MOBILE, ARCTIC DRILLING AND PRODUCTION PLATFORM

• US 3,793,840 A
• Filed: 10/18/1971
• Issued: 02/26/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George E. Mott, James P. Wilbourn
• Original Assignee: George E. Mott, James P. Wilbourn
• Inventors: Mott, George E., Wilbourn, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shapiro, Jacob
• Application Number:
  US05/189,972
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 61/46.5,46 114/.5T
• US Class Current: 405/211
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/02 placed by lowering the supporting construction to the bottom, e.g. with subsequent fixing thereto
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 27/42 Foundations for poles, masts or chimneys sockets or holders for poles or masts per se E04H12/22
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 27/425 specially adapted for wind motors masts wind motors per se F03D1/00

Abstract

The invention relates to a marine platform adapted to be removably positioned at an offshore body of water, the surface of which is periodically subjected to sheet ice and floating ice masses. The platform includes a controllably buoyant foundationlike base at its lower end, which normally rests on the ocean floor. A shell-like body extends upwardly from said base and is defined on its external surface by a progressively decreasing cross sectional area from the body lower end, to a point adjacent the upper end. A work deck disposed at, and operably carried at the body upper end includes equipment necessary to function at said off-shore site. A caisson extending uprightly through the platform is partially embedded into the substratum beneath the platform, firmly anchoring the latter and protecting wells during and after a drilling operation.

Claims

1. A marine platform adapted to be removably positioned at an offshore body of water, the latter being in an environment subject to floating ice, which platform includes;

a submergible base including buoyancy means incorporated therein for controllably regulating the disposition of said base between the floating position at the water'"'"''"'"'s surface, and a resting position at the floor of said body of water, said base having means forming a vertical transverse opening therethrough, a guide column having upper and lower ends, the latter being fixed to and extending upwardly from said base in alignment with said vertical transverse opening, the column upper end being of sufficient length to extend beyond the water'"'"''"'"'s surface when said base is positioned at said floor, a caisson disposed internally of and contiguous with said guide column, extending longitudinally thereof and having the lower end embedded into the substrate beneath said platform whereby to anchor the latter during a drilling operation, and to subsequently permit upward guided movement of said platform along the caisson when the platform is raised from a submerged position, an elongated shell characterized by a generally conical external surface, having the broad end connected to said base and having the upper constricted end in engagement with said guide column adjacent the upper end thereof, and a deck operably carried on said guide column upper end being longitudinally movable therealong for positioning a desired distance beyond the water'"'"''"'"'s surface.

2. A marine platform as defined in claim 1, including a caisson operably received in said guide column and longitudinally movable through the latter whereby to permit lowering of said caisson downwardly through said base to permit embedment thereof into the floor of said body of water.

3. In an apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said guide column is of substantially uniform diameter and slidable along said caisson outer surface to guide the latter during lowering thereof into the substrate.

4. In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said conical shell is of sufficient height to position at least a portion thereof beyond the water'"'"''"'"'s surface when said base is resting at said floor.

5. In a marine platform as defined in claim 1, wherein said caisson extends upwardly along said guide column to position with the upper end thereof adjacent to and beneath the water'"'"''"'"'s surface.