Device for lifting a seagoing construction such as a drilling rig,provided with lifting members running mutually parallel

• US 20040037650A1
• Filed: 01/09/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Societe D'Exploitation Du Pieter Schelte N.V.
• Original Assignee: Excalibur Engineering
• Inventors: Steenhuis, Andre Luur Jan, Schenkel, Martin Arie
• Granted Patent: US 6,857,821 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/202
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/003 for transporting very large loads, e.g. offshore structure modules construction methods for artificial islands mounted on piles E02B17/00; for transporting marine vessels B63B35/40; docks B63C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/00 Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor construction methods for floating platforms B63B75/00; anchoring floating platforms B63B21/00; floating platforms, e.g. anchored, B63B35/44; underwater reservoirs B65D88/78
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0047 using a barge
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0052 Removal or dismantling of offshore structures from their offshore location

Abstract

A device for lifting a seagoing construction such as a drilling rig, which device comprises one or more floater bodies, one or more beam-like lifting members supported movably on a floater body and running parallel or practically parallel to each other, wherein the or each lifting member is supported on at least two support points of the floater body, at least one of which is adjustable in height direction, and the end part of the lifting member lying outside the floater body has a pressure point which is in contact with the construction for lifting, this such that the seagoing construction can be easily connected to the end of the lifting member without this construction suffering damage as a result of the sea swell.

Claims

1. Device for lifting a seagoing construction such as a drilling rig, which device comprises two or more floater bodies located on either side of the seagoing construction, one or more beam-like lifting members supported movably on a floater body and running parallel or practically parallel to each other and supported on at least two support points of the floater body, characterized in that in the case of each lifting member at least one support point is adjustable in vertical and/or horizontal direction, at least the other support point allowing rotation of the beam-like lifting member in a horizontal or vertical plane, and the free end part of the lifting member has a pressure point coming into contact with the construction for to be lifted.

2. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the one support point of the floater body located close to the construction for lifting is provided with at least one cylinder, preferably a hydraulic cylinder, for vertical displacement of the lifting member.

3. Device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that a group of lifting members of a floater body is supported by a common cross beam on which the or each cylinder engages.

4. Device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that at least the other support point allows a longitudinal displacement and rotation of the beam-like lifting member in a horizontal or vertical plane of the beam-like lifting member.

5. Device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the other support point is arranged on the top side of the beam-like lifting member.

6. Device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the one support point is provided with two pendulum arms for suspending movably in all directions the lifting member or a pair of lifting members extending parallel adjacently of each other.

7. Device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the or each pendulum arm is suspended from a pivot arm, which pivot arm is adjustable in the vertical plane by means of the cylinder.