DRILLING RIG ICE PROTECTOR APPARATUS AND METHODS

• US 20100329796A1
• Filed: 05/11/2010
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Global Maritime, Inc.
• Original Assignee: American Global Maritime, Inc.
• Inventors: Burns, Thomas A., Morandi, Alberto C., Blythe, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,011,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/211
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2211/06 Operation in ice-infested waters
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/12 having ice-cutters
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/0021 against ice-loads
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/003 Fenders
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/006 with lattice style supporting legs

Abstract

A diversion assembly to protect a leg of an maritime structure from floating debris includes at least one upper inclined surface and at least one flotation element to buoy the diversion assembly around the leg of the maritime structure, wherein the at least one inclined surface is configured to divert floating debris away from the leg of the maritime structure. A method to protect an offshore platform from damage due to floating debris includes attaching a diversion assembly about the periphery of at least one leg of the offshore platform and diverting the floating debris away from the at least one leg of the offshore platform with at least one inclined surface.

Claims

1. A diversion assembly to protect a leg of a maritime structure from floating debris, the diversion assembly comprising:

at least one upper inclined surface; and

at least one flotation element to buoy the diversion assembly around the leg of the maritime structure;

wherein the at least one upper inclined surface is configured to divert the floating debris away from the leg of the maritime structure.

2. The diversion assembly of claim 1, wherein the floating debris comprises ice flows.

3. The diversion assembly of claim 2, further comprising at least one ice deflector plate positioned above the at least one upper inclined surface.

4. The diversion assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one lower inclined surface.

5. The diversion assembly of claim 1, wherein the diversion assembly is segmented into a plurality of floating segments, wherein each segment is connected to an adjoining segment through a hinged joint.

6. The diversion assembly of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of removable hinge pins to selectively open and close the hinged joints to install and remove the diversion assembly about the leg of the maritime structure.

7. The diversion assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of rollers to allow the diversion assembly to be vertically displaced relative to the leg of the maritime structure.

8. The diversion assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one ratcheting chock bar to restrict vertical displacement of the diversion assembly relative to the leg of the maritime structure.

9. The diversion assembly of claim 8, further comprising at least one inner movable buoyant box to engage the at least one ratcheting chock bar to restrict vertical displacement of the diversion assembly relative to the leg of the maritime structure.

10. The diversion assembly of claim 9, wherein the at least one inner buoyant box is connected to the at least one ratcheting chock bar by an actuating lever arm.

11. An offshore platform, comprising:

a plurality of legs extending from a working deck of the platform toward a sea floor;

a diversion assembly coupled to at least one of the plurality of legs, the diversion assembly comprising;

at least one upper inclined surface; and

at least one flotation element to buoy the diversion assembly around the leg of the offshore platform;

wherein the at least one inclined surface is configured to divert floating debris away from the leg of the offshore platform.

12. The offshore platform of claim 11, wherein the floating debris comprise ice flows.

13. The offshore platform of claim 12, further comprising at least one ice deflector plate positioned above the at least one upper inclined surface.

14. The offshore platform of claim 11, further comprising at least one lower inclined surface.

15. The offshore platform of claim 11, wherein the diversion assembly is segmented into a plurality of floating segments, wherein each segment is connected to an adjoining segment through a hinged joint.

16. The offshore platform of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of removable hinge pins to selectively open and close the hinged joints to install and remove the diversion assembly about the leg of the offshore platform.

17. The offshore platform of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of rollers to allow the diversion assembly to be vertically displaced relative to the leg of the offshore platform.

18. The offshore platform of claim 11, further comprising at least one ratcheting chock bar to restrict vertical displacement of the diversion assembly relative to the leg of the offshore platform.

19. The offshore platform of claim 18, further comprising at least one movable inner buoyant box to engage the at least one ratcheting chock bar to restrict vertical displacement of the diversion assembly relative to the leg of the offshore platform.

20. The offshore platform of claim 19, wherein the at least one inner buoyant box is connected to the at least one ratcheting chock bar by an actuating lever arm.

21. A method to protect an offshore platform from damage due to floating debris, the method comprising:

attaching a diversion assembly about the periphery of at least one leg of the offshore platform;

wherein the diversion assembly comprises;

at least one upper inclined surface;

at least one flotation element to buoy the diversion assembly around the at least one leg of the offshore platform; and

diverting the floating debris away from the at least one leg of the offshore platform with the at least one inclined surface.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising breaking up the floating debris with the at least one inclined surface.