Method and apparatus for the offshore installation of multi-ton packages such as deck packages and jackets

• US 6,364,574 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2000
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jon E. Khachaturian
• Original Assignee: Jon E. Khachaturian
• Inventors: Khachaturian, Jon E.
• Primary Examiner(s): DANG, HOANG C
• Application Number:
  US09/718,304
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 405/204, 405/209, 405/203, 405/196, 114/51, 114/50, 114/264, 114/265
• US Class Current: 405/204
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 27/10 of cranes
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 27/16 of lifts or hoists pilot lifts B63B27/146
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 27/19 Other loading or unloading equipment involving an intermittent action, not provided in groups B63B27/04 - B63B27/18
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 27/36 Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for floating cargo deployment or recovery of underwater vehicles using lifts of hoists B63B27/16
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/003 for transporting very large loads, e.g. offshore structure modules construction methods for artificial islands mounted on piles E02B17/00; for transporting marine vessels B63B35/40; docks B63C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 77/00 Transporting or installing offshore structures on site using buoyancy forces, e.g. using semi-submersible barges, ballasting the structure or transporting of oil-and-gas platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 7/02 in which the lifting is done by hauling
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/00 Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor construction methods for floating platforms B63B75/00; anchoring floating platforms B63B21/00; floating platforms, e.g. anchored, B63B35/44; underwater reservoirs B65D88/78
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0047 using a barge

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the installation or removal of large multi-ton prefabricated deck packages includes the use of usually two barges defining a base that can support a large multi-ton load. A variable dimensional truss assembly is supported by the barge and forms a load transfer interface between the barge and the deck package. Each boom has a lifting end portion with a roller that fits a receptacle on the package. Tensile connections form attachments between the deck package and barge at a lower elevational position. The variable dimension truss includes at least one member of variable length, in the preferred embodiment being a winch powered cable that can be extended and retracted by winding and unwinding the winch.

Claims

1. A lifting apparatus for lifting a multi-ton package, comprising:

a) a pair of floating supports, each defining a base that can support a large multi-ton load;

b) a pair of trusses supported respectively by the pair of floating supports and positioned about the periphery of the package during lifting, the trusses forming a load transfer interface between the floating supports and the package to be lifted;

c) each said truss including at least one diagonally extending lift boom, each lift boom having a lower end attached to a floating support and an upper end that can be removably attached to the package;

d) each boom having a free end with a lifting end portion;

e) a receptacle attached to the package that receives the lifting free end portion;

f) wherein the lifting end portion engages the receptacle as the boom angle of inclination is gradually increased; and

g) means for raising and lowering the combination of the truss and the supported package.

2. The lifting apparatus of claim 1 wherein each truss is a variable dimension truss means that includes at least one lifting boom and at least one member of variable length.

3. The lifting apparatus of claim 2 wherein the floating supports are barges and there are at least three lifting booms on each barge, and the barges have horizontal load spreader surfaces for holding the booms.

4. The lifting apparatus of claim 2 wherein the trusses include opposing truss members that are each pinned to a different barge and which are angularly disposed with respect to each other during use, wherein each boom includes an elongated compression member and end caps that form a detachable interface between the compression member and each barge.

5. The lifting apparatus of claim 1 wherein each truss includes at least one flexible cable.

6. The lifting apparatus of claim 1 wherein a portion of the lifting end portion slides side to side for effecting adjustment during connection of a lifting end portion to its receptacle.

7. The lifting apparatus of claim 6 wherein each truss includes a wound cable extending between a pair of sheaves, wherein the distance between the sheaves can be lengthened or shortened.

8. The lifting apparatus of claim 1 wherein each lifting boom is an “

A”

frame shaped boom that comprises a pair of longitudinal boom members that form an acute angle, a pair of lifting end portions that form a detachable interface between each longitudinal boom member and a floating support, the free end portion having a structural member and a pair of end caps that form a detachable connection between the longitudinal boom members and the lifting end portion.

