WO2006133161A2 - Procede et appareil de forage en mer dans des eaux envahies par les glaces - Google Patents

Procede et appareil de forage en mer dans des eaux envahies par les glaces Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2006133161A2
WO2006133161A2 PCT/US2006/021874 US2006021874W WO2006133161A2 WO 2006133161 A2 WO2006133161 A2 WO 2006133161A2 US 2006021874 W US2006021874 W US 2006021874W WO 2006133161 A2 WO2006133161 A2 WO 2006133161A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
base
support shaft
topside
sea floor
topside structure
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2006/021874
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2006133161A3 (fr
Inventor
Guang Li
Pierre A. Beynet
Original Assignee
Bp Corporation North America Inc.
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bp Corporation North America Inc. filed Critical Bp Corporation North America Inc.
Publication of WO2006133161A2 publication Critical patent/WO2006133161A2/fr
Publication of WO2006133161A3 publication Critical patent/WO2006133161A3/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B43/00—Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for
    • B63B43/02—Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for reducing risk of capsizing or sinking
    • B63B43/10—Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for reducing risk of capsizing or sinking by improving buoyancy
    • 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
    • E02B17/0017—Means for protecting offshore constructions
    • E02B17/0021—Means for protecting offshore constructions against ice-loads
    • 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
    • E02B17/021—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 with relative movement between supporting construction and platform
    • 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
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B2211/00—Applications
    • B63B2211/06—Operation in ice-infested waters
    • 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
    • E02B2017/0039—Methods for placing the offshore structure
    • 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
    • E02B2017/0056—Platforms with supporting legs
    • 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
    • E02B2017/0056—Platforms with supporting legs
    • E02B2017/0073—Details of sea bottom engaging footing
    • E02B2017/0086—Large footings connecting several legs or serving as a reservoir for the storage of oil or gas
    • 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
    • E02B2017/0095—Connections of subsea risers, piping or wiring with the offshore structure

