US3863457A - Submarine foundation and offshore working platform - Google Patents

Submarine foundation and offshore working platform Download PDF

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Publication number
US3863457A
US3863457A US369694A US36969473A US3863457A US 3863457 A US3863457 A US 3863457A US 369694 A US369694 A US 369694A US 36969473 A US36969473 A US 36969473A US 3863457 A US3863457 A US 3863457A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
hollow bodies
bodies
interspace
foundation
column
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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
US369694A
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English (en)
Inventor
Petter Sigvardt Hafskjold
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.)
Ingenior F Selmer AS
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Ingenior F Selmer AS
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Publication date
Application filed by Ingenior F Selmer AS filed Critical Ingenior F Selmer AS
Priority to US501402A priority Critical patent/US3925997A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3863457A publication Critical patent/US3863457A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D88/00—Large containers
    • B65D88/78—Large containers for use in or under water
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B17/00—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor
    • E02B17/02—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor placed by lowering the supporting construction to the bottom, e.g. with subsequent fixing thereto
    • E02B17/025—Reinforced concrete structures
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
    • E02D27/00—Foundations as substructures
    • E02D27/32—Foundations for special purposes
    • E02D27/52—Submerged foundations, i.e. submerged in open water

Definitions

  • 6l/46.5, 61/50 Said Structure comprises a plurality of vertically [51] Int. Cl E0211 27/38 ranged ylindrically shaped lower hollow bodies [58] F1eld of Search 61/46, 46.5, 50; 114/.5 D bound together in the contacting areas and on the overside of said bodies a plurality of platform support- [56] References C'ted ing columns extending above sea level and carrying a UNITED STATES PATENTS platform structure. The columns are provided with 2,662,378 12/1953 Schmitt et al 61 /4 ater mea s which comprises a disk-shaped 2,731,799 1/1956 Lange et al hence 61/4 structure slidably mounted thereon.
  • the present invention relates generally to a new design for a submarine foundation, particularly developed to be used in connection with offshore oil production and oil storage, and particularly developed for underwater storage of oil in relatively shallow sea vicinitics. having depths up to 100 to l50 meters.
  • the invention relates further to a supporting column and breakwater structure for submarine foundations.
  • the foundation when in the following specification the invention is designated as a submarine foundation," it shall be understood that the foundation, if desired, may include tanks for the storage of oil.
  • the underwater foundation in accordance with the invention is more particularly of the type comprising a plurality of mutually separated, submerged vessels which can be utilized for storage of oil and/or ballast, and which further include parts which extend above the sea level and can be utilized as a working platform, housing mechanical equipment, forming a pier fundament, etc.
  • a substantial advantage with constructions made in reinforced concrete rests in that the concrete material makes it easier to give the construction the desired weight, and furthermore one avoids the corrosion problem.
  • Damages in collision with ships may happen in result of a direct collision and in result of a damage caused by a ship anchored to the foundation. Wave actions may otherwise result in direct damages on the structure, particularly the structure above sea level, and may in fact result in that the entire foundation structure is moved, such as being lifted from the sea bottom or being displaced laterally.
  • the object of the present invention has primarily been to provide a new type of structure presenting a large ability to withstand wave actions of various kinds, and which furthermore is specially designed to provide an effective attenuation of the-surface waves, in order to thereby increase the usability of the structure as a working platform and as a harbor location for ships.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a construction which simultaneously is attractive from a technical/economical point of view.
