US3209827A

US3209827A - Well drilling method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3209827A
Application number: US223335A
Authority: US
Inventors: John E Lacy; Fines F Martin
Original assignee: Shell Oil Co
Current assignee: Shell USA Inc
Priority date: 1962-09-13
Filing date: 1962-09-13
Publication date: 1965-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 1982-10-05
Also published as: GB991280A; NL297754A

Description

Oct. 5, 1965 J. E. LACY ETAL 3,209,827

WELL DRILLING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Sept. 15, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.|

INVENTORS:

J.E.LACY

F. F. MARTIN THEIR AGENT Oct. 5, 1965 J. E. LACY ETAL WELL DRILLING METHOD AND APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 13, 1962 FIG. 6

FIG.

FIG.4

INVENTORSZ J. E. LACY F. E MARTIN BY: Q. H. 741Q.

THEIR AGENT Oct. 5, 1965 J. E. LACY ETAL WELL DRILLING METHOD AND APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 15, 1962 FIG. 9

FIG.T

INVENTORS:

J. E. LACY F. F. MARTIN .H%

EIR AGENT 5kg? H Oct. 5, 1965 .1. E. LACY ETAL WELL DRILLING METHOD AND APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 13, 1962 INVENTORSZ J. E. LACY F. F MARTIN BY: fijJ' T R AGENT FIG.

United States Patent 3,209,827 WELL DRILLING METHOD AND APPARATUS John E. Lacy, Metairie, and Fines F. Martin, New Orleans, La., assignors to Shell Oil Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 223,335 12 Claims. (Cl. 166-46) This invention relates to the underwater drilling of oil and gas wells and pertains more particularly to methods and apparatus for installing a foundation pipe for an underwater well and subsequentl running well casing therein.

In recent years, the continued search for oil has resulted in developing methods and apparatus for drilling underwater wells at locations where water may range from 100 to 1500 feet or more in depth. In these locations it is customary to position the wellhead assembly at a considerable distance below the surface of water, preferably on the ocean floor, so that it is not a hazard to the navigation of ships in the area. One method of drilling and completing wells in this manner is described in copending patent application, Serial No. 830,538, filed July 30, 1959, and entitled, Underwater Well Completion Method.

One of the most important operations in the drilling of an underwater well is that of starting the well and installing the conductor or foundation pipe in the ocean floor, and subsequently installing well casing in the foundation pipe. This operation may be carried out in any one of several ways, one of which is described in US. Patent 2,929,610 which issued March 20, 1960, to H Stratton. In the described method of the patent, a drill bit drills a hole in the ocean floor slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the well conductor or foundation pile which is subsequently slipped or stripped down along the drill pipe and into the hole during which time drilling fluid is pumped down the drill pipe and up the outside of the foundation pipe. While such a method is generally satisfactory in many drilling locations, it depends upon the use of a collapsible or rectractable hole opener or auxiliary bit positioned above the drill bit at the bottom of the drill string. Thus, by use of expandible hole opener, a hole sufliciently large to insert a foundation pipe in the ocean floor may be drilled with the hole .opener being collapsed at the time the foundation pipe is stripped down the drill string and over the bit at the bottom thereof.

Collapsible bits are inherently not as rugged in construction as an ordinary cone or drag bit and hence when drilling in some locations, for example, in Alaskan waters and formations thereunder, are susceptible to damage upon encountering a boulder in the formation. On the other hand, in very soft formation a well conductor or foundation pipe may be inserted in the ocean floor without stripping it down along the pipe or drill string but by installing it by forcing it into the ocean floor while washing the earth core from the center thereof. A method of this type is described in copending application, Serial No. 223,368, filed September 13. 1962 and the present invention is an improvement on the method described.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for starting the drilling of an underwater well whereby a well conductor pipe or foundation pipe may be installed in a relatively soft ocean bottom in a manner so that substantial weight can be supported on the pipe as the well drilling operations progress.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method of installing a well conductor or foundation pipe in a soft ocean bottom while removing any earth from the interior of the pipe.

