EP1567724A2 - Method and apparatus for sub-sea pile-driving - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for sub-sea pile-drivingInfo
- Publication number
- EP1567724A2 EP1567724A2 EP03787211A EP03787211A EP1567724A2 EP 1567724 A2 EP1567724 A2 EP 1567724A2 EP 03787211 A EP03787211 A EP 03787211A EP 03787211 A EP03787211 A EP 03787211A EP 1567724 A2 EP1567724 A2 EP 1567724A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- pile
- hammer
- shoe tip
- percussive
- force
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 37
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 34
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 35
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 claims description 14
- 230000001050 lubricating effect Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000012528 membrane Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000013535 sea water Substances 0.000 description 16
- 239000010720 hydraulic oil Substances 0.000 description 9
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 8
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 8
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 7
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000013049 sediment Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000009527 percussion Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 3
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000003129 oil well Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000035515 penetration Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000002689 soil Substances 0.000 description 2
- -1 alkyl phenols Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 150000001408 amides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 150000001412 amines Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 235000019270 ammonium chloride Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 150000008064 anhydrides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000007596 consolidation process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000004985 diamines Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002360 explosive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000002191 fatty alcohols Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- CBYZIWCZNMOEAV-UHFFFAOYSA-N formaldehyde;naphthalene Chemical class O=C.C1=CC=CC2=CC=CC=C21 CBYZIWCZNMOEAV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000314 lubricant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229920002401 polyacrylamide Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 125000001453 quaternary ammonium group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 239000004576 sand Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 1
- 210000001226 toe joint Anatomy 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B4/00—Drives for drilling, used in the borehole
- E21B4/06—Down-hole impacting means, e.g. hammers
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
- E02D27/00—Foundations as substructures
- E02D27/32—Foundations for special purposes
- E02D27/52—Submerged foundations, i.e. submerged in open water
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
- E02D7/00—Methods or apparatus for placing sheet pile bulkheads, piles, mouldpipes, or other moulds
- E02D7/28—Placing of hollow pipes or mould pipes by means arranged inside the piles or pipes
- E02D7/30—Placing of hollow pipes or mould pipes by means arranged inside the piles or pipes by driving cores
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B4/00—Drives for drilling, used in the borehole
- E21B4/06—Down-hole impacting means, e.g. hammers
- E21B4/14—Fluid operated hammers
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B4/00—Drives for drilling, used in the borehole
- E21B4/20—Drives for drilling, used in the borehole combined with surface drive
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
- E21B7/20—Driving or forcing casings or pipes into boreholes, e.g. sinking; Simultaneously drilling and casing boreholes
Definitions
- This invention relates generally to underwater pile-driving, and, more particularly, to through rotary sub-sea pile-driving.
- Sub-sea sometimes called "subsurface” in the sense of being under the surface of the water, pile- driving may be used to drill into the sediment at the bottom of a variety of underwater environments.
- sub-sea pile-driving may be used to facilitate the installation of offshore production structures such as sub-sea platform skirt piles, sub-sea templates, drilling conductors, sub-sea manifolds, and the like.
- Sub-sea pile-driving may be performed in shallow water, typically less than 150 meters in depth, or in deep water.
- the pile-driving apparatus typically includes a hammer, which drives a guide shoe tip into the sediment.
- the hammer and guide shoe tip are typically suspended from a platform by a crane or some cables, or, alternatively, a drill string and an umbilical.
- the umbilical provides air, electricity, and hydraulic oil to the hammer, as well as retrieving the used hydraulic oil from the hammer.
- Examples of rigs used in sub-sea pile-driving include jack-up rigs, derrick barges, submersible rigs, semi-submersible rigs, drill ships, and the like. These types of rigs are sometimes referred to as mobile offshore drilling units ("MODUs").
- sub-sea pile-driving methods suffer from a number of disadvantages. For example, friction from the sediment beneath the mud line may reduce the penetration depth of the guide shoe tip.
- sub-sea pile-driving typically uses hydraulic oil, which may leak or spill into the undersea environment. Reels used to store and deploy the umbilical used to provide and retrieve the hydraulic oil may also consume valuable deck space on the platform.
