WO2004045946A1 - Large-dimensioned barge comprising chamber-forming cavities in the hull - Google Patents

Large-dimensioned barge comprising chamber-forming cavities in the hull Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2004045946A1
WO2004045946A1 PCT/FR2003/003381 FR0303381W WO2004045946A1 WO 2004045946 A1 WO2004045946 A1 WO 2004045946A1 FR 0303381 W FR0303381 W FR 0303381W WO 2004045946 A1 WO2004045946 A1 WO 2004045946A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
hull
caves
walls
barge
shell
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/FR2003/003381
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Cyril Cordeau
Sophie Reignier
Original Assignee
Saipem S.A.
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Saipem S.A. filed Critical Saipem S.A.
Priority to AU2003290202A priority Critical patent/AU2003290202A1/en
Publication of WO2004045946A1 publication Critical patent/WO2004045946A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B39/00—Equipment to decrease pitch, roll, or like unwanted vessel movements; Apparatus for indicating vessel attitude
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B1/00—Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils
    • B63B1/02—Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils deriving lift mainly from water displacement
    • B63B1/04—Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils deriving lift mainly from water displacement with single hull
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B63B35/44—Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
    • B63B35/4413—Floating drilling platforms, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to the field of offshore oil production from a floating support of the barge type installed on the surface, more particularly the present invention relates to a large barge having cavities forming caverns in the hull.
  • the term “large dimension” is understood here to mean that the smallest side is at least 30 meters.
  • the present invention relates to a very long barge comprising an essentially parallelepiped hull of at least 100 m in length and width less than 50% of its length ensuring its buoyancy and a bridge capable of supporting equipment, said hull having in particular a hollow of a height less than 30%, preferably 10% of its length.
  • the barges used in petroleum exploitation are very large and represent considerable masses of inertia since they can reach and exceed 500,000 DWT (Tons Deadweight). They are generally elongated and measure up to 350 m in length 60 to 80 m in width and have a hollow of 35 to 45 m (the hollow represents the height of the structure or distance between the deck and the bottom of the hull) .
  • floating supports of this type generally comprise anchoring means to remain in position despite the effects of currents, winds and swell. They also generally include means for storing and processing petroleum as well as means for unloading towards tanker-removers. The latter appear at regular intervals to carry out the removal of production.
  • the name of these floating barge type supports is the English term “Floating Production Storage Offloading” (meaning “floating means storage, production and unloading ”) hereinafter abbreviated as” FPSO ".
  • the well heads are often distributed over the entire field and the production pipes, as well as the water injection lines and the control cables, are laid on the sea floor in the direction of a fixed location , vertically from which the floating support is positioned on the surface.
  • Some wells are located vertical to the floating support and the interior of the well is then accessible directly from the surface.
  • the well head fitted with its "Christmas tree” can be installed on the surface, on board the floating support.
  • We then speak of a dry wellhead and we can add the drilling function (Drilling) and the "FPSO” becomes "FDPSO", or DTU (Dry Tree Unit unit with dry wellheads).
  • the risers rise to the surface in a central cavity of the floating support called the drilling bay or "wellbay” or even “moon pool”.
  • the cavity crosses the hull vertically right through and over a height of about thirty meters, with a draft of about twenty meters; it is generally installed at the floating support axis, equidistant from its ends, because it is the zone where the amplitudes of movements and accelerations is the lowest when the ship is subjected to the phenomena of roll, pitch and lace.
  • buoyancy elements of the "can" type installed at various levels on the risers connecting the surface to the ultra deep seabed (1000-3000 m).
  • the float and the pipe are subjected to the effects of the swell, of the current, but being connected to the FPSO on the surface, are also indirectly subjected to the effects of the wind. This results in significant lateral and vertical movements, up to several meters, of the riser-float-barge assembly, especially in the area prone to swell.
  • risers are spaced from each other by several meters and also by several meters from the walls of the "wellbay” (hereinafter bay of drilling), which leads, for a version integrating 20 risers, to "wellbays which can reach 80 m in length and 20 m in width.
  • the barges of the FDPSO type of essentially parallelepiped shape measure up to 350 m in length, 65 m wide and have a height at the planking which can exceed 35 m.
  • Such barges have a deadweight tonnage can exceed 500,000 DWT (Tons, Deadweight) and are not very sensitive to variations in loads.
  • Barges of this type can therefore be installed without difficulty in seas where extreme swells are oriented in a preferred direction, as is the case in the Gulf of Guinea, because they are then anchored in such a way that their longitudinal axis coincides substantially with the axis of said extreme swells.
  • the swells are multidirectional, we prefer to use floating supports of the SPAR type or TLP, as support for dry wellheads or FPSOs on a reel or even semi-submersible platforms, all of these solutions being much better suited to these environmental conditions that are encountered mainly off the coast of Brazil, in the Gulf of Mexico, in the North Sea or in the Far East.
  • SPARs are long vertical floating cigars held in position by catenary anchors
  • TLPs Tunnel Leg Platform
  • Semi-submersible platforms are used in drilling operations and certain production operations over short or long periods. These semi-submersible platforms exhibit greater stability, since the major part of the buoyancy is located well below the surface of the water, piers or structural elements of reduced sections connecting said buoyancy elements to the supporting structure constituting the main bridge on which most of the drilling or production equipment is installed, which can represent several thousand tonnes.
  • semi-submersible platforms, such as SPARs and TLPs are very sensitive to the overhead load, since any overweight at deck level must be compensated by buoyancy and must therefore be provided during the construction of the support. floating.
  • the barge type floating supports which have a considerably larger horizontal wet section are not very sensitive to head load variations which can easily be 5 to 10 times greater, and even more, than those which these SPARs, TLPs can accept. and semi-submersible platforms.
  • Patent NL 7 907 448 which describes a floating support of the barge type provided with transverse tunnels intended to reduce the effects of transverse swells.
  • tunnels correspond to a transverse cavity crossing the hull from one edge to the other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the hull, the tunnel being located at least partially in the submerged part of the hull.
  • the behavior of the barge in some types of swell is improved by the integration in the hull of these horizontal penetrations called tunnels.
  • tunnels which allow the penetration of water only in the transverse direction of the hull, do not provide sufficient stabilization in a multidirectional swell but only in a swell transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shell.
  • the problem posed according to the present invention is to produce a floating structure of the barge type, of large dimensions, capable of receiving considerable equipment, for example drilling, oil or gas processing, storage of said products and exhibiting good behavior.
  • the present invention provides a large barge comprising a hull ensuring its buoyancy, preferably at least 100 m in length and more preferably less than 50% of its width, and an upper deck. , capable of supporting equipment, characterized in that said hull comprises at least one pair of communicating caves, each of said caves being formed by a recess in one of the peripheral walls of said hull over part of the length (XX ') or of the width (YY ') of said hull and over part of the height (ZZ') of said hull, said recess being located at least partially in the submerged part of said hull, said cave comprising cave side walls and a cave bottom wall connected to said peripheral wall of said shell by at least one cave floor and one cave ceiling, which floor and ceiling provide the junction between said side cavern walls, and said bottom walls of each of the two caverns occupy only part of the bottom of the cavern between said side walls of the cavern, so that seawater can pass through said hull from one cavern
  • the caves according to the invention are delimited by the walls of caves, namely that the opening of a cave, on the outside of the barge, corresponds to the space between the two lateral walls of caves and the two floor walls and cave ceiling walls, said walls being solid walls.
  • said bottom wall of the cavern delimits an area of the shell in which the latter has a reduced horizontal section corresponding to a narrowing of the width of said shell when the recess is produced in one of the lateral peripheral walls extending in the longitudinal direction of the hull or corresponding to a narrowing of the length of said hull when the cavity is produced in one of the peripheral front or rear end walls of said hull extending in a transverse direction corresponding to the width of said hull shell hereinafter called "transverse peripheral wall”.
  • peripheral walls of said hull are the substantially vertical external walls of said hull which provide the junction between said upper deck of the hull and said bottom of the barge.
  • the behavior of the barge according to the invention in a multidirectional swell is considerably improved by the integration into the hull of these horizontal penetrations in the shape of a cavern.
  • the barge movements are considerably reduced and the barge can be operated without major risks during the entire life of the field which, in some cases, can reach and exceed 20 years.
  • a barge in a preferred embodiment, it comprises at least one pair of caverns, each of the two caverns being arranged on a peripheral wall different from said hull, preferably two opposite walls of said hull, preferably still willing symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal axial plane (XZ) or transverse axial plane (YZ) of said shell.
  • XZ longitudinal axial plane
  • YZ transverse axial plane
  • the barge according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that it comprises at least one pair of communicating caves, the said bottom walls of each of the two caves occupy at least 25%, preferably at plus 95%, of the distance between said cave side walls to said cave bottom.
  • this preferred embodiment of the invention makes it possible to produce a cavity crossing said shell from one edge to the other, preferably in a direction perpendicular (YY) 'to the longitudinal direction of said shell (XX') when the two caves are made in the two said opposite longitudinal lateral peripheral walls.
  • the barge fitted with these caverns has a radically improved pitching, heaving and rolling behavior compared to a conventional barge or a barge comprising a tunnel.
  • the ratio between the depth of the cavern and the maximum width of the barge has an influence on said natural period as well as on the amplitude of the movement during said period. It thus appears that, when the depth of the cavern decreases (the width of the hull at the level of the caverns increases), the natural period of the floating structure increases, which is favorable but, on the other hand, the amplitude of the movements of water in the caves also increases, which goes against the desired goal.
  • the depth of said caverns is such that the width of said hull, at the level of said caverns, is at least 25%, preferably at most 50%, relative to the width of the hull defined by the distance between the opposite peripheral walls of said shell, adjacent to said caves.
  • a barge according to the invention comprises at least one pair of side caverns produced in said opposite longitudinal lateral peripheral walls of said shell, preferably, said caverns being arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axial plane (XZ) of said shell, said caverns of said pair of caverns being in communication according to the invention.
  • bottom walls occupying only part of the bottom of said cave, the dimensions of said bottom walls in said longitudinal direction corresponding to at least 75% of the distance between said side walls of the cave, and
  • the width of said hull delimited by the distance between said bottom walls of the two lateral caverns being at least 25%, preferably at most 50%, relative to the width of the hull defined by the distance between the peripheral walls opposite of said hull adjacent to said caves, and
  • each side cavity being spaced by a distance of at least 20%, preferably from 20 to 30%, of the dimension of said shell in said longitudinal direction (XX '), and
  • each said lateral cavity defined by the height between the edges of said floor and ceiling at the level of said lateral peripheral walls being at least 25%, preferably at least 50%, more preferably still from 50 to 75%, the height of the hull between said upper deck and the bottom of the submerged hull.
  • a barge according to the invention comprises a vertical central cavity, preferably corresponding to a bay of drilling, and two pairs of lateral caves, said caves having at the bottom a free space allowing the communication between the two said caves, said free space being constituted between a lateral edge of said cavity bottom wall and the internal edge of a said side wall of cavern, the other edge of said bottom wall of cavern being constituted by a peripheral wall of said central cavity, the two said pairs of side caverns being arranged on either side of said vertical central cavity in said direction longitudinal (XX '), preferably symmetrically with respect to the vertical axial planes (YZ), (XZ) of said shell.
  • XX ' longitudinal
  • YZ vertical axial planes
  • a barge according to the invention comprises a vertical central cavity of the drilling bay type and a pair of front and rear end cavities preferably arranged symmetrically with respect to said vertical axial planes (YZ), (XZ) of said shell, each front or rear end cavern being each in communication with two caverns of one of the two pairs of lateral cavities arranged on the same side of said central cavity, the bottom wall of each of said front or rear caverns being constituted by a transverse wall connecting the bottom walls of each of said two side caves of the same pair of side caves, and the side walls of each of said front and rear caves being spaced 50 to 80% of the maximum width apart from the shell to said front and rear ends.
  • a barge according to the invention then comprises four corner pillars ensuring the junction between the bottom of the hull and said upper deck of the barge, and forming said side walls of said caves, one of the side walls of each of said caves d front or rear end being formed by one face of said pillars, and one of the side walls of each of said side caverns being formed by another face of said pillars, the other said side wall of each said longitudinal side cavern being constituted by a peripheral wall of said vertical central cavity.
  • the width of said front or rear end cavities is delimited by the internal faces dedicated corner pillars of the barge spaced by a distance in said transverse direction (YY) 'preferably representing 50% to 75% of the maximum width of the barge delimited by the external faces of the two corresponding pillars.
  • seawater can pass through said hull in a said transverse direction (YY) 'by bypassing said bottom walls of caves which form an axial obstacle wall in the form of a baffle inside said shell.
  • This embodiment also allows water to pass through the transverse front and rear end walls of the hull, the seawater being able to flow between the openings of said lateral caverns in said lateral peripheral walls of said hull. and the openings of said front and, respectively, rear end caves.
  • said caves have the same height representing at least 50%, preferably from 50 to 75%, of the height of the hull, preferably located closer to said upper deck than to said bottom of the hull and preferably having at minus 50%, more preferably 50 to 75%, of the height situated below the water line of said hull, said hull having a hollow of a height less than 30%, preferably 15%, of its length.
  • the present invention relates in particular to a large barge having on its deck, for example treatment equipment, drilling equipment and wellheads on the surface, located within a moon pool, the assembly corresponding to a overall load which can reach and exceed 50,000 tonnes, or even 100,000 tonnes.
  • a barge according to the invention comprises at least one tunnel formed by a transverse transverse cavity said shell from one peripheral wall side to side in a transverse direction perpendicular (YY ') to said longitudinal direction (XX') of the shell, the tunnel being located at least partially in the submerged part of said shell.
  • a barge according to the invention comprises at least a first partially submerged cave and at least a second cave or a completely submerged tunnel, said first cave being disposed superimposed on said second cave or said tunnel, and the total height of said caverns and said tunnel possibly superimposed represents a height of at least 50%, preferably from 50 to 75%, of the height of the hull.
  • all the caves are located at the same height, in particular all are partially submerged.
  • said cavity and where appropriate said tunnel, is of essentially parallelepiped shape, the floors and ceilings being arranged horizontally and the side walls (3 2 ) and bottom walls (3,) being arranged vertically.
  • the floor or the ceiling of said cave incorporates steps, oblique planes or a combination of the two, playing the role of energy absorber and damper.
  • said cavity or where appropriate said tunnel, comprises internal or external structures constituting shock absorbers to reduce the movements of the floating support by creating turbulence in the movement of water at l inside said cave or said tunnel.
  • the shock absorbers can be constituted by at least one vertical, horizontal or inclined wall, preferably perforated, arranged on or near the floor or under the ceiling of said cavern or, where appropriate, of said tunnel. More particularly still, said ceiling or, preferably, said floor of said caves comprises oblique or vertical planes forming steps.
  • the floor of said cavity, or where appropriate said tunnel is perforated by second cavities, preferably vertical, passing through the lower part of the structure of the hull situated below said cave floors to the bottom of the hull, said second cavities also playing the role of shock absorber.
  • said hull comprises extensions of external structures over the entire length of the hull, playing the role of anti-roll keels, preferably located along said floors of the caves and along the lower ends of the side plating of the hull.
  • said cave, or said tunnel can advantageously comprise at least one horizontal wall fixed to the ceiling of said cave, or said tunnel, and extending, preferably outside the hull by sides inclined upwards.
  • the hull may include at least a first partially submerged cavern and at least a second cavern or a completely submerged tunnel, the first cavern and the second cavern or the tunnel being superimposed.
  • the height of the cavern or the total height of the superposed caves and tunnels represents a height of at least 50%, preferably from 50 to 75% of the height of the hull.
  • At least 50% of the height of said caverns preferably 50 to 75%, is located below the water line of said barge.
  • said cave or where appropriate said tunnel, comprises reinforcing structures consisting of beams or vertical walls disposed between the floor and the ceiling of said cave or said tunnel.
  • the present invention applies more particularly to a barge comprising a hull structure of concrete, steel, combination of concrete and steel or any other composite material and receiving equipment for drilling, production, processing and storage of petroleum 4, the length of the hull 1 being greater than 150 m, preferably greater than 300 m, its width being greater than 30 m, preferably greater than 50 m and its height being greater than 20 m, preferably greater than 30 m.