3,209,827 Patented Oct. 5, 1965 Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for guiding well casing or drilling equipment from a vessel on the surface of a body of water to a Well conductor or foundation pipe sunk in the ocean floor so that well drilling operations may be continued after the foundation pipe has been installed.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method whereby any substantial excess length of conductor pipe or foundation pipe extending above the ocean floor may be removed prior to continuing drilling operations at the well.

These and other objects of this invention will be understood from the following description taken with reference to the drawing, wherein:

FIGURES 1 through 9 are diagrammatic longitudinal views illustrating the sequential steps of employing weights to install a foundation pipe in the ocean floor, removing the weights from the foundation pipe, cutting off the eX- cess length of foundation pipe extending above the ocean floor, retrieving the cut-off section of foundation pipe back to the vessel, guiding a drill bit at the lower end of a drill string into the alignment with the top of the foundation pipe sunk in the ocean floor, continuing drilling of the well, withdrawing the bit from the well and the drill string to the vessel, guiding the lower end of a string of well easing into alignment with the top of the foundation pipe sunk in the ocean floor, and cementing the well casing in the well foundation pipe.

FIGURE 10 is a longitudinal view, taken in cross section, of one form of a bit guide for use in lowering a drill bit from the vessel to the ocean floor;

FIGURE 11 is a front elevation view of the bit guide of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a longitudinal fragmental. enlarged view of the hinge detail of the bit guide of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 13 is a diagrammatic longitudinal view, taken partly in cross section, illustrating the bit guide of FIG- URE 10 being secured to the lower end of a string of Well casing; and,

'FIGURE 14 is a plan view of the arrangement of the top of the guide line system at the barge or drilling vessel.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, a drilling vessel, barge or platform 11, of any suitable floating or floatable type is illustrated as floating on the surface of a body of water 12 while being substantially fixedly positioned over a preselected well location by suitable vesselpositioning means well known to the art, or by being anchored to the ocean floor 13 by

anchor lines

14 and 15 running to anchors (not shown). Equipment of this type may be used when carrying on well-drilling operations or well workover operations in Water varying from about feet to 1500 feet or more in depth. The drilling vessel 11 is equipped with .a suitable hoist (not shown), traveling block 18, and suitable hook or other connector means 19 adapted to connect to the top of a large-diameter pipe, such as a well foundation pipe, well casing or a running pipe string. The vessel 11 is also provided with other auxiliary equipment needed during well-drilling opera tions, such, for example, as a rotary table positioned on the operating deck, a hinged slip and spider assembly, etc. The derrick 16 is positioned over a drilling slot or well 20 which extends vertically through the barge in a conventional manner. When using equipment of the presen invention, a slot 20 in the vessel 11 may be either centrally located or extend in from one edge. Alternatively, drilling operations may be carried. out over the side of the vessel without the use of a slot. For example, the drilling vessel may be provided with a deck portion which overhangs the hull of the vessel.

In FIGURE 1 the operation of sinking a well conductor or foundation pipe 21 is illustrated, the foundation pipe 21 being sunk into the ocean floor 13 by the method and apparatus described in copending patent application, Serial No. 223,368, filed September 13, 1962. The foundation pipe 21 is shown as having been forced into the ocean floor by a series of

weight cans

22, 23, and 24 piled one on top of the other and on top of a weight support platform 25 which bears on the top of the foundation pipe 21. The

weight cans

22, 23, and 24 are hollow containers adapted to be filled with a weighting material but it is to be understood that weights of other designs could be employed. The weight cans 22, 23, and 24 have axial bores therethrough so that the weight cans surround a small-diameter pipe string 26. The lower end of the pipe string 26 is preferably provided with a jetting head 27 positioned a predetermined distance, say 6 to 8 feet, above the lower end of the foundation pipe 21. The upper end of the pipe string 26, which forms a wash string, is connected to a suitable source of pressure such as a pump (not shown) situated on the vessel 11.

