WO2007028851A1

WO2007028851A1 - Abandon station

Info

Publication number: WO2007028851A1
Application number: PCT/FI2006/000243
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pasi TÖRMÄLÄ
Original assignee: Br Maritime Ltd
Priority date: 2005-09-09
Filing date: 2006-07-07
Publication date: 2007-03-15
Also published as: FI20050900A0

Abstract

Abandon station for a maritime unit (1) that is meant for maritime purposes, such as for shipping, operating at the sea and/or like, which abandon station (X) is meant particularly as an emergency exit for the people in the maritime unit, whereby one or more group rescue vessels (R) have been placed therein, the abandon station being isolated from the surroundings, at least weatherproof and connected by a covered means of communication with the maritime unit (1) in order to enable safe access into it. The abandon station has a rescue unit (Xl) , being placed essentially externally with respect to the maritime unit (1) , for at least one free-fall rescue boat (R; Rl) and/or ice and water rescue vehicle (R; R2 ) , whereby in connection with the rescue unit there are at least power transmission means (Y) in order to bring the rescue unit in two or more utilization positions (I, II, II') by moving it essentially in a vertical direction (h) at a side of the maritime unit (1) .

Description

Abandon station

The invention relates to an abandon station for a maritime unit that is meant for maritime purposes, such as for shipping, operating at the sea and/or like, which abandon station is meant particularly as an emergency exit for people in the maritime unit, whereby at least one group rescue vessel has been placed therein. The abandon station is isolated from the surroundings, at least weatherproof and connected by a covered means of communication with the maritime unit in order to enable safe access into it.

It is usual nowadays within maritime operations for e.g. shipping or operating at the sea to place the life boats e.g. on the open deck of ship or e.g. at the side of an oil drilling rig, from where the same may be lowered to the sea by dropping. This causes many problems in practice, one of the most crucial of which worth be mentioning is particularly insecurity during an actual emergency, whereby moving to the life boats takes place in open space totally exposed to the roll of the sea and weather circumstances . On the other hand one crucial problem related to the traditional type of placement of the life boats is that, that the life boats as well as the supporting and lifting apparatuses for the same are continuously under very damaging circumstances, that is why effects e.g. by corrosion can be seen already after a very short period of use. This is why the life boats and the operating apparatuses of the same require regular observation and active maintenance in order to confirm usability of the same during an actual emergency.

The problems described above are furthermore emphasized when speaking of actual maritime units, that are meant for operating at the sea, such as stationary or movable oil drilling rig units. In this type of use such situations may arise for most heterogeneous reasons, that the personnel has to seek shelter and get prepared for emergency exit. This is why present rigs have according to the present stipulations temporary refuges, that may be closed airtight from the surroundings. Such temporary refuges are meant, however, for a very short stay, that is for a residence lasting about 30 minutes at maximum. After this time at the latest one must leave the protecting facility in question to the life boats placed at the side of the drilling rig or to the helicopter deck, in case evacuation is possible that way. The situation may thus be such, that the sea underneath and/or a part of the drilling rig is burning, whereby getting to the life boats is impossible because of toxic combustion gases existing in the surroundings or because of high temperatures. In addition to that problems may be caused under such situations also by high roll of the sea and by otherwise disadvantageous weather circumstances so, that helicopter transportations being used typically for emergency exit may not be used.

In Finnish patents numbers 96896 and 100197 there has been presented solutions, that are meant for developing particularly traditional drilling rigs of jack-up type. In this connection it may be stated, that it is nowadays known to use both so called semi-submersible drilling rigs and the type of so called jack-up drilling rigs as described above, which have feet, that may be moved with respect to the frame part of the drillings vertically in order to support the drilling rig to the bottom of the sea during an operating situation. The semi-submersible drilling rigs comprise an underwater part, which supports the actual working deck existing on the sea level. Such a drilling rig is not supported stationary on the ground at all during a drilling situation, that is why the type of drilling rig requires expensive and complicated joint and movement arrangements between the drilling device drilling the ground and the drilling rig, which enable drilling despite the roll of the sea. Both the costs of manufacturing and operating of such type of drilling rigs are multiple, when compared to the same of those drilling rigs of jack-up type described above. One crucial advantage of the type of drilling rigs above compared to nowadays drilling rigs of jack-up type is, however, that because of a massive construction of the same they may be transported in most heterogeneous circumstances, even during a relatively high roll of the sea. In addition to that, they may be used with clearly deeper depths of water than jack-up rigs, which may be used when the depth of water is usually below 150 meter.