- conventional pile-driving techniques may be limited to shallow water applications, at least in part because of the large hydraulic pressure that must be supplied to the hammer.
- the invention comprises, in its various aspects and embodiments, an method and apparatus for driving a pile.
- the pile-driving apparatus comprises a pile, a shoe tip coupled to a toe of the pile, and a drill string disposed within the pile.
- the drill string comprises a gripping device coupling the drill string to the pile and a hammer deployed into the pile such that the hammer is capable of transmitting a force to the shoe tip.
- the method comprises positioning a hammer in a pile such that the hammer is capable of transmitting a force to a shoe tip; positioning, in the pile, a portion of drill pipe having a gripping device to engage the pile; and deploying the pile beneath the surface of a body of water.
- Figure 1 conceptually illustrates, in an assembled, partially-sectioned, plan view of one embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention
- Figure 2 conceptually illustrates a portion of the deployment of the pile-driving apparatus of Figure 1 in one particular embodiment
- Figure 3 illustrates a shoe joint for the apparatus of Figure 1, including an optional membrane covering the end thereof;
- Figure 4 depicts a clamp for clamping an umbilical of the apparatus of Figure 1 to the drill string thereof;
- Figure 5 illustrates a first percussive hammer as may be used in the apparatus of Figure 1, the percussive hammer being a nitrogen cap hydraulic percussive hammer, with control umbilical;
- Figure 6 illustrates a second percussive hammer as may be used in alternative embodiments of the present invention, the percussive hammer being an automatic reciprocating hydraulic percussive hammer;
- Figure 7 illustrates a port collar;
- Figure 8 depicts a telescoping pipe joint as may be employed in the embodiment of Figure 1;
- Figure 9 depicts a filtration for a filter sub as may be used in some alternative embodiments of the present invention;
- Figure 10 depicts a gripping device that may be used to couple the drill pipe of the apparatus in Figure 1 to the pile thereof;
- Figure 11A - Figure 11D illustrates one particular embodiment of the pile-driving apparatus in Figure 1; and Figure 12A - Figure 12D illustrate a second particular embodiment of the pile-driving apparatus in
- Figure 1 alternative to the embodiment in Figure 11 A - Figure 1 ID.
- the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for single journey conveyance of a sub-sea pile-driving device from the surface of a body of water to the sea floor, and the subsequent concussive installation of sub-sea caissons, tubular piles, and/or surface sections of well casing using the sub-sea pile- driving device.
- the sub-sea pile-driving device may, in various embodiments, be used in either shallow water or deep water environments.
- the caissons or tubular piles may, in one embodiment, be used to attach various structures to the sea floor. Examples of the various structures include sub-sea platform skirt piles, sub-sea templates, drilling conductors, sub-sea manifolds, and the like.
- the well casing is generally used for providing a stable foundation for drilling oil wells at depths in excess of 600'.
- FIG. 1 conceptually illustrates, in an assembled, partially-sectioned plan view, one embodiment of a pile-driving apparatus 100 in accordance with the present invention.
- the pile-driving apparatus 100 comprises a pile 103, a shoe tip 106 coupled to a toe 109 of the pile 103, and a drill string 112 disposed within the pile
- the drill string 112 includes a gripping device 115 and a percussive hammer 118.
- the gripping device couples the drill string 112 to the pile 106.
- the percussive hammer 118 is deployed into the pile 106 such that the percussive hammer 118 is capable of transmitting a force to the shoe tip 106 directly or indirectly.
- Some embodiments are "toe-driven.”
- the shoe tip 106 is coupled to the pile 103 at the toe 109 thereof, such that the percussive hammer 118 delivers the force directly to the shoe tip 106 at the toe 109.
- Some embodiments are "top-driven.”
- the shoe tip 106 is coupled to the top 121 of the pile 103 such that the percussive hammer 118 delivers the force indirectly to the shoe tip 106 at the top 121.
- the embodiment in Figure 1 is toe- driven.
- FIG. 2 conceptually illustrates a portion of the deployment of the pile-driving apparatus 100 in one particular embodiment.
