friction member into frictional engagement with said pile.

4. A marine structure comprising an operating platform, support means to buoyantly support said operating platform at a substantial distance above water level, a pile extending through said platform and support means and in engageable relationship with the marine floor, said support means and said operating platform being in vertically separable relationship with each other, gripping means t'o frictionally engage said operating platform with said pile, submerging means to submerge said support means below water level, and clamping means to restrict relative movement between said pile and said support means, said gripping means comprising an annular yoke arranged concentrically to said pile, the annulus of said yoke being at least partially conical, and a plurality of tapered friction members arranged about the perimeter of said pile and held by said yoke in frictional engagement with said pile.

5. A marine structure comprising an operating platform, support means to buoyantly support said operating platform at a substantial distance above water level, said support means and said operating platform being in vertically separable relationship, a pile in engageable relationship with the marine floor, gripping means to frictionally engage said operating platform with said pile, and submerging means to submerge said support means below water level, said gripping means comprising an annular yoke arranged concentrically to said pile, the annulus of said yoke being at least partially conical, a plurality of tapered friction members arranged about tre perimeter of said pile in engageable relation with the conical annulus of said yoke and frictionally engageable with said pile, and means to move said yoke relative to said operating platform to force said tapered friction members into frictional engagement with said pile.

6. A marine structure comprising an operating platform, support means to buoyantly support said operating platform at a substantial distance above water level, a pile extending through said platform and support means and in engageable relationship with the marine floor, said support means and said operating platform being in vertically separable relationship with each other, gripping means to frictionally engage said operating platform with said pile, submerging means to submerge said support means below water level, and clamping means to restrict relative movement between said pile and said support means, said gripping means comprising an annular yoke arranged concentrically to said pile, a plurality of tapered friction members arranged about the perimeter of said pile and frictionally engageable with said pile, a conical member arranged concentrically to said pile, and means to move said yoke relative to gsail operatingplatform to force said taperedfriction members betweensaid conical membeland `said pile, thereby placing `said tapered friction members into frictional engagement with said pile.

. 7. A marine structurecomprising an operating platform, support means to buoyantly support said'operating platform at a substantial distance above water level, a pile extending through said platform and support means and in engageable relationshipwith the marine floor, said support means and said operating platform being in vertically separable relationship with each other, gripping means to frictionally ,engagesaid operating platform with said pile, submerging means to submerge said support means `below water level, and clamping means to restrict relative movement between said pile and said support means, said gripping means comprising a yoke adjacent said pile, a `plurality'of members arranged about the perimeter of said pile and forceable into engagement with said pile through movement of said yoke, and means to move said yoke.

8. A marine structure comprising an operating platform, support means toabuoyantly support said operating platform at a substantial distance above water level, a pile extending through said platform and support means and in engageable relationship with the marine oor, said support means `and said operating platform being in vertically separable relationship with each other', gripping means to frictionally` engage said operating platform with said pile, submerging means to submerge said support means below water level, and clamping means to restrict relative movement between `said pile and saidl support means, said grippingV means comprising an annular yoke arranged concentrically to said pile, a pluralityof members arranged about the perimeter of said pile and forceable into engagement with said pile through vertical movement of said yoke, and means to raise and lower said yoke.

9. A marine structure comprising an'operating platform and a hull `in vertically variable relationship, a pluralityof rst pile guides mounted to said hulland forming vertically unobstructed openings therethrough, a plurality of second pile guides mounted to said operating platform and forming vertically unobstructed openings therethrough',]each`l of said first pile guides being in registering relationship with one of said second pile guides, aplurality of piles in engageable relationship with the marine fioor, each of said piles being positioned in one of said first and second pile guides, a plurality of gripping means to frictionally engagesaid operating platformto said piles, each of said gripping means being associated `with one of said piles, submerging means to submerge Asaid hull below water level, and a plurality of clamping means adjacentsaid rst pile guides, each of said-clamping means being associated with' one of said piles .to restrict relative movement between said pile and said hulll.

