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US 2006/0065180 A1Published application
Pile anchor with external vanes
AssigneeExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
InventorRichard Raines
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An elongated hollow member (160), as shown in FIG. 1, with longitudinally disposed external vane(s) (275A-B) for securing an offshore structure to the seafloor. The external vanes help maintain the heading and bearing of the anchor during the installation process, and may also enhance the pile anchor's holding capacity.
Claims30
A pile anchor, comprising:
- a. an elongated hollow member having an upper end, an open lower end and a longitudinal axis;
- b. a two-way flow valve located on said elongated hollow member;
- c. a load transfer device for connecting an anchor line to said elongated hollow member, said load transfer device fixed to the outer surface of said elongated hollow member and positioned on the circumference of said elongated hollow member;
- and
- d. a first longitudinally disposed vane extending outwardly from the outer surface of said elongated hollow member.
2 more elements
A method of anchoring a pile anchor into the floor of a body of water, comprising:
- installing a pile anchor into the floor of said body of water, said pile anchor including (i) an elongated hollow member having an upper end, an open lower end, a longitudinal axis and a transverse cross section, (ii) a two-way flow valve located on said elongated hollow member, (iii) a load transfer device for connecting an anchor line to said elongated hollow member, said load transfer device fixed to the outer surface of said elongated hollow member and positioned on the circumference of said elongated hollow member, and (iv) a first longitudinally disposed vane extending outwardly from the outer surface of said elongated hollow member.
A method of producing offshore hydrocarbon resources, comprising:
- a. anchoring an offshore structure to the seabed through use of a pile anchor system, said pile anchor system including (i) an elongated hollow member having an upper end, an open lower end, a longitudinal axis and a transverse cross section, (ii) a two-way flow valve located on said elongated hollow member, (iii) a load transfer device for connecting an anchor line to said elongated hollow member, said load transfer device fixed to the outer surface of said elongated hollow member and positioned on the circumference of said elongated hollow member, and (iv) a first longitudinally disposed vane extending outwardly from the outer surface of said elongated hollow member;
- b. connecting said load transfer device to an offshore structure;
- and
- c. producing hydrocarbon resources.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.