- the pile-driving apparatus 100 is deployed from a semi-submersible rig 200 after rig-up.
- the rig 200 may be any of a variety of MODUs, including, but are not limited to, jack-up rigs, semi-submersible rigs, and drill ships.
- the drill string also known as a drill pipe column
- the casing is suspended from the rig by the drill string and descends through the rotary table as additional stands of drill pipe are added.
- Suitable rigs may include, but are not limited to, jack-up rigs, semi-submersible rigs, and drill ships.
- the pile-driving apparatus 100 is suspended from the rig 200 by the drill string 112 and lowered to the sea floor 215.
- the operation of the percussive hammer 118 delivers the force, directly or indirectly, to the shoe tip 106. Because the shoe tip 106 is coupled to the pile 103, the force of the impact is transferred through the shoe tip 106 to the pile 103 to drive the pile 106 into the sea floor 215.
- the labels "toe" and "top” are defined relative to the orientation of the pile-driving apparatus 100 during deployment, as shown in Figure 2.
- the pile-driving apparatus 100 shown therein is but one embodiment and the invention admits variation in the implementation of the apparatus of the invention.
- the apparatus may be toe-driven or top-driven.
- Another such variation is the nature of the pile 103.
- the pile 103 comprises a surface casing installation or a deep water conductor.
- the term "casing" will hereinafter be understood to refer to either a surface casing installation or a deep water conductor.
- the casing includes a plurality of casing joints.
- the shoe tip 106 is deployed in the pile 103 and the percussive hammer 118 is deployed in the pile 103 such that the percussive hammer 118 is capable of transmitting a force to the shoe tip 106.
- the shoe tip 106 may be deployed in one casing joint.
- a vocationally designed, or implementation specific, shoe joint 300 shown in Figure 3, is provided in the casing to accept energy transfer, i.e., the aforementioned force, from the percussive hammer 118 and transmit the force to the guide shoe tip 106.
- the shoe joint 300 may include a membrane 303, also shown in Figure 3, to prevent ingress of material from the sea floor 215 during self-penetration.
- the shoe joint 300 may allow subsequent piles 103 to pass through by hammering or drilling while closing the pile 103.
- the percussive hammer 118 in the embodiment of Figure 1 is a hydraulic hammer.
- the percussive hammer 118 may receive hydraulic oil provided by an umbilical 127 to generate the force that is used to drive the shoe tip 106 into the sea floor 215, shown in Figure 2.
- the umbilical 127 may be coupled to the drill string 112 by quick attach and release clamps, such as the clamp 400 in Figure 4.
- the percussive hammer 118 may employ ambient water, or other fluids such as soapy water as described further below, to generate the force that is used to drive the shoe tip 106 into the sea floor 215.
- the percussive hammer 118 in this embodiment is generally controlled by signals transmitted via the umbilical 127.
- the percussive hammer 118 of Figure 1, shown in greater detail in Figure 5, is an accelerated fluid driven hammer controlled by signals conveyed by umbilical 127 from the surface.
- the hydraulic fluid is, in this particular embodiment, derived from the ambient seawater.
- the tip 503 of the percussive hammer 118 displaces soil and the pile 103 is pulled down by the engagement ring, thus following the percussive hammer 118 into the sea floor 215, shown in Figure 2, and through the formation in question.
- the percussive hammer 118 in one implementation of this particular embodiment, is an IHC S-90 hydraulic hammer, commercially available from BJ Services, Inc. at: Hareness Circle Altens, Aberdeen AB1 4YL United Kingdom Phone: 44-1224-249-678
- the percussive hammer 118 need not be hydraulic in all embodiments.
- the percussive hammer 118 may also be rotated from the rig 200, in Figure 2, by the drill string 112.
- the rotational percussive hammer may engage the pile 103 through a landing ring (not shown) in a shoe joint (also not shown) of the pile 103.
- the hole would be bailed by return of fluids (e.g., seawater derived) discharged thru the top 121 of the pile 103 to open ocean or via a port collar, such as the port collar 130, first shown in Figure 1 and best shown in Figure 7, to sea floor 215 that can be closed after drive is completed.
