System for moving drilling module to fixed platform

• US 5,139,367 A
• Filed: 12/09/1991
• Issued: 08/18/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smedvig Offshore Europe AS
• Original Assignee: Transworld Drilling Co. (Tronox Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Ingle, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Dennis L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): OLSEN, ARLEN
• Application Number:
  US07/804,493
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• Field of Search: 405/196, 405/201, 405/203, 405/204, 405/208, 405/209, 14/28, 14/29, 14/30, 14/31, 14/32, 14/72.5, 414/139.6, 414/137.7, 414/138.7, 414/137.9, 414/138.1
• US Class Current: 405/201
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/021 with relative movement between supporting construction and platform
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/006 with lattice style supporting legs

Abstract

A system for aligning a drilling module on a jack-up rig with a drilling module support surface on a fixed rig wherein the angular disposition of the drilling module is varied by moving a portion of the jack-up rig on at least one of the legs of the jack-up rig to bring the angular disposition of the drilling module into alignment with the angular disposition of the drilling module support surface on the fixed rig prior to transferring the drilling module from the jack-up rig to the fixed rig. The system also includes a position assembly for positioning the drilling module on the drilling module support surface in a predetermined aligned position.

Claims

1. A method for transferring a drilling module from a jack-up rig to a fixed platform wherein the fixed platform comprises a fixed platform support structure connected to legs which are secured to an ocean floor and wherein the fixed platform support structure has a drilling module support surface disposed thereon and wherein the jack-up rig comprises telescoping legs and wherein a portion of the jack-up rig is movable in upwardly and downwardly directions on each of the legs and wherein a cantilever beam assembly is supported on the jack-up rig and wherein the cantilever beam assembly comprises a forward end and a rearward end and means for moving the cantilever beam assembly from a storage position wherein the cantilever beam assembly is supported generally on the jack-up rig to extended positions wherein the rearward end of the cantilever beam assembly is extended distances generally from the jack-up rig, the method comprising:

supporting the drilling module on the cantilever beam assembly;

positioning the jack-up rig near the fixed platform;

aligning the drilling module with the drilling module support surface by moving the jack-up rig upwardly or downwardly on at least one of the legs supporting the jack-up rig until the drilling module generally is aligned with an angular disposition of the drilling module support surface on the fixed platform support structure; and

moving the cantilever beam assembly with the drilling module supported thereon to an extended position wherein the drilling module is supported generally over the drilling module support surface on the fixed platform; and

moving the cantilever beam assembly to the storage position after removing the drilling module from the cantilever.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the cantilever beam assembly includes a beam support surface, and wherein the step of supporting the drilling module on the cantilever beam assembly is further defined as supporting movably the drilling module on the beam support surface of the cantilever beam assembly for moving the drilling module on the beam support surface in a direction generally toward the forward end of the cantilever beam assembly and for movement of the drilling module on the beam support surface in a direction generally toward the rearward end of the cantilever beam assembly.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the fixed platform support structure includes a front end, a rear end, a first side and a second side, the method further comprising:

moving the drilling module on the drilling module support surface in directions to align the drilling module with the drilling module support surface after the drilling module has been supported on the drilling module support surface.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the fixed platform support structure includes a front end, a rear end, a first side and a second side, the method further comprising:

moving the drilling module on the drilling module support surface in at least one of directions generally toward the front end, generally toward the rear end, generally toward the first side, generally toward the second side to align the drilling module with the drilling module support surface after the drilling module has been supported on the drilling module support surface.

5. An apparatus for transferring a drilling module having a lower substructure support surface from a jack-up rig to a fixed platform wherein the fixed platform comprises legs which are secured to an ocean floor and wherein the jack-up rig comprises telescoping legs and wherein a portion of the jack-up rig is movable in generally upwardly and downwardly directions on the legs and wherein a cantilever beam assembly, having a forward end, a rearward end and a beam support surface, is supported on the jack-up rig and wherein means for moving the cantilever beam assembly from a storage position wherein the cantilever beam assembly is supported generally on the jack-up rig to extended positions wherein the rearward end of the cantilever beam assembly is extended distances generally from the jack-up rig is supported on the jack-up rig, the apparatus comprising:

a fixed platform supported structure connected to the fixed platform having a drilling module support surface thereon;

means for supporting the drilling module on the beam support surface of the cantilever beam assembly, and the cantilever beam assembly being extendible to the extended position for disposing the drilling module on the drilling module support surface on the fixed platform support structure; and

means connected to the drilling module having a portion removably engageable with the drilling module support surface for moving the drilling module on the drilling module support surface in a forward direction, a rearward direction, a first pivotal direction and a generally opposite second pivotal direction to move the drilling module to a predetermined aligned position on the drilling module support surface.