US3817412A - Method of connecting underwater installations - Google Patents

Method of connecting underwater installations Download PDF

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Publication number
US3817412A
US3817412A US00299551A US29955172A US3817412A US 3817412 A US3817412 A US 3817412A US 00299551 A US00299551 A US 00299551A US 29955172 A US29955172 A US 29955172A US 3817412 A US3817412 A US 3817412A
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United States
Prior art keywords
load
well
platform
derrick
storage area
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
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US00299551A
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English (en)
Inventor
B Mercier
Serrano F De
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.)
Total Compagnie Francaise des Petroles SA
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SUBSEA EQUIPMENT ASS Ltd
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Priority to US420801A priority Critical patent/US3884364A/en
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Publication of US3817412A publication Critical patent/US3817412A/en
Assigned to COMPAGNIE FRANCAISE DES PETROLES reassignment COMPAGNIE FRANCAISE DES PETROLES ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: SUBSEA EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES LIMITED,
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    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B19/00—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
    • E21B19/002—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables specially adapted for underwater drilling
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B15/00—Supports for the drilling machine, e.g. derricks or masts
    • E21B15/02—Supports for the drilling machine, e.g. derricks or masts specially adapted for underwater drilling

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A ship is provided with a through-hull well extending from the upper deck 3 through the main deck 2 to the ships bottom.
  • a derrick 4 is positioned on the upper deck above the well.
  • a sliding platform 10 at the main deck level is moved over the well opening.
  • a sliding crane just below the upper deck then transports a first load unit from 'a storage area adjacent the well to the platform.
  • the crane is then withdrawn, the load unit is restrained against lateral movement in vertical guides, and is raised up into the derrick. Additional load units are delivered in this manner to the platform and coupled to the unit(s) above it to produce the final load.
  • the platform is then slid back from the well opening and the load is lowered by the derrick to the sea bottom.
  • a method of unloading an underwater apparatus from an installation on the water surface, whether subjected or not to the action of ground swells and waves comprising a deck carrying a derrick, a well straight below the latter and opening into a storage area below the deck, a platform capable of supporting and attaching the said loads positionable across the well, and load transport means in the storage area, the method comprising making a load fast with the transport means, transporting the load to the platform when the platform spans the well, making the load fast with the platform, disengaging the load from the transport means, which is moved back into the storage area, positioning lateral guide means in contact with the load connecting the load to the hoisting means of the derrick and disengaging it from the platform, drawing the platform back out of the well, and lowering the load down the well while guiding it laterally.
  • Such a method presents the advantages of being able to be easily applied to any ship, and in particular to any ship and drilling platform, of effecting permanent immobilization of the load being transported relative to its support in spite of movements of the surface installation, of being cheap from the customary means capable of being employed, and of enabling the assembly together of bulky loads above the installation well, even in the case of relatively reduced dimensions in the height of the ship.
  • the lateral guidance of the load in the well may be effected by surrounding it with a movable frame which is attached to the load at the level of its center of gravity and which is made to slide on vertical retractable guides.
  • the advantage of this method is in enabling the easy transport of heavy loads of any shape through the well in spite of the trim and list of the ship, the retractable guides enabling the passing of the load and its carrying means to the junction between the well and the store.
  • a system for effecting the above defined method of this invention which comprises a storage area, a well extending downward from through the storage area and a deck over the storage area carrying a derrick straight above the well, and a movable platform capable of adopting at least two positions: one spanning the well to receive these loads, the other displaced from the well to permit passage of loads to the well, the platform having means for attaching loads thereto.
  • Such a system may be easily installed on drilling ships since these include a main deck through which the well passes.
