Mobile, offshore, jack-up, marine platform adjustable for sloping sea floor

• US 4,668,127 A
• Filed: 04/22/1986
• Issued: 05/26/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James E. Steele
• Original Assignee: Bethlehem Steel Corporation (ArcelorMittal SA)
• Inventors: Steele, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Dennis L.
• Application Number:
  US06/854,847
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 405/195-200, 405/203, 405/204, 254/105, 254/96, 254/98, 254/102
• US Class Current: 405/198
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/0017 Means for protecting offshore constructions
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/021 with relative movement between supporting construction and platform
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/0809 the equipment being hydraulically actuated outriggers for cranes B66C23/80
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/0872 with locking pins engaging holes or cam surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/006 with lattice style supporting legs
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0086 Large footings connecting several legs or serving as a reservoir for the storage of oil or gas

Abstract

A mobile, offshore, jack-up, marine platform, adjustable for sloping sea floor having a mat, a multilegged column pivotally connected thereto and a work platform slidably mounted on the column. Means are included for independently vertically adjusting at least one leg and/or offset ballasting of the work platform.

Claims

1. A mobile, offshore, jack-up marine platform adjustable for sloping sea floor comprising:

(a) a mat;

(b) a tiltable column formed from a plurality of hollow tubular legs, each leg pivotally attached to the mat;

(i) means on at least one leg for independently vertically raising and lowering such leg with respect to the mat, to tilt the column;

(c) a jack-up work platform slidably mounted through its central portion on the column;

(d) a jack-up means interconnected between the work platform and each leg of the column for vertically moving the work platform with respect to the mat;

each jack-up means including;

(i) a first and second vertically spaced pair of pin boxes spanning a portion of each leg;

(ii) a plurality of vertically-oriented piston and cylinder assemblies located on each side of said leg column for interconnecting said first and second pairs of pin boxes; and

(iii) each pin box carrying a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontally-oriented piston and cylinder assemblies, each of which serves to selectively engage every alternately vertically-spaced aperture in the leg with a reciprocating anchor pin.

2. The invention of claim 1 in which the means (b) (i) on each leg includes:

(a) a threaded shaft connected to the hollow leg, and a nut threaded thereon having a spherical exterior; and

(b) means for rotating the nut to raise and lower the leg in relation to the mat, said means including a hydraulic cylinder for turning said nut, said cylinder being mounted on a tripod located on said mat.

3. The invention of claim 2 further including a plurality of hollow anchoring spuds extendable through the mat into the sea floor, each of said spuds having a piston and cylinder assembly therein so as to actuate said spuds to be lowered when said mat is on the sea floor.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said jack-up means provides a jack stroke to span two said aperture spacings in said leg.

10. The invention of claim 1 wherein said mat has rounded upper deck edges.

11. The invention of claim 1 wherein said platform includes a main deck and a raised deck located above the main deck wherein sufficient space is provided between the main deck and the raised deck for separators, compressors, pumps and other equipment for use in a production process.

5. A mobile, offshore, jack-up, marine platform adjustable for sloping sea floor comprising:

(a) a mat;

(b) a tiltable column formed from a plurality of hollow tubular legs, each leg pivotally attached to the mat;

(i) means on at least one leg for independently vertically raising and lowering such leg with respect to the mat, to tilt the column;

(c) a jack-up work platform slidably mounted through its central portion on the column, the work platform including an end portion extending outwardly from the central portion and a ballastable portion opposite the end portion;

(d) a skid unit movably mounted on the end portion of the work platform; and

(e) a jack-up means interconnected between the work platform and each leg of the column for vertically moving the work platform with respect to the mat;

each jack-up means including;

(i) a first and second vertically spaced pair of pin boxes spanning a portion of each leg;

(ii) a plurality of vertically-oriented piston and cylinder assemblies located on each side of said leg for interconnecting said first and second pair of pin boxes; and

(iii) each pin box carrying a plurality of verticall-spaced, horizontally-oriented piston and cylinder assemblies, each of which serves to selectively engage every alternately vertically-spaced aperture in the leg with a reciprocating anchor pin.

6. The invention of claim 5 in which the means (b) (i) on each leg includes:

(a) a threaded shaft connected to the hollow leg, and a nut threaded thereon having a spherical exterior; and

(b) means for rotating the nut to raise and lower the leg in relation to the mat;

said means including a hydraulic cylinder for turning said nut, said cylinder being mounted on a tripod located on said mat.

7. The invention of claim 6 further including a plurality of hollow anchoring spuds extendable through the mat into the sea floor, each of said spuds having a piston and cylinder assembly therein so as to activate said spuds to be lowered when said mat is on the sea floor.

8. The invention of claim 5 wherein said end portion forms a means for supporting said skid unit at said end portion of the platform.

9. The invention of claim 5 wherein said jack-up means provides a jack stroke to span two said apertures spacings in said leg.

12. The invention of claim 5, said platform having a longitudinal axis and wherein said skid unit is mounted so as to have an increased scope of sliding in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said platform.

13. The invention of claim 5, wherein said skid unit is so mounted that it may be skidded over said column.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein well riser pipes are located inside said column and are supported at appropriate intervals by braces located within said column.

15. The invention of claim 14 further comprising individual pipe sleeves which pass throuqh the mat and which are adapted to receive said well riser pipes.

16. The invention of claim 14 wherein said mat has an opening in which to contain said riser pipes.

17. The invention of claim 5 wherein said mat has rounded upper deck edges.

18. The invention of claim 5 wherein said platform includes a main deck and a raised deck wherein sufficient space is provided between the main deck and the raised deck for separators, compressors, pumps and other equipment for use in a production process.

19. The invention of claim 13 further including a derrick on said skid unit, said derrick being located to be positionable over said column.

20. The invention of claim 5 wherein said plurality of vertically-oriented piston and cylinder assemblies in said jack-up means consists of two hydraulic cylinders of unequal diameter located on each side of said leg, the innermost cylinders being of larger diameter than the outermost.