10. A marine structure as in claim 9, each of said grippingv means comprisingan annular yoke -arranged concentrically to a pile, a plurality of members arranged about thecircumference of said pile and forceable into engagement with said pilethrough vertical movement of said yoke, and means Ato raise and lower said yoke. l 1. A. marine `structure as in claim` 9, each of said gripping means, comprising wedges around said pile, means to maintainsaid wedges in spaced relation around said pile when said'wedges are frictionally engaged or disengaged with respect to said pile, a yoke adjacent said `pile .to back up said wedges in frictional engagement with said pile, and means operatively interposed between said yokeand said platform to vary the spacing between said yoke and said platform.`

12. A-,marine structure as in claim 9, each of said gripping means comprising members around said pile and frictionally engaged orselectively frictionally disengaged with respect to saidpile,.`a yoke adjacent said pile,` a

sloping surface in cooperating relation with Asaid yoke to hold said members in frictional engagement with said pile, means to maintain said members in spaced relation about said pile when said members are frictionally engaged or disengaged with respect to said pile, and means operatively interposed between said yoke and said platform to vary the spacingbetween said yoke and said platform.

13. Al marine structure as in claim 9, each of said gripping means comprising wedges, a yoke adjacent said pile, means to hold said wedges in spaced relation about said pile, said means and said yoke being in relative movable relation, and further means operatively interposed betweensaid yoke and said platform to vary the spacing betweensaid yoke and said platform.

`14. A marine structure as in claim 9, each of said gripping means comprising wedges around said pile and frictionally engaged or selectively disengaged with respect to said pile, a yoke to back up said wedges in frictional engagement with said pile, means to maintain said wedges in horizontal spaced relation about said pile, said means and said yoke being in relative vertical movable relation, and further means operatively interposed betweensaid yoke and said platform to vary the spacing between said yoke and Vsaid platform.

Vl5. A barge for drilling oil wells located under a body of water, comprising a superstructure having upper and lower decks for supporting drilling equipment, a buoyant member for supporting the weight of the superstructure during the transportation of the barge from one locality to another, tubular piling guide members having their lower portions rigidly secured to the buoyant member andV extending` upwardly therefrom, tubular piling guide members having their upper portions rigidly secured to the superstructure and extending downwardly therefrom in telescopicrelation with the upwardly extending tubular piling -guide members of the buoyant member, piles mounted in the tubular telescopic guides having their lower ends driven into the bed of the body of water, means Afor lowering and raising the buoyant member in relation to the superstructure, means operated by fluid pressure for gripping the piles and transferring the weight ofthe superstructure from the buoyant member to the piles, a recess in the buoyant member adjacent to the lower end of each lower tube, a plurality of clamps mounted for sliding movement mounted in each recess for clamping the buoyant member to the piles in the submerged position, and means for retracting the clamps from 'the piles.

16. A barge, comprising a buoyant member supported in a body of water, a superstructure mounted above the body of water and supported by the buoyant member in spaced relation thereto, upper and lower tubular piling guide members in telescopic relation with each other connecting the buoyant member with the superstructure, piles mounted in the tubular telescopic guide members and having their lower ends 'driven into the bed of the body of water, fluid pressure means for submerging the buoyant member, interlocking wedging rings on the upper and lower tubular piling guide members for centering saidv upper and lower tubular piling guide members and for limiting the `sinking of the buoyant member, means mounted on the superstructure and operated by Huid pressure for transferring the weight o f the superstructure from the buoyant member to the piles', and means attached near the lower ends of certain of the lower tubular piling guide members for securing the buoyant member to the piles in the submerged position.

17. A barge for drilling oil wells or the like located under a body of water, comprising a superstructure havinga deck for drilling equipment, a buoyant member for supporting the weight of superstructure during the transportation of theV barge from one drilling location to another and for temporarily supporting the superstructure at the drilling location, a plurality of tubular members having their lower portions rigidly secured to the buoyant member and extending upwardly therefrom, a plurality of tubular members having their upper portions rigidly secured to the superstructure and extending above the same a short distance and their lower ends extending downwardly therefrom in telescopic relation with each of the upwardly extending tubular members of the buoyant member, a pile mounted in each of the telescopic tubular members and having its lower end driven into the bed of the body of water, a plurality of rams connecting the superstructure with the buoyant member, fluid pressure means for actuating the rams to submerge or raise the buoyant member in relation to the superstructure, a recess in the lower portion of the buoyant member adjacent to the lower end of each lower tube, a plurality of clamps mounted for sliding movement in each recess adapted to secure the buoyant member to the piles in the submerged position, shoring devices connecting the upper and lower tubes, interlocking wedging rings on the upper and lower tubular piling guide members for centering said guide members and for limiting the sinking of the buoyant member, and means mounted on the superstructure and operated by duid pressure for transferring the weight of the superstructure from the buoyant member to thepiles.