  • Figures 1, 2 and 3 are simplified views of a barge according to the invention, respectively in side view ( Figure 1), in section along a plane corresponding to the water level ( Figure 2) and in perspective ( figure 3),
  • FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a barge, the wet part being shown in solid lines, the part out of water in dotted lines,
  • FIG. 5 is an axial cross section of the barge along a plane (Y 1 , ZZ ′) at the level of the drilling bay,
  • FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are cross sections of the barge along a plane (Y ′, ZZ ′) according respectively to the sections AA, BB and CC of FIG. 2,
  • FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are cross sections of the barge at level AA in FIG. 2 detailing additional energy absorption devices,
  • Figure 12 is a section of a barge at sea level detailing additional energy absorption devices.
  • Figures 13 and 14 are respectively side and cross-sectional views of a barge along AA of Figure 13 showing caves in the area of the sea surface associated with tunnels crossing the hull right through.
  • Figure 15 represents a graph studying the influence of the depth of the caves.
  • Figure 16 shows in section from above, a substantially square barge according to the invention.
  • Figures 1 to 4 represent a concrete or steel structure of a barge hull 1 of generally essentially parallelepiped shape.
  • the hull 1 supports equipment 6 for drilling, production, processing and storage of petroleum, shown in FIGS. 5 to 10.
  • the shell 1 is traversed over its entire height in its central part by a vertical cavity 4 constituting a drilling bay intended to receive, in particular bottom-surface connection pipes called “risers”.
  • the central cavity 4 is essentially rectangular in shape, its length being disposed along the longitudinal direction of the shell XX 'and its width in the transverse direction YY' of the shell, said central cavity 4 preferably being centered relative to the 'longitudinal axis XX' of the hull.
  • the barge as shown in Figures 1 to 14, includes:
  • Peripheral walls 1, at 1 4 ensuring the junction between the upper deck 1 6 and the lower part 1 7 of the barge, namely two lateral peripheral walls 1, and ⁇ _ in the longitudinal direction XX 'and two transverse walls d front end 1, and rear end 1 4 .
  • the peripheral wall of the drilling bay 4 is framed in the longitudinal direction by axial walls 4 2 which are attached to it. These axial walls 4 2 correspond to a decrease in the width of the hull.
  • the junction between the upper part 1 6 and the lower part 1 7 -1 5 of the barge is consolidated by four corner pillars 5, which reinforce the junction also produced by the central peripheral wall of the drilling bay 4- and said axial walls 4 2 .
  • the axial walls 4 2 on either side of the wellbore 4 in the longitudinal direction XX ', do not extend in the said longitudinal direction XX' up to the level of the pillars 5 so as to form a free space 3 3 between the end walls 3, of said axial walls 4 2 and the pillars 3 2 .
  • This free space 3 3 allows the passage of sea water passing through the hull 1 transversely, but also in a longitudinal or inclined direction through the front end caves 2 3 and rear 2 4 described below.
  • the four corner pillars 5 and the external faces 3 2 of said peripheral walls 4, of the drilling bay 4 as well as said axial walls 4 2 form cavities 2 X to 2 4 as detailed below,
  • the barge according to the invention comprises two pairs of lateral caverns
  • the two pairs of lateral caves 2 X , 2_ are made up of: - side walls 3 2 of the cave which extend in a transverse direction YY 'perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal peripheral walls, respectively 1, and 1 2 , of the shell 1, one of the side walls of the cave 3 2 being formed by the external face of the peripheral wall 4, of the drilling bay 4 on either side of the drilling bay, and the other side wall 3 2 of said cavities 2 ,, 2 2 being formed by one of the internal faces of said corner pillars 5.
  • the bottom walls 3, of said lateral cavities 2, and 2 2 are formed by the opposite faces in the longitudinal direction of said axial walls 4 2 .
  • said bottom walls 3 do not entirely occupy the bottom of the side caverns 2, and 2 2 .
  • the side walls 3 2 of the front 2 3 and rear 2 4 end caverns are formed by the internal faces facing each other extending in said longitudinal direction XX ′ of the corner pillars 5.
  • the bottom walls 3, of said front 2 3 and rear 2 4 end caves are formed by the transverse end walls of the axial walls 4 2 .
  • the axial walls 4 2 which extend in said 'longitudinal direction XX' parallel to said lateral peripheral walls 1, and 1 2 , end, in fact, at the front and at the rear by perpendicular transverse walls, the width in said transverse direction is less than the distance between said internal facing faces 3 2 of two corner pillars 5 arranged symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal axial plane XZ of said shell.
  • baffle allowing the sea water to cross the hull transversely from a lateral peripheral wall 1, up to the opposite wall 1 2 but bypassing said axial walls 4 2 .
  • This form of baffle considerably improves the energy absorption of the swell for certain frequencies and certain incidences of said swell.
  • each of said front 2 and rear 2 end caverns 4 communicates with each of said lateral cavities 2, and 2 2 of said pair of cavities arranged on the same side of the wellbore relative to an axial plane YZ of said shell of said front end cavity 2 3 or rear 2 4 .
  • This multidirectional circulation of water which can pass through the hull between a front end wall 1 3 or rear 1 4 and one of the lateral peripheral walls 1, or 1 2 of the hull, also contributes to reducing the energy of the swell by dissipation of energy resulting from the multidirectional circulation of seawater through the hull.
  • Said bottom walls 3 1 of said lateral cavities 2 ,, 2 2 correspond to reduced widths of the shell 1 which extend from the wellbore 4, more precisely from the external face 3 2 of the peripheral wall 4, of the drilling bay 4, towards the end walls 1 3 and 1 4 of the hull and advantageously stop before said front ends 1 3 and rear 1 4 of the barge.
  • the bottom walls 3. extending in the transverse direction YY 'of said front end cavities 2, and rear 2 4 correspond to a reduced length of the hull.
  • These reduced width and length of the hull create a reduced horizontal section of the hull at the level of said caverns 2 to 2 4 .
  • the mechanical stiffness of the hull is provided at the corners by said pillars of large section located at the four corners and connecting the deck 1 6 constituting the upper part of the hull to the lower part 1 5 , 1 7 of the hull.
  • the dimensions of the barge and its various caves are as follows:
  • the corner pillars 5 have faces corresponding to the side walls 3 2 of the front end cavities 2, and rear 2 4 on the one hand, and, on the other hand, of the front ends and rear of said longitudinal lateral peripheral walls 1, and 1 2 of the hull 1 of 20 m.
  • the distance between the faces of the corner pillar 5 extending in the transverse direction YY 'and the bottom walls 3, extending in the same transverse direction YY' of said caverns end front 2 and rear 2 4 (corresponding at the end walls of the axial walls 4 2 ) is 10 m.
  • the length of the axial walls 4 2 and therefore of the bottom walls 31 of said side caves 2,, 2 2 is 70 m.
  • the portions of longitudinal lateral peripheral walls 1, 1 2 corresponding to the lateral plating of said drilling bay separating two lateral caves, respectively 2, and 2 2 , in said longitudinal direction XX ', are 100 m.
  • the length of said drilling bay 4 in the longitudinal direction XX ' is 80 m.
  • the drilling bay 4 is 22.5 m.
  • the other side wall 3 2 of side caves 2 ,, 2 2 which is not directly connected to the bottom wall 3, of said side caves 2, and 2 2 and which corresponds to one of the faces of said pillars of angle 5, extending in said transverse direction YY ', has a dimension in this said transverse direction of 10 m, so that the distance in said transverse direction YY' between the bottom walls 3, of said lateral cavities 2, and 2 2 and the interior border of said side wall 3 2 defining a free passage area 3 3 between said side wall 3 2 of side caves 2. and 2 2 and said bottom wall 3 of said side caves 2 X and 2 2 , is 12.5 m.
  • the distance in said transverse direction YY 'between the internal faces of two corner pillars exposed symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal axial plane XZ, said faces corresponding to two side walls 3 2 of said front end cavities 2 3 and rear 2 4 is 40 m.
  • Said barge therefore corresponds to a maximum length of 300 m and a maximum width of 60 m.
  • the junction between the side walls 3 2 of said caves 2, to 2 4 is produced by ceilings 3 4 and floors 3 5 .
  • the ceilings 3 4 provide the junction between the upper edges of said bottom walls 3, and said side walls 3 2 .
  • Said floors 3 5 provide the junction between the lower edges of said bottom walls 3, and said side walls 3 2 of said cavities 2, to 2 4 .
  • the caves 2, at 2 4 are preferably offset on the height: the lower part 1 7 of the structure of the hull located under the caves 2, at 2 4 represents a greater height than that of the high part 1 6 of the structure located above the caverns, in particular the height of said lower part 1 7 may correspond to a height twice that of said upper part 1 6 .
  • the caves 2 to 2 4 are located so that the water line 7 of the barge corresponds substantially to the mid-height of the caves.
  • the heights of said caves 2, 24 in the vertical direction ZZ 'in the illustrative embodiment given above are 24 m.
  • the natural period of the vertical movement passes into a loading configuration corresponding to a tonnage in progress (TPL) of 275,000 T, a value close to 13 seconds in the absence of caves 2, at 2 4 , to a value close to 23 seconds when said shell 1 includes said caves 2, at 2 4 .
  • Multidirectional swells commonly encountered have a period, generally, of less than 16 seconds, reaching exceptionally 20 seconds.
  • R resonance phenomena
  • the behavior of the barge provided with the caves 2, 2 to 4 described above has a radically improved behavior in pitching, rolling and heaving compared to a conventional barge.
  • the ratio between the depth of the lateral caverns 2, and 2 2 and the maximum width of the barge 1 has an influence on the natural period of the floating support in heaving, as well as on the amplitude of the movements of water in the caves at said period.
  • this graph specifies the advantageous width of the axial wall 4 2 which will be approximately 15m, which corresponds to caves of 22.5m, and this results in an amplification factor K of approximately 5.
  • the depth of the cavern is zero, which corresponds to a conventional barge according to the prior art and the resonance period is substantially 13sec.
  • the overall stability is improved by reducing the amplification factor K, which would correspond substantially to a downward shift, of the curve of FIG. 15, relating to said factor K.
  • FIGS. 9 and 10 describe various shock absorbers 10, to 10 15 which have the function of reducing the movements of the barge by locally creating turbulence the objective of which is, respectively or in combination, to create damping viscous or added mass, or to organize a chaos which prevents the appearance of clean mode resonances, thus destroying the parasitic modes which would not fail to occur in the absence of such devices.
  • shock absorbers 10, to 10 15 which have the function of reducing the movements of the barge by locally creating turbulence the objective of which is, respectively or in combination, to create damping viscous or added mass, or to organize a chaos which prevents the appearance of clean mode resonances, thus destroying the parasitic modes which would not fail to occur in the absence of such devices.
  • horizontal steel or concrete sails 10 and 10 2 are shown , fixed on respectively, the ceiling 3 4 of the caves and the floor 3 5 of the caves 2, at 2 4 .
  • These horizontal webs 10, and 10 2 are advantageously perforated 10 3 .
  • the horizontal web 10 2 constitutes a second floor, pierced with holes 10 3 , with regular or preferably irregular contours, distributed evenly or not.
  • 11 is made integral with the structure of the barge by the supports 1 1.
  • Said second floor then locally creates an oscillating wall of water.
  • the oscillating water walls produced in coastal applications are generally supported by piles driven into the ground, which makes the device fixed.
  • the device according to the invention is fixed relative to the structure of the barge, the latter being free from any movement relative to the swell.
  • the upper veil 10 constitutes a screen having holes 10 3 and secured, by means of the supports 1 1, to the underside of the emerged part of the structure.
  • Said screen plays an identical role to the Jarlan wall, and absorbs part of the energy of an extreme swell, the top of the wave of which would come into direct contact with the part of the structure that emerged, either at the level of the planking or at the level of the underside of the upper part of the structure.
  • the upper veil 10 advantageously projects beyond the hull by extensions in the form of sides inclined upwards 10 4 .
  • the caverns 2 are shown in a parallelepiped shape and substantially horizontal, but, as shown in FIG. 9 on the right, they advantageously have a staircase shape 10, 5 associated with oblique cut sections, thus having a maximum height opening at level of the plating of the support, said height reducing when approaching the longitudinal axis XX of the floating support.
  • the height of the caves 2 represents a height of about two thirds of the height of the hull structure.
  • the pressure differences existing in the area of the underside and the cave area creates exchanges of water masses. Said exchanges create pressure drops which generate a viscous damping effect.
  • Several devices advantageously improve this damping.
  • the pressure drops are created mainly at the level of the upper and lower orifices of said second cavities.
  • the pressure drop can advantageously be transferred to the level of baffles 10 8 or diaphragms 10 CJ , the inputs of said second cavities 10 7 being advantageously profiled in rounded shapes 10 7 or in the form of a funnel in order to minimize the pressure drops in these areas.
  • Complementary accessories such as covers 10 13 having, for example, tubular lateral openings 10, 4 , or even funnel shapes 10,, will create additional damping at the level of the underside of the structure, as in level of the tunnel floor, depending on where they are installed.
  • Said second cavities 10 7 described may have any section, regular or not along their length and will preferably be cylindrical with circular or prismatic section.
  • second vertical cavities 10 7 crossing the lower part 1 7 of the hull between the floor 3 5 of the caves and the bottom 1 5 of the hull, these second vertical cavities 10 7 being of horizontal section regular or not.
  • Certain so-called second vertical cavities 10 7 comprise, along their vertical wall, extensions of horizontal structures 10 8 and 10 9 arranged in staggered rows on the opposite parts of the wall, so as to create a baffle 10 8 or arranged face to face on opposite parts of the wall to create a bottleneck 10 9 .
  • Some of said second vertical cavities 10 7 open at the level of the floor 3 5 of the cavities 2 ,, 2 2 or of the bottom 1 5 of the hull, in a flared shape 10 10 , that is to say that the diameter or the section at the level of said floor 3 5 or of said bottom 1 5 is greater than in the rest of the height of said second cavity 1, inside the structure in the lower part 1 7 of the hull.
  • Some of said second vertical cavities 10- advantageously end in an extension below the bottom 1 5 of the funnel-shaped shell 10 ,,.
  • FIG. 11 details a method of damping by adding a vertical veil 10 5 having holes 10 3 regular or not, distributed evenly or not, so as to create dampings by viscous effect, when the direct environment is agitated by swell, currents or the barge's own movements.
  • Said vertical webs 10 5 (FIG. 11) or horizontal webs 10 , 10 2 (FIG. 9) can be flat or curved or left (FIG. 12), continuous or discontinuous and are advantageously perforated. It is also possible to make damping sails inclined between the vertical and the horizontal.
  • Figure 12 is a sectional view from above at a level corresponding above the floor 3 5 of the caves, detailing, on the one hand on the left side, vertical screens 10 5 , perforated 10 3 or not, of rectilinear shape , in a broken or sinuous line or else in the left shape, on the other hand on the right part, of said second vertical cavities 10 7 of various shapes such as circular, oblong or prismatic shapes, said shapes being regular or not over their height.
  • the present invention has been described in the context of a barge comprising wellheads on the surface, but it applies to all industrial and leisure fields in which maximum stability of the floating support subjected to environmental conditions is sought, by example gas treatment and storage in liquefied form at cryogenic temperatures (-165 ° C) or for the installation of industrial equipment, such as, for example gas turbines producing electricity or a base launching missiles or rockets for the space industry or any other application such as leisure bases and hotels.
  • the floating support constituting the hull of the barge 1 can be constructed of any type of material other than steel, such as concrete or a combination of concrete steel or any composite material.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a large dimensioned barge comprising a hull (1) which ensures buoyancy and an upper deck (16) which can support the equipment (6). The length of the aforementioned hull is preferably at least 100m and the breadth thereof is less than half of the length. According to the invention, the hull (1) comprises at least one chamber (21 - 24) consisting of a recess which is disposed in one of the peripheral walls (11 - 14) of said hull along part of the length (XX') or breadth (YY') and part of the height (ZZ') thereof. The aforementioned recess is located at least partially in the submerged part of the hull. The chamber (2) comprises lateral chamber walls (32) and a chamber base (31) which are connected to the above-mentioned peripheral wall (11 - 14) of the hull by means of at least one chamber floor (35) and a chamber ceiling (34), said floor (35) and ceiling (34) providing the connection between the lateral chamber walls (32).

