Brown & Root, Inc.

The Offshore Company

Albert M Koehler

Stanley J Hruska

Donald R Ray

Heinz K Rohde

Arnold S Cohn

Douglas S Harrison

Felix S Radovan

A jack-up platform apparatus operable for effecting relative vertical motion between a leg chord of a platform and a deck of the platform. The jack-up apparatus includes at least one generally rectangular reaction member operable to be connected at one end thereof to the platform deck in a posture contiguous to but spaced from a leg chord of the platform. An abutment member is connected to the other end of the reaction member and first and second leg chord engaging members are mounted for selective translation along the reaction member between the abutment member and the platform deck. A jack asembly is mounted between the first and second leg engaging members for translating the members along the reaction member wherein selective actuation of the first and second leg engaging members and the jack assembly will function to effect relative vertical motion between the platform leg chord and the platform deck while the reaction member reacts bending moments across the width thereof.

Jack-up platform apparatus

A method and apparatus for connecting and disconnecting a buoyant structure and tower jacket characterized by mutually telescope portions of mated stanchions extending between the buoyant structure and tower jacket, which telescopingly mated stanchion portions are mutually secured by clamping means guidingly carried by the buoyant structure.

Method and apparatus for connecting and disconnecting a supportive

A method and apparatus for transporting and erecting an offshore tower jacket is disclosed. The apparatus involves a first pair of elongated buoyancy members which are spaced apart along the lengths thereof and which are operable to float in a horizontal posture on the surface of a body of water. The apparatus further involves a second pair of elongated buoyancy members likewise spaced apart and operable to float in a horizontal posture. The first and second pairs of buoyancy members are themselves maintained in spaced apart relation to one another so that a leg of an offshore tower jacket carried thereby reposes in vertical alignment with the space between the buoyancy members of each pair. A plurality of bridging means serve to interconnect the buoyancy members to maintain the buoyancy members of each pair in the spaced apart relation. The bridging means further serve to carry the offshore tower jacket. To this end, each of the bridging means presents a supportive upper surface which is relatively closely adjacent the waterline when the offshore tower jacket is being carried by the buoyant structure. The jacket is thus carried in a posture minimizing the distance between the center of gravity of the tower and the surface of the body of water relative to that achievable if the buoyancy members were not spaced apart. The method of the invention involves supporting the offshore tower jacket in a horizontal posture aboard a buoyant structure by cradling at least a portion of a number of the legs of the jacket between pairs of elongated, spaced apart buoyancy members. The legs are thus carried in a condition above, but relatively closely adjacent the surface of the body of water and the distance between the center of gravity of the tower jacket and the surface of the body of water is minimized. The offshore tower jacket being cradled in the manner described, the jacket and buoyant structure can be towed to a desired offshore location and the entire assembly turned upright in the water. Thereafter the tower jacket can be lowered into place on the floor of the body of water and the buoyant structure disconnected therefrom.

Method and apparatus for transporting and erecting an offshore tower

An offshore tower is anchored to a water bed by inserting piling elements into piling jackets located at the tower base and driving the piling elements into the water bed. Grouting material is poured between each jacket and piling element to bond these members together. Grouting material is also poured into the tubular piling elements and into a bell-shaped cavity located therebelow to form a bell footing which anchors the piling element to the water bed. A metallic reinforcement tube which is at least one-half the diameter of the piling element, is inserted into the piling element so as to extend between the piling element and the bell footing. The reinforcing tube presents considerable grouting-encased surface area extending between the piling element and the bell footing to maximize the connection therebetween. In addition, the reinforcing tube effectively reinforces the grouting material against tension, compression, and torsion. Spirally arranged weld beads are affixed to the piling jacket, the piling element, and the reinforcing tube. These weld beads become embedded within the hardened grouting material to firmly secure the tubular elements against longitudinal movement.

Methods and apparatus for anchoring a submerged structure to a waterbed

A drill conductor is installed into a water bed from an offshore tower situated in a body of water by lowering the conductor from a deck portion of the tower along a straight path which is inclined relative to vertical until the bottom end of the conductor reaches a predetermined depth in the water bed. The conductor is then bent about a fulcrum to displace an upper segment thereof to a vertically straight posture while maintaining a lower segment thereof above the water bed in a straight and inclined posture. A special arrangement of apertured guides is provided along the tower to accommodate the initial inclinedly straight insertion of the conductor and to accommodate the subsequent displacement of the upper conductor segment. The guides thus support the conductor such that a portion of the conductor disposed above the water bed includes upper and lower straight segments, the upper segment being vertically disposed and the lower segment being inclined relative to vertical.

Methods and apparatus for installing a drill conductor from an offshore

The invention affords a method and apparatus for transporting and erecting an offshore tower. The invention entails a barge which buoyantly supports the tower as it is conveyed to a desired offshore location. Supporting means connected to the barge and sliding means connected to the tower slidingly interconnect the tower and the barge. Suitable rotating means operably associated with the barge serves to rotate the barge about the longitudinal axis thereof to lower one side and thus statically, laterally incline the supporting means and the sliding means relative to the surface of the surrounding water. This occurs once the barge and tower reach the desired offshore location. Translating means operably associated with the barge are afforded for the purpose of moving the tower down the resulting incline, off the lowered side of the barge, and into the surrounding water. In the course of this downward movement, the tower and sliding means move in sliding relation along the supporting means. In transporting and erecting an offshore tower, the tower is first supported on the barge and floated to the desired offshore location. Thereupon, the barge is rotated about the longitudinal axis thereof to lower one side and statically, laterally incline the surfaces upon which the tower rests, relative to the surface of the surrounding body of water. Thereafter the tower is translated down the incline off the lowered side of the barge and into the water, free of the barge. The intended lower portion of the tower is next submerged to turn the tower upright in the body of water. Next the base of the tower is located at the desired location on the floor of the body of water.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Albert M Koehler