18. A barge for drilling oil wells located under a body of water, comprising a superstructure having a deck for supporting drilling equipment, a buoyant member supported in said body of water for supporting the weight of the superstructure during the transportation of the barge from one drilling location to another and for temporarily supporting the superstructure at the drilling location, lower tubular piling guide members having their lower portions rigidly secured to the buoyant member and extending upwardly therefrom, upper tubular piling guide members having their upper portions rigidly secured to the superstructure and extending downwardly therefrom in sliding telescopic relation with each of the upwardly extending tubular piling guides of the buoyant member, a pile formed in sections mounted in each telescopic member having its lower end driven into the bed of the body of water, latches for connecting the pile sections together, friction means for holding the piling sections while additional sections are placed in position, and means for releasing the friction means from the piles.

19. A barge for drilling oil wells located under a body of water comprising a superstructure having a deck for supporting drilling equipment, a buoyant member supported in said body of water for supporting the weight of the superstructure during the transportation of the barge from one drilling location to another and for temporarily supporting the superstructure at the drilling location, lower tubular piling guide members having their lower portions rigidly secured to the buoyant member and extending upwardly therefrom, upper tubular piling guide members having their upper portions rigidly secured to the superstructure and extending downwardly therefrom in sliding telescopic relation with each of the upwardly extending tubular piling guides of the buoyant member, interlocking wedging rings on the upper and lower tubular piling guide members, a pile formed in sections mounted in each telescopic member and having its lower end driven into the bed of the body of water, latches for connecting the pile sections together, a plurality of friction blocks mounted adjacent to the upper end of each upper tubular piling guide member, a yoke mounted above the friction blocks, and uid pressure means mounted below said friction blocks and operatively connected to the yoke to lower said yoke to throw the friction blocks into clamping engagement with the piles for holding the piling sections while additional sections are placed in position and for raising the yoke to release the friction blocks from the piles.

20. VA barge for drilling oil wells located under a body of water, comprising a buoyant member supported in said body of water, a superstructure having a `deck with drilling equipment thereon mounted above the body of waterand temporarily supported by the buoyant memberA in spaced relation thereto, a plurality f uppervand lower tubular telescopic members connectingthe superstructurey with the buoyant member and adapted to formguides for piles formed in sections mounted therein, a` pile mounted in each tubular telescopic member, said piles having their lower ends driven Vinto thebed ofthe body.y of water, latches for connectingthepile s ectionsftogether, a plurality of friction blocks 'mounted adjacent to the upper end of each upper tubular piling guide member, a yoke mounted above the `friction blocks, and fluid pres-v sure means mounted below said friction blocks 'and operatively connected to the yoke to lower said yokeY to throw the friction blocks intoclamping engagement with"the piles for holding a string of-piling'sectionsfpendantwhile additional sections are placed inhpositionand for raising the yoke to release the friction blocks simultaneously from the piles. 'v i 21. A barge for drilling oilA wells located under a body of water, comprising a superstructure havinga deck 'for supporting drilling equipment, a buoyant vmember sup: ported in said body oflwatei'y for supporting'the weight of the superstructure Aduring the 'transportation' of the bargefrom'one drillingn location to another and for'tern'- porarily supporting thesuperstructure at'the drilling location, .lower tubular vpiling yguide `members having" their lower portions rigidly secured to the buoyant member and extending upwardly therefrom, upper ltubular piling guide members having their upper portions' rigidly secured to the superstructure and extending downwardly therefrom in sliding telescopic relation with each of the upwardly extending tubular piling guides of thjevbuoyant member, a pile mounted in each pair of telescopic members hav-y ing its lower end driven into `the bed of the body of water, means for submerging the buoyant member, a recess formed in the buoyant member adjacent to the bottom en d of each of the lower piling guide members, a pluralv ity of sliding clamps mounted for individual adjustment for clamping the buoyant member to the piles, plate struts hinged to the top of the lower tubular piling guide members for engaging pads on the upper tubular piling guide members for holding the buoyant member in thesubmerged position from rising, and retaining means for holding the struts in contact with the pads.