Description

Barge de grandes dimensions présentant des cavités formant cavernes dans la coque Large barge with cavities forming cavities in the hull
La présente invention concerne généralement le domaine de la production en mer de pétrole à partir d'un support flottant du type barge installé en surface, plus particulièrement la présente invention concerne une barge de grandes dimensions présentant des cavités formant cavernes dans la coque. On entend ici par « grande dimension » que le plus petit côté est d'au moins 30 mètres.The present invention generally relates to the field of offshore oil production from a floating support of the barge type installed on the surface, more particularly the present invention relates to a large barge having cavities forming caverns in the hull. The term “large dimension” is understood here to mean that the smallest side is at least 30 meters.
Plus particulièrement encore, la présente invention concerne une barge de grande longueur comprenant une coque essentiellement parallélépipédique d'au moins 100 m de longueur et de largeur inférieure à 50 % de sa longueur assurant sa flottabilité et un pont capable de supporter des équipements, ladite coque présentant notamment un creux d'une hauteur inférieure à 30 %, de préférence 10% de sa longueur.More particularly still, the present invention relates to a very long barge comprising an essentially parallelepiped hull of at least 100 m in length and width less than 50% of its length ensuring its buoyancy and a bridge capable of supporting equipment, said hull having in particular a hollow of a height less than 30%, preferably 10% of its length.
Les barges utilisées dans l'exploitation pétrolière sont de très grandes dimensions et représentent des masses d'inertie considérables puisqu'elles peuvent atteindre et dépasser 500 000 TPL (Tonnes Port en Lourd). Elles sont en général allongées et mesurent jusqu'à 350 m de longueur 60 à 80 m de largeur et ont un creux de 35 à 45 m (le creux représente la hauteur de la structure ou distance entre le pont et le fond de la coque).The barges used in petroleum exploitation are very large and represent considerable masses of inertia since they can reach and exceed 500,000 DWT (Tons Deadweight). They are generally elongated and measure up to 350 m in length 60 to 80 m in width and have a hollow of 35 to 45 m (the hollow represents the height of the structure or distance between the deck and the bottom of the hull) .
Dès que la profondeur d'eau devient importante, l'exploitation des champs de production, notamment des champs pétroliers, s'effectue en général à partir de supports flottants de ce type. Ces supports flottants comportent en général des moyens d'ancrage pour rester en position malgré les effets des courants, des vents et de la houle. Ils comportent aussi en général des moyens de stockage et de traitement du pétrole ainsi que des moyens de déchargement vers des pétroliers enleveurs. Ces derniers se présentent à intervalle régulier pour effectuer l'enlèvement de la production. L'appellation de ces supports flottants de type barge est le terme anglo- saxon "Floating Production Storage Offloading" (signifiant "moyen flottant de stockage, de production et de déchargement") ci-après abrégé par "FPSO".As soon as the water depth becomes significant, the exploitation of production fields, in particular oil fields, is generally carried out using floating supports of this type. These floating supports generally comprise anchoring means to remain in position despite the effects of currents, winds and swell. They also generally include means for storing and processing petroleum as well as means for unloading towards tanker-removers. The latter appear at regular intervals to carry out the removal of production. The name of these floating barge type supports is the English term "Floating Production Storage Offloading" (meaning "floating means storage, production and unloading ") hereinafter abbreviated as" FPSO ".
Les têtes de puits sont souvent réparties sur la totalité du champ et les conduites de production, ainsi que les lignes d'injection d'eau et les câbles de contrôle commande, sont déposés sur le fond de la mer en direction d'un emplacement fixe, à la verticale duquel le support flottant est positionné en surface.The well heads are often distributed over the entire field and the production pipes, as well as the water injection lines and the control cables, are laid on the sea floor in the direction of a fixed location , vertically from which the floating support is positioned on the surface.
Certains puits sont situés à la verticale du support flottant et l'intérieur du puits est alors accessible directement depuis la surface. Dans ce cas la tête de puits équipée de son "arbre de Noël" peut être installée en surface, à bord du support flottant. On peut alors effectuer, à partir d'un derrick installé sur ledit support flottant, toutes les opérations de forage, de production et de maintenance du puits pendant toute la durée de vie dudit puits. On parle alors de tête de puits sèche et l'on peut ajouter la fonction forage (Drilling) et le "FPSO" devient "FDPSO", ou encore DTU (Dry Tree Unit = unité à têtes de puits sèches).Some wells are located vertical to the floating support and the interior of the well is then accessible directly from the surface. In this case the well head fitted with its "Christmas tree" can be installed on the surface, on board the floating support. We can then perform, from a derrick installed on said floating support, all drilling operations, production and maintenance of the well throughout the life of said well. We then speak of a dry wellhead and we can add the drilling function (Drilling) and the "FPSO" becomes "FDPSO", or DTU (Dry Tree Unit = unit with dry wellheads).
On connaît le brevet FR 2.754.01 1 décrivant une barge et un système de guidage pour conduite reliant ladite barge au fond de la mer au niveau de tètes de puits en accès direct. Ces conduites de liaison fond-surface sont appelées "riser", et dans le cas cité, sont équipées de flotteurs.We know the patent FR 2,754.01 1 describing a barge and a guide system for pipe connecting said barge to the bottom of the sea at the level of well heads directly accessible. These bottom-surface connection pipes are called "riser", and in the case cited, are equipped with floats.
Dans les FDPSOs, les risers remontent en surface dans une cavité centrale du support flottant appelée baie de forage ou "wellbay" ou encore "moon pool". La cavité traverse la coque verticalement de part en part sur une hauteur d'environ trente mètres, avec un tirant d'eau d'environ vingt mètres ; elle est en général installée à l'axe support flottant, à égale distance de ses extrémités, car c'est la zone où les amplitudes des mouvements et des accélérations est la plus faible lorsque le navire est soumis aux phénomènes de roulis, de tangage et de lacet.In the FDPSOs, the risers rise to the surface in a central cavity of the floating support called the drilling bay or "wellbay" or even "moon pool". The cavity crosses the hull vertically right through and over a height of about thirty meters, with a draft of about twenty meters; it is generally installed at the floating support axis, equidistant from its ends, because it is the zone where the amplitudes of movements and accelerations is the lowest when the ship is subjected to the phenomena of roll, pitch and lace.
La profondeur d'eau de certains champs pétroliers dépasse 1 500 m et peut atteindre 3 000 m. Le poids des risers sur de telles hauteurs nécessite, pour leur maintient en position, des efforts verticaux pouvant atteindre et dépasser plusieurs centaines de tonnes. On utilise alors des éléments de flottabilité de type "bidon" installés à divers niveaux sur les risers reliant la surface aux ultra grands fonds (1 000-3 000 m).The water depth of some oil fields exceeds 1,500 m and can reach 3,000 m. The weight of the risers at such heights requires, for their maintenance in position, vertical forces which can reach and exceed several hundred tonnes. We then use buoyancy elements of the "can" type installed at various levels on the risers connecting the surface to the ultra deep seabed (1000-3000 m).
Le flotteur et la conduite sont soumis aux effets de la houle, du courant, mais étant raccordés au FPSO en surface, sont aussi indirectement soumis aux effets du vent. Il en résulte des mouvements latéraux et verticaux importants, pouvant atteindre plusieurs mètres, de l'ensemble riser-flotteur- barge, surtout dans la zone sujette à la houle.The float and the pipe are subjected to the effects of the swell, of the current, but being connected to the FPSO on the surface, are also indirectly subjected to the effects of the wind. This results in significant lateral and vertical movements, up to several meters, of the riser-float-barge assembly, especially in the area prone to swell.
Pour éviter que les risers n'interfèrent entre eux et n'interfèrent avec la coque du support flottant, lesdits risers sont écartés les uns des autres de plusieurs mètres et aussi de plusieurs mètres des parois de la "wellbay" (ci- après baie de forage), ce qui conduit, pour une version intégrant 20 risers, à des "wellbays pouvant atteindre 80 m de longueur et 20 m de largeur. Les barges du type FDPSO de forme essentiellement parallélépipédique mesurent jusqu'à 350 m de longueur, 65 m de largeur et possèdent une hauteur au niveau du bordé pouvant dépasser 35 m. De telles barges ont un tonnage de port en lourd peuvent dépasser 500 000 TPL (Tonnes, Port en Lourd) et sont peu sensibles à des variations de charges.To prevent the risers from interfering with each other and from interfering with the hull of the floating support, said risers are spaced from each other by several meters and also by several meters from the walls of the "wellbay" (hereinafter bay of drilling), which leads, for a version integrating 20 risers, to "wellbays which can reach 80 m in length and 20 m in width. The barges of the FDPSO type of essentially parallelepiped shape measure up to 350 m in length, 65 m wide and have a height at the planking which can exceed 35 m. Such barges have a deadweight tonnage can exceed 500,000 DWT (Tons, Deadweight) and are not very sensitive to variations in loads.
Ces barges sujettes à la houle ont un bon comportement lorsque la houle se présente selon l'axe longitudinal du navire, car en général, la longueur d'onde des houles longues correspond sensiblement à la longueur de la barge et son influence est sans grande importance face à l'inertie globale de la barge. Par contre, lorsqu'une houle de mêmes caractéristiques se présente de travers, le comportement de la barge devient inacceptable car les amplitudes des mouvements résultants sont trop importantes.These barges prone to swell have good behavior when the swell occurs along the longitudinal axis of the ship, because in general, the wavelength of long swells corresponds substantially to the length of the barge and its influence is of little importance faced with the overall inertia of the barge. On the other hand, when a swell with the same characteristics is skewed, the behavior of the barge becomes unacceptable because the amplitudes of the resulting movements are too large.
Les barges de ce type peuvent donc être installées sans difficultés dans des mers où les houles extrêmes sont orientées dans une direction privilégiée, comme c'est le cas dans le Golfe de Guinée, car elles sont alors ancrées de telle manière que leur axe longitudinal coïncide sensiblement avec l'axe desdites houles extrêmes. Par contre lorsque les houles sont multidirectionnelles, on préfère utiliser des supports flottants de type SPAR ou TLP, comme support de têtes de puits sèches ou des FPSOs sur touret ou encore des plates-formes semi-submersibles, l'ensemble de ces solutions étant beaucoup mieux adaptées à ces conditions environnementales que l'on rencontre principalement au large du Brésil, dans le Golfe du Mexique, en mer du Nord ou encore en Extrême Orient. Les SPARs, sont de longs cigares flottants verticaux maintenus en position par des ancrages caténaires, et les TLPs ("Tension Leg Platform") sont des plates-formes à lignes d'ancrage tendues, lesdites lignes étant en général verticales. Les plates- formes semi-submersibles sont utilisées dans les opérations de forage et certaines opérations de production sur des durées courtes ou longues. Ces plates-formes semi-submersibles présentent une plus grande stabilité, car la majeure partie de la flottabilité se trouve située bien en dessous de la surface de l'eau, des piles ou des éléments de structure de sections réduites reliant lesdits éléments de flottabilité à la structure porteuse constituant le pont principal sur le quel sont installés la majeure partie des équipements de forage ou de production, lesquels peuvent représenter plusieurs milliers de tonnes. Toutefois, les plates-formes semi-submersibles, comme les SPARs et TLPs sont très sensibles à la charge en tête, car toute surcharge pondérale au niveau du pont doit être compensée par une flottabilité et doivent en conséquence être prévu lors de la construction du support flottant.Barges of this type can therefore be installed without difficulty in seas where extreme swells are oriented in a preferred direction, as is the case in the Gulf of Guinea, because they are then anchored in such a way that their longitudinal axis coincides substantially with the axis of said extreme swells. On the other hand when the swells are multidirectional, we prefer to use floating supports of the SPAR type or TLP, as support for dry wellheads or FPSOs on a reel or even semi-submersible platforms, all of these solutions being much better suited to these environmental conditions that are encountered mainly off the coast of Brazil, in the Gulf of Mexico, in the North Sea or in the Far East. SPARs are long vertical floating cigars held in position by catenary anchors, and TLPs ("Tension Leg Platform") are platforms with taut anchor lines, said lines being generally vertical. Semi-submersible platforms are used in drilling operations and certain production operations over short or long periods. These semi-submersible platforms exhibit greater stability, since the major part of the buoyancy is located well below the surface of the water, piers or structural elements of reduced sections connecting said buoyancy elements to the supporting structure constituting the main bridge on which most of the drilling or production equipment is installed, which can represent several thousand tonnes. However, semi-submersible platforms, such as SPARs and TLPs are very sensitive to the overhead load, since any overweight at deck level must be compensated by buoyancy and must therefore be provided during the construction of the support. floating.
Les supports flottants du type barge qui présentent une section horizontale mouillée considérablement plus importante, sont peu sensibles à des variations de charge en tête qui peuvent sans difficultés être 5 à 10 fois supérieures, et même plus, à celles que peuvent accepter lesdits SPARs, TLPs et plates-formes semi-submersibles.The barge type floating supports which have a considerably larger horizontal wet section are not very sensitive to head load variations which can easily be 5 to 10 times greater, and even more, than those which these SPARs, TLPs can accept. and semi-submersible platforms.
On connaît le brevet NL 7 907 448 qui décrit un support flottant de type barge muni de tunnels transversaux destinés à réduire les effets de houles transversales.Patent NL 7 907 448 is known which describes a floating support of the barge type provided with transverse tunnels intended to reduce the effects of transverse swells.
Ces tunnels correspondent à une cavité transversale traversant la coque d'un bord à l'autre dans une direction perpendiculaire à la direction longitudinale de la coque, le tunnel étant situé au moins partiellement dans la partie immergée de la coque. Le comportement de la barge dans certains types de houle est amélioré par l'intégration dans la coque de ces pénétrations horizontales appelées tunnels. Toutefois, ces tunnels, qui ne permettent la pénétration de l'eau que dans la direction transversale de la coque, n'appportent pas une stabilisation suffisante dans une houle multidirectionnelle mais seulement dans une houle de travers par rapport à l'axe longitudinal de la coque.These tunnels correspond to a transverse cavity crossing the hull from one edge to the other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the hull, the tunnel being located at least partially in the submerged part of the hull. The behavior of the barge in some types of swell is improved by the integration in the hull of these horizontal penetrations called tunnels. However, these tunnels, which allow the penetration of water only in the transverse direction of the hull, do not provide sufficient stabilization in a multidirectional swell but only in a swell transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shell.
D'autre part, on a constaté que si l'intégration de ces tunnels permet de réduire la dimension des surfaces verticales de la coque sur laquelle des efforts horizontaux s'exercent, ce qui en théorie devait permettre de soustraire une partie de la coque aux effets de la houle et en conséquence de réduire les mouvements engendrés à celle-ci par la houle, tout en créant des surfaces horizontales supplémentaires devant conduire en théorie à une réduction des mouvements verticaux engendrant la nécessité d'un déplacement d'une masse d'eau supplémentaire dans le mouvement vertical de la coque, on observe en pratique qu'il se produit un phénomène de résonance de la houle qui peut conduire à des amplifications considérables des mouvements verticaux de l'eau dans les tunnels conduisant ainsi à des mouvements importants de la coque. Ce phénomène se produit lorsque la période propre de la houle se trouve trop rapprochée en fréquence propre de celle de la coque. Pour ajuster la réponse en fréquence de la coque, et éviter ainsi l'apparition des phénomènes indésirables de résonance dans la zone des tunnels, on est amené à dimensionner les tunnels en fonction des spectres de houle spécifiques aux sites concernés et à rajouter des dispositifs d'amortissement sensés créer des actions correctrices pour certaines valeurs particulières de fréquence de houle. Mais, en pratique, il apparaît que ces dispositifs d'amortissement sont encore insuffisantsOn the other hand, it has been found that if the integration of these tunnels makes it possible to reduce the dimension of the vertical surfaces of the hull on which horizontal forces are exerted, which in theory should make it possible to remove part of the hull from the effects of the swell and consequently to reduce the movements engendered to it by the swell, while creating additional horizontal surfaces which should lead in theory to a reduction in vertical movements generating the need for a displacement of a mass of additional water in the vertical movement of the hull, it is observed in practice that there is a phenomenon of resonance of the swell which can lead to considerable amplifications of the vertical movements of the water in the tunnels thus leading to significant movements of shell. This phenomenon occurs when the natural period of the swell is too close in natural frequency to that of the hull. To adjust the frequency response of the hull, and thus avoid the appearance of undesirable resonance phenomena in the tunnel area, we are required to size the tunnels according to the specific wave spectra at the sites concerned and to add additional 'damping supposed to create corrective actions for certain particular wave frequency values. But, in practice, it appears that these damping devices are still insufficient
On connaît en effet, par ailleurs, divers systèmes d'absorption de la houle destinés, soit à minimiser les efforts sur les structures, comme dans le cas du mur Jarlan, soit à créer une atténuation de ladite houle en aval, comme dans le cas des murs d'eau oscillants, constitués d'une simple plaque installée de manière fixe par rapport au sol dans la hauteur de la tranche d'eau près du rivage. Mais, de tels dispositifs connus de l'homme de l'art dans le domaine du génie côtier et de la construction de plates-formes fixes pour l'industrie du pétrole offshore, sont insuffisants.We also know, in fact, various wave absorption systems intended either to minimize the stresses on structures, as in the case of the Jarlan wall, or to create an attenuation of said swell downstream, as in the case oscillating water walls, made up of a simple plate installed fixedly with respect to the ground in the height of the slice of water near the shore. However, such devices known to those skilled in the art in the field of coastal engineering and the construction of fixed platforms for the offshore oil industry, are insufficient.
