Hyjack platform with buoyant rig supplemental support
First Claim
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1. An offshore platform structure for temporarily using a jack-up rig for well operations in deepwater applications, comprising:
- a bottom founded jacket base;
a surface tower supported by the jacket base and extending above the ocean surface;
a platform deck supported by the surface tower;
a subsea rig support interface presented at the top of the jacket base and adapted to support the jack-up rig for well operations; and
a rig mat, comprising;
at least one selectively buoyant and ballastable tank member;
a jacket base interface presented on the bottom of the tank member which attaches on top of the jacket base on the rig support interface; and
a secondary subsea rig support interface presented on the top of the tank member, interconnected in a load bearing relationship with the jacket base interface, and adapted to receive the jack-up rig;
a mat locking connection between the subsea rig support and the jacket base interfaces to releasably secure the rig mat to the jacket base; and
a rig locking connection between the jack-up rig and the secondary subsea rig support to releasably secure the jack-up rig to the rig mat and therethrough to the jacket base.
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Abstract
An offshore platform structure is disclosed for temporarily using a jack-up rig for well operations in deepwater applications having a bottom founded jacket base which supports a surface tower which extends above the ocean surface and a subsea rig support interface which is adapted to support the jack-up rig for well operations. At least one selectively buoyant rig support buoyancy tank connected to the rig support interface whereby a portion of the temporary load on the jacket base in supporting the jack-up rig for drilling operations may be alleviated.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An offshore platform structure for temporarily using a jack-up rig for well operations in deepwater applications, comprising:
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a bottom founded jacket base; a surface tower supported by the jacket base and extending above the ocean surface; a platform deck supported by the surface tower; a subsea rig support interface presented at the top of the jacket base and adapted to support the jack-up rig for well operations; and a rig mat, comprising; at least one selectively buoyant and ballastable tank member; a jacket base interface presented on the bottom of the tank member which attaches on top of the jacket base on the rig support interface; and a secondary subsea rig support interface presented on the top of the tank member, interconnected in a load bearing relationship with the jacket base interface, and adapted to receive the jack-up rig; a mat locking connection between the subsea rig support and the jacket base interfaces to releasably secure the rig mat to the jacket base; and a rig locking connection between the jack-up rig and the secondary subsea rig support to releasably secure the jack-up rig to the rig mat and therethrough to the jacket base.
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2. An offshore platform structure for temporarily using a jack-up rig for well operations in deepwater applications, comprising:
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a bottom founded jacket base; a surface tower supported by the jacket base and extending above the ocean surface; a platform deck supported by the surface tower; a subsea rig support interface presented at the top of the jacket base and adapted to support the jack-up rig for well operations, said subsea rig support interface comprising a plurality of discrete contact points corresponding to the footprint of the jack-up rig; a plurality of vertically oriented elongated cylindrical tank members, each positioned substantially under one of the discrete contact points of the subsea rig interface in a load beating relationship and connected to the jacket base at a plurality of framework levels.
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3. An offshore platform structure for temporarily using a jack-up rig for well operations in deepwater applications, comprising:
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a bottom founded jacket base; a surface tower supported by the jacket base and extending above the ocean surface; a platform deck supported by the surface tower; a subsea rig support interface presented at the top of the jacket base and adapted to support the jack-up rig for well operations; and at least one selectively ballastable rig support buoyancy tank connected to the rig support interface for providing temporary support to substantially offset the load of the jack-up rig when it is installed for drilling operations.
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4. An offshore platform structure for temporarily using a jack-up rig for well operations in deepwater applications, comprising:
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a bottom founded jacket base; a surface tower supported by the jacket base and extending above the ocean surface; a platform deck supported by the surface tower; a subsea rig support interface presented at the top of the jacket base and adapted to support the jack-up rig for well operations; and at least one rig support buoyancy tank in the form of a rig mat connected to the rig support interface, comprising; a selectively buoyant and ballastable tank member; a jacket base interface presented on the bottom of the tank member which attaches on top of the jacket base on the rig support interface; and a secondary subsea rig support interface presented on the top of the tank member, interconnected in a load bearing relationship with the jacket base interface, and adapted to receive the jack-up rig. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An offshore platform structure for temporarily using a jack-up rig for well operations in deepwater applications, comprising:
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a bottom founded jacket base; a surface tower supported by the jacket base and extending above the ocean surface; a platform deck supported by the surface tower; a subsea rig support interface presented at the top of the jacket base and adapted to support the jack-up rig for well operations, comprising a plurality of discrete contact points corresponding to the footprint of the jack-up rig; and a plurality of rig support buoyancy tanks connected to the rig support interface, each tank forming a vertically oriented elongated tank member directly under one of the discrete contact points of the subsea rig interface in a load bearing relationship. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification