US3693362A - Protection of underwater equipment by immersion - Google Patents

Protection of underwater equipment by immersion Download PDF

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Publication number
US3693362A
US3693362A US36521A US3693362DA US3693362A US 3693362 A US3693362 A US 3693362A US 36521 A US36521 A US 36521A US 3693362D A US3693362D A US 3693362DA US 3693362 A US3693362 A US 3693362A
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United States
Prior art keywords
tower
housing
fluid
water
pivot assembly
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US36521A
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English (en)
Inventor
Theodore E Leonard
James R Lloyd
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co
Original Assignee
Exxon Production Research Co
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Exxon Production Research Co filed Critical Exxon Production Research Co
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Publication of US3693362A publication Critical patent/US3693362A/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B63B35/44—Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
    • B63B35/4406—Articulated towers, i.e. substantially floating structures comprising a slender tower-like hull anchored relative to the marine bed by means of a single articulation, e.g. using an articulated bearing

Definitions

  • buoyantly supported tower Such structures generally include a base fixed to the submerged bottom. an elongated tower provided with one or more buoyancy chambers near its upper end, and a pivot assembly that connects the tower to the base and permits the tower to sway in response to wind, waves and ocean currents.
  • a serious problem involved in insuring an extended operational life for a buoyantly supported tower is protecting the pivot assembly from mechanical wear and adverse effects of the sea water environment.
  • These pivot assemblies must necessarily be massive structures and normally include a universal joint or ball joint.
  • the pivot must be capable of undergoing frequent deflections of several degrees from vertical in any direction caused by waves acting on the upper part of the tower. During storms the tower may occasionally sway to an angle of five to ten degrees. Maintenance of a lubricant between and around the sliding surfaces of the pivot during its extended operational life is necessary to minimize wear and avoid marine fouling, either of which could lead to freezing of the joint.
  • the apparatus of the invention is useful in controlling the operating environment of an underwater device and will generally alleviate the problems outlined above.
  • the apparatus of the invention is particularly useful in conjunction with structures of the type including a base anchored to a submerged bottom, an elongated tower provided with a buoyancy chamber near its upper end, and a pivot assembly that connects the tower to the base and permits the tower to sway in response to environmental forces.
  • the present apparatus includes a fluid tight, open bottom housing adapted to enclose the pivot assembly within a bath of fluid that is lighter than water.
  • a collector assembly is normally positioned above the bottom of the housing to collect any fluid that escapes.
  • the apparatus may also include a means for transferring fluid from the collector assembly back to the housing.
  • a lubricant is normally introduced into the housing which surrounds the pivot assembly.
  • the housing is preferably attached to the tower structure above the pivot and configured to permit the pivot assembly to remain immersed in the protective fluid regardless of the angle of tower sway.
  • the collector assembly should be positioned above the open bottom of the housing so that it will trap any fluid which escapes the housing as a result of tower sway or overfilling and thereby prevent pollution of the seaway.
  • the means for transferring fluid from the collector assembly back to the housing serves to replenish the fluid in the housing and to insure that the housing always contains sufficient fluid to cover the pivot assembly.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation of a buoyantly supported tower with its pivot assembly enclosed within a housing constructed in accordance with the invention to serve as a fluid bath.
  • a collector assembly is positioned above the housing.
  • FIG. 2 depicts an alternative form of collector assembly for trapping fluid that escapes the housing.
  • FIG. 1 depicts a buoyantly supported tower 13 installed in a body of water 11.
  • the tower base 15 is shown anchored to the submerged bottom 17 by pilings 19.
  • a pivot assembly such as universal joint 21 connects the tower to the base, permitting the tower to sway in response to environmental forces. Buoyancy is provided by chamber 23 positioned near the upper end of the tower.
  • a platform 25 situated atop the tower supports surface equipment used for drilling, production and associated operations.
  • a fluid tight, open bottom housing 27 is shown connected to the structure in close proximity to the pivot.
  • the housing should be constructed of an impermeable material that is insoluble in water and that is capable of retaining a fluid lighter than water, i.e., a fluid having a specific gravity lower than that of water.
  • the fluid will be a lubricant; however, other fluids which both protect the pivot assembly and are lighter than water can also be employed.
  • an inert gaseous environment might be an optimum medium for some pivot assemblies.
  • the housing shown enclosing the pivot assembly is a hemispherical shell, other configurations, e.g., cylindrical, are also contemplated to be useful.
  • the housing extends downwardly to a level somewhat below that of the pivot assembly when the tower is vertical. It should also be noted that for any particular housing diameter there exists an amount of wall overhang that will insure that the pivot assembly remains in the fluid bath even when the tower sways 5 to in FIG. 1 a collector assembly 29 is shown connected to the tower at a point above the open bottom of the housing.
  • This fluid tight assembly is constructed of an impermeable material and will collect any fluid that escapes from the housing.
  • a fluid lighter than water e.g., oil
  • the collector assembly shown is a conical shell attached to the lower part of the tower. It will be apparent that other configurations would also be suitable, provided they have a diameter sufficiently greater than that of the housing. Such assemblies should also preferably permit fluid to migrate upwardly so that it can be gathered conveniently at a high point within the assembly. Rather than mounting the collector assembly on the tower structure, as shown in FIG. 1, it may be desirable to employ an outer, downwardly extending skirt around the housing. Such a skirt assembly is designated by numeral 30 in FIG. 2. This skirt will collect any lighter-than-water fluid escaping from the housing in the same fashion as the conical structure shown in FIG. 1.
  • Means for transferring fluid from the collector assembly to the housing may include a pump and two or more conduits.
  • conduit 31 is shown extending from the top of the collector assembly to platform 25 at the surface. Gravity flow through conduit 31 is insured by the difference between the specific gravities of water and the fluid contained in the collector assembly.
  • a return reservoir 33 may be used to store fluid on or in proximity to the platform after it is conducted to the surface from the collector assembly. Pump 35 and conduit 37 are used to pump fluid from the return reservoir back to the housing.
  • An auxiliary standby source of fluid is depicted as 39 and may be used to make up any losses incurred by the system. While the transfer means shown includes surface equipment it will be apparent that similar apparatus could be mounted on the ocean floor.
  • the apparatus of the invention normally will be installed on the buoyant tower before it is positioned on the ocean bottom.
  • Housing 27 may be filled with fluid prior to installation ifa diaphragm, which may be temporary, is used to cover the open bottom and thus prevent fluid from escaping.
  • the housing will be filled after the apparatus is installed. This is accomplished by feeding the fluid into tank 39 and using pump 35 to transfer the fluid to housing 27 via conduit 37. Placement of the proper volume of fluid into the housing can be assured by carefully gauging the volume pumped. ln lieu of this, fluid may be pumped in quantities sufficient to overflow the housing and establish a return flow from the collector assembly 29 through conduit 31 to the return reservoir 33. Establishment of return flow will insure that the housing is full of fluid.
  • a base provided with means for anchoring the same at the bottom of a body of water;
  • a buoyancy chamber attached to said tower near the upper end and positioned to remain at least partially beneath the water surface when the tower is installed in said body of water;
  • a fluid-tight, open bottom housing attached near the lower end of said tower and extending downwardly about said pivot assembly to retain a lighter-than-water lubricating fluid around said pivot assembly as the tower sways in response to environmental forces.
  • Apparatus as defined by claim 1 including a means for collecting any of said fluid that escapes said housing, said means situated above said open bottom of said housing.
  • Apparatus as defined in claim 4 including means for transferring fluid from said collecting means to said housing.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
US36521A 1970-05-12 1970-05-12 Protection of underwater equipment by immersion Expired - Lifetime US3693362A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US3652170A 1970-05-12 1970-05-12