Le problème posé selon la présente invention est de réaliser une structure flottante de type barge, de grandes dimensions, capable de recevoir des équipements considérables, par exemple de forage, de traitement de pétrole ou de gaz, de stockage desdits produits et présentant un bon comportement hydrodynamique dans des mers difficiles, notamment avec des houles multidirectionnelles, telles qu'on les rencontre par exemple au large du Brésil, dans le Golfe du Mexique ou encore en Extrême Orient, tout en conservant les avantages d'une structure flottante peu sensible à la charge, donc à la quantité et la masse d'équipements installés à son bord.The problem posed according to the present invention is to produce a floating structure of the barge type, of large dimensions, capable of receiving considerable equipment, for example drilling, oil or gas processing, storage of said products and exhibiting good behavior. hydrodynamics in difficult seas, in particular with multidirectional swells, such as those encountered for example off Brazil, in the Gulf of Mexico or in the Far East, while retaining the advantages of a floating structure not very sensitive to load, therefore the quantity and mass of equipment installed on board.
Le problème est encore plus aigu dans le cas où les têtes de puits sont ramenées en surface et installées au sein d'une cavité centrale ou baie de forage, car, pour atteindre un niveau de sécurité indispensable au bon déroulement des opérations, on recherche une stabilité maximale du support flottant, qui reste le meilleur garant pour la sécurité des personnels et des équipements.The problem is even more acute in the case where the well heads are brought to the surface and installed within a central cavity or drilling bay, because, to achieve a level of security essential to the proper conduct of operations, we are looking for a maximum stability of the floating support, which remains the best guarantee for the safety of personnel and equipment.
Pour résoudre ce problème, la présente invention fournit une barge de grandes dimensions comprenant une coque assurant sa flottabilité, de préférence d'au moins 100 m de longueur et, de préférence encore de largeur inférieure à 50 % de sa longueur, et un pont supérieur, capable de supporter des équipements, caractérisée en ce que ladite coque comprend au moins une paire de cavernes en communication, chacune desdites cavernes étant constituées par un renfoncement dans une des parois périphériques de ladite coque sur une partie de la longueur (XX') ou de la largeur (YY') de ladite coque et sur une partie de la hauteur (ZZ') de ladite coque, ledit renfoncement étant situé au moins partiellement dans la partie immergée de ladite coque, ladite caverne comprenant des parois latérales de caverne et une paroi de fond de caverne reliées à ladite paroi périphérique de ladite coque par au moins un plancher de caverne et un plafond de caverne, lesquels plancher et plafond assurent la jonction entre lesdites parois latérales de caverne, et lesdites parois de fond de chacune des deux cavernes n'occupent qu'une partie du fond de la caverne entre lesdites parois latérales de caverne, de sorte que l'eau de mer peut traverser ladite coque d'une caverne à l'autre en passant dans l'espace libre entre l'une au moins desdites parois latérales de chacune desdites cavernes et ladite paroi de fond de chacune desdites cavernes.To solve this problem, the present invention provides a large barge comprising a hull ensuring its buoyancy, preferably at least 100 m in length and more preferably less than 50% of its width, and an upper deck. , capable of supporting equipment, characterized in that said hull comprises at least one pair of communicating caves, each of said caves being formed by a recess in one of the peripheral walls of said hull over part of the length (XX ') or of the width (YY ') of said hull and over part of the height (ZZ') of said hull, said recess being located at least partially in the submerged part of said hull, said cave comprising cave side walls and a cave bottom wall connected to said peripheral wall of said shell by at least one cave floor and one cave ceiling, which floor and ceiling provide the junction between said side cavern walls, and said bottom walls of each of the two caverns occupy only part of the bottom of the cavern between said side walls of the cavern, so that seawater can pass through said hull from one cavern to another, passing through the free space between one at least said side walls of each of said caves and said bottom wall of each of said caves.
On comprend que les cavernes selon l'invention sont délimitées par les parois de cavernes, à savoir que l'ouverture d'une caverne, sur l'extérieur de la barge, correspond à l'espace entre les deux parois latérales de cavernes et les deux paroi de plancher et paroi de plafond de caverne, lesdites parois étant des parois pleines.It is understood that the caves according to the invention are delimited by the walls of caves, namely that the opening of a cave, on the outside of the barge, corresponds to the space between the two lateral walls of caves and the two floor walls and cave ceiling walls, said walls being solid walls.
On comprend également que ladite paroi de fond de caverne délimite une zone de la coque dans laquelle celle-ci présente une section horizontale réduite correspondant à un rétrécissement de la largeur de ladite coque lorsque le renfoncement est réalisé dans une des parois périphériques latérales s'étendant dans la direction longitudinale de la coque ou correspondant à un rétrécissement de la longueur de ladite coque lorsque la caverne est réalisée dans une des parois périphériques d'extrémité avant ou arrière de ladite coque s'étendant dans une direction transversale correspondant à la largeur de ladite coque appelée ci-après "paroi périphérique transversale".It is also understood that said bottom wall of the cavern delimits an area of the shell in which the latter has a reduced horizontal section corresponding to a narrowing of the width of said shell when the recess is produced in one of the lateral peripheral walls extending in the longitudinal direction of the hull or corresponding to a narrowing of the length of said hull when the cavity is produced in one of the peripheral front or rear end walls of said hull extending in a transverse direction corresponding to the width of said hull shell hereinafter called "transverse peripheral wall".
On comprend également que lesdites parois périphériques de ladite coque sont les parois externes sensiblement verticales de ladite coque qui assurent la jonction entre ledit pont supérieur de la coque et ledit fond de la barge.It is also understood that said peripheral walls of said hull are the substantially vertical external walls of said hull which provide the junction between said upper deck of the hull and said bottom of the barge.
Ces cavernes permettent une pénétration horizontale de l'eau de mer jusqu'à rencontrer un mur d'obstacle à l'intérieur de la caverne constitué par ladite paroi de fond de caverne. En effet, l'intégration d'une caverne présente l'avantage d'introduire des surfaces sensiblement horizontales supplémentaires de contact mer/coque au niveau du plancher de caverne, conduisant à une réduction des mouvements verticaux. La caverne engendre la nécessité d'un déplacement d'une masse d'eau supplémentaire dans le mouvement vertical de la structure. La résultante des efforts verticaux est diminuée car la pression de la houle qui s'exerce sur le plancher de caverne est dans le sens opposé aux efforts engendrés par la houle sur le fond de la coque.These caves allow horizontal penetration of sea water until they meet an obstacle wall inside the cave formed by said bottom wall of the cave. Indeed, the integration of a cavern has the advantage of introducing substantially horizontal additional sea / hull contact surfaces at the level of the cavern floor, leading to a reduction in vertical movements. The cave generates the need to move an additional body of water in the vertical movement of the structure. The result of vertical forces is reduced because the pressure of the swell exerted on the cave floor is in the opposite direction to the forces generated by the swell on the bottom of the hull.
La création de surface horizontale crée des contre pressions s'opposant à la flottabilité propre de la barge et crée des masse ajoutée d'eau considérables, l'ensemble s'opposant directement aux mouvements verticaux de ladite barge et augmentant de ce fait sa stabilité en roulis, tangage et pilonnement.The creation of a horizontal surface creates counter pressures opposing the proper buoyancy of the barge and creates considerable added mass of water, the assembly directly opposing the vertical movements of said barge and thereby increasing its stability in roll, pitch and heave.
Enfin, la réduction de section horizontale mouillée au niveau de la surface d'eau engendrée par ladite paroi de fond de caverne a pour effet de diminuer la raideur hydrostatique de la coque.Finally, the reduction in wet horizontal section at the level of the water surface generated by said bottom wall of the cavern has the effect of reducing the hydrostatic stiffness of the hull.
Ces deux effets couplés d'augmentation de la masse d'eau ajoutée qui atténue les mouvements verticaux et de diminution de la raideur hydrostatique due à ladite paroi de fond, ont pour effet d'augmenter très sensiblement la période propre du mouvement mécanique vertical du corps flottant, ce qui élimine radicalement les effets de résonance constatés dans les supports flottants de grande dimension même avec une cavité transversale traversant ladite coque du type tunnel, laquelle ne comporte pas de dite paroi de fond.These two coupled effects of increasing the mass of added water which attenuates vertical movements and of decreasing hydrostatic stiffness due to said bottom wall, have the effect of very significantly increasing the natural period of the vertical mechanical movement of the body. floating, which radically eliminates the resonance effects observed in large floating supports even with a transverse cavity passing through said tunnel-type shell, which does not include said bottom wall.
Le comportement de la barge selon l'invention dans une houle multidirectionnelle est considérablement amélioré par l'intégration dans la coque de ces pénétrations horizontales en forme de caverne.The behavior of the barge according to the invention in a multidirectional swell is considerably improved by the integration into the hull of these horizontal penetrations in the shape of a cavern.
Les mouvements de la barge sont considérablement réduits et la barge peut être exploitée sans risques majeurs pendant toute la durée de vie du champ qui, dans certains cas, peut atteindre et dépasser 20 années.The barge movements are considerably reduced and the barge can be operated without major risks during the entire life of the field which, in some cases, can reach and exceed 20 years.
Dans un mode de réalisation préféré d'une barge selon l'invention, elle comprend au moins une paire de cavernes, chacune des deux cavernes étant disposée sur une paroi périphérique différente de ladite coque, de préférence deux parois opposées de ladite coque, de préférence encore disposées symétriquement par rapport à un plan axial longitudinal (XZ) ou plan axial transversal (YZ) de ladite coque.In a preferred embodiment of a barge according to the invention, it comprises at least one pair of caverns, each of the two caverns being arranged on a peripheral wall different from said hull, preferably two opposite walls of said hull, preferably still willing symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal axial plane (XZ) or transverse axial plane (YZ) of said shell.
On comprend que les deux dites cavernes de ladite paire de cavernes peuvent être situées dans :It is understood that the two said caves of said pair of caves can be located in:
* - soit, deux parois périphériques latérales longitudinales opposées de ladite coque; et dans ce cas si lesdites cavernes sont disposées symétriquement elles le seront par rapport à un plan axial longitudinal,* - either, two opposite longitudinal lateral peripheral walls of said shell; and in this case if said caves are arranged symmetrically they will be relative to a longitudinal axial plane,
soit, deux parois périphériques transversales respectivement d'extrémité avant ou arrière; et dans ce cas si elles sont disposées symétriquement elles le seront par rapport à un plan axial transversal de ladite coque,either, two transverse peripheral walls respectively of front or rear end; and in this case if they are arranged symmetrically they will be in relation to a transverse axial plane of said shell,
soit, une dite paroi périphérique latérale et une dite paroi périphérique transversale d'extrémité avant ou arrière.either, a said lateral peripheral wall and a said transverse peripheral wall of front or rear end.
Dans un mode de réalisation particulier, la barge selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend au moins une paire de cavernes en communication dont lesdites parois de fond de chacune des deux cavernes occupent au moins 25%, de préférence au plus 95%, de la distance entre lesdites parois latérales de caverne audit fond de caverne.In a particular embodiment, the barge according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises at least one pair of communicating caves, the said bottom walls of each of the two caves occupy at least 25%, preferably at plus 95%, of the distance between said cave side walls to said cave bottom.
On comprend que ce mode de réalisation préféré de l'invention permet de réaliser une cavité traversant ladite coque d'un bord à l'autre, de préférence dans une direction perpendiculaire (YY)' à la direction longitudinale de ladite coque (XX') lorsque les deux cavernes sont réalisées dans les deux dites parois périphériques latérales longitudinales opposées.It is understood that this preferred embodiment of the invention makes it possible to produce a cavity crossing said shell from one edge to the other, preferably in a direction perpendicular (YY) 'to the longitudinal direction of said shell (XX') when the two caves are made in the two said opposite longitudinal lateral peripheral walls.
Dans une houle de travers par rapport à l'axe longitudinal du support, deux types de pression peuvent être exercés sur la coque : les pressions s'exerçant sur les surfaces horizontales et les pressions s'exerçant sur les surfaces verticales, lesquelles sont responsables, respectivement, des mouvements de la coque verticaux, tels que tangage et pilonnement, et horizontaux tel que roulis. Ce mode de réalisation avec des cavernes en communication permet de réduire les surfaces verticales de coque au niveau de la paroi de fond sur laquelle les efforts horizontaux s'exercent, et permet ainsi de soustraire une partie de la structure aux effets de la houle et, en conséquence, de réduire les mouvements engendrés par cette dernière.In a cross swell relative to the longitudinal axis of the support, two types of pressure can be exerted on the hull: the pressures exerted on the horizontal surfaces and the pressures exerted on the vertical surfaces, which are responsible, respectively, movements of the hull vertical, such as pitching and heaving, and horizontal such as roll. This embodiment with communicating caves makes it possible to reduce the vertical hull surfaces at the level of the bottom wall on which the horizontal forces are exerted, and thus makes it possible to subtract part of the structure from the effects of the swell and, consequently, to reduce the movements generated by the latter.
La barge munie de ces cavernes présente un comportement en tangage, pilonnement et roulis radicalement amélioré par rapport à une barge conventionnelle ou à une barge comportant un tunnel.The barge fitted with these caverns has a radically improved pitching, heaving and rolling behavior compared to a conventional barge or a barge comprising a tunnel.
L'intégration de cavernes dans la coque permet, en effet, de réduire la surface verticale de coque sur laquelle les efforts horizontaux s'exercent et, ainsi, de soustraire une partie de la structure aux effets de la houle et réduire les mouvements engendrés par cette dernière.The integration of caves in the hull makes it possible, in fact, to reduce the vertical hull surface on which the horizontal forces are exerted and, thus, to remove part of the structure from the effects of the swell and reduce the movements generated by the latter.
L'intégration de ces cavernes présente également l'avantage d'introduire des surfaces de contact mer/barge supplémentaires, sensiblement horizontales, qui conduisent à une réduction des mouvements verticaux en agissant sur deux points fondamentaux : ils diminuent la résultante des efforts verticaux générés par la houle et ils engendrent le déplacement d'une masse d'eau supplémentaire dans le mouvement vertical de la structure.The integration of these caves also has the advantage of introducing additional, substantially horizontal, sea / barge contact surfaces, which lead to a reduction in vertical movements by acting on two fundamental points: they reduce the result of the vertical forces generated by the swell and they cause the displacement of an additional body of water in the vertical movement of the structure.
Ainsi, la résultante des efforts verticaux est diminuée car la pression de la houle s'exerce sur les plans sensiblement horizontaux pour ceux situés en plancher des cavernes, dans le sens opposé aux efforts engendrés par la houle sur le fond de navire.Thus, the result of vertical forces is reduced because the pressure of the swell is exerted on the substantially horizontal planes for those located on the floor of the caves, in the opposite direction to the forces generated by the swell on the bottom of the ship.
De plus, la présence de ces surfaces de contact mer/barge considérables, sensiblement horizontales, situées respectivement en sous- face de la barge et en plancher de la caverne, ont pour effet de créer, dans la direction perpendiculaire, donc sensiblement verticalement, des masses ajoutées d'eau considérables dans la même direction. Enfin, les cavernes ont pour autre effet de réduire la section horizontale mouillée au niveau de la surface de l'eau, ce qui diminue la raideur hydrostatique du flotteur.In addition, the presence of these considerable, substantially horizontal sea / barge contact surfaces, located respectively on the underside of the barge and on the floor of the cavern, have the effect of creating, in the perpendicular direction, therefore substantially vertically, considerable added masses of water in the same direction. Finally, the caves have the other effect of reducing the horizontal wet section at the level of the water surface, which reduces the hydrostatic stiffness of the float.