  • the submarine foundation in accordance with the invention is of the type comprising a submersible integral concrete structure adapted to be situated on the sea bottom and having hollow spaces'for confining ballast, oil, water, etc., said foundation including a plurality of adjacent, vertically arranged, prismatically or cylindrically shaped lower hollow bodies of concrete integrally bound together in the contacting areas, said bodies having closed bottom and top walls and designed to rest on the sea bottom in underwater position, and on the overside of said bodies a plurality of platform supporting columns extending above sea level and carrying a platform structure, the bottom end of each of the columns having a cross-sectional configuration generally corresponding to and positioned in the zone between any selected group of said mutually adjacently located hollow bodies and providing support for the columns.
  • the supporting columns are hollow and have a wall structure which corresponds to the shape of the below located parts of the pertaining hollow bodies, and comprise preferably an integrally moulded continuation of same. If the submerged hollow bodies thus are given the shape of circular cylinders, the wall surfaces of the supporting columns will constitute parts of three or four cylindric surfaces, depending upon how the cylindric bodies are stacked together. If the submerged hollow bodies alternatively for instance are given the shape of equilateral octagons, the supporting columns will attain a square cross-section.
  • the supporting columns are as mentioned preferably made hollow, and hereby is provided the advantageous feature that one may obtain a continuous raising shaft from the top of the columns at the working platform and down to the sea bottom. These shafts may be utilized for situating servide pipes, etc.
  • the submerged hollow bodies of concrete which hereafter for sake of simplicity shall be designated as the main cylinders, can be utilized to increase the stability of the construction by filling same with mass such as sand, or for the storage of liquids, such as water and- /or oil.
  • a special feature of an embodiment of the invention rests in that the main cylinders at the bottom are particularly devised in order to be placed'into engagement with the sea bottom, by providing the bottom walls of the main cylinders at a distance above the bottom wall edges such that same protrude freely in direction downwards.
  • the main cylinders are preferably adapted with such height that the top wall is located at a good distance below the sea surface and below the largest draught for tank ships, etc.
  • the supporting columns provided as from the top of the main cylinders serve primarily three objects, namely firstly to carry the platform above sea level, secondly to provide breakwater means, and thirdly to serve as access means to the main cylinders and to the basement portion of the foundation.
  • the breakwater structure of the invention comprises generally a plurality of upright parallelly located supporting columns extending from a depth below the wave action zone in the sea and to a level above the sea, each of said columns provided with a disk-shaped, substantially horizontally extending structure supported by and encompassing slidably at least a number of said supporting columns, the disk-shaped structures operable to be positioned in any desired level on the columns.
  • the submarine foundation in accordance with the invention includes also other important features which will appear from the following specification, wherein the invention shall be described with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings illustrating some embodiments of the invention, and wherein:
  • FIG. 1 is showing a schematic cross-section through a foundation construction in accordance with the invention, said section taken along the plane II-II in FIG. 2, and
  • FIG. 2 is showing a plan view of the construction shown in FIG. 1,
  • FIG. 3 is showing a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 are detail views which in an enlarged scale are showing a plan view and a lateral view of part of the construction shown in FIG. 3, respectively;
  • FIG. 6 is likewise showing a schematic plan view of a part of a further embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 7 is showing a detail view in vertical-section and showing the bottom portion of the construction and illustrating how the foundation may be bound to the sea bottom ground.
  • the numbers 2,2, etc. designate a number of the socalled main cylinders, which are cast to each other side by side in a right angle positional relationship such that the foundation attains for instance a rectangular or preferably square circumference viewed in plan view such as shown in FIG. 2.
  • the main cylinders are cast together along all adjacent contact faces along a suitable wide range or arcs.
  • the main cylinders are in upright direction in the shown embodiment divided into three compartments namely an upper tank space 4, a ballast space 6 and a downwardly open foundation space 8 which is formed in that the bottom wall 9 of the ballast space is drawn upwards from the cylinder side walls 10 at the bottom, whereby is formed a plurality of suction cups along the bottom side of the construction.
  • the side walls of the supporting columns are thus constituted by four circular arcs viewed in plan view as indicated at 15 in FIG. 2.
