US3864924A - Diving bell for wellhead placing and maintenance in shallow water - Google Patents

Diving bell for wellhead placing and maintenance in shallow water Download PDF

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Publication number
US3864924A
US3864924A US407392A US40739273A US3864924A US 3864924 A US3864924 A US 3864924A US 407392 A US407392 A US 407392A US 40739273 A US40739273 A US 40739273A US 3864924 A US3864924 A US 3864924A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
chamber
diving bell
bell
water
ballast
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Expired - Lifetime
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US407392A
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English (en)
Inventor
Maurice Joseph Piotin
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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Assigned to COMPAGNIE FRANCAISE DES PETROLES reassignment COMPAGNIE FRANCAISE DES PETROLES ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: SUBSEA EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES LIMITED,
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
    • B63C11/00—Equipment for dwelling or working underwater; Means for searching for underwater objects
    • B63C11/34—Diving chambers with mechanical link, e.g. cable, to a base
    • B63C11/44—Diving chambers with mechanical link, e.g. cable, to a base of open type, e.g. diving-bells

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A diving bell having three parts, a control chamber at the top center, a work chamber beneath the control chamber, and an annular ballast chamber surrounding the control chamber. Outlets are provided at the top and bottom of the annular ballast chamber to connect the inside thereof with the outside medium.
  • a pump is provided to transfer water back and forth between the work chamber and the ballast chamber in order to retain a buoyancy reserve and to facilitate control of the connection and watertightness of the diving bell on an underwater base platform.
  • the operational diving bell is composed of a straightforward bell divided by a horizontal bulkhead fitted with a watertight door as in the case of the James U.S. Pat. No. 3,5l2,583, having an upper chamber for carrying the technicians and a lower chamber capping the wellhead by resting vertically on a horizontal platform integral with the wellhead and resting laterally and in watertight fashion against a cylindrical surface surrounding the wellhead and integral with the said platform.
  • the main purpose of this invention is a diving bell capable of carrying personnel at atmospheric pressure directly to the wellheadwithout jolting during-the descent or during the return to the surface.
  • the apparatus disclosed comprises a central control chamber arranged in the upper part connected to the lower open part of the bell by a watertight door, and an annular ballast chamber, the said annular chamber having at least one outlet for connecting the said ballast chamber to the external medium on both its upper and lower sections.
  • Another purpose of the invention is a bell of this type, the lower part of which has a flooding door in its top section leading directly outside the bell.
  • Another purpose of the invention is a bell of this type having, in addition to control valves for closing the said upper and lower outlets in the said ballast chamber as well as means for progressively pumping out the water that it contains with the object of changing its buoyancy state from negative buoyancy to a buoyancy of practically nil, means of hauling for ensuring the support of the bell during its state of negative buoyancy and means of independent propulsion enabling it to state of practically nil.
  • the bell in its heavy state is able at one and the same time to move along just below the surface of the water without risk and at a relatively high speed of descent due to the means of hauling, then reduce speed to the value required for the purpose of adopting its buoyancy of practically nil and to approach the wellhead very slowly by means of the propulsion medium.
  • Another purpose of the invention is a bell of this type in which the volume of the lower part of the bell, demarcated by its bearing surface on the base platform by the compartments inner walls and by the ballast chamber, is more or less equal to or less than the volume of the ballast chamber.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the ball in partial axial section shown resting on its base platform.
  • FIG. 2 the view in axial section of a detail of the seal on the lower part of the bell
  • FIG. 3 the diagrammatic view of the blocks lockingon system
  • FIG. 4 the diagrammatic view of a variant of the bell shown in FIG. 1,
  • FIG. 5 a digrammatic view of the bell in the process of immersion
  • FIG. 6 a diagrammatic view of the bell at the moment of its contact with the base platform
  • FIG. 7 the diagrammatic view of the bell while work is being carried out on the wellhead.
  • the bell 1 is fundamentally divided into three parts: a top centre part or control chamber 4, an annular or ballast chamber 5, and a bottom part 6 open at the base.
  • the top centre part or work chamber 4 serves, on the one hand, to carry the personnel and, on the other hand, as an inspection and control chamber. For this purpose, it is watertight and communicates with the outside by means of the door 7 and with the bottom part 6 by means of the door 8.
  • This bottom part which in fact consists of the bell proper, acts at atmospheric pressure as the working chamber when it rests in watertight fashion on the platform 3, which insulates perfectly the upper and lower zones of which it forms the limit.
  • the base platform 3 is attached beforehand to the drilling head 9 by any known method and in watertight manner.
  • the centre part 2 can be welded beforehand to the drilling head 9.
  • the centre part 2 can be manufactured in two parts that can be welded round drilling head 9.
  • the centre part 2 can also be fitted with suitable joints, the part being introduced with the help of cone 2a.
  • base platform 3 it may have a profile enabling it to rest in collar 2b through the intermediary of any suitable joint, also brackets 3a may be provided to help to strengthen the convex base platform 3.
  • base platform 3 may be provided with assorted equipment, including particularly four guide pillars 10.
  • dotted line 12 shows diagrammatically the piping leading to the flow line through the intermediary of the coupling 38', the blow-out preventer 13 preventing fluid returning from the flow lines into work chamber 6.
  • other piping has been illustrated at 14 for connecting up to another flow line through the intermediary of connector 38a, the blow-out preventer 39 preventing fluid returning to work chamber. 6.
  • the work chamber 6 is fitted with a flooding door 15 leading directly outside so that in an emergency it is always possible to leave work chamber 6 without first having to pass through the control chamber 4.
  • flooding door 15 enables work chamber 6 to be rapidly filled or emptied during the immersion or raising of the bell 1.
  • An emptying pump 16 enables water acting as ballast in work chamber 6 to be passed into the annular chamber 5.
  • the transfer circuit has been drawn diagrammatically 17a and 17b, and it is controlled from circuits (not shown) in the control chamber.
  • the work chamber 6 comprises electrical control connections 43 and hydraulic control connections 42 coupled respectively on the one hand to the electrical display and distribution panel 44 and, on the other hand, to the hydraulic distribution panel 40.
  • a connection 45 enables the balance of pressures between chambers 4 and 5 by means of control valves 46 and 47 respectively on the one hand and control valve 48 on the other hand to be maintained.
