The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 15, 1988
Filed:
Jun. 04, 1987
J Ward Turner, Houston, TX (US);
Exxon Production Research Company, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
An arctic offshore platform adapted for use in hydrocarbon exploration and production operations conducted in relatively shallow waters with low to moderate ice environments. The arctic offshore platform of the present invention includes one or more support legs. Each support leg includes a base resting on the ocean floor, a central support column extending upward through the base to a position above the ocean surface and a sloped-sided member seated atop the base and extending upward around the central support column to a position above the ocean surface. In installation, the base and central support column are installed and secured to the ocean floor as a unit. Following this, the sloped-sided member is secured atop the base. The sloped-sided member causes ice sheets which may impact the support leg to fail in flexure, thus reducing the overall ice loadings on the support leg relative to the loading which would exist were the sloped-sided member absent. This provides a stable structure for conducting hydrocarbon exploration and production operations while requiring a minimum of onsite fabrication and construction for ease and simplicity in the onsite installation.