  • the side walls of the main cylinders may be directly utilized as supporting parts for the supporting columns and in fact may constitute a direct continuation of the main cylinder structure. Furthermore is provided a continuous space in the form of a shaft extending from the top of the supporting columns at the platform down to the bottom of the foundation, which shaft can be utilized for positioning pipelines, etc., to the various tanks and spaces in the main cylinders. Furthermore these shafts may be utilized for positioning special pipe lines which may serve to increase the pressure between the base of the foundation and the sub layer, that is the sea bottom, by providing a sub-pressure below the main cylinders. This feature of the invention shall be described later in detail.
  • a special advantage of the construction rests in that the size of the supporting columns, and the shape and positioning of same imply the possibility to arrange a very effective breakwater structure, simultaneously as the construction will not in a substantial degree hinder water flow between the supporting columns.
  • the foundation construction is not purposely to provide the foundation construction with supporting columns between all adjacent groups of the main cylinders.
  • one has thus provided supporting columns at the shown places 12,12, etc., that is such that about one half of the spaces are provided with supporting columns.
  • the foundation is provided with a concrete flooring, possibly with openings, and which suitably is cast flush with the top walls of the main cylinders, such that these spaces may be filled with sea water. The same will count for the shafts through the supporting columns, since same are usually open at the bottom and thus sufficiently vented at the top at the platform 20.
  • the embodiment shown in plan view in FIG. 3 is hexagonal, but other shapes may be visualized, for instance triangular, such that all angles between intersecting center lines between the main cylinders will be 60, the supporting columns also attaining generally triangular shape.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 constitute respectively a plan view and a lateral view seen in section along the plane VV in FIG. 4 and the Figures are showing typical features of the foundation shown in plan view in FIG. 3.
  • the reference numbers 30,30 are designating the walls of the main cylinders, 32 the roof of the main cylinders, while 12 designates the supporting columns the walls of which 34,36, 38 as shown constitute geometrical continuations of the below located parts of each of the adjacent main cylinders.
  • a constructional advantage of this design is that the weight of the supporting columns, the platform and the equipment of same will be transferred down to the sea bottom via the walls of the main cylinders as simple compression forces, a fact which among others implies that the roof construction of the main cylinders only can be given the strength necessary to withstand the difference between the internal and the external pressures (water head).
  • the roofing on the main cylinders may preferably be made of reinforced concrete provided with beams 43 on the underside.
  • the supporting columns may in accordance with the invention be provided special breakwaters in the shape of disks 40 which preferably are supported in hoistableand lowerable slide guides 45 and furthermore not shown locking means such that the disks may be positioned at the desired elevational level, usually in the level on the sea surface.
  • the number 44 is designating generally the pipelines etc. positioned in the shaft 46 extending through the supporting columns, and which pipes etc. serve as a connection from the equipment 48 in question positioned on the platform (FIG. 1) down to the various tank spaces in the hollow cylinders and to equipment located at the bottom of the foundation and possibly below same.
  • the shafts between the socalled main cylinders may be filled up with sea water, likewise a desired number of the tank spaces in the cylinders are filled with sea water with the aim to reduce the buoyancy of the foundation structure.
  • the shafts between the cylinders not provided with columns, may have open bottoms such that the shafts are automatically filled with sea water during the submersion.
  • FIG. 7 is a detailed sectional, enlarged view illustrating a typical part of the bottom section of a foundation structure as shown in FIG. 1.
  • the downwardly protruding, free-standing portions of the walls 50,50 of the cylinders are moved a distance down into the sea bottom, here designated with the number 52, partly by means of the weight of the foundation, partly in that the sea bottom below is removed in a desired degree (it is here pre-supposed that the sea bottom is not consisting of stone or rock).
  • a stabilizing dike 54 On the outside of the cylinders located along the circumference of the foundation is preferably positioned a stabilizing dike 54, for instance by dumping down stones and gravel.
