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US 2003/0190195 A1Published application
Drilled pile
AssigneeLiberty Offshore, Ltd.
InventorsDuncan Cuthill, Martin Loon Kobiela, Philip Anton Strong
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AssigneeLiberty Offshore, Ltd.
InventorsDuncan Cuthill, Martin Loon Kobiela, Philip Anton Strong
Estimating the term…
A method of installing a pile 10 in a subsea substrate is provided, which method comprises the steps of providing a pile 10 with a drill bit 14 at one end, and rotating both the pile 10 and the drill bit 14 relative to a substrate to form a bore. Also provided is a subsea pile 10 in the form of an elongate member 12 with a drill bit 14 fixed at one end thereof. In certain embodiments, the elongate member 12 may be tubular, allowing fluids to be supplied to the drilling face via the pile. Such fluids may be drilling mud, sea water, or a settable material for fixing the pile in the bore. In preferred embodiments of the invention an upper portion of the pile may be adapted to be laterally flexible.
A method of installing a pile in a subsea substrate, the method comprising the steps of:
A subsea pile comprising an elongate member with a drill bit fixed at one end thereof.
A pile comprising an elongate member with a drill bit at one end thereof, wherein the pile has at least an upper portion adapted to flex in response to application of lateral loading thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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Methods or apparatus for placing sheet pile bulkheads, piles, mouldpipes, or other moulds: placing by using several means simultaneously
Means for anchoring structural elements or bulkheads: ground anchors
Foundations for special purposes: submerged foundations , i.e. submerged in open water
Foundations
Term end not estimated
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drilled pile, particularly for use in subsea applications. The pile is suitable for use as a mooring termination point or anchor on the seabed. The invention further relates to a method of installing such a pile.
2. Background to the Invention
These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, only with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a side elevation of a pile according to an embodiment of the present invention during the drilling phase of installation;
FIG. 2 shows the pile of FIG. 1 during the grouting phase;
FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings show a pile in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The pile 10 comprises a tubular elongate member 12, in this example formed predominately of standard joints of drill pipe, with a rotary drill bit 14 connected to the lower end of the member 12, in the illustrated example the diameter of the drill bit 14 being greater than the member 12. A drill collar 16 is provided at the lower end of the member 12 above the drill bit 14. A connection assembly 18 is provided at the upper end of the pile 10 and releasably connects the pile 10 to a rotary drill string 20. The drill string 20 extends to the surface and an appropriate installation vessel (not shown) provided with a motor for driving the string 20.
Also connected to the connection assembly 18 is a cable 22 at the free end of which is a mooring line coupling 24. The other end of the cable 22 is coupled to the pile 10, the intermediate portion of the cable 22 being releasably secured to the drill string 20 by means of a number of cable ties 26.
The installation of the pile 10 is carried out as follows. The pile 10 and drill bit 14 are rotated together by means of the drill string 20, and driven into the bore thereby generated in the seabed (FIG. 1). Cutting or drilling fluid is pumped from the surface through string 20 and the member 12 to the drill bit 14. The cutting fluid passes from jetting nozzles in the bit 14, cooling the bit and washing cuttings away from the end of the bore. The cutting fluid and the entrained cuttings pass up between the member 12 and the bore wall to discharge into the sea.