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Method of supporting a shallow water drilling barge

  • US 4,505,615 A
  • Filed: 08/06/1982
  • Issued: 03/19/1985
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1982
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of supporting a drilling barge for conducting drilling operations at a location characterized by a shallow water depth and a silty water bed of low load bearing capacity, said method comprising the steps of(a) floating a submersible platform, having jacking legs and jacking mechanisms thereon, to said location;

  • (b) ballasting said submersible platform until it rests on said water bed;

    (c) floating a drilling barge into position over the submerged platform and flooding the barge so that it comes to rest on the platform, the total weight of the platform and barge being so related to their buoyancy and to the bottom surface area of the platform that the pressure exerted by the platform on the water bed is less than the supporting capability of the water bed, and(d) jacking the legs of the platform down into the water bed to a depth where the soil provides increased bearing capacity.

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