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for offshore drilling in ice-infested waters.
  • the problem resides in a permanent polar ice pack that typically exists over much of this Arctic region and varies in extent depending upon the time of year.
  • the size of the ice pack expands to positions very close to (and, in some instances, in direct contact with) the shoreline.
  • ice sheets which are fixed to the shoreline cover these areas and may extend 25 miles or more offshore.
  • the permanent ice pack slowly rotates and circulates, and land-fast ice also moves during the period in which it exists in the
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,103,504 discloses a stationary offshore platform that employs pre-tensioned vibrating cables regularly spaced around the periphery of a top-side structure of the platform, forming a cable barrier around the top-side structure to break up ice prior to the ice making contact with the platform.
  • the '504 patent also discloses the use of a compressible bladder to prevent the resulting broken ice from encroaching beyond the cable barrier.
  • Another effort is U.S. Patent No. 4,102,144 ('144 patent), which discloses a stationary offshore platform that employs an moveable ice-breaking shield surrounding a topside structure of the platform; the shield elevates to break ice and is thereafter lowered to discharge the broken ice.
  • the present invention is directed to a method for utilizing over open water a drilling platform comprising a base, a hollow, airtight topside structure, and a support shaft extending vertically from the base through the topside structure, the method including the steps of maintaining positive buoyancy of the topside structure, lowering the base to the sea floor; and thereafter raising the topside structure along the support shaft until it reaches the top of the support shaft.
  • the present invention is directed to an offshore structure for placement on a sea floor in a body of water containing moving ice masses, which impart Environmental Loads to the structure;
  • the offshore structure includes a base which contacts the sea floor, the base having sufficient horizontal cross-sectional area such that a bearing pressure and a horizontal shear force, which result from Environmental Loads and which are transferred to the sea floor foundation by the foundation base, are less than at least one of a predetermined shear capacity and a predetermined bearing capacity for the sea floor foundation; and a hollow, airtight topside structure located at or above the waterline of the body which is supported by a support shaft extending vertically from the base through the topside structure.
  • the present invention provides for economical access to remote oil and gas reservoirs that have been traditionally inaccessible by conventional drilling methods by allowing for year-round offshore drilling in both deep and shallow waters in the Arctic region.
  • the present invention also provides for substantial capital costs savings by reducing the amount of steel required typically associated with conventional offshore drilling facilities designed to operate in the Arctic region.
  • Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view, showing the mobile offshore drilling unit according to the subject invention during transit.
  • Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view, showing the mobile offshore drilling unit according to the subject invention during installation.
  • Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, showing the mobile offshore drilling unit according to the subject invention during operation.
  • Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view, showing the mobile offshore drilling unit according to the subject invention after operation.
  • the present invention is a mobile offshore drilling unit 10 that may be used in a body of water that contains moving ice masses.
  • Mobile offshore drilling unit 10 has a topside structure 12, a support shaft 14, and a base 16.
  • the topside structure 12 may be of any design suitable for conducting offshore hydrocarbon drilling and/or production operations.
  • the topside structure 12, however, preferably includes a drilling derrick 18 and a hole (not shown) through the topside structure 12 to allow the topside structure 12 to jack itself up and down a support shaft 14. It is also preferred that the topside structure 12 is hollow and watertight to provide sufficient positive buoyancy and hydrostatic stability for the mobile offshore drilling unit 10 during transit to, installation on, and/or removal from an offshore drilling or production site.
  • the size of the topside structure 12 may vary, depending upon such factors that may include the floating performance of the mobile offshore drilling unit 10 during transit and the working space required for drilling and other related operations. Those skilled in the art will understand and be able to determine the optimal size of the topside structure 12 required for specific drilling operations.
  • the support shaft 14 suitable for the subject invention may be any support shaft suitable for application on conventional jack-up units.
  • the support shaft 14 is cylindrical and has a hollow inner diameter (hereinafter referred to as "the moon pool") to allow for drilling and production operations to occur within the support shaft 14.
  • the moon pool a hollow inner diameter
  • at least one guiding tube (not shown) is mounted along the inner wall of the support shaft 14 close to the bottom of the base 16, more preferably at least two guiding tubes, even more preferably at least three guiding tubes, and most preferably at least four guiding tubes for best results.
  • the size of the support shaft 14 may vary, depending upon such factors that may include water depth, ice load, wave load, seismic load, geotechnical conditions and the moon pool size required for drilling operations. Those skilled in the art will understand the optimal size of the support shaft 14 required for specific drilling operations.
  • the base 16 suitable for the subject invention is designed to be placed on and in contact with the sea floor.
  • the base 16 is large enough to prevent slippage between the base and the sea floor foundation, to prevent bearing capacity of the sea floor from being exceeded, and to prevent a toppling moment of the mobile offshore drilling unit 10 from occurring due to the Environment Load that may act on the mobile offshore drilling unit 10.
  • the base 16 has sufficient horizontal cross-sectional area such that the bearing pressure and a horizontal shear force, which result from the Environmental Loads and which are transferred to the sea floor foundation by the base 16, are less than at least one of a predetermined shear capacity exerted by surface ice sheets and a predetermined bearing capacity for the sea floor.
  • the size of the base 16 may vary, depending upon such factors that may include water depth, ice load, wave load, seismic load, and geotechnical conditions resident at the drilling and production site. Those skilled in the art will understand the optimal size of the support base 16 required for specific drilling operations.
  • a channel (not shown) is built in the bottom of the base 16. This channel connects the bottom of the support shaft 14 to the sea floor so that the base 16 can straddle across subsea pipelines and umbilicals installed on the well.
  • the base 16 is raised to the bottom of the topside structure 12 so that the mobile offshore
  • the drilling unit 10 creates minimum draft during transit.
  • the base 16 is
  • the topside structure 12 provides the hydrostatic stability during transit, thereby reducing
  • the mobile offshore drilling unit 10 during transit. It is also preferred that the base 16 is maintained below the surface of the water during transit to reduce the Environmental Load across the larger cross-section of the base 16.
  • the mobile offshore drilling unit 10 is also preferred that the base 16 is maintained below the surface of the water during transit to reduce the Environmental Load across the larger cross-section of the base 16.
  • unit 10 can be moved by its own propulsion or towed by an external craft, such as a conventional towboat during open water season or an ice breaker during the winter season.
  • an external craft such as a conventional towboat during open water season or an ice breaker during the winter season.
  • topside structure 12 is then jacked up along the support shaft 14
  • the topside structure 12 is preferably
  • At least one pile (not shown) will be driven through a guiding tube into the sea floor to help prevent skidding of the base 16 across the sea floor and to guide offshore drilling structures for future operations, such as subsea well intervention.
  • the derrick 18 is preferably skidded over the moon pool (inside the shaft) to start drilling operations.
  • drilling operations and well completions are conducted within the inner diameter of the support shaft 14.
  • the present invention provides for economical access to remote oil and gas reservoirs that have been traditionally inaccessible by conventional drilling methods by allowing for year-round offshore drilling in both deep and shallow waters in the Arctic region. This is primarily due to the use of a hollows and watertight topside structure as a stability device during transit and installation of the mobile offshore drilling unit. Consequently, there is no need for significant ballast in the base or a large shaft, thereby making the present invention more accessible to oil and gas reservoirs in shallower waters. Additionally, the use of a large base helps prevent slippage between the base and the sea floor foundation, to prevent bearing capacity of the sea floor from being exceeded, and to prevent a toppling moment of the mobile offshore drilling unit. The use of a large base in combination with only a single support shaft exposed to Environmental Loads allows for the mobile offshore drilling unit to operate on a year-round basis in the Arctic region, thereby making once inaccessible oil and gas reservoirs, accessible for exploration and production.
  • the present invention also provides for substantial capital costs savings by reducing the amount of steel required typically associated with conventional offshore drilling facilities designed to operate in the Arctic region.
  • the present invention uses the topside structure as a stability device during transit and installation of the mobile offshore drilling unit. Consequently, there is no need for significant ballast in the base or a large shaft. Additionally, after installation of the mobile offshore drilling unit, the topside structure jacks itself up to the top of the support shaft so that only the support shaft is exposed to Environmental Loads. As a result, the Environment Load impinging on the structure is substantially smaller, reducing the size requirement of the structure, and thereby resulting in a less expensive structure.

