Cantilevered jack-up platform

• US 6,171,027 B1
• Filed: 08/28/1998
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gustomsc Resources B.V. (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Marine Structure Consultants (MSC) B.V.
• Inventors: Blankestijin, Enrico Pedro
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Jong-Suk
• Application Number:
  US09/143,091
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 405/196, 405/199, 405/201, 405/203, 405/204, 405/208, 175/5, 175/7, 175/8, 175/9
• US Class Current: 405/201
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/021 with relative movement between supporting construction and platform

Abstract

A drilling rig, in particular for the offshore industry, in the form of a jack-up platform on which a cantilever is mounted so as to be movable at least substantially horizontally and in a first direction, with the cantilever projecting more or less outside the jack-up platform. On the cantilever a drilling platform is present, which drilling platform is movable relative to the jack-up platform in a second direction, different herefrom. This drilling platform is fixedly mounted on the cantilever while the latter is movable relative to the jack-up platform in both abovesaid directions.

Claims

1. A drilling rig capable of being used offshore, comprising a jack-up platform which a cantilever is mounted so as to be movable at least substantially horizontally in a longitudinal direction of the cantilever, with the cantilever in a drilling position projecting outside the jack-up platform, while a drilling platform is mounted on the cantilever, said drilling platform being movable relative to the jack-up platform in a direction transverse thereto, wherein the drilling platform is fixedly mounted on a distal end of the cantilever and said cantilever is movable relative to the jack-up platform in both of the above said directions, wherein supporting members for the cantilever are present, said supporting members are movable with the cantilever in the transverse direction over rails secured on the jack-up platform, while the cantilever is supported by the supporting members for movement in the longitudinal direction.

2. A drilling rig according to claim 1, wherein by means of relevant operating cylinders, the supporting members are slidable over the rails secured on the jack-up platform and extending in the transverse direction, relative to slide members which can be secured on said rails, when said slide members are at least secured thereon.

3. A drilling rig comprising a jack-up platform on which a cantilever is mounted so as to be movable at least substantially horizontally and in a first direction, with the cantilever projecting outside the jack-up platform, while a drilling platform is mounted on the cantilever, said drilling platform being movable relative to the jack-up platform in a second direction, different from the first direction, wherein the drilling platform is fixedly mounted on the cantilever and said cantilever is movable relative to the jack-up platform in both the above said directions, wherein the cantilever is movable in the longitudinal direction of the cantilever, with the cantilever projecting more or less outside the jack-up platform, and is arranged relative to the jack-up platform in a direction transverse thereto, wherein supporting members for the cantilever are present, said supporting members being movable with the cantilever in the transverse direction over rails secured on the jack-up platform. while the cantilever is supported by the supporting members for movement in the longitudinal direction, at least the two supporting members that are movable over the rail located closest to the edge of the jack-up platform are provided with friction-reducing means operative both in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction, for taking up at least a part of the frictional forces between the supporting members and the relevant rail and between the rails of the cantilever and the relevant supporting members.

4. A drilling rig according to claim 3, wherein the friction-reducing means are formed by pairs of rollers which are freely movable between the supporting members and the rails in the direction of the rails and pressed therein against.

5. A drilling rig according to claim 4, wherein the pressure exerted on the relevant rails by the friction-reducing means is capable of being set to a pre-selected pressure.

6. A drilling rig according to claim 3, wherein the pressure exerted on the relevant rails by the friction-reducing means is capable of being set to a pre-selected pressure.

7. A drilling rig according to claim 3, wherein coupling means are present by means of which the drilling platform is detachably connected to the cantilever so that the drilling platform can be positioned on a separate support platform.

8. A drilling rig according to claim 3, wherein the drilling rig further comprises high-pressure dredge pumps and arranged on the cantilever.

9. A drilling rig capable of being used offshore, comprising a jack-up platform on which a cantilever is mounted so as to be movable at least substantially horizontally and in a first direction, with the cantilever projecting outside the jack-up platform, while a drilling platform is mounted on the cantilever, said drilling platform being movable relative to the jack-up platform in a second direction, different from the first direction, wherein the drilling platform is fixedly mounted on the cantilever and said cantilever is movable relative to the jack-up platform in both the above said directions, wherein the cantilever is movable in the longitudinal direction of the cantilever, with the cantilever projecting more or less outside the jack-up platform, and is arranged relative to the jack-up platform in a direction transverse thereto, wherein by means a relevant operating cylinders, the supporting members supporting the cantilever are slidable over the rail secured on the jack-up platform and extending in the transverse direction, relative to slide members which can be secured on said rails, when said slide members are at least secured thereon, wherein at least the two supporting members that are movable over the rails located closest to the edge of the jack-up platform are provided with friction-reducing means operative both in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse directions, to take up at least a part of the frictional forces between the supporting members and the relevant rail and between the rails of the cantilever and the relevant supporting members.

10. A drilling rig according to claim 9, wherein the friction-reducing means are formed by pairs of rollers which are freely movable between the supporting members and the rails in the direction of the rails and pressed thereagainst.

11. A drilling rig according to claim 10, wherein the pressure exerted on the relevant rails by the friction-reducing means is capable of being set to a pre-selected pressure.

12. A drilling rig according to claim 9, wherein coupling means are present by means of which the drilling platform is detachably connected to the cantilever so that the drilling platform can be positioned on a separate support platform.

13. A drilling rig according to claim 9, wherein the drilling rig further comprises high-pressure dredge pumps and arranged on the cantilever.