The solutions presented in the Finnish patents mentioned above are meant particularly to improve the safety and feasibility of a drilling rig of jack-up type, whereby the former of the same is meant particularly to improve the safety and feasibility of the drilling rig in a way, that the residence unit belonging to the drilling rig is arranged moveable, whereby it is moved at least for the time of the drilling situation essentially away from the drilling unit, advantageously in a direction, that is essentially opposite to the moving direction of the drilling unit.

The latter patent discloses a solution, that is meant to improve the feasibility of a drilling rig of jack-up type particularly with a view to the safety of an attachment phase and a detachment phase. In this case under the bottom of the frame part there has been arranged an airspace, that may be discharged for the transportation position of the drilling rig, whereby air is blown to the same in order to achieve an airbed or like, particularly for the time of the attachment and/or the detachment phase.

The risks related to maritime may be classified to the following main groups: cases of sinking, collision, fire, explosion and structural damage. In addition to that typical risks related particularly to off-shore oil drilling are: gas leakages, which cause danger to life due to an explosion or poisoning, oil leakages, yielding of the sea bottom, a pipe damage of the bore, helicopter accident, a threat to terrorism.

The evacuation stipulations for different kinds of risk situations are always slightly differing, but in serious cases they according to the main rule always end up to exiting the rig either by helicopter transportation or by life boats. As an example of the above increasing of hydrogen sulphide to a level of 40 ppm may be mentioned. In such a case the rig must be evacuated immediately. When an evacuation is taking place, it is safest to carry it out by helicopters, in case they may be used under those circumstances or if there is enough time to use them. In case use of a helicopter is prevented because of the weather circumstances or because of urgency of the evacuation, people must traditionally enter the life boats, which is always a risk already as such. It has been said, that most lives, that have been lost in sea accidents all over the world are just result of life boat accidents, because fatal accidents have occured while handling the life boats. They may be caused by the bad shape of the life boat or of its treatment apparatus, by circumstances during exit to the boats, by roll of the sea while staying in the boats and to a high degree also by exiting the life boats to the rescuing ship.

In the development solutions according to the patents described there has been suggested first of all to place the helicopter deck in connection with the upper part of the residence unit above the life boats in a way that a covered sheltering space is achieved protecting moving of the personnel to the life boats. Despite the above moving to the group rescue vehicles is still on a very unsafe level, in which respect the problems presented above are related also to the solutions according to the above mentioned patents.

On the other hand on grounds of the International Patent Publication WO 99/61308 it is known to carry out the type of maritime unit described above so that an evacuation refugee, being carried out integrally and internally with the structures belonging to the maritime unit, comprises an abandon station, which is to be closed gas/air tight with respect to the surroundings and that enables long lasting stay therein, whereby inside the same there has been placed e.g. one or several life boats. This type of solution improves decisively safety of most heterogenous maritime units being meant for maritime purposes, particularly when keeping in mind different kinds of seeking-for-shelter, emergency, emergency-exit situations or like. This is first of all thanks to the fact that the life boats are placed in a space that is totally protected from the surroundings, so that moving inside the same can be carried out safely. Protected keeping of the life boats has also such an advantage, that drive mechanisms of the same are kept in good condition with decisively less maintenance than by traditional solutions.

A disadvantage of the type of solution described above is, however, the fact that the abandon station takes a lot of room from the stationary structures on the deck of the maritime unit, being thus most of the time in a manner of speaking in a use of no avail. It is an aim of the abandon station according to this invention to achieve a decisive improvement in the problems presented above and thus to raise substantially the level of knowledge in the field. To achieve this aim, the abandon station according to the present invention is primarily characterized by that the same has a rescue unit, being placed essentially externally with respect to the maritime unit, whereby in connection with the rescue unit there are at least power transmission means in order to bring the rescue unit in two or more utilization positions by moving it essentially in a vertical direction at side of the maritime unit.

The abandon station according to the invention improves significantly safety of maritime units meant for most heterogeneous purposes particularly with a view to different kinds of seeking-of-shelter, emergency, emergency-exit situations or like. This is first of all thanks to the fact, that the group rescue vehicles are placed in one or several rescue units, being totally protected from the surroundings, so, that safe access therein is always enabled under most difficult circumstances and in most inconvenient environments. The abandon station according to the invention enables thus first of all that one or more rescue units, being external with respect to the maritime unit can be kept as far as possible from the sea level when the maritime unit is moving or e.g. when a so called air gap is small or in other words when the sea level is close to the bottom surface of the bottom structures of the maritime unit, whereby e.g. dropping of the rescue boats from an upper utilization position is possible.