As the foundation pipe 21 is forced into the ocean floor by the weight of the

weight cans

22, 23, and 24, water is pumped down through the wash pipe 26 and out the jet head 27 so as to wash out the earth core 28 which is shown entering the bottom of the foundation pipe 21. As fast as the core 28 approaches the jet head 27, it is disintegrated by the jetting fluid and washed up the annular space between the inside surface of the foundation pipe 21 and the outside surface of the wash pipe 26. It is essential that a core remain at the bottom of the foundation pipe 21, in this particular method, in order to prevent water from being forced out the lower end of the foundation pipe 21 and up along the outside thereof. At the time the foundation pipe is lowered through the water and inserted into the ocean floor,it carries with it the lower ends of two or

more guide lines

36 and 31. The lower ends of the guide lines 30 and 31 are secured to the foundation pipe in any suitable manner, as by cable or

sling eyes

33 and 34 on the outside of the pipe 21, while the guide lines extend upwardly through the water to the vessel 11 with their upper ends supported in a resilient manner, preferably by constant-tension hoists 36 and 37. As shown in FIGURE 14, preferably a threeline system is employed with

guide lines

30, 31, and 32, which extend upwardly through an opening 35 in a deck 39 of the vessel 11 to

hoists

36, 37, and 38. A fourth winch or hoist 40 is provided for containing an independent retrieving line 41. If desired, guide line rings 42 and 43, having vertical openings therethrough, may be provided near the top of the foundation pipe 21 for holding the guide lines 30 and 31 close to the foundation pipe.

In FIGURE 2, with the foundation pipe 21 having been driven to refusal into the ocean floor, the

weight cans

22, 23, and 24 are lifted upwardly to the vessel together with the wash pipe 26 and the weight support platform 25 secured thereto. It will be noted in FIGURE 2 that a substantial length of foundation pipe 21 extends above the ocean floor 13. In the event that it is desired to position a wellhead assembly substantially on the ocean floor, it is necessary to cut off the portion of foundation pipe extending above the ocean floor. For this purpose, an inside pipe cutter 44 (FIGURE 3) is secured to the lower end of a running pipe string 45 and lowered from the vessel 11 down into the top of the foundation pipe 21. In order to align the pipe cutter 44 and bring it into register with the top of the foundation pipe 21 the pipe cutter 44 is detachably positioned within a guide cage 46 which is adapted to slide up and down the guide lines 30 and 31.

In FIGURE 3 the guide cage 46 and the pipe cutter 44 are shown as descending to the foundation pipe 21. When the pipe cutter 44 enters the top of the foundation 21 the guide cage 46 rests on the top of the foundation pipe 21. Any suitable type of inside pipe cutter may be employed, such as one which is manipulated by the rotation of the running pipe string 45 from the vessel 11. In FIGURE 4 the pipe cutter 44 is shown with its cutters 47 or other support elements expanded under the lower end of the upper section of foundation pipe 21a, which has been cut off, and is illustrated as being raised to the surface along the guide lines 30 and 31 together with the guide cage 46 which is merely resting on top of the pipe section 21a. The guide line rings 42 and 43 prevent the. pipe section 21a from falling away from the guide lines 30 and 31. After the equipment shown in FIGURE 4 has been returned to the vessel 11, a drill string 48 having' a drill bit 49 secured to the lower end thereof is made up and lowered from the vessel 11 to the foundation pipe 21 with the bit 49 being secured within a guide cage 46. In this arrangement, if desired, the guide cage 46 may be provided with a retrieving line 41. Thus, with the bit 49 being on the bottom of the well borehole 50, as shown in FIGURE 6, the retrieving line 41 can be pulled up to retrieve the guide cage 46 prior to rotating the drill string 48 by a rotary table 51 on the vessel 11. Alternatively, the guide cage 46 may be left on the top of the foundation pipe 21 as drilling operations continue.

After drilling hole 50 (FIGURE 7) to the desired depth, the drill string 48 and drill bit 49 are pulled back to the vessel 11. A string of casing 52, of a diameter slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the foundation pipe 21, is made up as it is lowered from the vessel 11 by connecting short sections of easing together. Prior to lowering the lower end of the casing 52 into the water, the guide cage 46 is secured to the lower end thereof and the guide! cage in turn is secured to the guide lines 30 and 31 so that the lower end of the well casing string 52 may be guided into the register with the bore of the foundation pipe 21. When the guide cage 46 is seated on the top of the foundation pipe 21, a jarring downward movement of the casing string 52 causes the lower end of the casing string to be disengaged from the guide cage 46 and it is free to be lowered into the foundation pipe 21 and the borehole 50. The lowering of the casing string 52 into place is accomplished by connecting the upper end of the casing string 52 to the lower end of a running pipe string 53 in any suitable manner, as by screw threads or a J-slot latch device. The running pipe string 53 is normally a small diameter pipe string used for lowering casing or other well equipment down through the water to the wellhead at the ocean floor.