- fluids e.g., seawater derived
- the automatic reciprocating percussion hammer may be implemented using, for instance, the automatic
- Rotational percussive hammers used as drilling tools for pulling casing in by drilling with drill bits, as opposed to piling, may also be adapted to toe drive.
- the seawater is filtered by, for example, a filtration unit 900, shown in Figure 9, of a filter sub (not otherwise shown) assembled into the drill string 112.
- the seawater ingresses the filtration unit 900 from the top 903 thereof, is filtered by the filter screen 906 within the filter housing 909, and egresses through the bottom 912.
- the filtration unit 900 also includes a plug 915.
- Some embodiments may employ multiple filtration units 900.
- the position of the filtration unit(s) 900 within the drill string 112 will be implementation specific, but will generally be above the hammer 118.
- the seawater would also be filtered prior to entry into the drill string.
- pressurized ambient seawater is conveyed via the drill string 112 and provided to the percussive hammer 118.
- the umbilical 127 provides hydraulic oil to the percussive hammer 118.
- the umbilical may also retrieve the hydraulic oil.
- lubricating fluids may be provided to the percussive hammer 118 via the umbilical or, alternatively, via the drill string 112.
- the lubricating fluids may include, but are not limited to, soapy water, coco fatty ketaine, various ethoxylated compounds such as alkyl phenols, fatty alcohols, amines, amides, diamines, quaternary ammonium chlorides, as well as sulphonated naphthalene formaldehyde condensate, sulfonated styreiemaleic anhydrides, and various polyacrylamides.
- the lubricating fluids may be used to reduce friction between the formation and the pile/casing. Additional fluids that may be provided to the percussive hammer are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,748,665, U.S. Patent No. 5,020,598, U.S. Patent No. 5,016,711, and U.S. Patent No. 5,284,513, which are incorporated herein by reference.
- a diverter valve system may, in various embodiments, be used to direct the flow of the fluids.
- the diverter valve system may redirect hydraulic fluid, such as the ambient seawater, to the toe of the shoe joint.
- the diverter valve system may be used to direct the hydraulic fluid, such as the ambient seawater, back into the pile 103 for eventual return to the surface of the sea floor 215 or the surrounding body of water.
- Filter systems may also be included in the drill string for filtering the various fluids. For example, sea water may be filtered as it passes into and/or out of the drill string 112.
- any given embodiment may use one or more of the following fluid conveyance techniques: for deep-water applications it is considered feasible to utilize the drill pipe column to carry the fluid to the Percussion device in question; in certain instances it may practical to use coil tubing in either concentric or single tube configuration; filtration media can be introduced by virtue of filter subs at strategic and readily accessible points in the conveyance system; and for shallow water jack-up installations, any of the above or standard hydraulic hoses can be considered. Still other fluid conveyance techniques known to the art may be employed in alternative embodiments.
- adaptor sub and/or crossover components may also be included in the casing to merge individual items into the operational system.
- the assembly of drill strings frequently utilize adaptors, crossovers, etc. to line up connections and to provide interfaces between tools and pieces of pipe.
- the use of these types of components is implementation specific, as the design for any given drill string will be unique for the given goals and conditions.
- the drill string 112 of the present invention shown in Figure 1, employs these types of components in accordance with conventional practice.
- the surface casing installation may also include one or more telescopic drill pipe sections 124, shown in greater detail in Figure 8.
- the telescopic drill pipe sections 124 may be used to position the percussive hammer 118 within the pile 103.
- the telescopic drill pipe sections 124 are capable of being locked and unlocked.
- the telescopic drill pipe sections 124 may be locked and/or unlocked by rotating the drill string 112 coupled to the pile 103.
- the telescopic drill pipe sections 124 are not necessary for the practice of the present invention.
- a variety of hammer suspension systems such as slings and the like, may also be used to position the percussive hammer 118 within the pile 103.
- a drill pipe section having a gripping device 115 shown best in Figure 10, is also deployed in the pile 103.
- the gripping device 115 is set and/or unset by the rotation of the drill string 112.