  • An assembly 22 contains all the regenerating and atmospheric control equipment enabling life to be supported in a confined space. This assembly is connected to the electric display and distribution panel 44 by connection 23.
  • the control chamber 4 includes all the opening and shutting controls for doors 7 and 8, flooding door 15, and outlets 20 and 21 located in the top and bottom parts of the annular chamber 5, which acts as a ballast tank.
  • Control chamber 4 also includes all the safety and control equipment necessary and, in particular, the controls for transmitting information concerning buoyancy regulation and the controls of the independent means of propulsion 27 located on the outside walls 51 of bell l and preferably directly below ballast chamber 5.
  • the electrical display and distribution panel 44 is permanently connected to the electrical services support cable 32 by means of connection 24.
  • the sending of messages to the surface is carried out by the system 49 which is connected to the transmission cables inside sleeve 34.
  • This sleeve also contains the air intake piping and connects control chamber 4 to the surface so that air can be supplied to the diving bell when required, irrespective of how long it is immersed.
  • the hydraulic distribution panel 40 is connected to the hydraulic power supply 18 by means of circuit 41.
  • the means of propulsion 27 are fitted in a tube and free to swivel round axis 27a, FIG. 4. They may be of conventional type and preferably comprise electric motors 30 driving propellers 29.
  • An attachment or fastening device 31 drawn in greater detail in FIG. 5, enables the bell I to couple up, on the one hand, to the electrical services support cable 32 connected on the surface to a winch 35 and, on the other hand, to a suspension cable 32a connected on the surface to a second winch 35a, its bottom end fitted with a block 33.
  • This block has some recesses 33a, visible in FIG. 3, in which locking latches 3317 move.
  • locking latches 33b When the attachment 31 enters the block, locking latches 33b, pushed by springs, lock attachment 31 by locating in the slots 31a.
  • Unlocking is carried out by simple hydraulic control directly from control chamber 4 or from a control station 37 on the surface receiving information from control chamber 4 through the me dium of cables contained in sleeve 34.
  • the bell is fitted with conventional equipment such as the kentledge 71 for the compressed air bottles 72.
  • the bell is fitted with a sonar device 65, FIG. 4, connected to the display cabinet 63 by connection 64.
  • the sonar device 65 preferably located on the centreline of the bell 1, produces signals by the sending out of two sonic beams .69 and from emitters 66 and 67 with the help of echo reflectors 68 and the reflection of the drilling head 9 these reflections are read on the display cabinet 63 in control chamber 4 and possibly retransmitted to the surface.
  • the sonar device 65 is restowed on walls 51 by any appropriate means, shown diagrammetically by 74.
  • FIG. 6 the emplacement of bell l on base platform 3 is completed by connecting up ballastchamber 5 and work chamber 6, which has the effect of inducing the bell 1 to sit better on the platform owing to the difference in hydrostatic pressure in the two chambers at the moment of connecting up and to the action of the seal 50 which seals off the interior of the bell 1 from the ambient medium after connecting up has taken place.
  • the water in work chamber 6 is transferred to ballast chamber 5, followed by the connecting up of work chamber 6 to the atmospheric pressure lines in the sleeve 34 through the medium of control valves 46, 47 and control chamber 4. It thus becomes possible to open door 8 as shown in FIG. 7.
  • the atmosphere in work chamber 6 has been regulated by assembly 22 so that it becomes possible to carry out the work required on the wellhead or drilling head 9.
  • ballast chamber 5 can be completely filled, outlets 20, 21 and flooding door opened, and the surface of the water crossed to re-embark the bell 1 on board the boat 36.
  • control chamber 4 operate the controlling manoeuvres for the independent means of propulsion 27 on their own, it is evident that all the manoeuvres of the pair of blocks 33 and the electrical services support cable 32 might also be directly controlled from control chamber 4.
  • the means of propulsion 27 might also be directly controlled from the surface, tele-transmission apparatus enabling operators on the surface to know the precise distance of the bell from base platform 3.
  • the means of propulsion may include horizontal and vertical propulsion units whether independent or not and that they could be of the propeller type as shown in FIG. 4 or jet type. Moreover they may be controlled from the service and be free to swivel.
  • a diving bell adapted to rest on a base platform at the bottom ofa body of water, said diving bell comprisa. a control chamber;
  • said work chamber being open at the bottom; and c. an external ballast chamber, said ballast chamber having at least one outlet at its base and at least one outlet at its top, both of which connect the inside of said ballast chamber with the outside medium, whereby, if both the upper and lower outlets are opened during immersion of the diving bell, the effect of the swell on the diving bell is largely overcome, particularly when the level of the water lies between the upper and lower outlets.
  • ballast chamber is annular in shape and surrounds said control chamber.
  • the lower surface of said work chamber has a first, inner surface adapted to rest on a base platform, a second, outer surface located at a higher level than the first surface, and an annular recess located between the first and second surfaces and further comprising a seal located in the annular recess, said seal having a lip extending out over the second surface but being thinner than the difference between the levels of the first and second surfaces.
  • a diving bell as recited in claim 7 wherein said means for lowering and raising the diving bell in the water comprise:
  • a diving bell as recited in claim 1 wherein the volume of said work chamber is approximately equal to the volume of said ballast chamber and further comprising means for transferring water back and forth between said work chamber and said ballast chamber.
  • a diving bell as recited in claim 11 wherein said means for ascertaining the position of the diving bell relative to a base platform comprise a sonar transmitter-rcceiver mounted on the diving bell.
  • a method of lowering a diving bell adapted to rest on a base platform at the bottom of a body of water, said diving bell comprising:
  • said work chamber being open at the bottom
  • ballast' chamber having at least one outlet at its base and at least one outlet at its top, both of which connect the inside of said ballast chamber with the outside medium, said method comprising the steps of:
  • a method as recited in claim 13 wherein the diving bell is initially lowered at maximum speed to a depth where the effects of the swells is no longer felt, water contained in said ballast chamber is then partially pumped back into the body of water until the buoyancy of the diving bell is changed from a state of negative buoyancy to a state of practically nil buoyancy, and positioning and propulsion means located on the diving bell are controlled until the base platform is reached.
  • said work chamber being open at the bottom
  • ballast chamber having at least one outlet at its base and at least one outlet at its top, both of which connect the inside of said ballast chamber with the outside medium, said method comprising the steps of:

