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.
Claims26
Subsea drilling machine comprising:
- a drill assembly comprising:
- a riser pipe having a first end, a second end, and a length extending between said first and second ends;
- and
- a drilling machine body coupled to the first end of said riser pipe, said drilling machine body comprising a drilling head;
- and
- a feed system configured for advancing said drill assembly in a first direction;
- wherein said riser pipe is provided with at least one rack extending along at least a part of the length of the riser pipe;
- and
- wherein said feed system comprises a motor coupled to a pinion, said pinion arranged for engaging with said rack for advancing said drill assembly in said first direction.
Subsea drilling machine comprising:
- a drill assembly comprising:
- a riser pipe having a first end, a second end, and a length extending between said first and second ends;
- and
- a drilling machine body coupled to the first end of said riser pipe, said drilling machine body comprising a drilling head;
- and
- a feed system configured for advancing said drill assembly in a first direction, wherein said feed system comprises:
- a first feed subsystem, comprising a first set of hydraulic actuators arranged to induce a movement of a first gripper along said first direction, said first gripper comprising first gripping means for gripping and/or clamping the riser pipe upon actuation of said first gripping means;
- and
- a second feed subsystem, comprising a second set of hydraulic actuators arranged to induce a movement of a second gripper along said first direction, said second gripper comprising second gripping means for gripping and/or clamping the riser pipe upon actuation of said second gripping means.
Subsea drilling machine comprising:
- a drill assembly comprising:
- a riser pipe having a first end, a second end, and a length extending between said first and second ends;
- and
- a drilling machine body coupled to the first end of said riser pipe, said drilling machine body comprising a drilling head;
- a feed system configured for advancing said drill assembly in a first direction;
- and
- a spoil removing system comprising a conduit extending through said drilling head and said riser pipe, and a spoil exhaust provided at the second end of said riser pipe.
A method for drilling a hole in seabed, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a drill assembly comprising a riser pipe and a drilling machine body coupled to the first end of said riser pipe, said drilling machine body comprising a drilling head;
- providing a feed system configured for advancing said drill assembly in a first direction;
- assembling said drill assembly with said feed system to form a drilling machine;
- arranging a template onto the seabed, said template comprising one or more drilling machine receiving sections;
- arranging said drilling machine in one of said drilling machine receiving sections;
- fixating said feed system with respect to said template;
- advancing said drill assembly into said seabed by operating said feed system, by substantially continuously moving said riser pipe with respect to said feed system, while operating said drilling head;
- and
- retracting said drill assembly from said vertical bore hole after having reached a final depth of said bore hole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.