- the gripping device 115 is substantially coupled to the pile 103 and holds the pile 103 substantially fixed with respect to the drill string 112.
- the term "substantially” is used to indicate that, in the practice of the present invention, the gripping device 115 may not hold the pile 103 perfectly fixed with respect to the drill string 112.
- the gripping device 115 may allow some movement of the pile 103 with respect to the drill string 112 during operation of the present invention.
- the amount of movement is a matter of design choice and not material to the present invention.
- the gripping device 115 will typically engage the hammer 118 to the pile 103 at the top of the pile 103, but this is not necessary to the practice of the invention.
- the gripping device 115 may engage the hammer 118 to the pile 103 at the bottom of the pile 103, but additional support devices, such as slings, etc. may be desirable to support the weight of the pile 103 and drill string 112.
- Figure I IA - Figure 11D and Figure 12A - Figure 12D illustrate a two particular, alternative embodiments of the embodiment of the pile-driving apparatus in Figure 1 alternative to the embodiment in Figure I IA - Figure 11D.
- Figure I IA illustrates a toe-drive embodiment 1100, with enlarged views of the sections 1103, 1106, and 1109 in Figure 11B - Figure 11D.
- Figure 12A illustrates a top-drive embodiment 1200, with enlarged views of the sections 1203, 1206 in Figure 12B and Figure 12C - Figure 12D, respectively.
- Figure 12C and Figure 12D are enlarged views of the section 1206, one a plan view and the other a partially sectioned view, respectively.
- Figure I IA - Figure 11D the section 1103, best shown in Figure 11B, contains the gripping device 1112, a part of the drill string 1115, disposed within the pile 1118, which is a casing string in this particular embodiment.
- the umbilical 1121 is also shown running through the interior 1124 of the pile 1118 and, in Figure 11C, to the hammer 1127.
- Figure 11B also shows a telescopic drill pipe section 1130 intermediate the gripping device 112 and the hammer 1127, and interfacing with the hammer 1127 through an interface sub 1133.
- the pile 1118 terminates in a shoe collar 1136 and the embodiment 1100 terminates in a ported shoe 1139 defining several ports 1142 (only one indicated) through which fluids (not shown) may pass as described elsewhere.
- the top-drive embodiment 1200 includes a sling 1205 fastened to the wings 1207 of a drill plate 1206, shown in Figure 12B, as part of the drill string 1209.
- the sling 1205 is also fastened to the pile 1212, which is also a casing string, to support the weight of the pile 1212, as is shown in Figure 12C - Figure 12D.
- the fasteners 1213 can be explosive bolts that are set off or can be released through the use of a remotely operated vehicle, not shown.
- the hammer 1218 may be coupled to the drill string 1209 in some other manner, for example, through an external gripper known as an "elevator" in combination with a sling.
- a telescopic drill pipe section 1215 is positioned intermediate the drill plate 1206 and the hammer 1218, as best shown in Figure 12B.
- the hammer 1218 receives power and control signals, etc. over the umbilical 1221.
- the hammer 1218 in top-drive embodiment 1200 interfaces with the pile 1212 through a chaser sub 1224 and an interface 1227.
- percussive hammer 118 is deployed into the pile 103.
- the rig-up process may also include positioning one or more transfer subs, filter subs, flexible hoses, diverter valve assemblies, and at least one joint of drill pipe.
- the pile-driving apparatus 100 is racked back into a derrick 218, shown in Figure 2.
- the pile is a casing string and the casing string is made up, in a manner well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, starting with the shoe joint and extending to the desired length.
- the pile 103 to be driven is then set in a rotary table/drill floor.
- a false rotary table (not shown) is positioned over the pile 103, having been set in the rotary table/drill floor (also not shown), to support the running of the percussive hammer 118 and any other desired components down inside of the pile 103.
- the percussive hammer 118 is positioned inside the pile 103.
- a first stand of drill pipe is added.
- the first stand of drill pipe may include a lockable telescoping section 124 of drill pipe 112. Additional stands of drill pipe may then be added.