Abstract

L'invention concerne une construction en mer destinée au placement d'un plancher marin dans une étendue d'eau contenant des masses de glaces mobiles, qui applique des charges environnementales sur la construction; cette construction en mer comprend une base qui est en contact avec le fond marin. La base comporte une zone transversale horizontale suffisante de sorte qu'une pression support et une force de cisaillement horizontale, qui résulte, d'une charge environnementale et qui est transférée à la fondation du fond marin par la base de fondation, soient inférieures à au moins une capacité de cisaillement prédéfinie et une capacité support prédéfinie pour la fondation du fond marin; et une superstructure étanche, creuse située au niveau ou au-dessus de la ligne de flottaison du corps qui est supportée par un arbre support s'étendant verticalement à partir de la base à travers la superstructure.
PCT/US2006/021874 2005-06-07 2006-06-06 Procede et appareil de forage en mer dans des eaux envahies par les glaces WO2006133161A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US68827605P 2005-06-07 2005-06-07
US60/688,276 2005-06-07

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2006133161A2 true WO2006133161A2 (fr) 2006-12-14
WO2006133161A3 WO2006133161A3 (fr) 2007-04-05

Family

ID=37102510

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2006/021874 WO2006133161A2 (fr) 2005-06-07 2006-06-06 Procede et appareil de forage en mer dans des eaux envahies par les glaces

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US20060275080A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2006133161A2 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NO333296B1 (no) * 2011-03-29 2013-04-29 Kvaerner Eng Mobil plattform for boring til havs og fremgangsmåte for installasjon av plattformen

