Mobile, Year-Round Arctic Drilling System

• US 20100221069A1
• Filed: 02/13/2007
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carl Rhys Brinkmann, George F. Davenport
• Original Assignee: Carl Rhys Brinkmann, George F. Davenport
• Inventors: Brinkmann, Carl Rhys, Davenport, George F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,523,491 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/203
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/0017 Means for protecting offshore constructions
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/0021 against ice-loads
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/021 with relative movement between supporting construction and platform
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0039 Methods for placing the offshore structure
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0043 Placing the offshore structure on a pre-installed foundation structure
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0052 Removal or dismantling of offshore structures from their offshore location
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0056 Platforms with supporting legs
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0078 Suction piles, suction cans
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0095 Connections of subsea risers, piping or wiring with the offshore structure

Abstract

A mobile, year-round drilling system (MYADS) for drilling offshore wells and/or performing other offshore activities at multiple, successive locations in an arctic or sub-arctic environment is provided. The present invention combines the ability to move to different locations and the strength to resist ice loading when on location and when ice-covering is present in the arctic or sub-arctic environment. The MYADS applies a multiple leg “jack-up” concept in which supporting legs are lowered through a hull to touch down on the seabed and elevate the hull out of the water.

Claims

1. A mobile drilling system comprising:

a hull;

at least two legs adapted to be lowered through the hull to contact a seabed and elevate the hull out of the water;

a foundation associated with each leg, wherein the at least two legs and the foundations are adapted for use in a sub-arctic environment; and

a drilling rig located on the hull,

wherein each of the at least two legs- is made of an outer plate and an inner plate with a bonding agent filled between the outer plate and the inner plate.

2. The mobile drilling system according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least two legs have a substantially cylindrical shape.

3. The mobile drilling system according to claim 2, wherein the outer plate has a diameter of about 15 meters.

4. The mobile drilling system according to claim 3, wherein the moment of inertia of the at least two legs is between about 100 meters to the fourth (m⁴) and about 130 m⁴.

5. The mobile drilling system according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the outer plate is about 50 millimeters.

6. The mobile drilling system according to claim 1, wherein the at least two legs are of substantially cylindrical shape with an inner plate diameter of about 14 meters.

7. The mobile drilling system according to claim 6, wherein the thickness of the inner plate is about 25 millimeters.

8. The mobile drilling system according to claim 1, wherein the bonding agent comprises at least one of grout or elastomeric agent.

9. The mobile drilling system according to claim 1, wherein the foundation has a diameter of about 30 meters.

10. The mobile drilling system according to claim 1, wherein the foundation is configured to secure at least one wellhead when the system is removed from its location.

12. The mobile drilling system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two legs are of quadrangle shape.

11. (canceled)

13. A method of offshore drilling comprising:

providing a mobile drilling system comprising;

a hull;

at least two legs adapted to be lowered through the hull to contact a seabed and elevate the hull out of a body of water;

a foundation associated with each leg; and

a drilling rig located on the hull, wherein each of the at least two legs is made of an outer plate and an inner plate with a bonding agent filled between the outer plate and the inner plate; and

drilling through at least one of the at least two legs.

14. The method of offshore drilling according to claim 13 further comprising drilling through an ice-resistant caisson.

15. The method of offshore drilling according to claim 13, wherein each of the at least two legs are of substantially cylindrical shape.

16. The method of offshore drilling according to claim 15, wherein the outer plate having a diameter of about 15 meters.

17. The method of offshore drilling according to claim 16, wherein the moment of inertia of the at least two legs is between about 100 m⁴ and about 130 m⁴.

18. The method of offshore drilling according to claim 13, wherein the thickness of the outer plate is about 50 millimeters.

19. The method of offshore drilling according to claim 13, wherein the at least two legs are of substantially cylindrical shape with an inner plate diameter of about 14 meters.

20. The method of offshore drilling according to claim 19, wherein the thickness of the inner plate is about 25 millimeters.

21. The method of offshore drilling according to claim 13, wherein the bonding agent comprises at least one of grout or elastomeric agent.

22. The method of offshore drilling according to claim 13, wherein the foundation has a diameter of about 30 meters.

23. The method of offshore drilling according to claim 13, wherein the foundation is configured to secure at least one wellhead when the system is removed from its location.

24. The method of offshore drilling according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the at least two legs are of quadrangle shape.

25. A method of producing hydrocarbons comprising:

providing a mobile drilling system comprising;

a hull;

at least two legs adapted to be lowered through the hull to contact a seabed and elevate the hull out of a body of water;

at least one foundation associated with at least one of the at least two legs; and

a drilling rig located on the hull, wherein each of the at least two legs having a closed structure comprising an outer plate and an inner plate forming an annulus, wherein a bonding agent is disposed in the annulus; and

drilling through a leg of the drilling system.

26. The method of producing hydrocarbons according to claim 25 further comprising drilling through an ice-resistant caisson.

