Laser systems and methods for the removal of structures
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of removing a section of a member from an offshore structure comprising:
- a. operably associating a high power laser system with an offshore structure, the high power laser system comprising a high power laser and a high power laser cutting tool;
b. the high power laser cutting tool defining a laser beam delivery path for delivery of a high power laser beam along the beam path;
c. positioning the laser cutting tool adjacent a member of the offshore structure, whereby the laser beam path extends from the cutting tool to the member;
d. propagating a high power laser beam along the beam path and moving the beam path and laser beam thereby cutting the member, whereby a section of the member is formed in a predetermined manner; and
,e. removing the section from the structure.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided high power laser systems, high power laser tools, and methods of using these tools and systems for cutting, sectioning and removing structures objects, and materials, and in particular, for doing so in difficult to access locations and environments, such as offshore, underwater, or in hazardous environments, such as nuclear and chemical facilities. Thus, there is also provided high power laser systems, high power laser tools, and methods of using these systems and tools for removing structures, objects, and materials located offshore, under bodies of water and under the seafloor.
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Citations
79 Claims
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1. A method of removing a section of a member from an offshore structure comprising:
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a. operably associating a high power laser system with an offshore structure, the high power laser system comprising a high power laser and a high power laser cutting tool; b. the high power laser cutting tool defining a laser beam delivery path for delivery of a high power laser beam along the beam path; c. positioning the laser cutting tool adjacent a member of the offshore structure, whereby the laser beam path extends from the cutting tool to the member; d. propagating a high power laser beam along the beam path and moving the beam path and laser beam thereby cutting the member, whereby a section of the member is formed in a predetermined manner; and
,e. removing the section from the structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of cutting a member from an offshore structure comprising:
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a. operably associating a high power laser system with an offshore structure, the high power laser system comprising a high power laser and a high power laser cutting tool; b. the high power laser cutting tool defining a laser beam delivery path for delivery of a high power laser beam along the beam delivery path; c. locating the laser cutting tool in a cutting position for cutting a member of the offshore structure, whereby the laser beam path extends from the cutting tool to the member; d. propagating a high power laser beam along the beam path, thereby cutting the member, and changing a relative position of the member and the laser beam path in a predetermined laser beam delivery pattern, whereby the laser beam cuts the member in a predetermined pattern; and
,e. the laser beam having a power of at least about 5 kw. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method of removing a section of a member from an offshore structure comprising:
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a. operably associating a high power laser system with an offshore structure, the high power laser system comprising a high power laser and a high power laser cutting tool; b. the high power laser cutting tool defining a laser beam delivery path for delivery of a high power laser beam along the beam path; c. positioning the laser cutting tool adjacent a member of the offshore structure, whereby the laser beam path extends from the cutting tool to the member; d. propagating a high power laser beam along the beam path and moving the beam path and laser beam thereby cutting the member, whereby a section of the member is formed in a predetermined manner; e. changing a relative position of a member to be cut and the laser beam path, whereby the laser beam strikes the member below the surface of the body of water and thereby cuts the member below the surface of the body of water; and
,f. removing the section from the structure. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A method of removing a section of a member from an offshore structure comprising:
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a. selecting a structure that extends below a surface of the earth, the structure having members, the members comprising a tubular extending from the structure to below the surface of the earth; b. determining a configuration of at least some of the members; c. formulating a plugging and abandonment plan for the well based in part upon the configuration of at least some of the members; d. the plugging and abandonment plan comprising;
cutting a member at a predetermined location within the well and removing the member above the cut from the well;
placing a plug within the well;
cutting and removing all members from the well at least about three feet below the surface of the earth;e. operably associating a high power laser system with an offshore structure, the high power laser system comprising a high power laser and a high power laser cutting tool; f. the high power laser cutting tool defining a laser beam delivery path for delivery of a high power laser beam along the beam path; g. positioning the laser cutting tool adjacent at least one of the members of the offshore structure; h. whereby the laser beam path extends from the cutting tool to the member; i. propagating a high power laser beam along the beam path and moving the beam path and laser beam thereby cutting the members, whereby a section of the member is formed in a predetermined manner, and, j. removing the section from the structure. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62)
