Stab system for equipment removal

• US 4,352,596 A
• Filed: 10/29/1979
• Issued: 10/05/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sedco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sedco Incorporated
• Inventors: Hammett, Dillard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, David H.
• Application Number:
  US06/089,186
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: 405/195, 405/201, 405/204, 405/209, 405/211, 52/79.9, 52/236.3, 114/230, 114/249, 114/250, 114/252, 141/388, 166/364, 169/62, 169/69
• US Class Current: 405/195.1
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/02 for area conflagrations, e.g. forest fires, subterranean fires
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/44 Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices construction methods for floating offshore platforms B63B75/00
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 35/00 Methods or apparatus for preventing or extinguishing fires

Abstract

A tear-away equipment removal system and method for use in controlling fires on offshore oil platforms. A preferred system includes a stab assembly connected to the end of the tension line and carried by a crane boom on a semi-submersible service vessel. A stab receptacle is provided in an outer wall of an offshore platform and is connected to large equipment units which block access to a fire site. The method includes maneuvering the service vessel and crane to allow connection of the stab assembly to the receptacle and the use of the tension line to physically tear open the outer wall of the structure and to remove the large equipment to provide clear access to the fire site.

Claims

1. A fire suppression system for use in controlling fires occurring on offshore oil platforms comprising:

a self-propelled service vessel having a means for maintaining said vessel at a predetermined station with respect to said platform;

a stab assembly including a stab adapted to engage a stab receptacle on said platform and means for controlling the movement of said stab;

tension means interconnecting said stab and said vessel;

means extending from said vessel for supporting said stab assembly;

a plurality of walls cooperating to form a compartment for housing operating equipment;

a stab receptacle mounted to said platform, said receptacle including a guide means;

means for locking said stab in said receptacle; and

second tension means connecting said equipment to said receptacle, said equipment being removable from said platform by the application of a tensile load to said receptacle.

2. A system for use in controlling fires on an offshore oil platform comprising:

a service vessel including means for maintaining said service vessel at a predetermined position with respect to said platform;

an elongated boom mounted on and movable with respect to said service vessel;

a stab assembly including a stab member mounted on the distal end of said boom, said stab member being adapted to engage a stab receptacle mounted on said platform, said stab member being releasably secured to said boom and including means operable to form a locking engagement between said stab member and said receptacle;

a flexible tension member connected to said stab member and to said service vessel for pulling said stab member, said receptacle and means connected to said receptacle away from said platform in response to a pulling force exerted on said tension member after said stab member has been locked in said receptacle and released from the distal end of said boom.

3. A method for clearing obstructions from an offshore oil platform for fire control purposes comprising the steps of:

connecting said obstruction to a stab receptacle mounted on said platform;

maneuvering a self-propelled service vessel into a position proximate said platform, said vessel including a rotatably mounted crane having a main boom;

attaching a stab assembly to said main boom, said assembly including a stab member, means for positioning said stab member with respect to said boom, and means for releasably securing said stab member to said stab assembly;

connecting a flexible tension member to said stab member and to means on said vessel;

inserting said stab member into said receptacle while substantially maintaining the position of said vessel with respect to said platform;

disengaging said stab member from said stab assembly; and

tearing said obstruction free from said platform by tightening said tension member to tear said stab member, said receptacle and said obstruction away from said platform.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein:

said tension member is tightened by anchoring said vessel so as to resist movement of said vessel toward said platform and tightening said tension member with retrieval means mounted on said vessel.