27. The method of producing hydrocarbons according to claim 25, wherein each of the at least two legs are of substantially cylindrical shape.

28. The method of producing hydrocarbons according to claim 27, wherein the outer plate having a diameter of about 15 meters.

29. The method of producing hydrocarbons according to claim 28, wherein the moment of inertia of the at least two legs is between about 100 meters to the fourth power (m⁴) and about 130 m⁴.

30. The method of producing hydrocarbons according to claim 25, wherein the thickness of the outer plate is about 50 millimeters.

31. The method of producing hydrocarbons according to claim 25, wherein the at least two legs are of substantially cylindrical shape with an inner plate diameter of about 14 meters.

32. The method of producing hydrocarbons according to claim 31, wherein the thickness of the inner plate is about 25 millimeters.

33. The method of producing hydrocarbons according to claim 25, wherein the bonding agent comprises at least one of grout or elastomeric agent.

34. The method of producing hydrocarbons according to claim 25, wherein the at least one foundation has a diameter of about 30 meters.

35. The method of producing hydrocarbons according to claim 25, wherein the foundation is configured to secure at least one wellhead when the system is removed from its location.

36. The method of producing hydrocarbons according to claim 25, wherein at least one of the at least two legs are of quadrangle shape.

37. The method of producing hydrocarbons according to claim 25, wherein the drilling takes place in a sub-arctic environment.

38. A method of installing an offshore drilling system comprising:

transporting a mobile drilling system to a location in a body of water, wherein the mobile drilling system comprises;

a hull;

at least two legs, wherein each of the at least two legs is made of an outer plate and an inner plate with a bonding agent filled between the outer plate and the inner plate;

at least one foundation associated with at least one of the at least two legs; and

a drilling rig located on the hull;

lowering the at least two legs to a seabed;

elevating the hull above a surface of the body of water;

penetrating the at least one foundation into the seabed; and

positioning the drilling rig over a drilling location.

39. The method of installing an offshore drilling system of claim 38, wherein each of the at least two legs are of substantially cylindrical shape 40. The method of installing an offshore drilling system of claim 38, wherein the moment of inertia of the at least two legs is between about 100 m⁴ and about 130 m⁴.

41. The method of installing an offshore drilling system of claim 38, wherein the bonding agent comprises at least one of grout or elastomeric agent.

42. The method of installing an offshore drilling system of claim 38, wherein the installing takes place in a sub-arctic environment.

43. The method of installing an offshore drilling system of claim 38, further comprising drilling a well through at least one of the at least two legs and installing at least one wellhead within one of the at least one foundation.

44. A method of removing an offshore drilling system comprising:

providing a mobile drilling system in a first location in a body of water, wherein the mobile drilling system is installed at the first location and the mobile drilling system comprises;

a hull;

at least two legs, wherein each of the at least two legs is made of an outer plate and an inner plate with a bonding agent filled between the outer plate and the inner plate; and

at least one foundation associated with at least one of the at least two legs;

securing at least one of the at least one foundation to protect a wellhead located in the at least one of the at least one foundation;

lowering the hull into the body of water;

raising the at least two legs; and

transporting the mobile drilling system to a second location.

45. The method of removing an offshore drilling system of claim 44, wherein each of the at least two legs are of substantially cylindrical shape.

46. The method of removing an offshore drilling system of claim 45, wherein the moment of inertia of the at least two legs is between about 100 meters to the fourth power (m⁴) and about 130 m⁴.

47. The method of removing an offshore drilling system of claim 44, wherein the bonding agent comprises at least one of grout or elastomeric agent.

48. A method of re-installing an offshore drilling system comprising:

providing a mobile drilling system on a body of water, wherein the mobile drilling system comprises;

a hull;

at least two legs;

at least one foundation associated with at least one of the at least two legs; and

a drilling rig located on the hull, wherein each of the at least two legs is made of an outer plate and an inner plate with a bonding agent filled between the outer plate and the inner plate;

transporting the mobile drilling system to a drilling location, wherein the drilling location includes a first foundation;

lowering the at least two legs to a seabed, wherein one of the at least two legs is lowered into the first foundation;

elevating the hull above a surface of the body of water;

penetrating the foundation of the remaining legs of the at least two legs into a seabed; and

positioning the drilling rig over a drilling location.

49. The method of re-installing an offshore drilling system of claim 48, wherein each of the at least two legs are of substantially cylindrical shape.

50. The method of re-installing an offshore drilling system of claim 49, wherein the moment of inertia of the at least two legs is between about 100 meters to the fourth power (m⁴) and about 130 m⁴.

51. The method of re-installing an offshore drilling system of claim 48, wherein the bonding agent comprises at least one of grout or elastomeric agent.

52. The method of re-installing an offshore drilling system of claim 48, further comprising locating the one of the at least two legs into the first foundation utilizing a guide system.

53. The method of re-installing an offshore drilling system of claim 48, wherein the first foundation provides well protection to at least one subsea wellhead.