Dual-derrick ice-worthy jack-up drilling unit

• US 8,911,179 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2012
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Conocophillips Company (ConocoPhillips), Keppel Offshore & Marine Technology Centre Pte Ltd (Keppel Corporation Limited)
• Original Assignee: Conocophillips Company (ConocoPhillips), Keppel Offshore & Marine Technology Centre Pte Ltd (Keppel Corporation Limited)
• Inventors: Noble, Peter G., Shafer, Randall S., Berta, Dominique P., Chow, Yew Yuen, Cheung, Tak On, Foo, Kok Seng, Quah, Chin Kau, Wang, Cynthia
• Primary Examiner(s): Pinnock, Tara M.
• Application Number:
  US13/396,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20130101357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 405196-200, 405/203, 405/211, 405/217, 405/224
• US Class Current: 405/217
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/08 Ice-breakers or other vessels or floating structures for operation in ice-infested waters; Ice-breakers, or other vessels or floating structures having equipment specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/0021 against ice-loads
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/021 with relative movement between supporting construction and platform
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0039 Methods for placing the offshore structure
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/006 with lattice style supporting legs
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0082 Spudcans, skirts or extended feet
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 15/02 specially adapted for underwater drilling E21B15/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/008 Drilling ice or a formation covered by ice

Abstract

The invention relates to a jack-up rig. The inventive rig would work like a conventional jack-up rig while in open water with the hull jacked up out of the water. However, in the event of ice conditions, the hull is lowered into the water into an ice defensive configuration. The hull is specifically shaped with a lower portion that is an ice-bending surface to bend and break up ice that comes in contact with the hull while in the ice defensive configuration. Furthermore, the jack-up rig comprises at least two derricks.

Claims

1. A drilling jack-up rig comprising:

i) a flotation hull having a generally flat upper deck;

ii) an ice-bending portion of said flotation hull extending downwardly from at or near a periphery of said deck and tapering inwardly, wherein said ice bending portion has a shape and a strength sufficient to provide ice bending and breaking capabilities against an ice floe;

iii) an optional ice deflecting edge extending generally vertically down from a bottom periphery of said ice-bending portion to direct ice around and not under said flotation hull;

iv) at least three legs that are positioned within a perimeter of said flotation hull;

v) a jack-up device associated with each leg to raise and lower each leg; and

vi) at least two derricks mounted on said deck;

wherein said at least two derricks are positioned on the same horizontal side on said deck relative to a first centerline of the deck, and opposite horizontal sides of the deck relative to a second centerline of the deck perpendicular to the first centerline or at the opposite horizontal sides of said deck equidistant from a center of the deck.

2. The jack-up rig according to claim 1, wherein two derricks are positioned on the same horizontal side of the deck.

3. The jack-up rig according to claim 2, further comprising an accommodation unit mounted at the opposite horizontal side of the two derricks on said deck and away from the center of the deck.

4. The jack-up rig according to claim 1, wherein two derricks are positioned at the opposite horizontal sides of said deck.

5. A drilling jack-up rig comprising:

i) a flotation hull having a generally flat upper deck;

ii) an ice-bending portion of said flotation hull extending downwardly from at or near a periphery of said deck and tapering inwardly, wherein said ice bending portion has a shape and a strength sufficient to provide ice bending and breaking capabilities against an ice floe;

iii) an optional ice deflecting edge extending generally vertically down from a bottom periphery of said ice-bending portion to direct ice around and not under said flotation hull;

iv) at least three legs that are positioned within a perimeter of said flotation hull;

v) a jack-up device associated with each leg to raise and lower each leg; and

vi) at least two derricks mounted on said deck,

wherein the ice-bending portion extends vertically at least 11 to 16 meters, and

wherein the angle of the ice-bending hull is in the range of 5-10 degrees from the vertical.