  • the free-standing wall sections 50,50 on the cylinders are in direction downwards defining downwardly open spaces 56 which as previously mentioned constitute suction cups directed .against the mass underneath, and these spaces may by means of pipings 58 be connected to a vacuum pump plant on the platform and subjected to a state of vacuum.
  • pipings 58 be connected to a vacuum pump plant on the platform and subjected to a state of vacuum.
  • one has furthermore via the shafts 46 pressed down into the ground 60 special suction pipes 62, which may be positioned therein by making bore holes or alternatively these pipes may constitute a drill pipe string.
  • these pipes are provided with openings such that the ground below the sea bottom also may be subjected to a state of sub-pressure having into effect that the entire foundation structure in fact will be pressed against the sea bottom.
  • the entire foundation structure heavier, since the part of the sea bottom below the foundation which is maintained to a vacuum will constitute part of the real weight of the foundation structure.
  • suction cups 56 and the suction means 58 and 62 rests in that same may be utilized to release the foundation from the sea bottom when same shall be elevated and brought up to a floating condition, for instance in order to be transported to another location.
  • the suction cup spaces 56 and the sea bottom are then subjected to high pressure by means of compressed air or compressed water.
  • the dimensions of the foundation these must be adapted to the sea depths in question and the desired storing capacity for oil.
  • the distance from the sea level down to the top wall of the main cylinders at least is approximately 15-20 meters.
  • the height of the cylinders should obviously be conformed to the local conditions.
  • the same counts for the number of supporting columns relative to the number of cylinders. Normally it will be suitable to provide supporting columns at about each second one of the confined areas between an adjacent group of cylinders.
  • a submarine foundation and offshore working platform comprising a submersible integral concrete structure adapted to be situated on the sea bottom and having hollow spaces for confining ballast or other materials, said foundation including a plurality of adjacent, vertically arranged, prismatically or cylindrically shaped lower hollow bodies of concrete placed in contact with one another and integrally bonded together at their areas of contact, said bodies having closed bottom and top walls and being designed to rest on the sea bottom in underwaterposition, and above said hollow bodies a plurality of platform supporting columns each extending above seal level from the region of an interspace defined between a set of at least three hollow bodies which are mutually adjacently located and which are bonded each to only two other members of the set, each wall of each column constituting an upwardly extending continuation of that part of one of the hollow bodies, of the set of hollow bodies defining the interspace from which the column extends, which bounds the interspace.
  • interspace defined the hollow bodies of one set and the interior of the platform supporting column extending from the region of that interspace together define a continuous upright shaft extending from the top of the column to the bottom of the interspace for positioning equipment and and providing access for maintenance and repair.
  • a submarine foundation and offshore working platform comprising a submersible integral concrete structure adapted to be situated on the sea bottom and having hollow spaces for confining ballast or other materials, said foundation including a plurality of adjacent, vertically arranged prismatically or cylindrically shaped lower hollow bodies of concrete placed in contact with one another and integrally bonded together at their areas of contact, said bodies having closed bottom and top walls and being designed to rest on the sea bottom in underwater position, and above said hollow bodies a plurality of platform supporting columns each extending above sea level from the region of an interspace defined between a set of four hollow bodies which are mutually adjacently located and which are bonded each to only two other bodies of the set, each column having four walls and each column constituting an upwardly extending continuation of that part of one of the hollow bodies, of the set of hollow bodies defining the interspace from which the column extends, which bounds the interspace.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Paleontology (AREA)
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US369694A 1972-06-13 1973-06-13 Submarine foundation and offshore working platform Expired - Lifetime US3863457A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US501402A US3925997A (en) 1972-06-13 1974-08-28 Breakwater device for offshore submerged foundation structures