The upper end of the casing string 52 is preferably, although not necessarily, provided with a large flange or stop member 54 which are wider than the bore of the foundation pipe 21 so as to seat on the top thereof. Additionally, if desired at this time, a drilling wellhead assembly including blowout preventers, etc., could be secured to the top of the casing string 52 and lowered into place at the top of the wellhead for further drilling operations.

With the casing string 52 in the position shown in FIG- URE 9, the running string 53 can be employed as a cementing string and used to pump cement down through the running string 53 and down through the casing string 52 so as to be forced up the annular space outside the casing string 52, that is, between the outer surface of the casing string 52 and the wall of the borehole 50 and, if desired, up between the outer surface of the casing string 52 and the inner surface of the foundation pipe 21.

One form of a bit guide 46 is shown in FIGURES 10, 11 and 13 as comprising a cylindrical housing 56 comprising two halves hinged on one side by a hinge pin (not shown) and provided on the other side with a connector pin 58 for connecting the halves of the housing together. The housing 56 is provided with an outwardly flaring skirt 59 at its lower end to aid in positioning the guide on the upper end of the foundation pipe 21. Suitable means, such as slots in the skirt, are provided for slidably mounting the bit guide 46 on the guide lines 30, 31, and 32. In addition to the slots 60, channel-iron guides 61 are provided extending vertically on the outside of the bit guide 46 above the slots 60 to hold the guide lines against the outer surface of the guide cage 46. Retainer or keeper pins 62 keep the cables from slipping out of the channel guides 61.

To position the bit guide 46 (FIGURE on a drill bit 49, the guide cage is provided with two sets of

latch fingers

63 and 64 which extend into the bore of the guide cage a distance sufiicient so that the vertical opening between the latch fingers on each horizontal level will not allow the bit 49 to pass therethrough when the latch fingers are in their horizontally-extended and operative position, as shown in FIGURE 10. As shown in FIG- URE .12, each latch finger is movable in a vertical plane about a horizontal pivot pin 65, but is normally held in the horizontally-extended position by means of a shear pin 66. Upon application of a predetermined weight to the latch fingers 64, the shear pins 66 break allowing the bit 49 (FIGURE 10) to pass downwardly through the bit guide or guide cage 46 and into the foundation pipe 21 (FIGURE 5) so that drilling operations can proceed. When the latch fingers 64 move downwardly they move into vertical openings 67 cut in the wall of the housing 56. Upon withdrawing the drill bit 49 from the well, the latch fingers 63 contact the bit and the bit, as it is withdrawn, pulls the bit guide 46 back to the vessel if the bit guide or guide cage 46 has not been previously retrieved by means of the retrieving line 41 (FIGURE 5). In originally lowering the drill bit to the foundation pipe 21 (FIGURE 5), the guide cage 46 (FIGURE 10) would normally hang by means of the upper latch fingers 63 on the top of the bit. While a guide cage employing latch fingers for securing the bit therein has been described, it is understood that any other suitable retainer means can be employed to hold the bit within the guide cage 46 as it is being lowered to the well. For example, instead of using guide fingers 64, a series of shear rods could extend horizontally across the guide cage 46, or a readilyruptured plate could be positioned below the bit with a plate having a hole through the center of it being positioned above the bit. In the event that latch

fingers

64 and 63 are provided in a guide cage used to guide the lower end of the casing string 52 (FIGURE 13) into place, the lower end of the casing string 52 is provided with a flange 68 or other suitable stop means larger than the horizontal distance between the latch fingers 63 so that the guide cage 46 could not drop off the end of the casing string 52 when it is being run down through the water to the well. Upon seating the guide cage 46 on the top of the foundation pipe 21, downward pres sure on the casing string 52 would cause the shear pins in the lower latch fingers 64 to shear allowing the casing string to pass therethrough. In the event that the casing string has a flange 54 (FIGURE 9) that must pass through the guide cage 46, the upper latch fingers 63 would shear at this time. However, generally after bringing the lower end of the well casing 52 into register with the top of the foundation pipe 21, as shown in FIGURE 8, the guide cage 46 would be retrieved by the retrieving lines 41 before securing other equipment to the top of the casing string 52.

