Method and apparatus for modifying new or existing marine platforms

• US 6,367,399 B1
• Filed: 12/06/1999
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• 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): Sotelo, Jesus D.
• Application Number:
  US09/454,733
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 114/31, 114/33, 114/44, 114/46, 114/48, 114/49, 114/53, 114/61.14, 114/258, 114/259, 114/61.1, 405/204
• US Class Current: 114/61.1
• 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 salvage or installation of large multi-ton marine platform includes the use of usually two barges defining a base that can support a large multi-ton load. A lifting 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 that fits a supplemental lifting frame attached to the platform. During removal of the platform from its underlying support (e.g. jacket), there are winches with cables that pull the barges together as the booms lift the supplemental lifting frame and the supported platform. The supplemental frame includes both horizontal and diagonal beams that interface with the platform to transmit load to the lower end of the platform.

Claims

1. A catamaran work barge apparatus for lifting a package to be salvaged or installed comprising:

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

b) a plurality of diagonally extending lift booms supported upon each barge, each lift boom having a lower end portion attached to a barge and an upper end portion that includes a free end with a lifting end portion;

c) lower connection members for forming attachments of the barges to the package to be lifted; and

d) a supplemental lifting frame that is connectable to the package and including a receptacle that receives the boom lifting free end portion.

2. The catamaran work barge apparatus of claim 1 wherein the frame includes a horizontal beam and a diagonal beam.

3. The catamaran work barge apparatus of claim 2 wherein there are at least two lifting booms on each barge.

4. The catamaran work barge apparatus of claim 2 further comprising horizontal load spreader surfaces spaced generally on opposite sides of the package being lifted.

5. The catamaran work barge apparatus of claim 2 wherein the booms include two opposing booms that are pinned respectively to different of the barges, and which booms are angularly disposed with respect to each other during use, wherein end caps form a detachable interface between each boom and its barge.

6. The catamaran work barge apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lower connection member includes a cable.

7. The lifting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the supplemental lifting frame comprises horizontal beams that span between booms on opposite barges, diagonal members that extend from an end portion of a horizontal beam to a lower end portion of the platform and a connection that joins the horizontal beams and diagonal members with a pinned arrangement that disallows substantial bending moment in the horizontal beam at the boom tip.

8. The lifting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the supplemental lifting frame comprises generally horizontal beams that span between booms on opposite barges, diagonal members that extend from an end portion of a horizontal beam to the lower end portion of the package next to a package leg and a connection that joins the diagonal beams and lower end portion of the platform with a structural arrangement that disallows substantial bending moment in the package leg.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lower connection members include cables that span between the barges and the package.

10. The lifting apparatus of claim 9 wherein there is a winch positioned next to each boom at the barge deck.

11. The lifting apparatus of claim 1 wherein each lower connection member includes a winch and a cable wound upon the winch.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein there are two opposed barges in step “

a”

that are floating barges.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the frame includes a plurality of beams.

14. A method for the offshore salvage or installation of a fixed offshore platform comprising the steps of:

a) transporting a catamaran work platform to a desired site of the fixed offshore structure, that includes a pair of barge supported decks that are positioned at spaced apart and generally parallel positions relative to one another;

b) attaching a lifting assembly to the platform at multiple positions, including positions that are at least on generally opposite sides of the platform, and at upper and lower positions on the platform;

c) wherein in step “

a”

the lifting assembly further includes two opposed lifting booms, each connected by at least one lifting end portion to a frame that is attachable to the platform; and

d) pulling the two barge decks together.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the lifting assembly includes a horizontal beam that spans between the two opposed booms.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the lifting assembly includes a laterally extending beam and further comprising the step of subjecting the laterally extending beam of the to compression only during the lift.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the lifting assembly includes a plurality of diagonally extending lift booms, each removably connecting at its ends to one of the barges and to the platform with an end cap.

18. A method of salvage or installation of a marine structure, comprising the steps of:

a) attaching a lifting assembly to the said marine structure, said lifting assembly including a pair of barges, each barge having one or more booms thereon, said lifting assembly attaching to the marine structure at multiple elevational positions on the marine structure, including upper and lower positions that are at least on generally opposite sides of the marine structure;

b) structurally supporting each of the booms at the lower end portion thereof with one of the barges, each boom being pivotally attached to its barge;

c) attaching an auxiliary frame to the lifting assembly, wherein the auxiliary frame has receptacles thereon that receive the lifting end portion of a boom; and

d) supporting the marine structure with the auxiliary frame; and

e) lifting the marine structure with the lifting assembly.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of transporting the marine structure to a desired location using the barges.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the barges are maintained in generally parallel to each other.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein winches are provided on the barges with cables wound thereon, the winches retract their cables and move the barges toward one another.

22. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of severing the marine structure at or near the waterline.

23. A method for the offshore installation of an offshore package comprising the steps of:

a) transporting a catamaran work platform to a desired marine site of the offshore structure, the work platform including a pair of barge supported decks that are positioned at spaced apart positions relative to one another;

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

c) wherein in step “

a”

the lifting assembly further includes two opposed inclined lifting booms, each connected by at least one lifting end portion to a frame that is attachable to the package; and

d) moving the two barge decks together; and

e) increase the inclination of each boom.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of attaching a tensile member between the barges for enabling the barges to be pulled together and step “

d”

comprises pulling the two barge decks together.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein in step “

a”

the barges are floating barges.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the lifting assembly includes multiple inclined booms on each barge.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein step “

b”

includes providing winches on the barges and step “

d”

comprises pulling the barge decks together with the winches.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein in step “

c”

the frame has generally horizontal beam portions and further comprising in step “

b”

attaching each boom to a generally horizontal beam portion of the frame.

29. The method of claim 23 wherein in step “

c”

the lifting booms include end caps that enable removable connections to be made between each boom and its barge, and further comprising the steps of attaching the end caps to the barge and mounting the booms to the end caps.