- a further stand of drill pipe which includes an internal gripping device, is added.
- the internal gripping device may be set by, for example, rotating the drill string 112.
- the hammer 118 is landed on the shoe driving ring and half the stroke of the telescopic section 124 of drill pipe is compressed.
- the internal gripping device 115 is then engages and the pile 103, hammer 118, and drill string 112 is lifted as one assembly by the drill string 112.
- the pile-driving apparatus 100 is then tripped down to the sea floor 215, shown in Figure 2, by adding further stands of drill pipe.
- a grooved bowl and slips may be used as each stand of drill pipe is added.
- power slips may be used as each stand of drill pipe is added.
- the umbilical (not shown) is fed onto the drill string 112 and, in one embodiment, supported by the quick attach and release clamps 400, shown in Figure 4.
- the percussive hammer 118 uses a prime mover fluid to generate the force, which is transmitted to the guide shoe tip to excavate a hole.
- the prime mover fluid is hydraulic fluid provided by the umbilical.
- the hydraulic fluid may also be retrieved by the umbilical.
- pressurized ambient sea water may be used as the prime mover fluid in the percussive hammer 118.
- ambient sea water may be provided to the percussive hammer, which may use the sea water as the prime mover fluid when operating the percussive hammer in deep water.
- ambient sea water may be used as the prime mover fluid, the size of the umbilical may be reduced.
- rotation of the drill string 112 may be used as the prime mover in the percussive hammer 118.
- Material from the hole created by the pile-driving process is bailed by returning fluids, such as ambient sea water.
- the returning fluids are discharged through the top of the casing to the open ocean.
- the material is discharged through a port collar to the sea floor 215. If the pile tip encounters stiff resistance or sandy layers, fluid may be dispensed from the tip to reduce external skin friction.
- spent hydraulic fluid such as the ambient sea water, may be dispensed.
- other fluids such as the aforementioned lubricants, may be dispensed.
- the drill string Upon completion of driving, e.g. when the pile 103 has been driven to the desired depth, the drill string is rotated to unlock the internal gripping device 115. In one embodiment, the drill string 112 may also be rotated to relock the telescoping drill pipe sectionl24. The percussive hammer 118 is then withdrawn from the casing and tripped back to the rotary. Once in the rotary, the percussive hammer 118 is rigged-down. In one embodiment, rig-down is the reverse of rig-up. In some embodiments, the pile 103 may be driven in stages. A second pile 103 may, for instance, be run into the rotary and made up to a desired length.
- the second pile 103 may have a reduced diameter and may be internally driven or top-driven. If the second pile is top-driven, a sacrificial centralizing ring may, in one embodiment, be included to allow a sleeve to pass the top of a second stage pile and establish contact with an anvil face.
- this pile-driving apparatus 100 may be internally driven or top-driven. The equipment and procedure for internal driving follow closely the procedure for the first stage.
- the pile-driving apparatus 100 is set up with a sacrificial centralizing ring to allow the sleeve to pass over the top of the second stage pile and establish contact with the anvil face.
- the hammer is then activated and driving proceeds to desired depth.
- For internal drives the same procedure for first stage is followed. Choice of top drive versus internal "toe of pile" energy application is determined by the prevalent soil conditions on the location in question.
- the second stage is landed on the internal energy transfer ring in the toe joint of the previously driven section
- the hydraulic pressure supplied to the percussive hammer may be reduced such that the present invention may be used in deep water pile-driving applications; by driving casing through shallow water flow sand(s),the underbalanced condition found after cementing, which may initiate shallow water flow, may be reduced or prevented; friction from the sediment beneath the mud line may be reduced and the penetration depth of the guide shoe tip increased; in deep water pile-driving, the use of hydraulic oil may be reduced, or eliminated, which may reduce, or eliminate, the potential for hydraulic oil to leak or spill into the undersea environment; the size of the umbilical may be reduced, which may reduce the number of reels used to store and deploy the umbilical, which may also increase the amount of available deck space on the platform; cutting disposal from drilling may be negated for environmental and economic advantage; and • consolidation of the formation may lead to higher pile foundation capacity and seal flows of gas an fluid that may otherwise be initiated.
