Method for removing a jacket of a drilling or production rig and vessel provided with a device therefor

• US 6,550,411 B1
• Filed: 04/04/2002
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Societe D'Exploitation Du Pieter Schelte N.V.
• Original Assignee: Excalibur Engineering
• Inventors: Den Hartogh, Frans Ariën, Van Gelder, Klaas Boudwijn
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotelo, Jesus D.
• Application Number:
  US10/018,493
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 114/44, 114/45, 114/258-260, 405/206, 405/209
• US Class Current: 114/258
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 27/08 of winches
• 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0052 Removal or dismantling of offshore structures from their offshore location

Abstract

A method for removing a jacket of a drilling or production rig using a vessel provided with a deck includes manoeuvring the vessel close to the jacket, hoisting the jacket, and tilting the jacket relative to a tilting point located close to an edge of the deck of the vessel until the jacket lies on the deck, wherein the side of the jacket directed toward the vessel is supported during the tilting, such that the jacket can be removed in one operation and carried away using the vessel. A vessel with a deck and a device for removing a jacket of a drilling or production rig is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for removing a jacket of a drilling or production rig using a vessel provided with a deck, comprising the steps of manoeuvring the vessel close to the jacket, hoisting the jacket, and tilting the jacket relative to a tilting point located close to an edge of the deck of the vessel until the jacket lies on the deck, wherein a side of the jacket directed toward the vessel is supported during the tilting.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the jacket is supported non-slidably relative to the tilting point during tilting.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the centre of gravity of the jacket and elements connected tiltably thereto is located during the tilting on the side of the tilting point remote from the vessel.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further including the step of, after tilting, shifting the jacket further onto the deck.

5. A device for removing a jacket of a drilling or production rig and located on a vessel having a deck, comprising:

at least one support beam, the at least one support beam being tiltable transversely of an edge of the deck of the vessel,

hoisting means connected to the at least one support beam for hoisting the jacket,

tilting means for tilting the at least one support beam relative to the vessel, and

support means for supporting the jacket, the support means provided on the side of the at least one support beam remote from the vessel.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the hoisting means include one or more hoisting cables and one or more cable jacks, the one or more cable jacks engage on the one or more hoisting cables.

7. The device as claimed in claim 5, further including a projecting member arranged pivotally on an end of the at least one support beam lying uppermost during hoisting, wherein the hoisting means include at least one jack for the projecting member, the at least one jack arranged between the at least one support beam and an end of the projecting member remote from the at least one support beam.

8. The device as claimed in claim 5, further including a swell-compensating mechanism.

9. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the tilting means include a winch placed on the deck of the vessel and one or more winch cables arranged between the winch and the at least one support beam.

10. The device as claimed in claim 5, further including shifting means for shifting at least the jacket further onto the deck.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the shifting means include the tilting means.

12. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the support means are displaceable transversely of the at least one support beam.

13. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one support beam includes a ballast weight.

14. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the ballast weight is displaceable along the at least one support beam.

15. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one support beam includes two support beams, the two support beams each mounted pivotally on the edge of the deck of the vessel to enable the tiltability of the two support beams, and at least one of the two support beams is displaceable relative to the other of the two support beams along an edge of the vessel.

16. The device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the pivotal mounting of the two support beams is releasable.

17. The device as claimed in claim 7, further including a swell-compensating mechanism, wherein the at least one jack for the projecting member includes a second swell-compensating mechanism.

18. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one support beam is mounted pivotally on the edge of the deck of the vessel to enable the tiltability of the at least one support beam, and the pivotal mounting of the at least one support beam is releasable.