Piling removal
AssigneeCrutcher Resources Corporation
InventorFloyd M. Thompson, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A unit (10) is employed such that sections of piling are separated and removed from the surrounding leg jackets to facilitate relocation of an offshore drilling platform. Unit (10) comprises a clamping section (20) by which the unit is secured in place and then utilized to lift a separated section of piling after operation of a cutting section (22). The cutting section (22) includes a rotatable plate (56), at least one cutting disk (68) mounted for movement on the plate, a cylinder (76) for actuating each cutting disk inwardly and outwardly, and a motor (62) for driving the plate.
Claims4
A method of removing a piling from a surrounding leg bonded to the piling, comprising the steps of:
- breaking the bond interconnecting the piling and leg to free the piling;
- lowering a clamp/cutter into the piling to a point located a predetermined distance below the upper end of the piling;
- forming an internal circumferential cut through the piling with the cutter of the clamp/cutter to separate the piling into upper and lower portions;
- actuating the clamp portion of the clamp/cutter to engage the upper portion of the piling;
- and
- lifting the clamp/cutter and separated upper portion of the piling from the surrounding leg.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.