Mcdermott International, Inc.

Daniel M Houser

James Allan Haney

Larry Dwayne Breaux

A pile is plugged at its lower end or tip region so as to make it easier to drive. Additionally, such a plugged pile facilitates the transportation and handling of the pile prior to its driving.

Method of driving a pile

This invention pertains to a method of installing well conductors in such a way that the load upon the platform is significantly reduced thereby also eliminating the need for additional framing members. In accordance with this method, an end region of a well conductor is plugged which, if the conductor has a diameter-to-wall thickness ratio of about thirty to one (30:1), will cause the conductor to achieve nearly neutral buoyancy. By selectively adjusting the buoyancy of the conductor, such as by flooding or de-ballasting, additional conductor lengths may be added without imposing an unduly large load upon the platform. In this fashion, a smaller crane will be able to lower the conductor string without the need for a much larger derrick crane, which may then be more efficiently used solely to upend and stab the elongated conductors through the platform.

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Thibodaux, LA, United States of America

Daniel M Houser