System for connecting an underwater platform to an underwater floor

A handling system for connecting an underwater support platform to the underwater floor comprising,

• an underwater support platform, guide and support lines extending upwardly from the platform,
• a conductor pipe for supporting said support platform,
• releasable hydraulic connecting means connecting the platform to the conductor pipe,
• a releasable hydraulic latch connector connected to the conductor pipe,
• a releasable hydraulic swivel joint connected to the latch connector,
• a drilling pipe releasably connected to the swivel joint connector for initially supporting said conductor pipe and said platform in position above the underwater floor,
• drilling means on the drilling pipe for drilling a hole in the subsea floor for receiving said conductor pipe,
• locking means between the conductor pipe and said platform which are engaged when the hydraulic connecting means between the platform and the conductor pipe are hydraulically released and the conductor pipe is positioned in the underwater floor hole,
• hydraulic control lines positioned on the platform and adapted to be in communication with the releasable hydraulic latch connector and the releasable hydraulic swivel joint when the connector pipe is locked to the platform for hydraulically releasing said latch connector and the swivel joint, and
• an underwater hydraulic control pod releasably connected to the platform and is connected to said hydraulic control lines and to said releasable hydraulic connecting means.

A handling system for connecting an underwater support platform to the underground floor comprising,

• an underwater support platform,
• guide and support lines extending upwardly from the platform,
• a conductor pipe slideably connected to the support platform,
• releasable hydraulic connecting means initially connecting and supporting the platform from the conductor pipe,
• a releasable hydraulic latch connected to the conductor pipe and having a first actuating port,
• a releasable hydraulic swivel joint connector, connected to the latch connector and having a second actuating port,
• a drilling pipe releasably connected to the swivel joint connector for initially supporting said conductor pipe and said platform in position above the underwater floor,
• drilling means on the drilling pipe for drilling a hole in the underwater floor for receiving said conductor pipe,
• engagable locking means between the conductor pipe and said platform which are engaged only when the conductor pipe is positioned in the hole in the subsea floor, and
• hydraulic control lines positioned on the support platform and adapted to coact with the first and second actuating ports for releasing the hydraulic latch connector and hydraulic swivel joint only when the connector pipe is locked to the support platform.