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Laying Of Electric Cables Or Lines Outside (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
  • Types And Forms Of Lifts (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
US407392A 1972-10-17 1973-10-17 Diving bell for wellhead placing and maintenance in shallow water Expired - Lifetime US3864924A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR7236677A FR2155706A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-10-17 1972-10-17

Publications (1)

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US3864924A true US3864924A (en) 1975-02-11

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US407392A Expired - Lifetime US3864924A (en) 1972-10-17 1973-10-17 Diving bell for wellhead placing and maintenance in shallow water

Country Status (9)

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US (1) US3864924A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS5529237B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA1002875A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2351889C3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2155706A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1427418A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
IT (1) IT995917B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL153137B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NO (1) NO146191C (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4117688A (en) * 1974-04-01 1978-10-03 Vickers-Intertek Limited Apparatus for working under water
US4192384A (en) * 1978-04-21 1980-03-11 Cameron Iron Works, Inc. Subsea production chamber
US4865490A (en) * 1988-09-08 1989-09-12 Henry Wallace Portable wellhead and welder protector system
US5324140A (en) * 1991-03-18 1994-06-28 Lopez Jose De Jesus F S Flexible submersible compartment
US5823708A (en) * 1996-01-16 1998-10-20 Dwight; John M. Device which provides an underwater dry workshop environment for ship propeller inspection and repair
US8196665B2 (en) * 2010-06-24 2012-06-12 Subsea IP Holdings LLC Method and apparatus for containing an oil spill caused by a subsea blowout
CN110615082A (zh) * 2019-09-30 2019-12-27 广州黄船海洋工程有限公司 一种潜水钟转移机构
CN111271028A (zh) * 2020-04-02 2020-06-12 中国船舶科学研究中心（中国船舶重工集团公司第七0二研究所） 一种浅深度海底干式采油装置人员进出舱系统