Ces deux effets couplés, augmentation de la masse ajoutée d'eau verticale et diminution de la raideur hydrostatique ont pour effet d'augmenter très sensiblement la période propre du mouvement mécanique vertical du corps flottant, ce qui élimine radicalement les effets de résonance constatées dans les supports flottants de grandes dimension de l'art antérieur.These two effects coupled, increase in the added mass of vertical water and decrease in hydrostatic stiffness have the effect of very significantly increasing the natural period of the vertical mechanical movement of the floating body, which radically eliminates the resonance effects observed in the large floating supports of the prior art.
Pour ajuster la réponse en fréquence de la structure, on est amené à dimensionner les cavernes, comme mentionné ci-après, en fonction des spectres de houle spécifiques au site concerné et à rajouter des dispositif d'amortissement qui auront pour fonction de créer des actions correctrices pour certaines valeurs particulières de fréquences de houle ou certains angles d'incidence de ladite houle et d'éviter ainsi l'apparition de phénomènes indésirables de résonances dans la zone des cavernes.To adjust the frequency response of the structure, it is necessary to size the caves, as mentioned below, according to the specific wave spectra of the site concerned and to add damping devices which will have the function of creating actions corrective for certain particular wave frequency values or certain angles of incidence of said swell and thus avoid the appearance of undesirable phenomena of resonances in the area of the caves.
Plus particulièrement, le rapport entre la profondeur de la caverne et la largeur maximale de la barge a une influence sur ladite période propre ainsi que sur l'amplitude du mouvement à ladite période. Il apparaît ainsi que, lorsque la profondeur de la caverne diminue (la largeur de la coque au niveau des cavernes augmente), la période propre de la structure flottante augmente, ce qui est favorable mais, en revanche, l'amplitude des mouvements d'eau dans les cavernes augmente, elle aussi, ce qui va à l'encontre du but recherché.More particularly, the ratio between the depth of the cavern and the maximum width of the barge has an influence on said natural period as well as on the amplitude of the movement during said period. It thus appears that, when the depth of the cavern decreases (the width of the hull at the level of the caverns increases), the natural period of the floating structure increases, which is favorable but, on the other hand, the amplitude of the movements of water in the caves also increases, which goes against the desired goal.
Dans un mode de réalisation avantageux, la profondeur desdites cavernes est telle que la largeur de ladite coque, au niveau desdites cavernes, est d'au moins 25%, de préférence au plus 50%, par rapport à la largeur de la coque définie par la distance entre les parois périphériques opposées de ladite coque, adjacentes auxdites cavernes.In an advantageous embodiment, the depth of said caverns is such that the width of said hull, at the level of said caverns, is at least 25%, preferably at most 50%, relative to the width of the hull defined by the distance between the opposite peripheral walls of said shell, adjacent to said caves.
Dans un mode de réalisation plus particulièrement avantageux , une barge selon l'invention comporte au moins une paire de cavernes latérales réalisées dans desdites parois périphériques latérales longitudinales opposées de ladite coque, de préférence, lesdites cavernes étant disposées symétriquement par rapport au plan axial longitudinal (XZ) de ladite coque, lesdites cavernes de ladite paire de cavernes étant en communication selon l'invention.In a more particularly advantageous embodiment, a barge according to the invention comprises at least one pair of side caverns produced in said opposite longitudinal lateral peripheral walls of said shell, preferably, said caverns being arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axial plane (XZ) of said shell, said caverns of said pair of caverns being in communication according to the invention.
Lesdites parois de fond n'occupant qu'une partie du fond de ladite caverne, les dimensions desdites parois de fond dans ladite direction longitudinale correspondant à au moins 75% de la distance entre lesdites parois latérales de caverne, etSaid bottom walls occupying only part of the bottom of said cave, the dimensions of said bottom walls in said longitudinal direction corresponding to at least 75% of the distance between said side walls of the cave, and
- la largeur de ladite coque délimitée par la distance entre lesdites parois de fond des deux cavernes latérales étant d'au moins 25%, de préférence au plus 50%, par rapport à la largeur de la coque définie par la distance entre les parois périphériques opposées de ladite coque adjacentes aux dites cavernes, etthe width of said hull delimited by the distance between said bottom walls of the two lateral caverns being at least 25%, preferably at most 50%, relative to the width of the hull defined by the distance between the peripheral walls opposite of said hull adjacent to said caves, and
- lesdites parois latérales de chaque caverne latérale étant espacées d'une distance d'au moins 20%, de préférence de 20 à 30%, de la dimension de ladite coque dans ladite direction longitudinale (XX'), etsaid side walls of each side cavity being spaced by a distance of at least 20%, preferably from 20 to 30%, of the dimension of said shell in said longitudinal direction (XX '), and
- la hauteur de chaque dite caverne latérale définie par la hauteur entre les bords desdits plancher et plafond au niveau desdites parois périphériques latérales étant d'au moins 25%, de préférence au moins 50%, de préférence encore de 50 à 75%, de la hauteur de la coque entre ledit pont supérieur et le fond de la coque immergée.the height of each said lateral cavity defined by the height between the edges of said floor and ceiling at the level of said lateral peripheral walls being at least 25%, preferably at least 50%, more preferably still from 50 to 75%, the height of the hull between said upper deck and the bottom of the submerged hull.
On a définie ci-dessus la largeur de la coque au niveau des cavernes en référence à la distance entre les parois périphériques opposées adjacentes aux dites cavernes ; mais celle-ci peut être plus précisément définie par référence à la distance entre les bords externes desdites parois latérales de cavernes opposées ou des bords externes desdits planchers ou desdits plafonds de cavernes opposés.We defined above the width of the hull at the level of the caves with reference to the distance between the opposite peripheral walls adjacent to said caves; but this can be more precisely defined by reference to the distance between the outer edges of said side walls of opposite caves or the outer edges of said floors or said ceilings of opposite caves.
Plus particulièrement encore, une barge selon l'invention comprend une cavité centrale verticale, correspondant de préférence à une baie de forage, et deux paires de cavernes latérales, lesdites cavernes présentant au fond un espace libre permettant la communication entre les deux dites cavernes, ledit espace libre étant constitué entre un bord latéral de ladite paroi de fond de caverne et le bord interne d'une dite paroi latérale de caverne, l'autre bord de ladite paroi de fond de caverne étant constitué par une paroi périphérique de ladite cavité centrale, les deux dites paires de cavernes latérales étant disposées de part et d'autre de ladite cavité centrale verticale dans ladite direction longitudinale (XX'), de préférence symétriquement par rapport aux plans axiaux verticaux (YZ), (XZ) de ladite coque.More particularly still, a barge according to the invention comprises a vertical central cavity, preferably corresponding to a bay of drilling, and two pairs of lateral caves, said caves having at the bottom a free space allowing the communication between the two said caves, said free space being constituted between a lateral edge of said cavity bottom wall and the internal edge of a said side wall of cavern, the other edge of said bottom wall of cavern being constituted by a peripheral wall of said central cavity, the two said pairs of side caverns being arranged on either side of said vertical central cavity in said direction longitudinal (XX '), preferably symmetrically with respect to the vertical axial planes (YZ), (XZ) of said shell.
De préférence encore, une barge selon l'invention comprend une cavité centrale verticale du type baie de forage et une paire de cavernes d'extrémité avant et arrière de préférence disposées symétriquement par rapport auxdits plans axiaux verticaux (YZ), (XZ) de ladite coque, chaque caverne d'extrémité avant ou arrière étant en communication chacune avec deux cavernes d'une des deux paires de cavernes latérales disposées du même côté de ladite cavité centrale, la paroi de fond de chacune desdites cavernes avant ou arrière étant constituée par une paroi transversale reliant les parois de fond de chacune des deux dites cavernes latérales d'une même dite paire de cavernes latérales, et les parois latérales de chacune desdites cavernes avant et arrière étant espacées d'une distance de 50 à 80 % de la largeur maximum de la coque auxdites extrémités avant et arrière.More preferably, a barge according to the invention comprises a vertical central cavity of the drilling bay type and a pair of front and rear end cavities preferably arranged symmetrically with respect to said vertical axial planes (YZ), (XZ) of said shell, each front or rear end cavern being each in communication with two caverns of one of the two pairs of lateral cavities arranged on the same side of said central cavity, the bottom wall of each of said front or rear caverns being constituted by a transverse wall connecting the bottom walls of each of said two side caves of the same pair of side caves, and the side walls of each of said front and rear caves being spaced 50 to 80% of the maximum width apart from the shell to said front and rear ends.
Plus particulièrement, une barge selon l'invention comprend alors quatre piliers d'angle assurant la jonction entre le fond de la coque et ledit pont supérieur de la barge, et formant lesdites parois latérales desdites cavernes, une des parois latérales de chacune desdites cavernes d'extrémité avant ou arrière étant formée par une face desdits piliers, et une des parois latérales de chacune desdites cavernes latérales étant formée par une autre face desdits piliers, l'autre dite paroi latérale de chaque dite caverne latérale longitudinale étant constituée par une paroi périphérique de ladite cavité centrale verticale. On comprend que la largeur desdites cavités d'extrémité avant ou arrière est délimitée par les faces internes dédits piliers d'angle de la barge espacés d'une distance dans ladite direction transversale (YY)' représentant de préférence 50% à 75% de la largeur maximum de la barge délimitée par les faces externes des deux piliers correspondants.More particularly, a barge according to the invention then comprises four corner pillars ensuring the junction between the bottom of the hull and said upper deck of the barge, and forming said side walls of said caves, one of the side walls of each of said caves d front or rear end being formed by one face of said pillars, and one of the side walls of each of said side caverns being formed by another face of said pillars, the other said side wall of each said longitudinal side cavern being constituted by a peripheral wall of said vertical central cavity. It is understood that the width of said front or rear end cavities is delimited by the internal faces dedicated corner pillars of the barge spaced by a distance in said transverse direction (YY) 'preferably representing 50% to 75% of the maximum width of the barge delimited by the external faces of the two corresponding pillars.
Dans la mesure où chacune desdites cavernes d'extrémité avant et arrière communique avec chacune des deux dites cavernes latérales opposées d'une même paire de cavernes disposées du même côté de ladite cavité centrale verticale, l'eau de mer peut traverser ladite coque dans une dite direction transversale (YY)' en contournant lesdites parois de fond de cavernes qui forment un mur d'obstacles axial en forme de chicane à l'intérieur de ladite coque.Insofar as each of said front and rear end caverns communicates with each of said two opposite side caverns of the same pair of caverns arranged on the same side of said vertical central cavity, seawater can pass through said hull in a said transverse direction (YY) 'by bypassing said bottom walls of caves which form an axial obstacle wall in the form of a baffle inside said shell.
Ce mode de réalisation permet également un passage de l'eau à travers les parois transversales d'extrémité avant et arrière de la coque, l'eau de mer pouvant s'écouler entre les ouvertures desdites cavernes latérales dans lesdites parois périphériques latérales de ladite coque et les ouvertures desdites cavernes d'extrémité avant et, respectivement, arrière.This embodiment also allows water to pass through the transverse front and rear end walls of the hull, the seawater being able to flow between the openings of said lateral caverns in said lateral peripheral walls of said hull. and the openings of said front and, respectively, rear end caves.
De préférence encore, lesdites cavernes présentent une même hauteur représentant au moins 50%, de préférence de 50 à 75%, de la hauteur de la coque, située de préférence plus proche dudit pont supérieur que dudit fond de la coque et ayant de préférence au moins 50%, de préférence encore de 50 à 75%, de la hauteur située au-dessous de la ligne de flottaison de ladite coque, ladite coque présentant un creux d'une hauteur inférieure à 30%, de préférence 15%, de sa longueur.More preferably, said caves have the same height representing at least 50%, preferably from 50 to 75%, of the height of the hull, preferably located closer to said upper deck than to said bottom of the hull and preferably having at minus 50%, more preferably 50 to 75%, of the height situated below the water line of said hull, said hull having a hollow of a height less than 30%, preferably 15%, of its length.
La présente invention concerne en particulier une barge de grandes dimensions possédant sur son pont, par exemple des équipements de traitement, des équipements de forage et des têtes de puits en surface, situées au sein d'un moon pool, l'ensemble correspondant à une charge globale pouvant atteindre et dépasser 50 000 tonnes, voire 100 000 tonnes.The present invention relates in particular to a large barge having on its deck, for example treatment equipment, drilling equipment and wellheads on the surface, located within a moon pool, the assembly corresponding to a overall load which can reach and exceed 50,000 tonnes, or even 100,000 tonnes.
Dans un mode de réalisation avantageux, une barge selon l'invention comprend au moins un tunnel formé par une cavité transversale traversant ladite coque d'une paroi périphérique latérale à l'autre dans une direction transversale perpendiculaire (YY') à ladite direction longitudinale (XX') de la coque, le tunnel étant situé au moins partiellement dans la partie immergée de ladite coque.In an advantageous embodiment, a barge according to the invention comprises at least one tunnel formed by a transverse transverse cavity said shell from one peripheral wall side to side in a transverse direction perpendicular (YY ') to said longitudinal direction (XX') of the shell, the tunnel being located at least partially in the submerged part of said shell.
Plus particulièrement, une barge selon l'invention comprend au moins une première caverne partiellement immergée et au moins une deuxième caverne ou undit tunnel complètement immergé, ladite première caverne étant disposée de manière superposée à ladite deuxième caverne ou audit tunnel, et la hauteur totale desdites cavernes et dit tunnel éventuellement superposés représente une hauteur d'au moins 50%, de préférence de 50 à 75%, de la hauteur de la coque.More particularly, a barge according to the invention comprises at least a first partially submerged cave and at least a second cave or a completely submerged tunnel, said first cave being disposed superimposed on said second cave or said tunnel, and the total height of said caverns and said tunnel possibly superimposed represents a height of at least 50%, preferably from 50 to 75%, of the height of the hull.
Dans une variante de réalisation toutes les cavernes sont situées à une même hauteur, notamment toutes sont partiellement immergées.In an alternative embodiment, all the caves are located at the same height, in particular all are partially submerged.
Selon une variante de réalisation, ladite caverne, et le cas échéant ledit tunnel, est de forme essentiellement parallélépipédique, les planchers et plafonds étant disposés horizontalement et les parois latérales (32) et parois de fond (3,) étant disposées verticalement.According to an alternative embodiment, said cavity, and where appropriate said tunnel, is of essentially parallelepiped shape, the floors and ceilings being arranged horizontally and the side walls (3 2 ) and bottom walls (3,) being arranged vertically.
Dans un mode préféré de réalisation de l'invention, le plancher ou le plafond de ladite caverne intègre des marches, des plans obliques ou une combinaison des deux, jouant le rôle d'absorbeur d'énergie et d'amortisseur.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the floor or the ceiling of said cave incorporates steps, oblique planes or a combination of the two, playing the role of energy absorber and damper.
Dans un mode préféré de réalisation de l'invention, ladite caverne, ou le cas échéant ledit tunnel, comprend des structures internes ou externes constituant des amortisseurs pour réduire les mouvements du support flottant en créant des turbulences dans le mouvement de l'eau à l'intérieur de ladite caverne ou dit tunnel.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said cavity, or where appropriate said tunnel, comprises internal or external structures constituting shock absorbers to reduce the movements of the floating support by creating turbulence in the movement of water at l inside said cave or said tunnel.
Plus particulièrement, les amortisseurs peuvent être constitués par au moins une paroi verticale, horizontale ou inclinée, de préférence perforée, disposée sur ou à proximité du plancher ou sous plafond de ladite caverne ou, le cas échéant, dudit tunnel. Plus particulièrement encore, ledit plafond ou, de préférence, ledit plancher desdites cavernes comprend des plans obliques ou verticaux formant des marches.More particularly, the shock absorbers can be constituted by at least one vertical, horizontal or inclined wall, preferably perforated, arranged on or near the floor or under the ceiling of said cavern or, where appropriate, of said tunnel. More particularly still, said ceiling or, preferably, said floor of said caves comprises oblique or vertical planes forming steps.
