US 8,025,463 B2Granted

Offshore foundation system with integral elements for preloading and extracting

AssigneesKeppel Offshore & Marine Technology Centre Pte Ltd, The University of Western Australia

InventorsKok Seng Foo, Chin Kau Quah, Okky Ahmad Purwana, Mark Jason Cassidy, Christophe Rene Henri Gaudin

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Abstract

The present invention describes an offshore foundation system (10,10a,10b) that is operable for preloading after self-weight installation on a seabed without relying on additional or external ballasts. The foundation system (10,10a,10b) is also operable for extraction by reversing the process of preload operation. In one embodiment, the foundation system (10) comprises a reaction base (20) and suction compartment (60). In another, the foundation system (10a,10b) comprises a plurality of units of reaction base (20) and suction compartments (60), with the units being connected by bridging structures (21). In yet another, the foundation system comprises a reaction base (20) and a plurality of suction compartments (60). A closed-top of the suction compartment (60) projects above the reaction base (20) so that, in use, there is a gap h between a top of a soil plug inside a suction compartment (60) and its closed-top.

Claims11

Dependent claims

An offshore foundation system comprising:

a reaction base in the form of a hollow slab, which has an upper surface and a bottom surface, the upper and bottom surfaces defining a thickness of the reaction base;
and
a suction compartment in the form of a substantially open-bottom and closed-top cylindrically elongate shell, wherein the closed top has a pump port with vent hatches and valves allowing the air and water trapped in the cylindrically elongate shell to be pumped out during installation when the pump port is connected to a suction pump;
wherein the suction compartment is integrally formed with the reaction base so that the open-bottom of the suction compartment opens downward with a longitudinal axis of the elongate shell substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the reaction base and the closed-top projects a distance H above the bottom surface of the reaction base, such that, in use, there is a gap h between a top of a soil plug inside the suction compartment and the closed-top.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.