As an advantageous embodiment the abandon station according to the invention is being exploited particularly in a maritime unit that is meant for operating at the sea, such as an oil drilling rig or like, whereby during a transportation situation, when the same is in tow to its operating site, the abandon station is at the side of e.g. a drilling rig of jack- up type, directly beneath the helicopter deck, whereafter, when the drilling rig is being installed on its site, it can be lowered to its lower utilization position, in which access therein is enabled by means of a protected means of communication, being provided with stationary structures of the maritime unit. After this e.g. a free-fall group rescue boat, being placed therein, can be dropped in an emergency situation on the sea level or the rescue unit can be lowered furthermore downwards in a way that e.g. a tracked rescue vehicle, being capable of operating under icy and watery circumstances, can be lowered directly on the surface of ice. Depending on the operating site it is furthermore advantageous to enable passage from the structures of the maritime unit into the abandon station in more than one utilization positions thereof by providing the structures in corresponding points of the maritime unit with protected means of communication of the type described above.

In connection with an abandon station to be used particularly in an oil drilling rig there has been arranged processing devices for breathing air, such as ventilation arrangements, reserve of breathing air, regeneration and/or filtration units for breathing air, in order to keep the air suitable for breathing inside the rescue station, that is e.g. to be closed in a gas and water proof manner with respect to the surroundings, which enables long lasting residence therein.

The invention has one crucial meaning in such respect as well, that the group rescue boats or rescue vehicles, that are totally protected from the roll of sea and weather circumstances, are despite demanding surroundings kept in good shape, whereby maintenance and service of the same may be minimized without, however, risking their reliability.

Advantageous embodiments of the abandon station according to the invention are represented in the dependent claims related to the abandon station.

In the following description, the invention is illustrated in detail with reference to the appended drawings , in which

Fig. 1 shows as a perspective view the common principle of an abandon station according to the invention, which is being used particularly in connection with an oil drilling rig of so called jack-up type,

Fig. 2 shows an advantageous embodiment of the abandon station according to the invention, when a rescue unit belonging to the same is in its lower utilization position e.g. during drilling or the like operation,

Fig. 3 shows the embodiment according to figure 2, in which the rescue unit is in its upper utilization position particularly when the maritime unit is under transportation, it floats or when there is a small air gap between the same and the sea level,

Fig. 4 shows an advantageous embodiment of the abandon station according to the invention, which comprises at least two parallel rescue units, one of which is shown in its upper and the other in its lower utilization position, Fig. 5 shows an other embodiment of the abandon station, being an alternative to the one shown in figures 2 - 4, when a rescue unit belonging to the same is in its upper utilization position,

Fig. 6 shows the abandon station according to figure 5, when the rescue unit belonging to the same is in its lower utilization position enabling passage therefrom on ice or into water, and

Fig. 7 shows an advantageous embodiment of the abandon station according to figures 5 and 6, in which one parallel rescue unit is shown in its upper and the other in its lower utilization process, being shown in figure 6.

The invention relates to an abandon station for a maritime unit 1 that is meant for maritime purposes, such as for shipping, operating at the sea and/or like, which abandon station X is meant particularly as an emergency exit for people in the maritime unit, whereby at least one group rescue vessel R has been placed therein. The abandon station being isolated from the surroundings, at least weatherproof and connected by a covered means of communication with the maritime unit 1 in order to enable safe access into it. The abandon station has a rescue unit Xl, being placed essentially externally with respect to the maritime unit 1, whereby in connection with the rescue unit there are at least power transmission means Y in order to bring the rescue unit in two or more utilization positions I, II, II' by moving it essentially in a vertical direction h at a side of the maritime unit 1.

Abandon station according to the invention is applicable particularly well with a maritime unit that is meant for operating at the sea, such as an oil drilling rig 1; I¹ as shown in the appended drawings, which is supported during an operational situation on the bottom of the sea by feet SF and which is being moved during transportation with its feet raised on the sea level either self powered by its own installations or by towing. The abandon station X has according to the principle shown e.g. in figure 1 one or more rescue units Xl, which are to be moved at the side of the maritime unit 1 in vertical direction h by means of electricity, pressurized medium, combustion engine operated or the like power transmission means Y, a longitudinal direction S thereof corresponding with reference to the embodiments shown particularly in figures 2 and 5 essentially to a longitudinal direction of one or more group rescue vessels R existing therein.