  • the deck carrying the derrick may include a staging opening at right angles to the derrick, the latter having guide means in extension of the well guides.
  • This arrangement therefore enables the vertical assembly of a number of loads straight above the well, while, when the staging is in the closed position, allowing the use of any suitable means for screwing connecting tubes to the load or to the assembly of loads which are to be lowered to the seabed.
  • FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of the connecting-up system according to the invention on board a drilling ship, the fore and aft portions of which have been removed;
  • FIG. 2 shows a section along the line IIII in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 shows a transverse section of the coupling-up system
  • FIG. 4 shows the section along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the bridge crane and its crab
  • FIG. 6 shows an elevation of the bridge crane
  • FIG. 7 shows a section of the device for attaching the load to the crab of the bridge crane, along the line VII- VII in FIG. 6;
  • FIG. 8 shows an elevation of a load-retaining ear and a hook of the hoisting tackle of the bridge crane crab
  • FIG. 9 shows a plan view of the platform
  • FIGS. and 11 show two diagrammatic views of the platform locking device in the locked and unlocked positions
  • FIG. 12 shows a section along the line XII-XII in FIG. 9'
  • FIG. 13 shows a detail of the device for attaching the load to the platform
  • FIG. 14 shows a diagrammatic view of the system showing the loads assembled on the platform
  • FIG. 15 shows a diagrammatic view of the system in the course of lowering the loads.
  • FIG. 16 shows a diagrammatic plan view of a collar for retaining the loads in the course of their vertical displacement.
  • the zone of the ship serving as the storage area can have any suitable dimensions. In the example shown, this zone is bounded by staging 2 of the main deck and an upper deck 3 on which is a derrick 4. This zone extends both fore and aft from a well, bounded laterally in its lower portion by bulkheads 5 and by bulkheads 6, FIG. 3, in its upper portion. In fact the zone might possibly extend only aft or only forward.
  • a first horizontal rollway shown diagrammatically at 7 carries a bridge crane, shown diagrammatically at 8, FIG. 3.
  • a second rollway 9 carries a working platform shown diagrammatically at 10.
  • the lower portion of the well contains vertical guides 11, FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, mounted on retractable frames swinging about mountings l2; arms 13 controlled by jacks (not shown), but like jacks 19 shown in FIG. 2, ensure locking of the frames when the guides 11 are in the working position.
  • the arms 16 can be replaced by jacks l9 hinged to ears 20 and shown in dotted lines, FIG. 2, in the work ing position and in the parked or retracted position.
  • Upwardly retractable guides 21 in extension of the guides 14 provide guidance for loads in the interior of the derrick.
  • the guides 14 are movable vertically and can lift to connect with the guides 21 by means of spigots 23.
  • the guides 14 can be lowered to connect with the guides 11 by means of spigots 22.
  • guides fixed on their frames can be provided and independent retractable connections can be provided ensuring continuity of vertical guidance ofloads in the course of their passing from the lower portion of the well to the upper portion and thence to the interior of the derrick, when the platform 10 and the bridge crane 8 are out of the well.
  • the slidingguides 14 can be controlled by any device, motor or manual, and are balanced by means of a counterweight.
  • the control device can be of any suitable kind known in the art and accordingly has been shown diagrammatically at 24.
  • the derrick can also be equipped with slidable guides 21 capable of connecting with the guides 14, the guides 14 or 21 having at their ends spigots or any other means facilitating the joining up.
  • a retaining collar 25 has been provided for, having any sort of device for laterally retaining the load being transported.
  • the collar can be provided with jacks similar to those indicated by 26, the rods 27 of which have at their ends pads 28, such jacks 26 being provided to prevent impacts of the load against the hull of the ship at the end of the well.
  • the pads 28 can be of any suitable type.
  • the retaining collar 25, as shown in FIG. 16, can, as an alternative to jacks, be provided instead with inflatable bolsters 26a preferably having walls of reinforced rubber. These bolsters 260 are distributed around a circle on a collar 27a fixed to the collar 25 by parts 29. The bolsters 26a are independently inflatable with water to ensure the centering of the load being transported. Thus the load and the collar 25 are made fast with one another, the latter sliding on the guides ll, 14 and 21 by shoes 30.
  • the passing of the load into the derrick is effected through a retractable staging, FIG. 3, composed of panels 31 and 32.
  • the axis of the well coincides with the axis of the platform and that of the supporting cables of the derrick tackle.
  • the bridge crane 8 servicing the storage area and the well is shown partially in plan in FIG. 5.
