Brown & Root, Inc.

Stanley J Hruska

Albert M Koehler

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

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.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Stanley J Hruska