Drilling rig ice protector apparatus and methods

• US 9,011,044 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2010
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Global Maritime, Inc.
• Original Assignee: American Global Maritime, Inc.
• Inventors: Burns, Thomas A., Blythe, Michael J., Morandi, Alberto C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hutton, Jr., Doug
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAMBE, PATRICK F
• Application Number:
  US12/777,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20100329796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,806 Days
• Field of Search: 405/211, 405/212, 405/213, 405/214, 405/215, 405/216, 405/217, 114/265, 114/219, 114/220
• US Class Current: 405/211
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2211/06 Operation in ice-infested waters
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/12 having ice-cutters
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/0021 against ice-loads
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/003 Fenders
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/006 with lattice style supporting legs

Abstract

A diversion assembly to protect a leg of an maritime structure from floating debris includes at least one upper inclined surface and at least one flotation element to buoy the diversion assembly around the leg of the maritime structure, wherein the at least one inclined surface is configured to divert floating debris away from the leg of the maritime structure. A method to protect an offshore platform from damage due to floating debris includes attaching a diversion assembly about the periphery of at least one leg of the offshore platform and diverting the floating debris away from the at least one leg of the offshore platform with at least one inclined surface.

Claims

1. A diversion assembly to protect a leg of a maritime structure from floating debris, the diversion assembly comprising one or more segments, the one or more segments comprising:

at least one upper inclined surface, wherein an outer profile of the diversion assembly is maintained at a constant distance from the leg being protected;

a first flotation element to buoy the diversion assembly around the leg of the maritime structure; and

a second flotation element to buoy the diversion assembly around the leg of the maritime structure,

wherein the at least one upper inclined surface is configured to divert the floating debris away from the leg of the maritime structure, and

wherein the first flotation element is movable with respect to the second flotation element in a first direction when the diversion assembly is coupled to a leg of a maritime structure, and wherein movement of the first flotation element with respect to the second flotation element is restricted in a second direction when the diversion assembly is coupled to a leg of a maritime structure.

2. The diversion assembly of claim 1, the one or more segments further comprising at least one ice deflector plate positioned above the at least one upper inclined surface.

3. The diversion assembly of claim 1, the one or more segments further comprising at least one lower inclined surface.

4. The diversion assembly of claim 1, wherein each segment is connected to an adjoining segment through a hinged joint.

5. The diversion assembly of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of removable hinge pins to selectively open and close the hinged joints to install and remove the diversion assembly about the leg of the maritime structure.

6. The diversion assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of rollers to allow the diversion assembly to be vertically displaced relative to the leg of the maritime structure.

7. The diversion assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one ratcheting chock bar to restrict vertical displacement of the diversion assembly relative to the leg of the maritime structure.

8. The diversion assembly of claim 7, wherein the second flotation element engages the at least one ratcheting chock bar to restrict vertical displacement of the diversion assembly relative to the leg of the maritime structure.

9. The diversion assembly of claim 8, wherein the second flotation element is connected to the at least one ratcheting chock bar by an actuating lever arm.

10. An offshore platform, comprising:

a plurality of legs extending from a working deck of the platform toward a sea floor;

a diversion assembly coupled to at least one of the plurality of legs, the diversion assembly comprising one or more segments, the one or more segments comprising;

at least one upper inclined surface, wherein an outer profile of the diversion assembly is maintained at a constant distance from the at least one of the plurality of legs being protected;

a first flotation element to buoy the diversion assembly around the leg of the offshore platform; and

a second flotation element to buoy the diversion assembly around the leg of the offshore platform,

wherein the at least one inclined surface is configured to divert floating debris away from the leg of the offshore platform, and

wherein the first flotation element is movable with respect to the second flotation element in a first direction when the diversion assembly is coupled to the at least one of the plurality of legs of a maritime structure, and wherein movement of the first flotation element with respect to the second flotation element is restricted in a second direction when the diversion assembly is coupled to the at least one of the plurality of legs of a maritime structure.

11. The offshore platform of claim 10, further comprising at least one ice deflector plate positioned above the at least one upper inclined surface.

12. The offshore platform of claim 10, the one or more segments further comprising at least one lower inclined surface.

13. The offshore platform of claim 10, wherein each segment is connected to an adjoining segment through a hinged joint.

14. The offshore platform of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of removable hinge pins to selectively open and close the hinged joints to install and remove the diversion assembly about the leg of the offshore platform.

15. The offshore platform of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of rollers to allow the diversion assembly to be vertically displaced relative to the leg of the offshore platform.

16. The offshore platform of claim 10, further comprising at least one ratcheting chock bar to restrict vertical displacement of the diversion assembly relative to the leg of the offshore platform.

17. The offshore platform of claim 16, wherein the second flotation element engages the at least one ratcheting chock bar to restrict vertical displacement of the diversion assembly relative to the leg of the offshore platform.

18. The offshore platform of claim 17, wherein the second flotation element is connected to the at least one ratcheting chock bar by an actuating lever arm.

19. A method to protect an offshore platform from damage due to floating debris, the method comprising:

attaching a diversion assembly about a periphery of at least one leg of the offshore platform,

wherein the diversion assembly comprises one or more segments, the one or more segments comprising;

at least one upper inclined surface, wherein an outer profile of the diversion assembly is maintained at a constant distance from the at least one leg being protected;

a first flotation element to buoy the diversion assembly around the at least one leg of the offshore platform; and

a second flotation element to buoy the diversion assembly around the at least one leg of the offshore platform,

wherein the first flotation element is movable with respect to the second flotation element in a first direction when the diversion assembly is attached about the periphery of the at least one leg of the offshore platform;

diverting the floating debris away from the at least one leg of the offshore platform with the at least one inclined surface; and

restricting movement of the first flotation element with respect to the second flotation element in a second direction when the diversion assembly is attached about the periphery of the at least one leg of the offshore platform.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising breaking up the floating debris with the at least one inclined surface.

21. A diversion assembly to protect a leg of a maritime structure from floating debris, the diversion assembly comprising one or more segments, the one or more segments comprising:

at least one lower inclined surface, wherein an outer profile of the diversion assembly is maintained at a constant distance from the leg being protected;

a first flotation element to buoy the diversion assembly around the leg of the maritime structure; and

a second flotation element to buoy the diversion assembly around the leg of the maritime structure,

wherein the at least one lower inclined surface is configured to divert the floating debris away from the leg of the maritime structure, and

wherein the first flotation element is movable with respect to the second flotation element in a first direction when the diversion assembly is coupled to a leg of a maritime structure, and wherein movement of the first flotation element with respect to the second flotation element is restricted in a second direction when the diversion assembly is coupled to a leg of a maritime structure.

22. The diversion assembly of claim 21, the one or more segments further comprising at least one upper inclined surface.