  • Four winches 33 mounted on the crab 34 enable the loads to be raised by means of hooks 65, FIG. 8, attached to cables wound around the drums of the winches after passing over sheaves 66.
  • the points of attachment of the cables to the crab constituting the fixed points of the tackle are adjustable and have elastic suspension devices. This arrangement enables the tensions in the cables to be equalized and the height of the hooks to be adjusted to the same level, thus facilitating the hooking on of the load by sling lugs 67.
  • the transfer movements of the crane in the longitudinal direction are effected by means of the motor 35, reduction gears 36 at each end of the gantry 37, driving pinions 38 and racks 39.
  • the crane rests on the rollways 7 by means of supporting rollers 40, vertical and horizontal retention rollers 41 and 42 ensuring stability of the crane.
  • the motor 43 provides transfer of the crab across the crane by means of reducing gears 44, pinions, and racks 49.
  • Supporting rollers 45 and horizontal and vertical retention rollers 46 and 47 ensure stability of the crab.
  • the drive of the drums of the winches 33 is effected by a motor 50 and reduction gears 51.
  • a solenoid brake 52 controls the drive, and emergency brakes S3 enable rapid stopping of the hoist winches 33.
  • the loads are restrained against any lateral movement by at least one of the columns.
  • the latter are provided with sheaths 56 attached to counterweights 57 by means of cables 58 and pulleys 59.
  • Attachment of the loads is effected by means of single detachable ears or multiple ones as shown in FIG. 7 at 60, 61, 62, these ears being integral with a support 63 that is attached to one of the ears 64 integral with the sleeves 56.
  • the level of the sleeve is adjusted so that the fixing ear in use is practically at the level of the center of gravity of the load. An excellent immobilization of the load is thus obtained.
  • the method of attachment of the support 63 to the ears 64 can be of any kind and that the means shown are given only by way of example.
  • the rolling platform 10, FIGS. 9 and 12, is located in the floor of the store.
  • the rollway 9 and racks 68 enableits displacement up to the front of the wall.
  • Transfer motor 69 drives, through reducing gears 70, driving pinions 71 engaging the racks 68.
  • Supporting rollers 72 roll on the way 9.
  • Locking devices 73 shown in the locking position in FIG. and the unlocking position in FIG. 11 keep the platform in the required position.
  • a comb 74 is operated for this purpose to come into engagement with or disengage itself from the rack 68 by a lever 75 articulated to a link 76 and to a spring guide 77 by means of a cranked lever 78.
  • Attachment points 79 more easily seen in FIG. 13 enable immobilization of a load 80 being transported by means of claws 81 held by means of bolts, projections 82a on which bear against stops 79a when a nut 83 tightens the claw 81.
  • the unit 84 is composed of three loads: 86, 87 and 88. These loads are stored originally in zone 89 enclosed in the given example between the upper deck 3 and the main deck 2.
  • the platform 10 having been brought into the well, and the crab of the bridge crane into a position enabling hooking-on of the load 86, the latter is attached to one ear of the sheath whose height is adjusted so that the ear is at the level of the center of gravity of the load. Then the crane is moved up to the well in order to deposit the load on the platform 10 and moved away again after fixing the load to the platform. If the guide rails 14 are not already out they are locked in the working position after the load has been enclosed in the retaining collar 25.
  • the load is hooked onto the tackle 85 and the load 86 held by the collar 25 is raised into the derrick.
  • the guides 14 are then lowered to enable the bridge crane to pass by again, which is employed as before to deposit the load 87 on the platform.
  • the load 86 is lowered onto the load 87 in order to fix them to one another.
  • the retaining collar 25 is moved to attach it preferably at the level of the center of gravity of the unit so composed.
  • the platform 10 is brought back into the storage area and the unit 84 is lowered after having previously lowered the guides 14, centering by the spigots 22 on the guides 11 in order to guide the unit as far as the end of the lower part of the passage at the bottom of the well.
  • the retaining collar 25 can then be raised again as indicated in FIG. 15 and the opening panels 31, 32 can be closed again and employed with any sort of clamping device 91 for connecting pipes 90 to the unit that is being lowered to the seabed.
  • This method thus enables very heavy loads to be lowered and cumbersome loads to be transported after as sembly in the well, which could neither be assembled in a storage area on the main deck of a ship of average tonnage nor easily erected underwater.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
  • Jib Cranes (AREA)
  • Ship Loading And Unloading (AREA)
US00299551A 1971-10-21 1972-10-20 Method of connecting underwater installations Expired - Lifetime US3817412A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US420801A US3884364A (en) 1971-10-21 1973-12-03 Apparatus for connecting underwater installations

