System and method for installing suction piles
AssigneeCameron International Corporation
InventorsJohannes van Wijk, Melvyn F. Whitby
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure generally relates to a system and method for installing a tubular element, such as a suction pile, in a bottom of a body of water. The system comprises a tubular element and a deintensifier in fluid communication with the tubular element. The deintensifier is configured to be exposed to an ambient pressure external to the tubular element and reduce pressure within the tubular element. The method comprises lowering the tubular element to the bottom of the body of water, filling the tubular element with water at ambient pressure, and exposing the water within the tubular element to a deintensified external ambient pressure so as to withdraw the water out of the tubular element.
Claims19
A system for installing a tubular element in a bottom of a body of water, comprising:
- the tubular element comprising a body which is open at an end;
- and
- a deintensifier comprising:
- an ambient chamber comprising an ambient piston positioned within the ambient chamber, the ambient chamber configured to receive ambient pressure from an external subsea environment;
- and
- a suction chamber comprising a suction piston positioned within the suction chamber with the suction piston connected to the ambient piston through a rod, the suction chamber configured to be in fluid communication with an internal volume of the tubular element.
A deintensifier for securing a tubular element in a bottom of a body of water, the deintensifier comprising:
- an ambient chamber configured to receive ambient pressure from an external subsea environment;
- a suction chamber configured to be in fluid communication with an internal volume of the tubular element;
- and
- a piston separating and hydraulically sealing the ambient chamber from the suction chamber;
- wherein the deintensifier is configured to be in fluid communication with the tubular element via a fluid communication line comprising a valve configured to regulate fluid flow between the deintensifier and the tubular element.
A method for securing a tubular element in a bottom of a body of water, comprising:
- lowering the tubular element to the bottom of the body of water;
- filling the tubular element with water at ambient pressure;
- and
- exposing the water within the tubular element to a deintensified external ambient pressure so as to withdraw the water out of the tubular element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.