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0039334A1 (fr) * 1979-09-19 1981-11-11 DUPONT, Jean-Pierre Dispositif pour capter le petrole s'echappant accidentellement d'une nappe de petrole sous-marine
EP0146336A3 (en) * 1983-12-16 1987-10-14 George Alexander Hogg Stab connector assembly
JPS60136297U (ja) * 1984-02-23 1985-09-10 三菱重工業株式会社 索端末金物嵌合装置
JPS6153191U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1984-09-11 1986-04-10
JPS6372085U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1986-10-30 1988-05-14
US4724790A (en) * 1986-11-04 1988-02-16 Blanc Max A Submersible bell
JPH01258999A (ja) * 1988-04-08 1989-10-16 Ogawa Kako Kk マーキングペン
RU2225803C2 (ru) * 2000-11-20 2004-03-20 Астраханский инженерно-строительный институт Устройство для проникновения в подводный объект на большой глубине

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US530398A (en) * 1894-12-04 Diving apparatus
US1803526A (en) * 1928-05-02 1931-05-05 Finn Anna May Submergible apparatus
US2519453A (en) * 1947-01-13 1950-08-22 Goodman Charles Traveling underwater compressed air working chamber
US3589133A (en) * 1969-05-15 1971-06-29 Combustion Eng Method of and means for mounting equipment at a subsea location
US3609981A (en) * 1969-07-08 1971-10-05 North American Rockwell Ocean descent system method and means
US3626703A (en) * 1969-11-18 1971-12-14 Twanoh Marine Charters Inc Underwater exploration and recovery vehicle

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US530398A (en) * 1894-12-04 Diving apparatus
US1803526A (en) * 1928-05-02 1931-05-05 Finn Anna May Submergible apparatus
US2519453A (en) * 1947-01-13 1950-08-22 Goodman Charles Traveling underwater compressed air working chamber
US3589133A (en) * 1969-05-15 1971-06-29 Combustion Eng Method of and means for mounting equipment at a subsea location
US3609981A (en) * 1969-07-08 1971-10-05 North American Rockwell Ocean descent system method and means
US3626703A (en) * 1969-11-18 1971-12-14 Twanoh Marine Charters Inc Underwater exploration and recovery vehicle

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4117688A (en) * 1974-04-01 1978-10-03 Vickers-Intertek Limited Apparatus for working under water
US4192384A (en) * 1978-04-21 1980-03-11 Cameron Iron Works, Inc. Subsea production chamber
US4865490A (en) * 1988-09-08 1989-09-12 Henry Wallace Portable wellhead and welder protector system
US5026219A (en) * 1988-09-08 1991-06-25 Henry Wallace Portable wellhead and welder protector system
US5324140A (en) * 1991-03-18 1994-06-28 Lopez Jose De Jesus F S Flexible submersible compartment
US5823708A (en) * 1996-01-16 1998-10-20 Dwight; John M. Device which provides an underwater dry workshop environment for ship propeller inspection and repair
US8196665B2 (en) * 2010-06-24 2012-06-12 Subsea IP Holdings LLC Method and apparatus for containing an oil spill caused by a subsea blowout
CN110615082A (zh) * 2019-09-30 2019-12-27 广州黄船海洋工程有限公司 一种潜水钟转移机构
CN111271028A (zh) * 2020-04-02 2020-06-12 中国船舶科学研究中心（中国船舶重工集团公司第七0二研究所） 一种浅深度海底干式采油装置人员进出舱系统
CN111271028B (zh) * 2020-04-02 2022-02-18 中国船舶科学研究中心（中国船舶重工集团公司第七0二研究所） 一种浅深度海底干式采油装置人员进出舱系统

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2351889B2 (de) 1978-08-10
CA1002875A (fr) 1977-01-04
DE2351889A1 (de) 1974-04-18
FR2155706A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-05-18
GB1427418A (en) 1976-03-10
JPS49125201A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-11-30
NO146191B (no) 1982-05-10
NO146191C (no) 1982-08-18
NL7306946A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-04-19
JPS5529237B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1980-08-01
IT995917B (it) 1975-11-20
DE2351889C3 (de) 1979-04-12
AU6083973A (en) 1975-04-10
NL153137B (nl) 1977-05-16

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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