Method and apparatus for elevating a marine platform
OwnerJon Khachaturian, E. John Greevesinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of elevating the deck area of a marine platform (e.g., oil and gas well drilling or production platform) utilizes a specially configured sleeve support to support the platform legs so that they can be cut. Once cut, rams or jacks elevate the platform above the cuts. The sleeve support is then connected (e.g., welded) to the platform leg and becomes part of the structural support for the platform. In one embodiment, two sleeves are employed. In another embodiment, the jacks or rams elevate in two stages including a first stage wherein one sleeve elevates and the other sleeve does not elevate and a second stage wherein both sleeves elevate together.
Claims40
A method of elevating a marine platform that is supported by a plurality of hollow metallic leg sections that extend above and below a water line of a body of water, comprising the steps of;
- a) cutting one of the leg sections at a position next to the water line to provide a cut at a selected elevation;
- b) attaching a pair of sleeves to the leg section that was cut in step “a”, the sleeves including inner and outer telescoping sleeves;
- c) attaching a plurality of hydraulic rams to the leg sections, each ram having a hollowed cylinder and an extensible push rod and first and second end portions, the rams being attached to the leg section at the end portions, one end portion being attached to the leg section above the cut and the other end portion being attached to the leg section below the cut, and wherein each ram has a retracted and an extended position;
- d) repeating steps “a” through “b” for the other leg sections of the platform;
- e) elevating the platform by extending each ram to the extended position, wherein one sleeve travels away from the other sleeve.
A method of elevating a marine platform that is supported by a plurality of hollow metallic leg sections that extend above and below a water line of a body of water, comprising the steps of
- a) cutting one of the leg sections at a position next to the water line to provide a cut at a selected elevation;
- b) attaching a pair sleeves to the leg section that was cut in step “a” the sleeves being an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve;
- c) attaching a plurality of hydraulic rams to the leg sections, each ram having a hollowed cylinder and an extensible push rod and first and second end portions, the rams being attached to the leg section at the end portions, one end portion being attached to the leg section above the cut and the other end portion being attached to the leg section below the cut, and wherein each ram has a retracted and an extended position;
- d) repeating steps “a” through “b” for the other leg sections of the platform;
- e) elevating the platform by extending each ram to the extended position.
A method of elevating a marine platform that is supported by a plurality of hollow metallic leg sections that extend above and below a water line of a body of water, comprising the steps of;
- a) cutting one of the leg sections at a position next to the water line to provide a cut at a selected elevation;
- b) attaching a pair of sleeves to the leg section that was cut in step “a” the sleeves being in telescoping placement, one sleeve inside the other sleeve;
- c) attaching a plurality of rams to the leg sections, each ram having a hollowed cylinder and an extensible push rod and first and second end portions, the rams being attached to the leg section at the end portions, one end portion being attached to the leg section above the cut and the other end portion being attached to the leg section below the cut, and wherein each ram has a retracted and an extended position;
- d) repeating steps “a” through “b” for the other leg sections of the platform;
- e) elevating the platform by extending each ram to the extended position.
A method of elevating a marine platform that is supported by a plurality of hollow metallic leg sections that extend above and below a water line of a body of water, comprising the steps of;
- a) cutting one of the leg sections to provide a cut at a selected elevation;
- b) attaching a pair of sleeves to the leg section that was cut in step “a”, the sleeves including inner and outer telescoping sleeves;
- c) attaching a plurality of hydraulic rams to the leg sections, each ram having a hollowed cylinder and an extensible push rod and first and second end portions, the rams being attached to the leg section at the end portions, one end portion being attached to the leg section above the cut and the other end portion being attached to the leg section below the cut, and wherein each ram has a retracted and an extended position;
- d) repeating steps “a” through “b” for the other leg sections of the platform;
- e) elevating the platform by extending each ram to the extended position, wherein one sleeve travels away from the other sleeve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.