Hydraulic and earth engineering – Marine structure or fabrication thereof – In or on frozen media
Patent
1987-05-01
1988-07-05
Taylor, Dennis L.
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Marine structure or fabrication thereof
In or on frozen media
405195, 405203, 405224, 114296, E02B 1702
Patent
active
047550821
ABSTRACT:
The Removable Bottom Founded Structure (RBFS) is an offshore platform for petroleum drilling and producing operations intended for deployment in waters with severe weather and iceberg conditions. It is a two-part structure comprising (1) a platform which is made up of a deck structure, multiple columns and braces; and (2) a reinforced concrete subbase that rests on the sea floor and upon which the platform is founded. The structure is normally held down by gravity for standard platform operations, but during the deballasting procedure due to an iceberg emergency a hold-down system is employed to keep the platform on the subbase until full deballasting is achieved. The system that is used to hold the platform down onto the subbase is located where the platform meets the subbase. It operates on the principle of hydrostatics. On the underside of the columns there are multiple chambers which may be evacuated by pumping and which are vented to the outside atmosphere. Flexible seals that define these chambers are positively inflated by water to create a fluid-tight seal so that no seawater will enter the evacuated chambers. The reduction of the buoyancy forces will hold the platform onto the subbase until such time as the platform is totally deballasted. Once that has occurred, the hydrostatic hold-down system is disengaged and the platform will quickly rise to the surface to assume its floating draft and avoid the iceberg danger. An effective load transfer system between the platform and the subbase is also disclosed.
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Beskow Robert H.
Dunn Patrick J.
Fine Warren S.
Chevron Research Company
Keeling Edward J.
LaPaglia S. R.
Norviel V. A.
Taylor Dennis L.
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