We claim as our invention:

1. A method of starting an underwater well in the ocean floor and sinking strings of well casing therein, said method comprising the steps of (a) attaching guide lines.to large-diameter pipe and extending them substantially in engagement with the outer surface thereof above the point of attachment,

b) lowering said pipe and guide lines vertically from a floating vessel and through the water to the ocean floor, and

(c) forcing the pipe by independent weighting means into an undrilled portion of the ocean floor to the desired depth in an anchored manner.

2. A method of starting an underwater well in the ocean floor and sinking strings of well casing therein, said method comprising the steps of (a) attaching guide lines to the upper end of a largediameter pipe, and extending them substantially in engagement with the outer surface thereof above the point of attachment,

(b) lowering said-pipe and guide lines vertically from a floating vessel and through the water to the ocean floor,

(c) sinking the pipe to the desired depth in the ocean floor,

(d) mounting a guide cage on the guide lines,

(e) inserting the lower end of a casing string in said guide cage and securing said casing string in said guide cage for normal movement therewith until said cage is positioned on the top of the large-diameter pipe in the ocean floor,

(f) lowering said casing string and cage from said vessel with said cage being guided along said guide lines to the top of said large-diameter pipe,

(g) disengaging said guide cage from the lower end of said casing string so it is free to move down through said large-diameter pipe to a desired position in said drill hole, and

(h) pulling said guide cage back to the vessel.

3. A method of drilling an underwater well in the ocean floor and sinking strings of well casing therein, said method comprising the steps of (a) attaching guide lines to the upper end of a largediameter pipe and extending them substantially in engagement with the outer surface thereof above the point of attachment,

(b) lowering said pipe and guide lines vertically from a floating vessel and through the water to the ocean floor,

(c) sinking the pipe to the desired depth in the ocean floor,

(d) mounting a guide cage on the guide lines and installing therein a drill bit secured to the lower end of a drill string and secured in said cage for normal movement therewith until said cage is positioned on the top of the large-diameter pipe in the ocean floor,

(e) lowering said drill string and bit in said cage with the cage being guided along said guide lines to an axially aligned position on the top of said largediameter pipe,

(f) releasing said bit from said guide cage for downward movement therefrom and forcing said bit and drill string downwardly into contact with the formation at the bottom of the large-diameter pipe,

(g) rotating the drill pipe and bit to drill more hole in said formation,

(h) withdrawing said guide cage and drill hit back to the vessel,

(i) inserting the lower end of a casing string in said guide cage and securing said casing string in said guide cage for normal movement therewith until said cage is positioned on the top of the large-diameter pipe in the ocean floor,

(j) lowering said casing string and cage from said vessel at the end of a running pipe string with said cage being guided along said guide lines to the top of said large-diameter pipe,

(k) disengaging said guide cage from the lower end of said casing string by manipulation of said string so it is free to move down through said large-diameter pipe to a desired position in said drill hole, and

(l) pulling said guide cage back to the vessel.

4. A method of claim 3 including the step of pumping cement down said running pipe string and through the casing string to cement the casing string in the desired hole.

5. A method of drilling an underwater well in the ocean floor and sinking strings of well casing therein, said method comprising these steps of (a) attaching guide lines to the upper end of a largediameter pipe and extending them substantially in engagement with the outer surface thereof above the point of attachment,

(c) sinking the pipe to the desired depth in the ocean floor,

(d) cutting oif at a desired level above the ocean floor that portion of pipe not sunk in the ocean floor,

(e) withdrawing to the vessel the cut-off portion of (f) mounting a guide cage on the guide lines and installing therein a drill bit secured to the lower end of a drillstring and secured in said cage for normal movement therewith until said cage is positioned on the top of the large-diameter pipe in the ocean floor,

(g) lowering said drill string and bit in said cage with the cage being guided along said guide lines to an axially aligned position on the top of said large-diameter pipe,

(h) disengaging said bit from said guide cage and forcing said bit and drill string downwardly into contact with the formation at the bottom of the large-diameter pipe,

