Offshore platform joinder

[2. A method as recited in claim 1 in which the legs of said sections are connected together

• sealingly and welded together from the interior of said legs.] 3. A method as recited in claim [2] 1 in which said sections are bolted together from the exterior of said legs prior to welding said
• legs together. 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 by welding together the legs from the interior of said legs to sealingly connect them 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.

[9. A method as recited in claim 5 including driving piling through said

• legs to anchor said offshore jacket on water bottom.] 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. 11. A method as recited in claim 10 in which a welder enters said legs to the habitat of the joint to be welded and welds said legs together from the interior
• thereof. 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 submerged 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. 13. A method as recited in claim 12 in which said legs are welded together by a welder entering said legs and moving to the habitat where the legs are to be welded together and making
• such welds. 14. A method as recited in claim 12 including driving piling through said legs to anchor said offshore jacket on water bottom. 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 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.

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 each of said sections to a selected water location on at least one vessel;
• floating said sections into said 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 submerged 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.

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;
• guide means arranged on the ends 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;
• and
• man-sized access tubes extending from said surface legs and from said submerged legs to above the water's surface to permit a man to enter said legs through said access tubes.