22. A barge for drilling oil wells located under a body of water, comprising a buoyant member supported in said body of water, a superstructure having a deck with drilling equipment thereon mounted above the body of water, and temporarily supported by the buoyant member in spaced relation thereto, a plurality of upper and lower tubularl telescopic members connecting the superstructure with the buoyant member and constituting guides for piles mounted therein, a pile mounted in each tubular telescopic member, said piles being formed in sections, latches connecting the sections together, means for buil,d ing up a plurality of strings of piling in the tubular telescopic piling guide members, acrane for lowering the piling sections in each of the tubular telescopic piling guides, friction blocks mounted adjacent to the top end of each upper tubular telescopic piling guide member, a yoke mounted above the friction blocks actuated vby fluid pressure to press the friction blocks against the pile as each section of the pile section is set and to release the friction blocks from the pile for the crane to lower the pile after each pile section is attached thereto', and means for simultaneously releasing the pluralityof strings of piling. a

23. A barge for drilling oil wells located under a body of water, comprising a buoyantfrnernber adapted to be supported in said body of water, a superstructure having an upper and lower deck having drilling leqllip'rnent thereon mounted above the body of water and supported by the buoyant member in spaced relation theretof pluralityA of tubular telescopic' members connecting the buoyant member with the superstructure adapted to fir 17 piling guides,;apile"form`ed in sectionsK mounted vin each of the telescopic tubular piling guide members, latches for connecting the piling sections together, friction means for holding a stringof piling sections pendant in the tubular vpiling guide members while additional piling sections are placed in position, means for releasing and lowering the piles after each additional pile section is placed in position,.and means for releasing the piles simultaneously. i j

f 24. A barge for drilling oil wells located under a body of water, comprising a buoyant member adapted to be suported in said body `of water, a superstructure having a deck withrdrilling equipment thereon mounted above the body of water` and temporarily supported by the buoyant member in spaced relation thereto, a plurality of upper and lower tubular telescopic members connecting the superstructure with the buoyant member and adapted to form guides for piles mounted therein, a pile mounted in each tubular telescopic member, said piles being adapted to have their lower ends driven into the bed of the body of Water, a driving ring in each pile near its upper end, a lifting cap having al tubular portion mounted in the upper end of each pile, a pair of flat bar springs each havingone end secured to the tubular portion-of the lifting cap, latches formed on the other end of` each flat bar spring adapted to engage the driving ring in the pile for securing the lifting cap to the pile, a toggle linkage connecting the latches, a vertically movable rod having itslower end pivoted to the central portion of the togglelinkage adapted to be raised to release the latches from the driving ring in the piles for detachingthe lifting cap, a yoke mounted for vertical movement adjacent tothe top of each of the upper telescopic.

tubes, frictionblocks actuated by the yoke for gripping and releasing the piles, llifting bars connecting the lifting cap and yoke together, a pair of transfer cylinders rigidly secured to the upper end portion of `each upper telescopic tube, a piston working in each transfer cylinder, a piston rod for each piston having its outer end pivotally connected to the yoke, and fluid pressure means for re-v ciprocating the pistons and to transfer the weight of the superstructure from the buoyant member to the piles.

25. A barge for drilling oil wells located under` a body of water comprisinga superstructure having a deck for supporting drilling equipment, a `buoyant member for supporting the weight ofthe superstructure during the transportation of the barge from one drilling location to another, and for temporarily supporting the superstructure at the drilling location, a plurality of lower tubularmembers having their lower portions rigidly secured to the buoyant member and extending upwardly therefrom, a plurality of upper tubular membersV having their upper` portions rigidly secured to the superstructure and their lower ends extending downwardly therefrom in telescopic relation with each of the upwardly extending tubular members of the buoyant member, a pile formed in sections mounted in each of the tubular telescopic members, an expendable piling section secured to the lower end of each pile adapted to be driven into the ground to substantially its full length to form a support for the pile, a plurality of retractable pile lsections mounted on the expendable pile section, latches for connecting the pilesections together, a yoke actuated by uid pressure mounted for vertical movement adjacent to the top end of each of the uppertubular members, friction blocks engaged by the yoke for holding each pile while addtional pile sections are placed in position, means for supporting and lowering the pile after each additional pileksection is placed in position and means actuated by fluid pressure for releasing the piles simultaneously.

