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US 5,702,206 AGranted
Offshore support structure method and apparatus
AssigneeOpē, LLC
InventorsGary O. Quenan, Tommy Lee Hull
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A support structure for use with at least two wells, and a method for providing and supporting at least two wells in the ground beneath a body of water, includes a caisson, a plurality of conductors, and a guide frame, which support at least two wells without the use of any piles or brace members, the at least two wells being supported solely by the conductors, the caisson, and the guide frame.
Claims20
A method for providing and supporting at least two wells in the ground beneath a body of water, comprising the steps of:
- (a) installing a first conductor, having an upper and a lower end, in the ground, with the first conductor extending from below the ground to above the body of water;
- (b) drilling a first well through the first conductor to provide the first well;
- (c) installing a subsea template on the ground adjacent the lower end of the first conductor;
- (d) installing a caisson, having an upper and a lower end, in the ground, the caisson extending from the ground, through the subsea template, to above the body of water;
- (e) attaching a guide frame to the caisson and the first conductor, proximate the upper ends of the caisson and the first conductor, the guide frame including at least one conductor guide;
- (f) installing a second conductor, having an upper end and a lower end, in the ground, by passing the second conductor through the at least one conductor guide and the subsea template, with the second conductor extending from the ground to above the body of water;
- (g) drilling a second well through the second conductor to provide the second well;
- and
- (h) maintaining the at least two wells in the body of water for a period of time, with the at least two wells being supported without any piles or brace members, and being supported solely by the first and second conductors, the caisson, and the guide frame.
6 more elements
A support structure for use with at least two wells in the ground beneath a body of water, comprising:
- (a) at least two conductors, each conductor having a diameter, an upper end, and a lower end, each conductor adapted to extend from the ground to above the body of water and the at least two wells are adapted to be disposed within the at least two conductors;
- (b) a caisson, having a diameter, an upper end, and a lower end, and adapted to extend from the ground to above the body of water, the caisson being disposed between, and in a spaced relationship with, the at least two conductors, and the at least two conductors and caisson being disposed substantially perpendicular to the ground;
- (c) a subsea template disposed on the ground proximate the lower ends of the caisson and the at least two conductors, the subsea template adapted to be disposed on the ground without being secured to the ground with one or more piles, and includes a conductor guide member for each of the at least two conductors, and a caisson guide member for the caisson, with at least two conductors being disposed within the conductor guide members proximate the lower ends of the at least two conductors, and the caisson being disposed within the caisson guide member proximate the lower end of the caisson;
- (d) a guide frame fixedly secured to the caisson and disposed proximate the upper ends of the caisson and the at least two conductors, the guide frame including a conductor guide for each of the at least two conductors, the at least two conductors being disposed within the conductor guide proximate the upper ends of the at least two conductors;
- and
- (e) the caisson and the at least two conductors not including any piles or brace members, whereby the at least two wells are adapted to be supported in the body of water solely by the caisson, the at least two conductors, and the guide frame.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.