- the present invention is expected to enhance prime equipment utilization by reducing the time required to carry out installations of caissons or tubular piles into the sea floor 215.
- the invention may accelerate the program of batch conductor installations in deep water.
- the invention may also help overcome certain hostile environments found below the sea floor 215 in the early stages of the construction of oil wells in deep water conditions.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Paleontology (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Placing Or Removing Of Piles Or Sheet Piles, Or Accessories Thereof (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US43019502P | 2002-12-02 | 2002-12-02 | |
US430195P | 2002-12-02 | ||
US43780703P | 2003-01-03 | 2003-01-03 | |
US437807P | 2003-01-03 | ||
PCT/US2003/038022 WO2004051004A2 (en) | 2002-12-02 | 2003-12-01 | Method and apparatus for sub-sea pile-driving |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1567724A2 true EP1567724A2 (en) | 2005-08-31 |
Family
ID=32474555
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP03787211A Withdrawn EP1567724A2 (en) | 2002-12-02 | 2003-12-01 | Method and apparatus for sub-sea pile-driving |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20050006105A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1567724A2 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2003295996A1 (en) |
NO (1) | NO20052618L (en) |
WO (1) | WO2004051004A2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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SE528035C2 (en) * | 2004-03-12 | 2006-08-15 | Atlas Copco Constr Tools Ab | Hydraulic breaker with lubricated tool sleeve |
EP1719842A1 (en) * | 2005-05-03 | 2006-11-08 | IHC Holland IE B.V. | System and method for installing foundation elements |
GB0510670D0 (en) * | 2005-05-25 | 2005-06-29 | Bp Exploration Operating | Apparatus and method for driving casing or conductor pipe |
CN101581197B (en) * | 2009-06-24 | 2012-05-09 | 中国海洋石油总公司 | Design method for optimization of matching between pile hammer and riser pipe |
EP2325397B1 (en) | 2009-11-24 | 2012-08-15 | IHC Holland IE B.V. | System for and method of installing foundation elements in a subsea ground formation |
US9500045B2 (en) | 2012-10-31 | 2016-11-22 | Canrig Drilling Technology Ltd. | Reciprocating and rotating section and methods in a drilling system |
US10627026B2 (en) | 2015-12-10 | 2020-04-21 | 3SC Global, LLC | Fittings, components, and associated tools |
CN105586961A (en) * | 2016-03-13 | 2016-05-18 | 陈兆英 | Triangular pile and cross-shaped pile locking and buckling equipment |
US10641051B1 (en) * | 2016-09-07 | 2020-05-05 | Dandelion Energy, Inc. | Systems and methods for coupling and decoupling drill heads for ground loop preparation for geothermal applications |
USD846980S1 (en) | 2016-12-08 | 2019-04-30 | 3SC Global, LLC | Union nut |
USD817751S1 (en) | 2016-12-08 | 2018-05-15 | 3SC Global, LLC | Union nut |
CN111520098A (en) * | 2020-04-24 | 2020-08-11 | 中海石油(中国)有限公司 | Wellhead connector for underwater wellhead and conduit hammering-in method installation |
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US1908217A (en) * | 1928-10-03 | 1933-05-09 | Blumenthal Maurice | Steel pile shell |
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-
2003
- 2003-12-01 EP EP03787211A patent/EP1567724A2/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2003-12-01 AU AU2003295996A patent/AU2003295996A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2003-12-01 US US10/496,631 patent/US20050006105A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2003-12-01 WO PCT/US2003/038022 patent/WO2004051004A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
2005
- 2005-05-31 NO NO20052618A patent/NO20052618L/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO2004051004A2 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
NO20052618D0 (en) | 2005-05-31 |
US20050006105A1 (en) | 2005-01-13 |
WO2004051004A2 (en) | 2004-06-17 |
AU2003295996A8 (en) | 2004-06-23 |
NO20052618L (en) | 2005-07-27 |
AU2003295996A1 (en) | 2004-06-23 |
WO2004051004A3 (en) | 2004-08-19 |
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