On comprend que ces marches jouent le rôle d'absorbeurs d'énergie et d'amortisseurs.We understand that these markets play the role of energy absorbers and shock absorbers.
Selon une variante avantageuse de réalisation de l'invention, le plancher de ladite caverne, ou le cas échéant ledit tunnel, est perforé par des deuxièmes cavités, de préférence verticales traversant la partie basse de la structure de la coque située dessous lesdits planchers des cavernes jusqu'au fond de la coque, lesdites deuxièmes cavités jouant également le rôle d'amortisseur.According to an advantageous alternative embodiment of the invention, the floor of said cavity, or where appropriate said tunnel, is perforated by second cavities, preferably vertical, passing through the lower part of the structure of the hull situated below said cave floors to the bottom of the hull, said second cavities also playing the role of shock absorber.
De préférence, ladite coque comprend des extensions de structures extérieures sur toute la longueur de la coque, jouant le rôle de quilles antiroulis, situées de préférence le long desdits planchers des cavernes et le long des extrémités inférieures des bordés latéraux de la coque.Preferably, said hull comprises extensions of external structures over the entire length of the hull, playing the role of anti-roll keels, preferably located along said floors of the caves and along the lower ends of the side plating of the hull.
A titre d'écran de protection contres les fortes mers, ladite caverne, ou ledit tunnel, peut avantageusement comprendre au moins une paroi horizontale fixée au plafond de ladite caverne, ou ledit tunnel, et s'étendant, de préférence à l'extérieur de la coque par des pans inclinés vers le haut.As a protective screen against strong seas, said cave, or said tunnel, can advantageously comprise at least one horizontal wall fixed to the ceiling of said cave, or said tunnel, and extending, preferably outside the hull by sides inclined upwards.
Dans une variante de réalisation la coque peut comprendre au moins une première caverne partiellement immergée et au moins une deuxième caverne ou un tunnel complètement immergé, la première caverne et la deuxième caverne ou le tunnel étant superposés.In an alternative embodiment, the hull may include at least a first partially submerged cavern and at least a second cavern or a completely submerged tunnel, the first cavern and the second cavern or the tunnel being superimposed.
Dans un mode de réalisation préférentiel, la hauteur de la caverne ou la hauteur totale des cavernes et tunnels superposés représentent une hauteur d'au moins 50 %, de préférence de 50 à 75 % de la hauteur de la coque.In a preferred embodiment, the height of the cavern or the total height of the superposed caves and tunnels represents a height of at least 50%, preferably from 50 to 75% of the height of the hull.
Plus particulièrement encore, notamment lorsque la caverne est partiellement immergée, au moins 50 % de la hauteur desdites cavernes, de préférence de 50 à 75 %, est située au-dessous de la ligne de flottaison de ladite barge.More particularly still, in particular when the cavern is partially submerged, at least 50% of the height of said caverns, preferably 50 to 75%, is located below the water line of said barge.
Dans un mode préféré de réalisation de l'invention ladite caverne, ou le cas échéant ledit tunnel, comprend des structures de renfort consistant en des poutres ou des parois verticales disposées entre le plancher et le plafond de ladite caverne ou dudit tunnel.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said cave, or where appropriate said tunnel, comprises reinforcing structures consisting of beams or vertical walls disposed between the floor and the ceiling of said cave or said tunnel.
La présente invention s'applique plus particulièrement à une barge comprenant une structure de coque en béton, acier, combinaison de béton et acier ou tout autre matériau composite et recevant des équipements de forage, production, traitement et stockage de pétrole 4, la longueur de la coque 1 étant supérieure à 150 m, de préférence supérieure à 300 m, sa largeur étant supérieure à 30 m, de préférence supérieure à 50 m et sa hauteur étant supérieure à 20 m, de préférence supérieure à 30 m.The present invention applies more particularly to a barge comprising a hull structure of concrete, steel, combination of concrete and steel or any other composite material and receiving equipment for drilling, production, processing and storage of petroleum 4, the length of the hull 1 being greater than 150 m, preferably greater than 300 m, its width being greater than 30 m, preferably greater than 50 m and its height being greater than 20 m, preferably greater than 30 m.
D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention apparaîtront à la lecture de la description détaillée de certains modes de réalisation qui va suivre, faite en référence aux figures suivantes dans lesquelles :Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description of certain embodiments which follows, made with reference to the following figures in which:
les figures 1 , 2 et 3 sont des vues simplifiées d'une barge selon l'invention, respectivement en vue de coté (figure 1), en section selon un plan correspondant au niveau de l'eau (figure 2) et en perspective (figure 3),Figures 1, 2 and 3 are simplified views of a barge according to the invention, respectively in side view (Figure 1), in section along a plane corresponding to the water level (Figure 2) and in perspective ( figure 3),
la figure 4 est une vue en perspective éclatée, d'une barge, la partie mouillée étant représentée en traits pleins, la partie hors d'eau en pointillés,FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a barge, the wet part being shown in solid lines, the part out of water in dotted lines,
la figure 5 est une section transversale axiale de la barge selon un plan (Y1, ZZ')au niveau de la baie de forage,FIG. 5 is an axial cross section of the barge along a plane (Y 1 , ZZ ′) at the level of the drilling bay,
les figures 6, 7 et 8 sont des sections transversales de la barge selon un plan (Y', ZZ') selon respectivement les coupes AA, BB et CC de la figure 2, les figures 9, 10 et 11 sont des sections transversales de la barge au niveau AA de la figure 2 détaillant des dispositifs complémentaires d'absorption d'énergie,FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are cross sections of the barge along a plane (Y ′, ZZ ′) according respectively to the sections AA, BB and CC of FIG. 2, FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are cross sections of the barge at level AA in FIG. 2 detailing additional energy absorption devices,
la figure 12 est une section d'une barge au niveau de la surface de le mer détaillant des dispositifs complémentaires d'absorption d'énergie.Figure 12 is a section of a barge at sea level detailing additional energy absorption devices.
les figures 13 et 14 sont respectivement des vues de côté et en coupe transversale d'une barge selon AA de la figure 13 présentant des cavernes dans la zone de la surface de la mer associées à des tunnels traversant la coque de part en part.Figures 13 and 14 are respectively side and cross-sectional views of a barge along AA of Figure 13 showing caves in the area of the sea surface associated with tunnels crossing the hull right through.
la figure 15 représente un graphique étudiant l'influence de la profondeur des cavernes.Figure 15 represents a graph studying the influence of the depth of the caves.
la figure 16 représente en coupe en vue de dessus, une barge sensiblement carrée selon l'invention.Figure 16 shows in section from above, a substantially square barge according to the invention.
Les figurés 1 à 4 représentent une structure en béton ou en acier d'une coque de barge 1 de forme générale essentiellement parallélépipédique.Figures 1 to 4 represent a concrete or steel structure of a barge hull 1 of generally essentially parallelepiped shape.
La coque 1 supporte des équipements 6 de forage, de production, de traitement et de stockage de pétrole, représentés sur les figures 5 à 10.The hull 1 supports equipment 6 for drilling, production, processing and storage of petroleum, shown in FIGS. 5 to 10.
La coque 1 est traversée sur toute sa hauteur dans sa partie centrale par une cavité verticale 4 constituant une baie de forage destinée à recevoir, notamment des conduites de liaison fonds-surfaces appelées "risers" .The shell 1 is traversed over its entire height in its central part by a vertical cavity 4 constituting a drilling bay intended to receive, in particular bottom-surface connection pipes called "risers".
La cavité centrale 4 est de forme essentiellement parallélépipédique, sa longueur étant disposée le long de la direction longitudinale de la coque XX' et sa largeur dans la direction transversale YY' de la coque, ladite cavité centrale 4 étant de préférence centrée par rapport à l'axe longitudinal XX' de la coque.The central cavity 4 is essentially rectangular in shape, its length being disposed along the longitudinal direction of the shell XX 'and its width in the transverse direction YY' of the shell, said central cavity 4 preferably being centered relative to the 'longitudinal axis XX' of the hull.
La barge, telle que représentée sur les figures 1 à 14, comporte :The barge, as shown in Figures 1 to 14, includes:
- un pont supérieur 16, - une partie basse 17 dont la sous-face 15 constitue le fond de la coque,- an upper deck 1 6 , - a lower part 1 7 whose underside 1 5 constitutes the bottom of the shell,
- des parois périphériques 1 , à 14 assurant la jonction entre le pont supérieur 16 et la partie inférieure 17 de la barge, à savoir deux parois périphériques latérales 1 , et \ _ dans la direction longitudinale XX' et deux parois transversales d'extrémité avant 1 , et d'extrémité arrière 14.- Peripheral walls 1, at 1 4 ensuring the junction between the upper deck 1 6 and the lower part 1 7 of the barge, namely two lateral peripheral walls 1, and \ _ in the longitudinal direction XX 'and two transverse walls d front end 1, and rear end 1 4 .
En fait, la paroi périphérique de la baie de forage 4 est encadrée dans la direction longitudinale par des murs axiaux 42 qui lui sont accolés. Ces murs axiaux 42 correspondent à des diminution de la largeur de la coque. La jonction entre la partie supérieure 16 et la partie inférieure 17-15 de la barge est consolidée par quatre piliers d'angle 5, qui viennent renforcer la jonction réalisée en outre par la paroi périphérique centrale de la baie de forage 4- et lesdits murs axiaux 42.In fact, the peripheral wall of the drilling bay 4 is framed in the longitudinal direction by axial walls 4 2 which are attached to it. These axial walls 4 2 correspond to a decrease in the width of the hull. The junction between the upper part 1 6 and the lower part 1 7 -1 5 of the barge is consolidated by four corner pillars 5, which reinforce the junction also produced by the central peripheral wall of the drilling bay 4- and said axial walls 4 2 .
Les murs axiaux 42, de part et d'autre de la baie de forage 4 dans la direction longitudinale XX', ne s'étendent pas dans ladite direction longitudinale XX' jusqu'au niveau des piliers 5 de manière à former un espace libre 33 entre les parois d'extrémité 3, desdits murs axiaux 42 et les piliers 32. Cet espace libre 33 permet le passage de l'eau de mer traversant la coque 1 transversalement, mais aussi dans une direction longitudinale ou inclinée en traversant les cavernes d'extrémité avant 23 et arrière 24 décrites ci-après.The axial walls 4 2 , on either side of the wellbore 4 in the longitudinal direction XX ', do not extend in the said longitudinal direction XX' up to the level of the pillars 5 so as to form a free space 3 3 between the end walls 3, of said axial walls 4 2 and the pillars 3 2 . This free space 3 3 allows the passage of sea water passing through the hull 1 transversely, but also in a longitudinal or inclined direction through the front end caves 2 3 and rear 2 4 described below.
Les quatre piliers d'angle 5 et les faces externes 32 desdites parois périphériques 4, de la baie de forage 4 ainsi que lesdits murs axiaux 42 forment des cavernes 2X à 24 comme détaillé ci-après,The four corner pillars 5 and the external faces 3 2 of said peripheral walls 4, of the drilling bay 4 as well as said axial walls 4 2 form cavities 2 X to 2 4 as detailed below,
La barge selon l'invention comporte deux paires de cavernes latéralesThe barge according to the invention comprises two pairs of lateral caverns
2,, 22 disposées symétriquement de part et d'autre de la baie de forage dans la direction longitudinale XX', et une paire de cavernes 23, 24, d'extrémités avant 2, et arrière 24.2 ,, 2 2 arranged symmetrically on either side of the drilling bay in the longitudinal direction XX ′, and a pair of caves 2 3 , 2 4 , with front ends 2, and rear ends 2 4 .
Les deux paires de cavernes latérales 2X, 2_ sont constituées par : - des parois latérales 32 de caverne qui s'étendent dans une direction transversale YY' perpendiculaire à la direction longitudinale des parois périphériques longitudinales, respectivement 1 , et 12, de la coque 1 , l'une des parois latérale de caverne 32 étant formée par la face externe de la paroi périphérique 4, de la baie de forage 4 de part et d'autre de la baie de forage, et l'autre paroi latérale 32 desdites cavernes 2,, 22 étant formée par une des faces internes desdits piliers d'angle 5. Les parois de fond 3, desdites cavernes latérales 2, et 22 sont formées par les faces opposées dans la direction longitudinale desdits murs axiaux 42. Dans la mesure où lesdits murs axiaux 42 sont en retrait par rapport au niveau des piliers 5 dans la direction longitudinale, lesdites parois de fond 3, n'occupent pas entièrement le fond des cavernes latérales 2, et 22. Les parois latérales 32 des cavernes d'extrémités avant 23 et arrière 24 sont formées par les faces internes en vis à vis s'étendant dans ladite direction longitudinale XX' des piliers d'angle 5. Les parois de fond 3, desdites cavernes d'extrémités avant 23 et arrière 24 sont formées par les parois transversales d'extrémité des murs axiaux 42. Les murs axiaux 42, qui s'étendent dans ladite' direction longitudinale XX' parallèlement auxdites parois périphériques latérales 1 , et 12, se terminent, en effet, à l'avant et à l'arrière par des parois transversales perpendiculaires dont la largeur dans ladite direction transversale est inférieure à la distance entre lesdites faces internes en vis à vis 32 de deux piliers d'angle 5 disposés symétriquement par rapport à un plan axial longitudinal XZ de ladite coque.The two pairs of lateral caves 2 X , 2_ are made up of: - side walls 3 2 of the cave which extend in a transverse direction YY 'perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal peripheral walls, respectively 1, and 1 2 , of the shell 1, one of the side walls of the cave 3 2 being formed by the external face of the peripheral wall 4, of the drilling bay 4 on either side of the drilling bay, and the other side wall 3 2 of said cavities 2 ,, 2 2 being formed by one of the internal faces of said corner pillars 5. The bottom walls 3, of said lateral cavities 2, and 2 2 are formed by the opposite faces in the longitudinal direction of said axial walls 4 2 . Insofar as said axial walls 4 2 are set back relative to the level of the pillars 5 in the longitudinal direction, said bottom walls 3 do not entirely occupy the bottom of the side caverns 2, and 2 2 . The side walls 3 2 of the front 2 3 and rear 2 4 end caverns are formed by the internal faces facing each other extending in said longitudinal direction XX ′ of the corner pillars 5. The bottom walls 3, of said front 2 3 and rear 2 4 end caves are formed by the transverse end walls of the axial walls 4 2 . The axial walls 4 2 , which extend in said 'longitudinal direction XX' parallel to said lateral peripheral walls 1, and 1 2 , end, in fact, at the front and at the rear by perpendicular transverse walls, the width in said transverse direction is less than the distance between said internal facing faces 3 2 of two corner pillars 5 arranged symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal axial plane XZ of said shell.
Les deux cavernes latérales 2, et 22 de chaque paire de cavernes latérales communiquent entre elles par un espace libre 33 formant une chicane permettant à l'eau de mer de traverser transversalement la coque depuis une paroi périphérique latérale 1 , jusqu'à la paroi opposée 12 mais en contournant lesdits murs axiaux 42. Cette forme de chicane améliore considérablement l'absorption d'énergie de la houle pour certaines fréquences et certaines incidences de ladite houle. Mais, en outre, chacune desdites cavernes d'extrémités avant 2, et arrière 24 communique avec chacune desdites cavernes latérales 2, et 22 de ladite paire de cavernes disposées du même côté de la baie de forage par rapport à un plan axial YZ de ladite coque de ladite caverne d'extrémité avant 23 ou arrière 24 . Cette circulation multidirectionnelle de l'eau pouvant traverser la coque entre une paroi d'extrémité avant 13 ou arrière 14 et une des parois périphériques latérales 1 , ou 12 de la coque , contribue également à réduire l'énergie de la houle par dissipation de l'énergie résultant de la circulation multidirectionnelle de l'eau de mer à travers la coque.The two side caves 2, and 2 2 of each pair of side caves communicate with each other by a free space 3 3 forming a baffle allowing the sea water to cross the hull transversely from a lateral peripheral wall 1, up to the opposite wall 1 2 but bypassing said axial walls 4 2 . This form of baffle considerably improves the energy absorption of the swell for certain frequencies and certain incidences of said swell. But, in addition, each of said front 2 and rear 2 end caverns 4 communicates with each of said lateral cavities 2, and 2 2 of said pair of cavities arranged on the same side of the wellbore relative to an axial plane YZ of said shell of said front end cavity 2 3 or rear 2 4 . This multidirectional circulation of water which can pass through the hull between a front end wall 1 3 or rear 1 4 and one of the lateral peripheral walls 1, or 1 2 of the hull, also contributes to reducing the energy of the swell by dissipation of energy resulting from the multidirectional circulation of seawater through the hull.