9. The lifting apparatus of claim 3 wherein the variable length member includes multiple cable assemblies spaced along the upper deck surface of each barge.

10. A method for the offshore lifting of a multi-ton package comprising the steps of:

a) transporting a lifting assembly to a desired site of the package;

b) attaching the lifting assembly to the package at multiple positions including positions that are at least on generally opposite sides of the package, and at upper and lower positions on the package respectively, the lifting assembly including multiple chords, including a generally horizontal chord normally in tension during the lifting process which has a variable length and a diagonally extending chord normally in compression during the lifting process;

c) wherein in step “

a”

all the lifting assembly further includes two opposed lifting booms, each connected by at least one lifting end portion to a receptacle on the package;

d) laterally adjusting the position of at least a portion of the lifting end portion during engagement with the receptacle in order to properly align the lifting end portion with the corresponding receptacle;

e) structurally supporting the lifting assembly with one or more floating supports; and

f) lifting the package upon by changing the length of the horizontal chord of the lifting assembly.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of lowering the package by lengthening the horizontal chord.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein in step “

d”

, the lifting end portion includes a roller that is laterally adjusted.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the horizontal chord includes a winch that is wound with a lift cable, and winding or unwinding the winch in order to change the length of the lift cable.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein there are two opposed supports that are floating barges.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein one portion of the lifting assembly includes a plurality of compression carrying diagonally extending lift booms, each with opposing end portions and a plurality of end caps that removably attach to the end portions.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein each floating support has a winch structurally mounted thereon and a lower connection formed with the package includes a flexible cable wound upon sheaves and further comprising extending the cable between the winch and the package.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the lifting assembly includes a plurality of non-extensible diagonally extending lift booms, each removably connecting at its ends to an end cap.

18. A method for the offshore lifting a multi-ton package, comprising the steps of:

a) transporting a lifting assembly to a desired site having the package;

b) attaching the lifting assembly to the package at multiple positions that are at least on generally opposite sides of the package;

c) wherein the lifting assembly includes opposed floating supports having decks and diagonally extending lifting booms thereon connected at their upper ends with a lifting end portion to a receptacle on the package;

d) structurally supporting each of the lifting booms at the lower end portion thereof with one of the floating supports, each boom being pivotally attached to its floating support;

e) wherein the package has receptacles thereon each with a downwardly oriented recess that receives the lifting end portion of a boom as the boom inclination increases relative to the deck of the floating support; and

f) elevating the package by changing the length of the horizontal chord of each lifting assembly so that the lifting end portion gradually elevates to engage the downwardly oriented recess.

19. A lifting apparatus for lifting a multi-ton package, comprising:

a) a pair of barges, each defining a base that can support a large multi-ton load;

b) each barge having a truss supported thereon and wherein the barges are positioned about the periphery of the package during lifting for forming a load transfer interface between the barges and the package to be lifted;

c) each said truss including at least one diagonally extending lift boom, each lift boom having a lower end attached to a barge and an upper end that can be attached to the package;

d) each boom having a free end with a lifting end portion;

e) a receptacle attached to the package that receives the lifting free end portion;

f) wherein the lifting end portion engages the receptacle as the boom angle of inclination is gradually increased; and

g) a power unit associated with each boom for raising and lowering the combination of the truss and the supported package.

20. A lifting apparatus for lifting a multi-ton package comprising:

a) a pair of barges, each defining a base that can support a large multi-ton load;

b) each barge having a truss supported thereon and wherein the barges are positioned during lifting about the periphery of the package for forming a load transfer interface between the barges and the package to be lifted;

c) each said truss including a plurality of diagonally extending lift boom, each lift boom having a lower end attached to a barge and an upper end that can be attached to the package;

d) each boom having a free end with a lifting end portion;

e) a receptacle attached to the package that receives the lifting free end portion of the boom;

f) wherein the lifting end portion engages the receptacle as the boom angle of inclination is gradually increased, and

g) a power unit for raising and lowering the combination of the truss and the supported package.