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NO2083/72A NO136375C (no) 1972-06-13 1972-06-13 Undervannsfundament, omfattende en nedsenkbar betongkonstruksjon

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Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3990254A (en) * 1974-03-29 1976-11-09 Olav Mo Marine structure for offshore activities
US3999395A (en) * 1973-04-26 1976-12-28 Ab Vattenbyggnadsbyran Support arrangement for a construction
EP0046418A1 (fr) * 1980-07-09 1982-02-24 COYNE ET BELLIER Bureau d'Ingénieurs Conseils Procédé d'ancrage et dispositif de fondation d'une plateforme en particulier mobile
US4522532A (en) * 1983-07-25 1985-06-11 Fedrick Ronald M Bottom-seated portable cofferdam and method of use
GB2375134A (en) * 2001-05-01 2002-11-06 Ocean Technologies Ltd Offshore foundation stability enhancer
US20150010364A1 (en) * 2009-01-15 2015-01-08 Ocean Brick System (O.B.S.) Ltd. Deep-water port
US9783947B2 (en) * 2015-12-27 2017-10-10 William Wei Lee Submerged oil storage, loading and offloading system
CN110552365A (zh) * 2019-08-15 2019-12-10 王静波 海上储油岛及施工方法
CN111636465A (zh) * 2020-05-29 2020-09-08 中铁大桥勘测设计院集团有限公司 一种一体式深水基础及其施工方法

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2662378A (en) * 1949-08-06 1953-12-15 Harry A Schmitt Art of shore protection
US2731799A (en) * 1956-01-24 Shore protective devices
US3605774A (en) * 1969-07-30 1971-09-20 Travaux Comp Ind De Maritime apparatus utilizable as a hydrocarbon reservoir
US3708987A (en) * 1971-07-23 1973-01-09 J Roulet Concrete reservoir for underwater use
US3824943A (en) * 1971-03-16 1974-07-23 Mo Och Domsjoe Ab Drilling platform

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2731799A (en) * 1956-01-24 Shore protective devices
US2662378A (en) * 1949-08-06 1953-12-15 Harry A Schmitt Art of shore protection
US3605774A (en) * 1969-07-30 1971-09-20 Travaux Comp Ind De Maritime apparatus utilizable as a hydrocarbon reservoir
US3824943A (en) * 1971-03-16 1974-07-23 Mo Och Domsjoe Ab Drilling platform
US3708987A (en) * 1971-07-23 1973-01-09 J Roulet Concrete reservoir for underwater use

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3999395A (en) * 1973-04-26 1976-12-28 Ab Vattenbyggnadsbyran Support arrangement for a construction
US3990254A (en) * 1974-03-29 1976-11-09 Olav Mo Marine structure for offshore activities
EP0046418A1 (fr) * 1980-07-09 1982-02-24 COYNE ET BELLIER Bureau d'Ingénieurs Conseils Procédé d'ancrage et dispositif de fondation d'une plateforme en particulier mobile
US4522532A (en) * 1983-07-25 1985-06-11 Fedrick Ronald M Bottom-seated portable cofferdam and method of use
GB2375134A (en) * 2001-05-01 2002-11-06 Ocean Technologies Ltd Offshore foundation stability enhancer
GB2375134B (en) * 2001-05-01 2005-09-21 Tamacrest Ltd Offshore foundation stability enhancer
US20150010364A1 (en) * 2009-01-15 2015-01-08 Ocean Brick System (O.B.S.) Ltd. Deep-water port
US9783947B2 (en) * 2015-12-27 2017-10-10 William Wei Lee Submerged oil storage, loading and offloading system
CN110552365A (zh) * 2019-08-15 2019-12-10 王静波 海上储油岛及施工方法
CN111636465A (zh) * 2020-05-29 2020-09-08 中铁大桥勘测设计院集团有限公司 一种一体式深水基础及其施工方法
CN111636465B (zh) * 2020-05-29 2021-11-30 中铁大桥勘测设计院集团有限公司 一种一体式深水基础及其施工方法

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Publication number Publication date
GB1443752A (en) 1976-07-28
NO136375C (no) 1977-08-24
NO136375B (no) 1977-05-16
GB1443751A (en) 1976-07-28

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