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2189576A1 (fr) * 2008-11-19 2010-05-26 Flota Proyectos Singulares, S.A. Système de fondation pour structures marine en eaux profondes
CA2767441C (fr) 2011-02-09 2014-07-08 Ausenco Canada Inc. Fondation gravitaire
US8647017B2 (en) 2011-02-09 2014-02-11 Ausenco Canada Inc. Gravity base structure
ITMI20112130A1 (it) * 2011-11-23 2013-05-24 Saipem Spa Sistema e metodo per eseguire un programma di perforazione di pozzi subacquei in un letto di un corpo d'acqua e unita' galleggiante ausiliaria
US10352010B2 (en) * 2017-02-13 2019-07-16 Saudi Arabian Oil Company Self-installing offshore platform
US11685486B2 (en) 2021-01-14 2023-06-27 Saudi Arabian Oil Company Resilient bumper and bumper system

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL7400895A (en) * 1973-02-05 1974-08-07 Fully or partly submerged underwater well-boring installation - of minimum dimensions for stability and efficiency towed on pontoons forming working and living accommodation
GB1551859A (en) * 1975-11-03 1979-09-05 Strabag Bau Ag Platform for marine work
US20050084336A1 (en) * 2003-10-15 2005-04-21 Technip France Deck-to-column connection for extendable draft platform

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6761508B1 (en) * 1999-04-21 2004-07-13 Ope, Inc. Satellite separator platform(SSP)

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL7400895A (en) * 1973-02-05 1974-08-07 Fully or partly submerged underwater well-boring installation - of minimum dimensions for stability and efficiency towed on pontoons forming working and living accommodation
GB1551859A (en) * 1975-11-03 1979-09-05 Strabag Bau Ag Platform for marine work
US20050084336A1 (en) * 2003-10-15 2005-04-21 Technip France Deck-to-column connection for extendable draft platform

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NO333296B1 (no) * 2011-03-29 2013-04-29 Kvaerner Eng Mobil plattform for boring til havs og fremgangsmåte for installasjon av plattformen
US8875805B2 (en) 2011-03-29 2014-11-04 KV/Erner Concrete Solutions AS Mobile drilling system and a methodology for installation of the system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2006133161A3 (fr) 2007-04-05
US20060275080A1 (en) 2006-12-07

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
RU2386747C2 (ru) Усовершенствованная самоподъемная буровая установка и аналогичные буровые платформы
US20060275080A1 (en) Method and Apparatus for Offshore Drilling in Ice-Infested Waters
US6371695B1 (en) Offshore caisson having upper and lower sections separated by a structural diaphragm and method of installing the same
KR20190011716A (ko) 해저 지지 유닛 및 천수 천공 터미널을 제공하는 방법
US3793840A (en) Mobile, arctic drilling and production platform
EA002258B1 (ru) Система установки палубы на морском основании
CA2813426C (fr) Unite de forage auto-elevatrice specialement adaptee a la glace equipee d'un systeme de tension de pre-chargement
WO2010085970A1 (fr) Plate-forme mobile en mer
US8870497B2 (en) Ice worthy jack-up drilling unit with conical piled monopod
US8807875B2 (en) Ice worthy jack-up drilling unit with conical piled monopod and sockets
KR20150140792A (ko) 극지의 신축형 이동식 해양 시추 유닛
US3805534A (en) Slide resistant platform anchor conductor silo
RU2477351C1 (ru) Ледостойкая моноподная самоподъемная плавучая буровая установка
CA2812597C (fr) Unite de forage auto-elevatrice specialement adaptee a la glace comportant une plateforme monopode sur pile conique
CA2811946C (fr) Unite de forage auto-elevatrice specialement adaptee a la glace comportant une plateforme monopode sur pile conique et des douilles
EP1167177A1 (fr) Plate-forme du type off-shore
RU2734326C1 (ru) Ледостойкий буровой комплекс для освоения континентального шельфа и способ формирования ледостойкого бурового комплекса для освоения континентального шельфа
KR102006923B1 (ko) 스퍼드캔 플랫폼 유닛 및 이를 갖는 부유식 구조물
JPS5851573B2 (ja) 氷海用構造物の海底への据え付け方法
KR20130139932A (ko) 해저에 고정된 얼음에 적합한 잭-업 굴착선
NO20150926A1 (en) Sub-fixed floating platform

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 06760704

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A2