The embodiments shown particularly in figures 2 - 4 are meant for at least one free-fall rescue boat R; Rl, in which case the rescue unit Xl is arranged in one or more of its utilization positions to settle in an inclined position corresponding to the dropping angle a onto the sea level WS of the rescue boat R; Rl. In the embodiments shown in figures 2 - 4, the position of the rescue unit is the same both in the upper and the lower utilization positions I, II.

The embodiments shown particularly in figures 5 - 7 are for their part meant particularly for at least one ice and water rescue vehicle R; R2 , whereby the rescue unit Xl belonging to the same is arranged in its lower and lowest utilization positions II, II' (as well as in its upper utilization position), in which e.g. access therein and lowering of the rescue vehicle from the same on the ice/into the water IS is enabled, to settle in an essentially horizontal position.

As an advantageous embodiment of the abandon station a rescue unit Xl provided therewith is arranged weather-, gas- and/or waterproof in respect with the surroundings .

Furthermore with reference to the advantageous embodiments shown in figures 4 and 7, several rescue units Xl belonging to the abandon station have been placed at the side of the maritime unit 1 side by side.

As a further advantageous embodiment the invention is applied for particularly in connection with an oil drilling rig 1; I¹ or like, which comprises furthermore at least a helicopter deck H or like for air transportations . In this case one of several rescue units Xl belonging to the abandon station is/are placed essentially beneath the helicopter deck H or like.

With reference particularly to figures 1, 2 and 6 one or more rescue units Xl belonging to the abandon station is/are coupled moveably with the helicopter deck H or like and/or at the side wall of the maritime unit 1 by means of wire ropes Y; Yl, chains, rods and/or like and/or by guiding and/or pulling rails Y; Y2 existing on the wall.

As a further advantageous embodiment the abandon station is provided with processing devices for breathing air, such as ventilation arrangements, a reserve of breathing air, regeneration and/or filtration units for breathing air, in order to keep the rescue unit's Xl indoor air suitable for breathing, the rescue unit being particularly closed in a gas and/or water tight manner from the surroundings.

It is furthermore advantageous to exploit the invention e.g. in connection with an oil drilling rig, which comprises furthermore a residence unit A for the drilling rig personnel. In this case one or more moveable rescue units Xl belonging to the abandon station are arranged in at least e.g. as shown in figure 2 and by dotted line in figure 6 in its upper and lower positions I, II, wherein access therein is enabled essentially in connection with the residence unit A.

Furthermore as an advantageous embodiment of the invention there has been arranged in connection with the abandon station X an extra command post for controlling of the operative functionings of the maritime unit, such as of a drilling unit performing drilling, of a residence unit, of a transferring apparatus and/or of an emergency supply and operating apparatus of an immobile or a moveable oil drilling rig or like.

Particularly with reference e.g. to the operating principle shown in figure 6, it is thus possible to carry out use of the rescue unit Xl in a way that access therein is enabled both in its lower and upper utilization positions I, II e.g. from above the frame structures of the maritime unit, e.g. from the residence unit A, whereafter it can be furthermore lowered into lowest utilization position II', existing essentially below the frame structures of the maritime unit particularly in order to enable lowering of a rescue vehicle on top of the ice IS. The corresponding solution may naturally be exploited in connection with group rescue boats, in case their dropping height needs to be furthermore decreased.

The invention described above gives extra time to make an evacuation decision and makes maybe even the whole evacuation decision unnecessary. The personnel may stay safely in the abandon station and monitor development of the situation therefrom. It is also possible when a rescue station according to the invention is being used e.g. in passenger ships, that the passengers could be ordered to go the abandon station much earlier than such an order about moving to the life boats would be given at present .

In many situations the invention may even make the present evacuation decisions according to the present stipulations totally unnecessary so, that the risk of danger goes by during the time, that the people spend in the rescue station; a gas leakage stops and the direction of wind changes, a fire is being extinguished etc. Rescuing may be waited for, though some kind of explosion would have destroyed structures concerning actual operations, whereby there is enough time by equipping the abandon station with equipment, that safeguard survival e.g. from a couple of days for two weeks or so .

