Offshore platform

[4. A method as recited in claim 3 in which said welds made within the interior of said legs are accomplished by a welder entering the legs of said sections and moving to the habitat where the weld is to be made and making

• such weld.] 5. A method of unitizing an offshore jacket in deep water and for locating an offshore platform therein comprising:
• fabricating an offshore jacket having at least three legs and at least two sections, said jacket legs when connected together and located in said water extending from water bottom to above water level;
• launching said sections into said water such that each floats separately, each section having only sufficient buoyancy to maintain at least two legs at the water's surface;
• the remaining legs being submerged;
• aligning the legs of said floating sections and drawing said floating sections together, said surface legs on said sections being aligned prior to alignment of the submerged legs;
• securing said legs together;
• and
• sinking said connected sections by decreasing the buoyancy of said legs until said jacket is in an upright position resting on water bottom and extending above water level.

[10. A method of unitizing an offshore jacket in water which comprises:

• fabricating an offshore jacket having at least three legs and at least two sections;
• launching said sections into the water such that each is separately floating, each section having sufficient buoyancy to maintain at least one leg at or above the water's surface, the remaining leg or legs being submerged;
• aligning and drawing said floating sections together;
• sealingly connecting companion legs of said sections together from the exterior of said legs;
• pumping water from said connected legs;
• and
• welding the legs of said sections together from the interior of said legs including the submerged as well as the surface legs.]

[12. A method of unitizing an offshore jacket in deep water and for locating an offshore platform which comprises:

• fabricating an offshore jacket having at least three legs and at least two sections;
• floating each of said sections to a selected water location on at least one vessel;
• launching said sections into the water such that each is separately floating, each section having sufficient buoyancy to maintain at least one leg at or above the water's surface, the remaining leg or legs being submerged;
• aligning said sections and drawing said sections together;
• sealingly connecting companion legs of said sections together from the exterior of said legs;
• pumping water from said connected legs;
• welding the legs of said sections together from the interior of said legs including the sumberged as well as the surface legs;
• and
• sinking said connected sections by decreasing the buoyancy of said legs until said jacket is in an upright position resting on water bottom and extending to above water level.]

A method of unitizing an offshore jacket having at least three legs and at least two sections for forming an offshore platform in water comprising:

• floating said sections in said water, each section having sufficient buoyancy to maintain at least one leg at the water's surface, the remaining leg or legs being completely submerged, and the ends of companion legs of said sections containing engageable and latchable guide means;
• aligning and drawing said floating sections together until said guide means engage and latch;
• and then
• sealingly connecting said companion legs of said sections together.

A method of unitizing an offshore jacket having at least four legs and at least two sections for forming an offshore platform in water which comprises:

• floating each of said sections in said water, each section having sufficient buoyancy to maintain at least two legs at or above the water's surface, the remaining leg or legs being submerged, and the ends of companion legs of said sections containing engageable guide means for guiding and aligning said companion legs;
• drawing said floating sections together until said guide means engage, said surface guide means engaging prior to engagement of said subsurface guide means;
• and then
• sealingly connecting companion legs of said sections together.

Apparatus for forming an offshore platform in water comprising:

• a first floatable jacket section for said offshore platform having at least three hollow legs, said first section when floated in said water having sufficient positive buoyancy to maintain said first section in a horizontal position with at least two legs at or above the water's surface and the remaining leg or legs submerged;
• a second floatable jacket section for said offshore platform having at least three hollow legs, said second section when floated in said water having sufficient positive buoyancy to maintain said second section in the horizontal position with at least two legs at or above the water's surface and the remaining leg or legs submerged, the companion legs of said jacket sections being connectable in said water;
• and
• guide means arranged on the ends of the legs of said jacket sections capable of engaging to guide and align the companion legs of said sections when connecting said companion legs together, said guide means on said surface legs being longer than said guide means on said submerged legs and engaging to guide said surface legs into alignment prior to engagement of said guide means on said submerged legs when connecting said companion
• legs together.