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63. A method of removing a section of a member from an offshore structure comprising:
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a. selecting a borehole in a surface of the earth forming a well, the borehole having a member contained therein, the member extending below the surface of the earth; b. the member comprising a tubular; c. placing a first plug within the borehole; d. operably associating a high power laser system with an offshore structure, the high power laser system comprising a high power laser and a high power laser cutting tool; e. the high power laser cutting tool defining a laser beam delivery path for delivery of a high power laser beam along the beam path; f. positioning the laser cutting tool adjacent a member of the offshore structure, whereby the laser beam path extends from the cutting tool to the member; g. propagating a high power laser beam along the beam path and moving the beam path and laser beam thereby cutting the members at a location within the borehole, whereby a section of the member is formed in a predetermined manner; h. removing the section from the structure; i. placing a second plug within the borehole, the second plug being located closer to the surface of the earth than the first plug; j. delivering a high power laser beam along a beam path to cut all additional members within the borehole at a second location above the second plug, wherein the delivery of the laser beam completely severs all the additional tubulars at the location within the borehole; and
,k. removing all of the severed additional members from the borehole above the second location, wherein the borehole above the second location is free from the additional members. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67)
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68. A method of removing a section of a member from an offshore structure comprising:
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a. Operably associating a high power laser system with an offshore structure, the high power laser system comprising a high power laser and a high power laser cutting tool; b. the high power laser cutting tool defining a laser beam delivery path for delivery of a high power laser beam along the beam path; c. positioning the laser cutting tool adjacent a member of the offshore structure, whereby the laser beam path extends from the cutting tool to the member d. whereby some of the members may be conductors in a body of water; e. propagating a high power laser beam along the beam path and moving the beam path and laser beam thereby cutting the member, whereby a section of the member is formed in a predetermined manner; f. wherein the laser beam may server the member at about the location, thereby creating a severed section of the member above the location; g. removing the section from the structure; and
,h. raising the severed section of the member above the surface of the body of water.
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69. A method of removing a section of a member from an offshore structure comprising:
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a. operably associating a high power laser system with an offshore structure, the high power laser system comprising a high power laser and a high power laser cutting tool; b. the high power laser cutting tool defining a laser beam delivery path for delivery of a high power laser beam along the beam path; c. positioning the laser cutting tool adjacent a member of the offshore structure, whereby the laser beam path extends from the cutting tool to the member; d. positioning the beam delivery path between the delivery assembly and a location of the offshore structure; e. propagating a high power laser beam along the beam delivery path, the laser beam having a beam property f. scanning the high power laser beam from a location on the offshore structure to a second location on the offshore structure at a scan rate, whereby the beam property and scan rate are such that any contaminants on the structure may be removed from the offshore structure without substantial damage to the offshore structure; g. positioning the laser cutting tool at a desired cutting location; h. propagating a high power laser beam along the beam path and moving the beam path and laser beam thereby cutting the member, whereby a section of the member is formed in a predetermined manner; and
,i. removing the section from the structure. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 72, 73)
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74. A method of removing a section of a member from an offshore structure comprising:
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a. operably associating a high power laser system with an offshore structure, the high power laser system comprising a high power laser and a high power laser cutting tool; b. the high power laser cutting tool defining a laser beam delivery path for delivery of a high power laser beam along the beam path; c. positioning the laser cutting tool adjacent a member of the offshore structure, whereby the laser beam path extends from the cutting tool to the member; d. the member being in a body of water; e. determining a laser cutting plan for cutting the offshore structure into sections of a predetermined size and weight, and implementing the plan by; f. propagating a high power laser beam along the beam path and moving the beam path and laser beam thereby cutting the member, whereby a section of the member is formed in a predetermined manner; g. removing the section from the structure; and h. removing the section from the body of water. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
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Specification