Lesdites parois de fond 31 desdites cavernes latérales 2,, 22 correspondent à des largeurs réduites de la coque 1 qui s'étendent depuis la baie de forage 4, plus précisément depuis la face externe 32 de la parois périphérique 4, de la baie de forage 4, vers les parois d'extrémité 13 et 14 de la coque et s'arrêtent avantageusement avant lesdites extrémités avant 13 et arrière 14 de la barge. De même, les parois de fonds 3. s'étendant dans la direction transversale YY' desdites cavernes d'extrémités avant 2, et arrière 24, correspondent à une longueur réduite de la coque. Ces largeur et longueur réduites de la coque créent une section horizontale réduite de la coque au niveau desdites cavernes 2, à 24. La raideur mécanique de la coque est assurée aux angles par lesdits piliers de forte section situés aux quatre coins et reliant le pont 16 constituant la partie supérieure de la coque à la partie inférieure 15, 17 de la coque.Said bottom walls 3 1 of said lateral cavities 2 ,, 2 2 correspond to reduced widths of the shell 1 which extend from the wellbore 4, more precisely from the external face 3 2 of the peripheral wall 4, of the drilling bay 4, towards the end walls 1 3 and 1 4 of the hull and advantageously stop before said front ends 1 3 and rear 1 4 of the barge. Similarly, the bottom walls 3. extending in the transverse direction YY 'of said front end cavities 2, and rear 2 4 , correspond to a reduced length of the hull. These reduced width and length of the hull create a reduced horizontal section of the hull at the level of said caverns 2 to 2 4 . The mechanical stiffness of the hull is provided at the corners by said pillars of large section located at the four corners and connecting the deck 1 6 constituting the upper part of the hull to the lower part 1 5 , 1 7 of the hull.
Dans un mode de réalisation, les dimensions de la barge et de ses différentes cavernes sont les suivantes :In one embodiment, the dimensions of the barge and its various caves are as follows:
Dans la direction longitudinale XX', les piliers d'angle 5 présentent des faces correspondant aux parois latérales 32 des cavernes d'extrémités avant 2, et arrière 24 d'une part, et, d'autre part, des extrémités avant et arrière desdites parois périphériques latérales longitudinales 1 , et 12 de la coque 1 de 20 m. La distance entre les faces des piliers d'angle 5 s'étendant dans la direction transversale YY' et les parois de fond 3, s'étendant dans la même direction transversale YY' desdites cavernes d'extrémités avant 2 et arrière 24 (correspondant aux parois d'extrémité des murs axiaux 42) est de 10 m. La longueur des murs axiaux 42 et donc des parois de fond 31 desdites cavernes latérales 2, , 22 est de 70 m. Les portions de parois périphériques latérales longitudinales 1. , 12 correspondant aux bordés latérales de ladite baie de forage séparant deux cavernes latérales, respectivement 2, et 22, dans ladite direction longitudinale XX', sont de 100 m.In the longitudinal direction XX ', the corner pillars 5 have faces corresponding to the side walls 3 2 of the front end cavities 2, and rear 2 4 on the one hand, and, on the other hand, of the front ends and rear of said longitudinal lateral peripheral walls 1, and 1 2 of the hull 1 of 20 m. The distance between the faces of the corner pillar 5 extending in the transverse direction YY 'and the bottom walls 3, extending in the same transverse direction YY' of said caverns end front 2 and rear 2 4 (corresponding at the end walls of the axial walls 4 2 ) is 10 m. The length of the axial walls 4 2 and therefore of the bottom walls 31 of said side caves 2,, 2 2 is 70 m. The portions of longitudinal lateral peripheral walls 1, 1 2 corresponding to the lateral plating of said drilling bay separating two lateral caves, respectively 2, and 2 2 , in said longitudinal direction XX ', are 100 m.
La longueur de ladite baie de forage 4 dans la direction longitudinale XX' est de 80 m.The length of said drilling bay 4 in the longitudinal direction XX 'is 80 m.
Dans ladite direction transversale YY', la profondeur desdites cavernes latérales 2, et 22 correspondant à la largeur dans la direction transversale desdites parois latérales 32 de cavernes latérales 2, et 22 formée par la face externe de la paroi périphérique 4, de la baie de forage 4, est de 22,5 m. L'autre paroi latérale 32 de cavernes latérales 2,, 22 qui n'est pas reliée directement à la paroi de fond 3, desdites cavernes latérales 2, et 22 et qui correspond à l'une des faces desdites piliers d'angle 5, s'étendant dans ladite direction transversale YY', présente une dimension dans cette dite direction transversale de 10 m, de sorte que la distance dans ladite direction transversale YY' entre les parois de fond 3, desdites cavernes latérales 2, et 22 et la bordure intérieure à la caverne de ladite paroi latérale 32 délimitant une zone de passage libre 33 entre ladite paroi latérale 32 des cavernes latérales 2. et 22 et ladite paroi de fond 3 desdites cavernes latérales 2X et 22, est de 12,5 m.In said transverse direction YY ', the depth of said lateral cavities 2, and 2 2 corresponding to the width in the transverse direction of said lateral walls 3 2 of lateral cavities 2, and 2 2 formed by the external face of the peripheral wall 4, the drilling bay 4 is 22.5 m. The other side wall 3 2 of side caves 2 ,, 2 2 which is not directly connected to the bottom wall 3, of said side caves 2, and 2 2 and which corresponds to one of the faces of said pillars of angle 5, extending in said transverse direction YY ', has a dimension in this said transverse direction of 10 m, so that the distance in said transverse direction YY' between the bottom walls 3, of said lateral cavities 2, and 2 2 and the interior border of said side wall 3 2 defining a free passage area 3 3 between said side wall 3 2 of side caves 2. and 2 2 and said bottom wall 3 of said side caves 2 X and 2 2 , is 12.5 m.
La distance dans ladite direction transversale YY' entre deux parois de fond 3, de deux cavernes latérales opposées 2. et 22, qui correspond à la largeur (dans ladite direction transversale YY') de la paroi de fond 3, desdites cavernes d'extrémités avant 23 et arrière 24, est de 15 m. La distance dans ladite direction transversale YY' entre les faces internes de deux piliers d'angle exposés symétriquement par rapport à un plan axial longitudinal XZ, lesdites faces correspondant à deux parois latérales 32 desdites cavernes d'extrémités avant 23 et arrière 24, est de 40 m.The distance in said transverse direction YY 'between two bottom walls 3, of two opposite lateral cavities 2. and 2 2 , which corresponds to the width (in said transverse direction YY') of the bottom wall 3, of said caverns front ends 2 3 and rear ends 2 4 , is 15 m. The distance in said transverse direction YY 'between the internal faces of two corner pillars exposed symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal axial plane XZ, said faces corresponding to two side walls 3 2 of said front end cavities 2 3 and rear 2 4 , is 40 m.
Ladite barge correspond donc à une longueur maximum de 300 m et une largeur maximum de 60 m. La jonction entre les parois latérales 32 desdites cavernes 2, à 24 est réalisée par des plafonds 34 et planchers 35. Les plafonds 34 assurent la jonction entre les bords supérieurs desdites parois de fond 3, et desdites parois latérales 32. Lesdits planchers 35 assurent la jonction entre les bords inférieurs desdites parois de fond 3, et desdites parois latérales 32 desdites cavernes 2, à 24.Said barge therefore corresponds to a maximum length of 300 m and a maximum width of 60 m. The junction between the side walls 3 2 of said caves 2, to 2 4 is produced by ceilings 3 4 and floors 3 5 . The ceilings 3 4 provide the junction between the upper edges of said bottom walls 3, and said side walls 3 2 . Said floors 3 5 provide the junction between the lower edges of said bottom walls 3, and said side walls 3 2 of said cavities 2, to 2 4 .
Les cavernes 2, à 24 sont de préférence excentrées sur la hauteur : la partie basse 17 de la structure de la coque située sous les cavernes 2, à 24 représente une hauteur plus importante que celle de la partie haute 16 de la structure située au-dessus des cavernes, en particulier la hauteur de ladite partie basse 17 peut correspondre à une hauteur double de celle de ladite partie haute 16.The caves 2, at 2 4 are preferably offset on the height: the lower part 1 7 of the structure of the hull located under the caves 2, at 2 4 represents a greater height than that of the high part 1 6 of the structure located above the caverns, in particular the height of said lower part 1 7 may correspond to a height twice that of said upper part 1 6 .
Les cavernes 2, à 24 sont situées de telle sorte que la ligne de flottaison 7 de la barge correspond sensiblement à la mi-hauteur des cavernes.The caves 2 to 2 4 are located so that the water line 7 of the barge corresponds substantially to the mid-height of the caves.
Les hauteurs desdites cavernes 2, à 24 dans la direction verticale ZZ' dans l'exemple illustratif de réalisation donné précédemment sont de 24 m.The heights of said caves 2, 24 in the vertical direction ZZ 'in the illustrative embodiment given above are 24 m.
Pour une barge présentant les dimensions mentionnées ci-dessus, la période propre du mouvement vertical passe dans une configuration de chargement correspondant à un tonnage port en cours (TPL) de 275000 T, d'une valeur proche de 13 secondes en l'absence de cavernes 2, à 24, à une valeur proche de 23 secondes lorsque ladite coque 1 comporte lesdites cavernes 2, à 24. Les houles multidirectionnelles rencontrées de manière courante ont une période, en général, inférieure à 16 secondes, atteignant exceptionnellement 20 secondes. On cherche alors en général des coques à structure flottante dont la fréquence propre est la plus éloignée possible des fréquences de la houle, de manière à éviter les phénomènes de résonance (R) entre les mouvements de la houle et les mouvements de la structure qui peuvent conduire à des amplifications considérables des mouvements de la coque en roulis, en tangage et en pilonnement. En effet, lorsqu'un support flottant est soumis à une houle de fréquence proche de la fréquence de résonance dudit support flottant, il se produit un transfert d'énergie de la houle vers ledit support flottant, qui a pour effet d'amplifier les mouvements, risquant soit de le déstabiliser l'ensemble et de rendre dangereuses les opérations réalisées à bord, soit de conduire à la ruine dudit support.For a barge having the dimensions mentioned above, the natural period of the vertical movement passes into a loading configuration corresponding to a tonnage in progress (TPL) of 275,000 T, a value close to 13 seconds in the absence of caves 2, at 2 4 , to a value close to 23 seconds when said shell 1 includes said caves 2, at 2 4 . Multidirectional swells commonly encountered have a period, generally, of less than 16 seconds, reaching exceptionally 20 seconds. We generally look for hulls with a floating structure whose natural frequency is as far as possible from the frequencies of the swell, so as to avoid the resonance phenomena (R) between the movements of the swell and the movements of the structure which can lead to considerable amplifications of the movements of the hull in roll, pitching and heaving. Indeed, when a floating support is subjected to a swell of frequency close to the resonance frequency of said floating support, there is a transfer of energy from the swell to said floating support, which has the effect of amplifying the movements , risking either destabilizing the assembly and making the operations carried out on board dangerous, or leading to the ruin of said support.
Le comportement de la barge munie des cavernes 2, à 24 décrites ci- dessus présente un comportement en tangage, en roulis et en pilonnement radicalement amélioré par rapport à une barge conventionnelle.The behavior of the barge provided with the caves 2, 2 to 4 described above has a radically improved behavior in pitching, rolling and heaving compared to a conventional barge.
A hauteur de caverne constante, le rapport entre la profondeur des cavernes latérales 2, et 22 et la largeur maximum de la barge 1 a une influence sur la période propre du support flottant en pilonnement, ainsi que sur l'amplitude des mouvements d'eau dans les cavernes à ladite période.At constant cavern height, the ratio between the depth of the lateral caverns 2, and 2 2 and the maximum width of the barge 1 has an influence on the natural period of the floating support in heaving, as well as on the amplitude of the movements of water in the caves at said period.
Dans la figure 15, on a représenté les résultats de calculs relatifs à l'influence de la largeur L du mur axial sur, d'une part la période propre T du mouvement vertical du système et d'autre part le facteur d'amplificationIn FIG. 15, the results of calculations have been represented relative to the influence of the width L of the axial wall on, on the one hand the natural period T of the vertical movement of the system and on the other hand the amplification factor
K de l'amplitude de la réponse des mouvements d'eau dans les cavernes à la fréquence de résonance. Il apparaît ainsi que si la profondeur des cavernes augmente et donc si la largeur du mur axial 42 diminue, la période propre en pilonnement de la coque augmente, ce qui est favorable, mais , en revanche, le facteur d'amplification K de l'amplitude des mouvements d'eau dans les cavernes, ramené à l m de houle incidente, augmente lui aussi, ce qui va à l'encontre du but recherché. La période propre recherchée étant au delà deK of the amplitude of the response of the water movements in the caves to the resonant frequency. It thus appears that if the depth of the caves increases and therefore if the width of the axial wall 4 2 decreases, the proper period of hull heaving increases, which is favorable, but, on the other hand, the amplification factor K of l he amplitude of water movements in the caves, reduced to 1 m of incident swell, also increases, which goes against the desired goal. The proper period sought being beyond
22-24 sec, ce graphique précise la largeur avantageuse du mur axial 42 qui sera d'environ 15m, ce qui correspond à des cavernes de 22.5m, et il en résulte un facteur d'amplification K de 5 environ.22-24 sec, this graph specifies the advantageous width of the axial wall 4 2 which will be approximately 15m, which corresponds to caves of 22.5m, and this results in an amplification factor K of approximately 5.
Pour une largeur de mur de 60m, la profondeur de la caverne est nulle, ce qui correspond à une barge conventionnelle selon l'art antérieur et la période de résonance est sensiblement 13sec.For a wall width of 60m, the depth of the cavern is zero, which corresponds to a conventional barge according to the prior art and the resonance period is substantially 13sec.
Pour une largeur de mur nul, l'extrapolation de la courbe donne une excellente valeur de la période de résonance de 29-30sec, mais un facteur d'amplification K supérieur à 10, ce qui va à l'encontre du but recherché. Le comportement dans une telle configuration correspond sensiblement à un tunnel transversal selon l'art antérieur, de mêmes dimensions que ladite caverne.For a zero wall width, the extrapolation of the curve gives an excellent value of the resonance period of 29-30sec, but a factor amplification K greater than 10, which goes against the goal. The behavior in such a configuration corresponds substantially to a transverse tunnel according to the prior art, of the same dimensions as said cavern.
En combinant avantageusement aux cavernes, des dispositifs variés d'absorption d'énergie, soit localisés, soit répartis, soit encore en combinant des cavernes et des tunnels en superposition ou juxtaposition, on améliore la stabilité d'ensemble en réduisant le facteur d'amplification K, ce qui correspondrait sensiblement à un décalage vers le bas, de la courbe de la figure 15, relative audit facteur K.By advantageously combining with caves, various energy absorption devices, either localized or distributed, or even by combining caves and tunnels in superposition or juxtaposition, the overall stability is improved by reducing the amplification factor K, which would correspond substantially to a downward shift, of the curve of FIG. 15, relating to said factor K.
Les figures 9 et 10 décrivent divers amortisseurs 10, à 1015 qui ont pour fonction de réduire les mouvements de la barge en créant de manière locale des turbulences dont l'objectif est, soit respectivement, soit en combinaison, de créer de l'amortissement visqueux ou de la masse ajoutée, soit d'organiser un chaos qui empêche l'apparition de résonances de type mode propre, détruisant ainsi les modes parasites qui ne manqueraient pas de se produire en l'absence de tels dispositifs. Ces termes étant connus de l'homme de l'art dans le domaine des calculs hydrodynamiques, ne seront pas développés plus en détails ici.FIGS. 9 and 10 describe various shock absorbers 10, to 10 15 which have the function of reducing the movements of the barge by locally creating turbulence the objective of which is, respectively or in combination, to create damping viscous or added mass, or to organize a chaos which prevents the appearance of clean mode resonances, thus destroying the parasitic modes which would not fail to occur in the absence of such devices. These terms being known to those skilled in the art in the field of hydrodynamic calculations, will not be developed in more detail here.