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR7137808A FR2114377A5 (https=) 1971-10-21 1971-10-21

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US3817412A true US3817412A (en) 1974-06-18

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US00299551A Expired - Lifetime US3817412A (en) 1971-10-21 1972-10-20 Method of connecting underwater installations

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US (1) US3817412A (https=)
JP (1) JPS5412401B2 (https=)
CA (1) CA983421A (https=)
FR (1) FR2114377A5 (https=)
GB (1) GB1382693A (https=)
IT (1) IT969728B (https=)
NL (1) NL155495B (https=)

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3902554A (en) * 1974-03-12 1975-09-02 Global Marine Inc Blowout preventer guide assembly for off-shore drilling vessel
US3981369A (en) * 1974-01-18 1976-09-21 Dolphin International, Inc. Riser pipe stacking system
US4063650A (en) * 1976-02-02 1977-12-20 Exxon Production Research Company Equipment handling system
US4108318A (en) * 1974-06-07 1978-08-22 Sedco, Inc. Of Dallas, Texas Apparatus for offshore handling and running of a BOP stack
US4230190A (en) * 1978-10-13 1980-10-28 Guinn David C Blow out preventer handling system
US4470721A (en) * 1980-10-10 1984-09-11 John Brown Engineers And Constructors Ltd. Crane assembly for floatable oil/gas production platforms
EP0461512A3 (en) * 1990-06-13 1993-04-14 National- Oilwell Apparatus for supporting a direct drive drilling unit in a position offset from the centerline of a well
US20060137910A1 (en) * 2004-12-29 2006-06-29 Atlas Copco Secoroc Ab Drilling machine having a movable rod handling device
US20110011320A1 (en) * 2009-07-15 2011-01-20 My Technologies, L.L.C. Riser technology
US20110091284A1 (en) * 2009-10-19 2011-04-21 My Technologies, L.L.C. Rigid Hull Gas-Can Buoys Variable Buoyancy
US20110209651A1 (en) * 2010-03-01 2011-09-01 My Technologies, L.L.C. Riser for Coil Tubing/Wire Line Injection
US20130233227A1 (en) * 2010-09-16 2013-09-12 Wobben Properties Gmbh Ship comprising fastening means arranged in a grid over the cargo area
US20150027717A1 (en) * 2013-07-25 2015-01-29 Chevron U.S.A. Inc. Process For Subsea Deployment of Drilling Equipment
US20160160587A1 (en) * 2013-03-20 2016-06-09 Navalimpianti S.P.A. System and method for handling riser pipe

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6644701B2 (en) 2002-01-14 2003-11-11 Shape Corporation Bumper energy absorber with foam and non-foam pieces
CN103883283B (zh) * 2014-04-11 2016-04-13 湖南科技大学 一种海底钻机收放装置

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1124425A (fr) * 1954-12-07 1956-10-10 Benoto Sa Dispositif de mise en place des tubes de forage
US3368509A (en) * 1966-06-21 1968-02-13 Mcmullen Ass John J Drill ship
US3422971A (en) * 1966-03-08 1969-01-21 Gen Electric Co Ltd Storage arrangements
US3463247A (en) * 1967-08-07 1969-08-26 Robbins & Assoc James S Drill stem breakout apparatus

