Floating installation

• US 6,321,675 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Drilling Production Storage Technology II AS
• Original Assignee: Ormen Brede As
• Inventors: Remmen, Per Inge, Dybdahl, Svein
• Primary Examiner(s): KRIZEK, JANICE LEE
• Application Number:
  US09/581,338
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 114/264, 114/266
• US Class Current: 114/264
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/4413 Floating drilling platforms, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices

Abstract

A floating installation, including a main moonpool (1), wherein in the main moonpool (1) there is arranged a bulkhead (4) which divides the moonpool (1) into a first section and a second section. The bulkhead (4) forms a first wall in a compartment (16) in the first section. The compartment (16) is also defined by the walls of the moonpool (I) and a floor (7). The bulkhead (4) is designed to be opened to provide communication between the first section and the second section. The compartment (16) is substantially watertight when the bulkhead (4) is closed.

Claims

1. A floating installation, including a main moonpool, in which there is arranged a bulkhead which divides the moonpool into a first section and a second section, which bulkhead forms a first wall in a compartment in the first section, which compartment is also defined by the walls of the moonpool and a floor, which bulkhead is designed to be opened to provide communication between the first section and the second section, which compartment is substantially watertight when the bulkhead is closed, and in which a lifting device for carrying a load is provided so as to be moveable between a first position inside the compartment and a second position in the second section of the moonpool, wherein the floating installation has a derrick above the moonpool, the derrick having a vertical axis along which strings of pipe are moveable, and that the lifting device is movable along rails mounted in the moonpool straddling the vertical axis of the derrick, and running between the compartment and the second section, the load being transferable between the lifting device and a suspension in the string of the pipe.

2. A floating installation according to claim 1, wherein the lifting device has a platform for supporting equipment to be installed or retrieved.

3. A floating installation according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lifting device includes a vertically moveable load-bearing part.

4. A floating installation according to claim 1, wherein the derrick is provided above the second section of the moonpool.

5. A floating installation according to claim 1, wherein the compartment is located beneath the main deck of the floating installation and essentially below the water line.

6. A floating installation according to claim 1, wherein the bulkhead includes two swing doors which swing doors are arranged to swing against the walls of the moonpool.

7. A floating installation according to claim 4, wherein the lifting device is equipped with a marker indicating the centring position of the lifting device under the derrick when the lifting device is in a predetermined position under the derrick, in which position the lifting device may be locked.