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US 7,527,455 B2Granted
Anchor installation system
AssigneeExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
InventorRichard D. Raines
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for installing a pile anchor (75) using an anchor installation system (100). The anchor installation system comprising an elongated hollow anchor element (75) that is releasably attached to an installation element or installer (50). The installer can be used repeatedly for multiple installations.
Claims40
An anchor installation apparatus, comprising:
- a first elongated hollow element having a closed upper end, an open lower end, and a transverse cross sectional area;
- a two-way flow valve located on said first elongated hollow element;
- a second elongated hollow element having an open upper end, an open lower end, and a transverse cross sectional area substantially the same as that of said first hollow element;
- and
- a pipe end to pipe end connector for releasably connecting said open lower end of said first elongated hollow element to said open upper end of said second elongated hollow element.
2 more elements
A method for installing an anchor, comprising:
- installing an anchor installation system at least partially into the floor of a body of water, said anchor installation system including (i) a first elongated hollow element having a closed upper end, an open lower end, and a transverse cross sectional area, (ii) a second elongated hollow element anchor having an open upper end, and open lower end, and a transverse cross sectional area substantially the same as that of said first elongated hollow element, (iii) a pipe end to pipe end connector for releasably connecting said open lower end of said first elongated hollow element to said open upper end of said second elongated hollow element and (iv) a two-way flow valve located on said first elongated hollow element;
- and
- releasing said first elongated hollow element from said second elongated hollow element.
A method for installing an anchor, comprising:
- installing an anchor installation system at least partially into the floor of a body of water, said anchor installation system including (i) a first elongated hollow element having a closed upper end, an open lower end, and a transverse cross sectional area, (ii) a second elongated hollow element anchor having an open upper end, open lower end, and a transverse cross sectional area substantially the same as that of said first elongated hollow element, (iii) means for releasably connecting said open lower end of said first elongated hollow element to said open upper end of said second elongated hollow element anchor, and (iv) a two-way flow valve located on said first elongated hollow element;
- and
- releasing said first elongated hollow element from said second elongated hollow element anchor.
An anchor installation apparatus for use in installing an elongated hollow element into the floor of a body of water, comprising:
- a first elongated hollow element having a closed upper end, an open lower end, and a transverse cross sectional area;
- a two-way flow valve located on said first elongated hollow element;
- a second elongated hollow element having an open upper end, an open lower end, and a transverse cross sectional area substantially the same as that of said first elongated hollow element;
- and
- means for releasably connecting said open lower end of said first elongated hollow element to said open upper end of said second elongated hollow element.
2 more elements
A method of producing offshore hydrocarbon resources, comprising:
- a) anchoring an offshore structure to the seabed through use of an anchor installation system, said anchor installation system including (i) a first elongated hollow element having a closed upper end, an open lower end, and a transverse cross sectional area, (ii) a second elongated hollow element having an open upper end, and open lower end, and a transverse cross sectional area substantially the same as that of said first elongated hollow element, (iii) a load transfer device fixed to the outer surface of said second elongated hollow element, (iv) a pipe end to pipe end connector for releasably connecting said open lower end of said first elongated hollow element to said open upper end of said second elongated hollow element and (iv) a two-way flow valve located on said first elongated hollow element;
- b) releasing said first elongated hollow element from said second elongated hollow element;
- c) connecting said load transfer device to an offshore structure;
- and
- d) producing hydrocarbon resources.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.