(i) rotating the drill pipe and bit to drill more hole in said formation,

(j) withdrawing said guide cage and drill bit back to the vessel,

(k) inserting the lower end of a casing string in said guide cage and securing said casing string in said guide cage for normal movement therewith until said cage is positioned on the top of the large-diameter pipe in the ocean floor, I

(l) lowering said casing string and cage from said vessel at the end of a running pipe string with said cage being guided along said guide lines to the top of said large-diameter pipe,

(m) disengaging said guide cage from the lower end of said casing string by manipulation of said string so it is free to move down through said large-diameter pipe to a desired position in said drill hole,

(n) pulling said guide cage back to the vessel, and

(o) pumping cement down said running pipe string and through the casing string to cement the casing string in the desired hole.

6. Apparatus for inserting equipment in a well being drilled in an ocean floor from a floating drilling vessel, said apparatus comprising,

(a) a large-diameter pipe adapted to be installed in the ocean floor and anchored therein,

(b) guide line means secured below the upper end of said large-diameter pipe and extending upwardly substantially along the outer surface of the pipe to a vessel on the ocean surface where the upper ends are secured,

(c) a guide cage having a vertical opening therethrough and being slidably mounted on said guide line means between said vessel and said large-diameter pipe, and

(d) releasable latch means carried by said guide cage and extending in an operative position into the opening of said guide cage a distance sufficient to engage an object positioned therein as said guide cage moves downwardly along said guide line means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said holding means are finger-like latch means normally extending in a horizontal position into the vertical opening of said guide cage and including pressure-releasable anchor means operatively engaging said latch means.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said guide line means are anchored at their lower end to the outer surface of said large-diameter pipe a selected distance from the upper end thereof.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 including guide ring means secured to said large-diameter pipe near the top thereof and surrounding said guide line means in a freely slidable manner.

10. A method of starting an underwater well in the ocean fioor and sinking strings of well casing therein, said method comprising the steps of (a) attaching guide lines to a large-diameter pipe and extending them substantially in engagement with the outer surface thereof above the point of attachment,

(c) forcing the pipe into an undrilled portion of the ocean floor to the desired depth, and

(d) cutting off at a desired level above the ocean floor that portion of pipe not sunk in the ocean floor.

11. The method of claim 10 including the step of withdrawing to the vessel the cut-off portion of pipe.

12. A method of drilling an underwater well in the ocean floor and sinking strings of well casing therein, said method comprising the steps of (a) attaching guide lines to a large-diameter pipe and extending them substantially in engagement with the outer surface thereof above the point of attachment,

(b) lowering said pipe and guide lines vertically from 'a'fioating vessel and through the water to the ocean floor,

(c) installing the pipe to the desired depth in an anchored manner in the ocean floor,

(f) disengaging said bit from said guide cage and forcing said bit and drill string downwardly into contact with the formation at the bottom of the large-diameter pipe, and

(g) rotating the drill pipe and bit to drill more hole in said formation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 987,266 3/11 Smith 175-9 1,853,379 4/32 Rotinofi 17567 2,684,575 7/54 Pryor et al 166-665 2,891,770 6/59 Bauer et al. 175-7 3,012,610 12/61 Bauer et al. 166-665 3,025,916 3/62 Prick l-7 3,095,041 6/63 Rasmussen 166-235 CHARLES OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A METHOD OF STARTING AN UNDERWATER WELL IN THE OCEAN FLOOR AND SINKING STRINGS OF WELL CASING THEREIN, SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF (A) ATTACHING GUIDE LINES TO LARGE-DIAMETER PIPE AND EXTENDING THEM SUBSTANTIALLY IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OUTER SURFACE THEREOF ABOVE THE POINT OF ATTACHMENT, (B) LOWERING SAID PIPE AND GUIDE LINES VERTICALLY FROM A FLOATING VESSEL AND THROUGH THE WATER TO THE OCEAN FLOOR, AND (C) FORCING THE PIPE BY INDEPENDENT WEIGHTING MEANS INTO AN UNDRILLED PORTION OF THE OCEAN FLOOR TO THE DESIRED DEPTH IN AN ANCHORED MANNER.