26. A barge for drilling oil wells located under a body of water, comprising a buoyant member adapted to be supported in said body of water, a superstructure having a deck, with drilling equipment mounted thereon disposedabove thebody of water and temporarily supported bythe buoyant member in spaced relation thereto, a plurality of pairs of tubular telescopic members each pair forming a piling guide connecting the buoyant member with the superstructure, a tubular pile mounted in each of-the tubular telescopic members adapted to have their lower` ends driven into `the bed of the body of water, a driving `ring in each pile near its upper end, a lifting cap having a tubular portion mounted in the upper end of each pile, a `pair of flat bar springs each having one end securcdto the tubular portion of the lifting cap having latches atl their lower ends adapted to engage the driving ring in the `pile for securing the lifting cap to the pile, la toggle linkage connecting the latches, a piston rod having its lower end pivoted to the central portion of the'toggle linkage, a piston on the upper end 0f the piston rod working a cylinder, fluid pressure for reciprocating the piston to release the latches from the drivingring-` in the upper end of the pile, a yoke mounted for vertical movement adjacent to the top of each of the upper telescopic members, friction blocks actuated by the yoke for gripping and releasing the piles, lifting bars connecting the lifting cap and yoke together, and fluid pressure `actuated means pivotally connected to the yoke adapted to transfer the weight of the superstructure from the buoyant member to the piles.

27. A barge for drilling oil wells located under a body of water, comprising a buoyant member adapted to be supported in said body of water, a superstructure having a deck for supporting drilling equipment thereon mounted above the said body of Water and supported by the buoyant member in spaced relation thereto, lower tubular piling guide members rigidly secured to the buoyant member and extending upwardly therefrom, tubular piling guide members rigidly secured to the superstructure and extending downwardly therefrom and in telescopic relation with the tubular piling guide members extending upwardly from Athe buoyant member, piles mounted in the tubular telescopic guides adaptedto have their lower ends driven into the bed of the body of water, fluid pressure means for submerging the buoyant member below 4the surface of thebody of water, means for transferring linkage' and means for vertically adjusting the operating rods individually to throw the sliding clamps into or out of Vengagement with the piles.

28. In` a Vmarine structure comprising a platform mounted over in vertically variable relation to a buoyant support, and a pile extending through said platform in engageablerelation with amarine iioor, the combination comprising wedges frictionally engaged or selectively disengaged with respect to said pile, a yoke adjacent said pile to back up said wedges in frictional engagement with said pile, means to holdsaid wedges in spaced relation aboutsaid pile when said wedges are fric.ionally engaged or selectively `frictionally disengaged from said pile, said means and said yoke being in relative movable relation, and further means operatively interposed between said yoke and said platform to vary the spacing between said yoke and said platform.

29. In a marine structure comprising a platform mounted over in vertically variable relation to a buoyant support, and a pile extending through said platform in engageable relation with a marine floor, the combination comprising wedges frictionally engaged with or selec-J tively disengaged from said wedges, means to maintain said wedges in horizontal spaced relation about said'pile when'` said wedges are frictionally engaged or selectively frictionally disengaged from said pile, said means and said' yoke being in relative vertical movable relation, and further means operatively interposed between said yoke and said platform to vary the spacing therebetween.

30. A marine structure comprising an operating platform, support means to buoyantly support said operating platform at al substantial distance above water level, said operating platform and said support means being in ver'- tically variable relationship, a pile extending through saidplatforrn and support means and in-engageable relationship with the marine floor, gripping means to fric'- tionally engage said operating platform with said pile, submerging means to submerge'said' support means below water level, and clamping means to restrct relative movement between said pile and said supportv means.

3l. A marine structure as in claim 30, said submerging means including ram means operatively intepos:d between said operating platform and said support means.

32; A marine structure comprising an operating platform, support means to buoyantly support said operating platform at a substantial distance above water level, said operating platform and said support means being in vertically variable relationship, a pile extending through said platform and support means and engaging the marine floor, gripping means to frictionally engage said operating platform with said pile, said gripping means comprising a yoke adjacent said pile, a memberadjace'nt the perimeter of said pile and forceable into engagement with said pile through movement of said yoke, and means to move said yoke, said marine structure further incuding submerging means to submerge said suport means below water level, and clamping means associated u ith said support means to restrict relative movement between said support means and pile.

