Ships – Submersible device – Having storage hold
Patent
1988-01-25
1989-08-29
Basinger, Sherman D.
Ships
Submersible device
Having storage hold
114313, 114258, 114268, 212190, B63G 800
Patent
active
048606812
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out of operations under water, comprising a twin hull autonomous submarine which, in the space between its two pressure hulls, is provided with a cargo hold with means for receiving and carrying cargo in the form of cargo units, where the space between the pressure hulls is externally confined by hatches in the hydrodynamic outer hull of the submarine.
BACKGROUND ART
The invention as far as the submarine is concerned has it's basis in the Norwegian patent application 850957 and represents a futher development of the concept described therein, especially with the intention to enable operations to be carried out optionally by any interaction with conventional techniques performed from a location above sea level (floating platform or vessel) thereby taking full advantage of developed, well-known and proven techniques and systems for subsea field development, operation and maintenance, making feasible full utilization of the advantages of a submarine concept (direct access-visually and diverless), while preserving the opportunity to take a step forward into a desirable completely non-surface, technological phase, a development which has promising perspectives in connection with offshore production of oil and gas, in particular at considerable depths.
Underwater production systems usually include the utilization of a so-called template or foundation frame, with room for several wellheads and associated equipment. Such a template can for instance comprise eight wellheads, advantageously arranged in two parallel rows, with four wellheads in each row. The underwater production system is advantageously constructed of units or modules. These modules are mounted and removed by means of guide posts and corresponding guide funnels, arranged in a standard system For each module, four guide posts are employed, one positioned in each corner of a square of standard dimensions. The modules can advantageously have guide funnels arranged in the same configuration, for guiding co-operation with the guide posts. During development of a field, i.e. installation of the underwater production system, modules are brought down and retrieved, from a location such as a rig, or a vessel on the surface. Guidelines are employed which run from the respective guide posts mounted in the foundation frame, up to the vessel. These guidelines can be fastened to the guide posts and reach up to a buoy when not in use, the guide lines being fished up by the surface vessel when it is necessary to install or replace one or several modules. The guide lines can also be releasably connected to the guide posts. For attaching of guidelines, divers or remotely controlled mini-submarines are used. The securing and connecting of the modules requires the work of divers, or the use of remotely controlled mini-submarines, or the use of complicated hydraulic remotely controlled tools.
During operation and maintenance the same technique is employed for the control and replacement of modules.
Installation and maintenance of an underwater production system, comprises not only the lowering and lifting up of modules, but also requires other kinds of operations, in particular coupling and uncoupling of pipelines are mentioned here. Such coupling and uncoupling can also be undertaken by means of work modules which are transported down from a rig or a vessel, utilizing guide posts and guide funnels.
The conventional technique indicated above is well known and proven and functionally quite satisfactorily. An important disadvantage however is its surface dependence and consequently its strong dependence on weather conditions at the surface. Continuously increasing depths makes it difficult or not very desirable to use divers. Remotely controlled mini-submarines have also been seen to have limited use.
In the initially mentioned Norwegian patent application 850957 (U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 131,337 filed Dec. 9, 1987, which was a continuation of U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 838,118 filed March 1
REFERENCES:
patent: 2541893 (1951-02-01), Speer
patent: 2555297 (1951-05-01), Smith et al.
patent: 2660319 (1953-11-01), Dorland
patent: 3453834 (1969-07-01), Jue
patent: 3677212 (1972-07-01), Gregoire
patent: 4147124 (1979-04-01), Brooks et al.
patent: 4357764 (1982-11-01), Lemercier et al.
Basinger Sherman D.
Brahan Thomas J.
Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A.S.
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