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1124425A (fr) * 1954-12-07 1956-10-10 Benoto Sa Dispositif de mise en place des tubes de forage
US3422971A (en) * 1966-03-08 1969-01-21 Gen Electric Co Ltd Storage arrangements
US3368509A (en) * 1966-06-21 1968-02-13 Mcmullen Ass John J Drill ship
US3463247A (en) * 1967-08-07 1969-08-26 Robbins & Assoc James S Drill stem breakout apparatus

Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3981369A (en) * 1974-01-18 1976-09-21 Dolphin International, Inc. Riser pipe stacking system
US3902554A (en) * 1974-03-12 1975-09-02 Global Marine Inc Blowout preventer guide assembly for off-shore drilling vessel
US4108318A (en) * 1974-06-07 1978-08-22 Sedco, Inc. Of Dallas, Texas Apparatus for offshore handling and running of a BOP stack
US4063650A (en) * 1976-02-02 1977-12-20 Exxon Production Research Company Equipment handling system
US4230190A (en) * 1978-10-13 1980-10-28 Guinn David C Blow out preventer handling system
US4470721A (en) * 1980-10-10 1984-09-11 John Brown Engineers And Constructors Ltd. Crane assembly for floatable oil/gas production platforms
EP0461512A3 (en) * 1990-06-13 1993-04-14 National- Oilwell Apparatus for supporting a direct drive drilling unit in a position offset from the centerline of a well
US7347285B2 (en) 2004-12-29 2008-03-25 Atlas Copco Drilling Solutions Inc. Drilling machine having a movable rod handling device and a method for moving the rod handling device
US20060137910A1 (en) * 2004-12-29 2006-06-29 Atlas Copco Secoroc Ab Drilling machine having a movable rod handling device
US20110011320A1 (en) * 2009-07-15 2011-01-20 My Technologies, L.L.C. Riser technology
US20130014688A1 (en) * 2009-07-15 2013-01-17 My Technologies, L.L.C. Riser Technology
US9222317B2 (en) * 2009-07-15 2015-12-29 My Technologies, L.L.C. Riser technology
US20110091284A1 (en) * 2009-10-19 2011-04-21 My Technologies, L.L.C. Rigid Hull Gas-Can Buoys Variable Buoyancy
US20110209651A1 (en) * 2010-03-01 2011-09-01 My Technologies, L.L.C. Riser for Coil Tubing/Wire Line Injection
US20130252493A1 (en) * 2010-03-01 2013-09-26 Charles R. Yemington Rigid Hull Gas-Can Buoys Variable Buoyancy
US20130233227A1 (en) * 2010-09-16 2013-09-12 Wobben Properties Gmbh Ship comprising fastening means arranged in a grid over the cargo area
US9096292B2 (en) * 2010-09-16 2015-08-04 Wobben Properties Gmbh Ship comprising fastening means arranged in a grid over the cargo area
US20160160587A1 (en) * 2013-03-20 2016-06-09 Navalimpianti S.P.A. System and method for handling riser pipe
US20150027717A1 (en) * 2013-07-25 2015-01-29 Chevron U.S.A. Inc. Process For Subsea Deployment of Drilling Equipment

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS5412401B2 (https=) 1979-05-23
DE2248469A1 (de) 1973-04-26
FR2114377A5 (https=) 1972-06-30
GB1382693A (en) 1975-02-05
NL155495B (nl) 1978-01-16
JPS503901A (https=) 1975-01-16
CA983421A (en) 1976-02-10
IT969728B (it) 1974-04-10
NL7213394A (https=) 1973-04-25
DE2248469B2 (de) 1975-11-27

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AS Assignment

Owner name: COMPAGNIE FRANCAISE DES PETROLES, 5 RUE MICHEL-ANG

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:SUBSEA EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES LIMITED,;REEL/FRAME:003880/0707

Effective date: 19810202

Owner name: COMPAGNIE FRANCAISE DES PETROLES, FRANCE

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SUBSEA EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES LIMITED,;REEL/FRAME:003880/0707

Effective date: 19810202