Composite platform for petroleum workings in polar seas

• US 4,618,286 A
• Filed: 02/12/1985
• Issued: 10/21/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fluor-Doris Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fluor-Doris Incorporated
• Inventors: Michel, Dominique, Martin, Jean G. M., Sedillot, Francois G., Pages, Jean F., Foglia, Vincent F. P., Johnson, Delbert B., Crull, Carroll M., Vache, Michel P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Cornelius J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/700,950
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 405/61, 405/195, 405/203-205, 405/207, 405/208, 405/210, 405/211, 405/217, 405/224, 405/227, 405/228, 175/9
• US Class Current: 405/208
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/0021 against ice-loads

Abstract

The platform comprises an annular truncated cone of concrete which constitutes the main resistant element of the platform and is designed to take the thrust of ice, and a cylindrical steel part housed inside the annular truncated cone. Watertight passages parallel to the generatrices of the cylindrical wall are provided to house piles in the peripheral ring, close to the wall. A watertight passage well is provided in the cylindrical steel part for the passage of the drill pipes. A circular running track is provided for gantry cranes used for piles handling. The platform has two drilling rigs placed on one half of the platform and able to work simultaneously.

Claims

1. A composite movable platform for use in petroleum explorations and drillings in polar seas, comprising a frustoconical first base section designed to be supported on the seabed, a cylindrical central second section, and a deck supported by said first and second sections for supporting drilling and production equipment, said first base section being formed as a watertight concrete structure and having the shape of a right-angled triangle and adapted to rest on the seabed on one side of the right angle, the hypotenuse of said triangle being a peripheral frustoconical wall and the third side of the triangle forming an inner cylindrical wall, the volume formed inside said walls forming ballastable tanks, and the apex opposite said one side being truncated and forming above sea level a peripheral ring in which are provided watertight passage tubes receiving anchoring piles parallel to said inner cylindrical wall, and wherein the cylindrical center second section is composed of at least one circular bottom, the said second section being housed inside the inner cylindrical wall of the concrete annular truncated cone and fixed watertightly to said wall, the bottom of the annular truncated cone and the circular bottom being in the same plane.

2. The platform as claimed in claim 1, which is provided, inside the inner cylindrical section, with a bottomless passage shaft passing watertight through the bottom of said section and housing drill pipes.

3. The platform as claimed in claim 1, wherein the peripheral ring supports a superstructure on which is installed a running track in the middle of which are provided the openings of the watertight passage tubes for the piles, said track serving for the displacement of gantry cranes.

4. The platform as claimed in claim 2, wherein the crane gantries are equipped with a winch for raising the piles.

5. The platform as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elements of the inner cylindrical section are prefabricated separately and at the same time as the annular truncated cone, in order to be assembled inside the annular truncated cone in a dry dock after completion of the annular truncated cone and before the launching of the platform.

6. The platform as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drilling equipment consists of two drilling derricks sliding on a sliding frame disposed at the center of the platform inside the running track.