Nearshore subsea drilling
AssigneeFnv IP B.V.
InventorsPeter David Richards, James Alexander Amos
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A subsea vertical drilling machine is disclosed, having: a drill assembly formed by: a riser pipe having a first end, a second end, and a length extending between the first and second ends; and a drilling machine body, including a drilling head, coupled to the first end of the riser pipe; and a vertical feed system configured for advancing the drill assembly in a vertical direction. The riser pipe is provided with at least one rack extending along at least a part of the length of the riser pipe, and the vertical feed system comprises a motor coupled to a pinion, the pinion arranged for engaging with the rack for advancing the drill assembly.
Claims19
A subsea drilling machine comprising:
- a drill assembly includes:
- a riser pipe having a first end, a second end, and a length extending between the first and second ends;
- and
- a drilling machine body coupled to the first end of the riser pipe, the drilling machine body includes a drilling head;
- and
- a feed system configured for advancing the drill assembly in a first direction,
- wherein the riser pipe is provided with at least one rack extending along at least a part of the length of the riser pipe;
- a spoil removal system includes a conduit extending through the drilling head and the riser pipe, and a spoil exhaust provided at the second end of the riser pipe, and
- wherein the feed system includes a motor coupled to a pinion, the pinion arranged for engaging with the rack for advancing the drill assembly in the first direction.
A method for drilling a hole in seabed, the method comprising:
- providing a drill assembly including a riser pipe and a drilling machine body coupled to the first end of the riser pipe, the drilling machine body including a drilling head;
- providing a feed system configured for advancing the drill assembly in a first direction;
- assembling the drill assembly with the feed system to form a drilling machine;
- arranging a template onto the seabed, the template including one or more drilling machine receiving sections;
- arranging the drilling machine in one of the drilling machine receiving sections;
- fixating the feed system with respect to the template;
- advancing the drill assembly into the seabed by operating the feed system, by substantially continuously moving the riser pipe with respect to the feed system, while operating the drilling head;
- retracting the drill assembly from the vertical bore hole after having reached a final depth of the bore hole;
- removing spoil via a spoil return pipe arranged within the drilling machine body and the riser pipe;
- and
- discharging the spoil at spoil discharge arranged at a second end of the riser pipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.