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US3693362A true US3693362A (en) 1972-09-26

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US (1) US3693362A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2091451A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4126010A (en) * 1976-07-23 1978-11-21 Compagnie Generale Pour Les Developpements Operationnels Des Richesses Sous-Marines "C.G. Doris" Oscillating installation for installing in a body of water and method for its construction
US4158517A (en) * 1977-04-08 1979-06-19 Compagnie Generale Pour Les Developpements Operationnels Des Richesses Sous-Marines Oscillating structure for exploration at sea
DE2847157A1 (de) * 1978-10-30 1980-05-14 Gutehoffnungshuette Sterkrade Kugelgelenk mit schutzeinrichtung gegen seewassereinwirkung
US4455108A (en) * 1981-02-10 1984-06-19 M.A.N. Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nurnberg Aktiengesellschaft Anchoring system for a sea station supported on floating bodies
US20110073821A1 (en) * 2009-04-30 2011-03-31 Unified Marine, Inc. Trailer Jack With Safety Features

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2755592C2 (de) * 1977-12-14 1983-02-10 Bilfinger + Berger Bauaktiengesellschaft, 6800 Mannheim Verbindung zwischen einer Überwasserplattform o. dgl. und einem Fundament

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3454083A (en) * 1967-06-29 1969-07-08 Mobil Oil Corp Fail-safe subsea fluid transportation system
US3455270A (en) * 1968-05-08 1969-07-15 Exxon Research Engineering Co Protective dome for underwater mooring swivel
US3500841A (en) * 1968-08-01 1970-03-17 Campbell F Logan Fluid recovery system and method
US3517517A (en) * 1968-09-19 1970-06-30 Pan American Petroleum Corp Encapsulated cable for marine use
US3524323A (en) * 1969-02-24 1970-08-18 Chicago Bridge & Iron Co Offshore storage tank with self-contained guy system

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3454083A (en) * 1967-06-29 1969-07-08 Mobil Oil Corp Fail-safe subsea fluid transportation system
US3455270A (en) * 1968-05-08 1969-07-15 Exxon Research Engineering Co Protective dome for underwater mooring swivel
US3500841A (en) * 1968-08-01 1970-03-17 Campbell F Logan Fluid recovery system and method
US3517517A (en) * 1968-09-19 1970-06-30 Pan American Petroleum Corp Encapsulated cable for marine use
US3524323A (en) * 1969-02-24 1970-08-18 Chicago Bridge & Iron Co Offshore storage tank with self-contained guy system

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4126010A (en) * 1976-07-23 1978-11-21 Compagnie Generale Pour Les Developpements Operationnels Des Richesses Sous-Marines "C.G. Doris" Oscillating installation for installing in a body of water and method for its construction
US4158517A (en) * 1977-04-08 1979-06-19 Compagnie Generale Pour Les Developpements Operationnels Des Richesses Sous-Marines Oscillating structure for exploration at sea
DE2847157A1 (de) * 1978-10-30 1980-05-14 Gutehoffnungshuette Sterkrade Kugelgelenk mit schutzeinrichtung gegen seewassereinwirkung
US4455108A (en) * 1981-02-10 1984-06-19 M.A.N. Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nurnberg Aktiengesellschaft Anchoring system for a sea station supported on floating bodies
US20110073821A1 (en) * 2009-04-30 2011-03-31 Unified Marine, Inc. Trailer Jack With Safety Features

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2091451A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-01-14

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