Method, apparatus and system for attaching an anchor member to a floor of a body of water
AssigneeBlade Offshore Services Ltd..
InventorsJohn Swingler, Neil McNaughton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A remotely operable drilling apparatus (6) comprises a body such as frame (10) and drive means arranged to drill annular pile (8), which is loaded in the drilling apparatus (6) into the floor of a body of water. The annular pile comprises a cutting shoe (24). The drive means comprises a power swivel (12) which attaches to the top of the annular pile (8) by means of a drive head. Delivery means is also provided which comprises at least one nozzle to enable flushing fluid and grout to be injected around annular pile (8). The power swivel (12) is raised and lowered by rack and pinion means 14 disposed on either side of the power swivel (12).
Claims35
A method of attaching an anchor member to a floor of a body of water, the method characterised by:
- locating a remotely operable drilling apparatus adjacent the floor of the body of water, wherein the remotely operable drilling apparatus is adapted to drive the anchor member comprising an annular pile having a substantially hollow shaft portion, an annular bit at a first end thereof and at least one anchor device at a second end thereof, the annular bit being arranged to drill an annulus into the floor into which the annular pile is to be driven and at least one said anchor device being adapted to restrict movement of a structure relative to the anchor member;
- operating the remotely operable drilling apparatus to drill said annular pile into the floor of the body of water by the annular bit cutting the annulus into the floor of the body of water such that at least one said anchor device projects above the floor of the body of water;
- and
- filling said annulus with grout in order to retain the annular pile in said annulus and resist removal of the annular pile from the floor of the body of water.
A method of anchoring a structure to a floor of a body of water, the method comprising:
- locating a remotely operable drilling apparatus adjacent the floor of the body of water, wherein the remotely operable drilling apparatus is adapted to drive an anchor member comprising an annular pile having a substantially hollow shaft portion, an annular bit at a first end thereof and at least one anchor device at a second end thereof, the annular bit being arranged to drill an annulus into the floor into which the annular pile is to be driven and at least one said anchor device being adapted to restrict movement of a structure relative to the anchor member;
- operating the remotely operable drilling apparatus to drill said annular pile into the floor of the body of water by the annular bit cutting the annulus into the floor of the body of water such that at least one said anchor device projects above the floor of the body of water;
- and
- filling said annulus with grout in order to retain the annular pile in said annulus and resist removal of the annular pile from the floor of the body of water;
- and
- attaching the structure to at least one said anchor device of the anchor member.
A remotely operable drilling apparatus characterised by:
- a body arranged to be remotely located adjacent a floor of a body of water;
- an anchor member comprising an annular pile having a substantially hollow shaft portion, an annular bit at a first end of said shaft portion and integral with said shaft portion, and at least one anchor device at a second end of said shaft portion, the annular bit being arranged to drill an annulus into the floor into which the annular pile is to be drilled and at least one said anchor device being adapted to restrict movement of a structure relative to the anchor member;
- and
- at least one drive device arranged to drill said anchor member into the floor of the body of water.
An anchor member characterised by:
- an annular pile having a substantially hollow shaft portion, an annular bit at a first end of said shaft portion and integral with said shaft portion, and at least one anchor device at a second end thereof, the annular bit being arranged to drill an annulus into a floor into which the annular pile is to be drilled and at least one said anchor device being adapted to restrict movement of a structure relative to the anchor member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.