33. A marine structure comprising an operating platform and a hull in vertically variable relat'onship, a plurality of tirst pile guides mounted to said hull and forming vertically unobstructed openings therethrough, a plurality of second pile guides mounted to said operating platform and forming vertically unobstructed openings therethrough, each of said first pile guides being in registering relationship with one Vof said second pile guides, a plurality of piles in engageable relationsh'p with the marine floor, each of said piles beingpositicned in one of said first and second pile guides, a pluraliy i gripping means to frictionally engage said operating platform to said piles, each of said gripping means being associated with one of said piles, and submerging means to submerge said hull below water level, said submerging means comprisingy means to push said hull relative to said operating platform.

34. A marine structure as in claim 33, said marine structure further including a plurality of clamping means adjacent said first pile guides, each of said clamping means being associated with one of said piles to restrict relative movement between said pile and hull.

35. A marine structure comprising an operating platformand a hull in vertically variable relationship, a plurality of first pile guides mounted to said hull and forming vertically unobstructed openings therethrough, a plurality of second pile guides mounted to said operating platform and forming vertically unobstructed openings therethrough, each of said first pile guides being in registering relationship with one of said second pile guides, a plurality of piles in engageable relationship wih the marine floor, each of said piles being positioned in one of said first and second pile guides, a plurality ofgripping means to frictionally engage said operating platform to said piles, each of said gripping means being associated with one of said piles, and submerging means to submerge said hull below water level, said submerging means comprising tirstmeans to push said hull down- 20 wardly relative to said operating platform, and second means to ballast said hull. ,v

36'. A marine structure asin claim 35, said marine structure further including a' plurality of clamping means adjacent said first pile guides, each of said clamping means being associated with one of said'piles to restrict relative movement between said pile and hull.

37. A marine structure comprising an operating platform, support means to buoyantly support said operating platform at al substantial distance above water level, a pile extending through said platform and support'means and in engageable relationship with the marine floor, gripping means to frictionally engage said operating platform'with said pile, submerging means to submerge said support means below water level, and clamping means to restrict relative movement between said pile and said support means, said gripping means comprising wedges around said pile, means to maintain said wedges in spaced relation around said pile when said wedges are frictionally engaged or disengaged with respect to said pile, a yoke adjacent said pile to back up said wedges in frictional engagement with said pile, and means operatively interposed between said yoke and said platform to vary the spacing between said yoke and said platform.

38. A marine structure comprising an operating platform, support means to buoyantly support said operating platform at a substantial distance above water level, a pile extending through said platform and support means and in engageable relationship with the marine floor, gripping means to frictionally engage said operating platform with said pile, submerging means to submerge said support means below water level, and clamping means to restrict relative movement between said pile and said support means, said gripping means comprising members around said pile and frictionally engaged or selectively frictionally disengaged with respect to said pile, a yoke adjacent said pile, a sloping surface in cooperating relation with said yoke to hold said members in frictional engagement with said pile, means to main'ain said members in spaced relation about said pile when said members are frictionally engaged or disengaged with respect to said pile, and means operatively interposed between said yoke and said platform to vary the spacing between' said yoke and said platform.

39. A marine structure comprising an operating platform, support means to buoyantly support'said operating platform at a substantial distance above water level, a pile extending through said platform and support mens and in engageable relationship with the marine' Hoor, gripping means to frictionally engage said operating platform with said pile, submerging means to submerge said support means below water level, and clamping means to' restrict'relative movement between said pile and said support means, said gripping means comprising wedges, av yoke adjacent said pile, means to hold said wedgesin spacedV relation about said pile, said means and said yoke being in relative movable relation, and further means operatively interposed between said yoke and said platform to vary the spacing between said yoke and said platform.

40. A marine structure comprising an operating platform, support means to buoyantly support said operating platform at a substantial distance above water level, a pile extending through said platform and support means and in engageable relationship with the marine floor, gripping means to frictionally engage said operating platform with saidpile, submerging means to submerge said support means below water level, and clamping means to restrict relative movement between said pile and said support means, said gripping means comprising wedges around said pile and frictionally engaged or selectively disengaged with respect to said pile, `a yoke to back up said wedges in frictional engagement with said pile, means to maintain said wedges in horizontal spaced relation about said pile, said means and said yoke being in rela-

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