When a premature evacuation may be avoided, also the great risks caused by the evacuation as such may be avoided. Also the high expenses must be kept in mind, that are caused by evacuation. So, the primary aim and purpose of the invention is to decrease risks involved with evacuation at the sea by increasing safety with arrangements, the costs of which are also considerably more profitable that present arrangements.

It is obvious that the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown or presented above, but it can be modified within the basic idea even to a great extent. Thus the abandon station according to the invention may be carried out technically by very many types of constructions depending very much on the purpose for use. E.g. in connection with maritime vessels, the abandon station may be arranged technically by very many kind of constructions, whereby easy entrance of the passangers and personnel to the abandon station is enabled and on the other hand also e.g. the safe lowering of the life boats from the same to the sea. in addition to that it is also possible to equip one or several rescue units belonging to the abandon station according to the invention more abundantly than described above e.g. with first aid devices and equipments, locationing devices, data communication devices etc. It is naturally advantageous to connect the abandon station according to the invention with suitable sheltered passages also to other critical points of the maritime unit.

Claims

Claims :

1. Abandon station for a maritime unit (1) that is meant for maritime purposes, such as for shipping, operating at the sea and/or like, which abandon station

(X) is meant particularly as an emergency exit for people in the maritime unit, whereby at least one group rescue vessel (R) has been placed therein, the abandon station being isolated from the surroundings, at least weatherproof and connected by a covered means of communication with the maritime unit (1) in order to enable safe access into it, characterized in that the abandon station has a rescue unit (Xl) , being placed essentially externally with respect to the maritime unit (1), for at least one free-fall rescue boat (R; Rl) and/or ice and water rescue vehicle (R; R2 ) , whereby in connection with the rescue unit there are at least power transmission means (Y) in order to bring the rescue unit in two or more utilization positions (I, II, II') by moving it essentially in a vertical direction (h) at a side of the maritime unit (1) .

2. Abandon station according to claim 1 particularly for a maritime unit that is meant for operating at the sea, such as an oil drilling rig (I¹) or like, characterized in that the abandon station (X) has one or more rescue units (Xl) , which are to be moved at the side of the maritime unit (1) in vertical direction (h) by means of electricity, pressurized medium, combustion engine operated or the like power transmission means (Y) , a longitudinal direction (S) thereof corresponding essentially to a longitudinal direction of one or more group rescue vessels (R) existing therein.

3. Abandon station according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the rescue unit (Xl) is arranged in one or more of its utilization positions (I, II, II') to settle in an inclined position corresponding to the dropping angle (a) of the rescue boat (R; Rl) .

4. Abandon station according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the rescue unit (Xl) is arranged in one or more of its utilization positions (I, II, II') to settle in a position, enabling passage of the ice and water rescue vehicle (R; R2 ) such as essentially horizontally.

5. Abandon station according to any of the claims 1 - 4 above, characterized in that a rescue unit (Xl) provided therewith is arranged weather-, gas- and/or waterproof in respect with its surrounding.

6. Abandon station according to any of the claims 1 - 5 above, characterized in that several rescue units (Xl) belonging to the abandon station have been placed at the side of the maritime unit (1) side by side.

7. Abandon station according to any of the claims 1 - 6 above particularly in connection with an oil drilling rig (1; I¹) or like, which comprises furthermore at least a helicopter deck (H) or like for air transportations, characterized in that a rescue unit (Xl) belonging to the abandon station is placed essentially beneath the helicopter deck (H) or like.

8. Abandon station according to any of the claims 1 - 7 above, characterized in that one or more rescue units (Xl) belonging to the abandon station is/are coupled moveably with a helicopter deck (H) or like and/or at the side wall of the maritime unit (1) by means of wire ropes (Y; Yl), chains, rods and/or like and/or by guiding and/or pulling rails (Y; Y2) existing on the wall.

9. Abandon station according to any of the claims 1 - 8 above, characterized in that the abandon station is provided with processing devices for breathing air, such as ventilation arrangements, a reserve of breathing air, regeneration and/or filtration units for breathing air, particularly in order to keep the rescue unit's (Xl) indoor air suitable for breathing.

10. Abandon station according to any of the claims 1 - 9 above particularly in connection with an oil drilling rig (1; 1') or like, which comprises furthermore a residence unit (A) for the drilling rig personnel, characterized in that one or more moveable rescue units (Xl) belonging to the abandon station are arranged in at least one of the positions thereof, wherein access therein is enabled (I, II), essentially in connection with the residence unit (A) .