Sur la figure 9 on a représenté des voiles en acier ou en béton horizontaux 10, et 102, fixés sur respectivement, le plafond 34 des cavernes et le plancher 35 des cavernes 2, à 24. Ces voiles horizontaux 10, et 102 sont avantageusement perforés 103. Le voile horizontal 102 constitue un second plancher, percé de trous 103, aux contours réguliers ou de préférence irréguliers, répartis de manière régulière ou non. 11 est rendu solidaire de la structure de la barge par les supports 1 1. Ledit second plancher crée alors localement un mur d'eau oscillant. Les murs d'eau oscillants réalisés dans les applications côtièrcs sont en général supportés par des piles enfoncées dans le sol, ce qui rend le dispositif fixe. Le dispositif selon l'invention est fixe par rapport à la structure de la barge, cette dernière étant libre de tous mouvements par rapport à la houle. Dans la même figure 9, le voile supérieur 10, constitue un écran présentant des trous 103 et solidaire, par l'intermédiaire des supports 1 1 , de la en sous-face de la partie émergée de la structure. Ledit écran joue un rôle identique à mur Jarlan, et absorbe une partie de l'énergie d'une houle extrême, dont le haut de la vague entrerait un contact direct, avec la partie émergée de la structure, soit au niveau du bordé, soit au niveau de la sous face de la partie supérieure de la structure. A cet effet, le voile supérieur 10, déborde avantageusement de la coque par des extensions en forme de pans inclinés vers le haut 104.In FIG. 9, horizontal steel or concrete sails 10 and 10 2 are shown , fixed on respectively, the ceiling 3 4 of the caves and the floor 3 5 of the caves 2, at 2 4 . These horizontal webs 10, and 10 2 are advantageously perforated 10 3 . The horizontal web 10 2 constitutes a second floor, pierced with holes 10 3 , with regular or preferably irregular contours, distributed evenly or not. 11 is made integral with the structure of the barge by the supports 1 1. Said second floor then locally creates an oscillating wall of water. The oscillating water walls produced in coastal applications are generally supported by piles driven into the ground, which makes the device fixed. The device according to the invention is fixed relative to the structure of the barge, the latter being free from any movement relative to the swell. In the same figure 9, the upper veil 10, constitutes a screen having holes 10 3 and secured, by means of the supports 1 1, to the underside of the emerged part of the structure. Said screen plays an identical role to the Jarlan wall, and absorbs part of the energy of an extreme swell, the top of the wave of which would come into direct contact with the part of the structure that emerged, either at the level of the planking or at the level of the underside of the upper part of the structure. To this end, the upper veil 10 advantageously projects beyond the hull by extensions in the form of sides inclined upwards 10 4 .
Dans la partie inférieure 15, 17 de la barge 1 et de préférence au niveau des bordés de la barge, on installe avantageusement des extensions de structure 106, continues ou non sur toute la longueur de la barge, jouant le rôle de quille antiroulis. Ces quilles antiroulis ont pour fonction de créer un amortissement du roulis de la barge, d'une part par augmentation de l'inertie globale du système par masse d'eau ajoutée, et d'autre part par dissipation d'énergie par création de tourbillons vers l'extrémité de ladite quille antiroulis. Des quilles antiroulis similaires 106 sont avantageusement installées en partie haute de manière à augmenter dans cette zone, les amortissements par effet visqueux ou par effet de masse d'eau ajoutée.In the lower part 1 5 , 1 7 of the barge 1 and preferably at the level of the plating of the barge, it is advantageous to install structural extensions 10 6 , continuous or not over the entire length of the barge, playing the role of keel roll. The purpose of these anti-roll keels is to create a damping of the roll of the barge, on the one hand by increasing the overall inertia of the system by added water mass, and on the other hand by energy dissipation by creation of vortices towards the end of said anti-roll keel. Similar anti-roll skittles 10 6 are advantageously installed in the upper part so as to increase in this zone, the dampings by viscous effect or by effect of added water mass.
Les cavernes 2 sont représentés de forme parallélépipédique et sensiblement horizontale, mais, comme représenté sur la figure 9 dans la partie droite, elles présentent avantageusement une forme en escalier 10, 5 associée à des pans coupés obliques, présentant ainsi une ouverture de hauteur maximale au niveau du bordé du support, ladite hauteur se réduisant lorsque l'on se rapproche de l'axe longitudinal XX du support flottant. La hauteur des cavernes 2 représente une hauteur d'environ les deux tiers de la hauteur de la structure de la coque.The caverns 2 are shown in a parallelepiped shape and substantially horizontal, but, as shown in FIG. 9 on the right, they advantageously have a staircase shape 10, 5 associated with oblique cut sections, thus having a maximum height opening at level of the plating of the support, said height reducing when approaching the longitudinal axis XX of the floating support. The height of the caves 2 represents a height of about two thirds of the height of the hull structure.
Dans la figure 10, l'amortissement est créé par des deuxièmes cavitésIn Figure 10, damping is created by second cavities
107 sensiblement verticales à travers la structure inférieure du fond 17 de la barge, mettant en communication la sous-face 15 de la barge avec le plancher10 7 substantially vertical through the bottom structure of the bottom 1 7 of the barge, bringing the underside 1 5 of the barge into communication with the floor
35 des cavernes 2, et 22. Ainsi, lorsque la houle agit sur l'ensemble de la structure immergée, les différences de pression existants dans la zone de la sous-face et la zone des cavernes crée des échanges de masses d'eau. Lesdits échanges créent des pertes de charge qui engendrent un effet d'amortissement visqueux. Plusieurs dispositifs améliorent avantageusement cet amortissement. Dans le cas de la deuxième cavité 107, les pertes de charge sont créées principalement au niveau des orifices supérieurs et inférieurs desdites deuxièmes cavités. La perte de charge peut-être avantageusement reportée au niveau de chicanes 108 ou de diaphragmes 10CJ, les entrées desdites deuxièmes cavités 107 étant avantageusement profilées en formes arrondies 107 ou en forme d'entonnoir pour minimiser les pertes de charges dans ces zones. Des accessoires complémentaires, tels des couvercles 1013 présentant, par exemple, des ouvertures latérales tubulaires 10, 4, ou encore des formes d'entonnoir 10, , , créeront des amortissement complémentaires au niveau de la sous-face de la structure, comme au niveau du plancher du tunnel, selon l'endroit ou ils sont installés. Lesdites deuxièmes cavités 107 décrites peuvent avoir une section quelconque, régulière ou non sur leur longueur et seront de préférence cylindrique à section circulaire ou prismatique.3 5 of caves 2, and 2 2 . Thus, when the swell acts on the entire submerged structure, the pressure differences existing in the area of the underside and the cave area creates exchanges of water masses. Said exchanges create pressure drops which generate a viscous damping effect. Several devices advantageously improve this damping. In the case of the second cavity 10 7 , the pressure drops are created mainly at the level of the upper and lower orifices of said second cavities. The pressure drop can advantageously be transferred to the level of baffles 10 8 or diaphragms 10 CJ , the inputs of said second cavities 10 7 being advantageously profiled in rounded shapes 10 7 or in the form of a funnel in order to minimize the pressure drops in these areas. Complementary accessories, such as covers 10 13 having, for example, tubular lateral openings 10, 4 , or even funnel shapes 10,,, will create additional damping at the level of the underside of the structure, as in level of the tunnel floor, depending on where they are installed. Said second cavities 10 7 described may have any section, regular or not along their length and will preferably be cylindrical with circular or prismatic section.
Sur cette même figure 10, on a représenté des deuxièmes cavités verticales 107 traversant la partie basse 17 de la coque entre le plancher 35 des cavernes et le fond 15 de la coque, ces deuxièmes cavités verticales 107 étant de section horizontale régulière ou non. Certaines dites deuxièmes cavités verticales 107 comprennent le long de leur paroi verticale des extensions de structures horizontales 108 et 109 disposées en quinconce sur les parties opposées de la paroi, de manière à créer une chicane 108 ou disposées face à face sur des parties opposées de la paroi de manière à créer un goulet d'étranglement 109.In this same figure 10, there are shown second vertical cavities 10 7 crossing the lower part 1 7 of the hull between the floor 3 5 of the caves and the bottom 1 5 of the hull, these second vertical cavities 10 7 being of horizontal section regular or not. Certain so-called second vertical cavities 10 7 comprise, along their vertical wall, extensions of horizontal structures 10 8 and 10 9 arranged in staggered rows on the opposite parts of the wall, so as to create a baffle 10 8 or arranged face to face on opposite parts of the wall to create a bottleneck 10 9 .
Certaines desdites deuxièmes cavités verticales 107 débouchent au niveau du plancher 35 des cavernes 2,, 22 ou du fond 15 de la coque, selon une forme évasée 1010, c'est-à-dire que le diamètre ou la section au niveau dudit plancher 35 ou dudit fond 15 est plus grand que dans le reste de la hauteur de ladite deuxième cavité 1 , à l'intérieur de la structure en partie basse 17 de la coque. Certaines des dites deuxièmes cavités verticales 10-, se terminent avantageusement par une extension en dessous du fond 15 de la coque en forme d'entonnoir 10,, .Some of said second vertical cavities 10 7 open at the level of the floor 3 5 of the cavities 2 ,, 2 2 or of the bottom 1 5 of the hull, in a flared shape 10 10 , that is to say that the diameter or the section at the level of said floor 3 5 or of said bottom 1 5 is greater than in the rest of the height of said second cavity 1, inside the structure in the lower part 1 7 of the hull. Some of said second vertical cavities 10-, advantageously end in an extension below the bottom 1 5 of the funnel-shaped shell 10 ,,.
La figure 11 détaille un mode d'amortissement par adjonction d'un voile vertical 105 présentant des trous 103 réguliers ou non, répartis de manière régulière ou non, de manière à créer des amortissements par effet visqueux, lorsque l'environnement direct est agité par la houle, les courants ou les mouvements propres de la barge.FIG. 11 details a method of damping by adding a vertical veil 10 5 having holes 10 3 regular or not, distributed evenly or not, so as to create dampings by viscous effect, when the direct environment is agitated by swell, currents or the barge's own movements.
Lesdits voiles verticaux 105 (figure 11) ou horizontaux 10, 102 (figure 9) peuvent être plans ou courbes ou gauches (figure 12), continus ou discontinus et sont avantageusement perforés. Il est également possible de réaliser des voiles d'amortissement inclinés entre la verticale et l'horizontal.Said vertical webs 10 5 (FIG. 11) or horizontal webs 10 , 10 2 (FIG. 9) can be flat or curved or left (FIG. 12), continuous or discontinuous and are advantageously perforated. It is also possible to make damping sails inclined between the vertical and the horizontal.
La figure 12 est une coupe en vue de dessus à un niveau correspondant au-dessus du plancher 35 des cavernes, détaillant , d'une part sur la partie gauche, des écrans 105 verticaux, perforés 103 ou non, de forme rectiligne, en ligne brisée ou sinueuse ou encore de forme gauche, d'autre part sur la partie droite, desdites deuxièmes cavités verticales 107 de formes variées telles des formes circulaires, oblongues ou prismatiques, lesdites formes étant régulière ou non sur leur hauteur.Figure 12 is a sectional view from above at a level corresponding above the floor 3 5 of the caves, detailing, on the one hand on the left side, vertical screens 10 5 , perforated 10 3 or not, of rectilinear shape , in a broken or sinuous line or else in the left shape, on the other hand on the right part, of said second vertical cavities 10 7 of various shapes such as circular, oblong or prismatic shapes, said shapes being regular or not over their height.
La présente invention a été décrite dans le cadre d'une barge comportant des têtes de puits en surface, mais elle s'applique à tous les domaines industriels et de loisir dans lesquels on recherche une stabilité maximale du support flottant soumis aux conditions environnementales, par exemple le traitement du gaz et son stockage sous forme liquéfiée à des températures cryogéniques (-165°C) ou encore pour l'installation d'équipements industriels, tels que, par exemple des turbines à gaz produisant de l'électricité ou encore une base de lancement de missiles ou de fusées pour l'industrie spatiale ou toute autre application telles que des bases de loisir et des hôtels. Le support flottant constituant la coque de la barge 1 peut être construit en tous types de matériau autre que l'acier, tels le béton ou une combinaison de béton acier ou encore tout matériau composite.The present invention has been described in the context of a barge comprising wellheads on the surface, but it applies to all industrial and leisure fields in which maximum stability of the floating support subjected to environmental conditions is sought, by example gas treatment and storage in liquefied form at cryogenic temperatures (-165 ° C) or for the installation of industrial equipment, such as, for example gas turbines producing electricity or a base launching missiles or rockets for the space industry or any other application such as leisure bases and hotels. The floating support constituting the hull of the barge 1 can be constructed of any type of material other than steel, such as concrete or a combination of concrete steel or any composite material.
La forme de ces barges est plus ou moins dictée par les outils de production que possèdent les chantiers navals et la largeur indiquée précédemment a rarement été dépassée en raison des limitations ou de l'optimisation des formes de radoubs et des cales sèches disponibles sur le plan mondial. La construction dans un chantier naval peut donc créer des limitations en ce qui concerne les dimensions maximales en largeur et hauteur, mais l'invention concerne aussi des barges présentant des largeurs et hauteurs beaucoup plus importantes par rapport à leur longueur, par exemple dans le cas de barges de 100 m, voire 150 m de largeur, et des hauteurs de 50 m, voire 70 m, pouvant alors conduire ainsi à des formes carrées, polygonales, voire même circulaires ou ovales, ainsi la figure 16 représente une barge selon l'invention, sensiblement carrée et présentant sur chacune de ses faces des cavernes. The shape of these barges is more or less dictated by the production tools owned by the shipyards and the width indicated above has rarely been exceeded due to the limitations or optimization of the forms of dry docks and dry docks available on the map. world. Construction in a shipyard can therefore create limitations with regard to the maximum dimensions in width and height, but the invention also relates to barges having widths and heights much greater relative to their length, for example in the case barges 100 m, even 150 m wide, and heights of 50 m, even 70 m, which can then lead to square, polygonal, or even circular or oval shapes, thus Figure 16 represents a barge according to invention, substantially square and having on each of its faces caves.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
1. Barge de grandes dimensions comprenant une coque (1) assurant sa flottabilité, de préférence d'au moins 100 m de longueur et, de préférence encore de largeur inférieure à 50 % de sa longueur, et un pont supérieur (16), capable de supporter des équipements (6), caractérisée en ce que ladite coque (1) comprend au moins une paire de cavernes (2, - 24) en communication, chacune desdites cavernes étant constituées par un renfoncement dans une des parois périphériques (1 , - 14) de ladite coque sur une partie de la longueur (XX') ou de la largeur (YY') de ladite coque et sur une partie de la hauteur (ZZ') de ladite coque, ledit renfoncement étant situé au moins partiellement dans la partie immergée de ladite coque, ladite caverne (2) comprenant des parois latérales de caverne (32) et une paroi de fond de caverne (3,) reliées à ladite paroi périphérique (1 , - 14) de ladite coque par au moins un plancher de caverne (35) et un plafond de caverne (34), lesquels plancher (35) et plafond (34) assurent la jonction entre lesdites parois latérales de caverne (32), et lesdites parois de fond (3,) de chacune des deux cavernes n'occupent qu'une partie du fond de la caverne entre lesdites parois latérales (32) de caverne, de sorte que l'eau de mer peut traverser ladite coque d'une caverne à l'autre en passant dans l'espace libre (33) entre l'une au moins desdites parois latérales (32) de chacune desdites cavernes (2, — 24) et ladite paroi de fond (3,) de chacune desdites cavernes (2, - 24).1. Large barge comprising a hull (1) ensuring its buoyancy, preferably at least 100 m in length and, more preferably width less than 50% of its length, and an upper deck (1 6 ), capable of supporting equipment (6), characterized in that said shell (1) comprises at least one pair of caves (2, - 2 4 ) in communication, each of said caves being constituted by a recess in one of the peripheral walls (1 , - 1 4 ) of said hull over part of the length (XX ') or width (YY') of said hull and over part of the height (ZZ ') of said hull, said recess being located at least partially in the submerged part of said shell, said cave (2) comprising side walls of a cave (3 2 ) and a bottom wall of a cave (3,) connected to said peripheral wall (1, - 1 4 ) of said shell by at least one cave floor (3 5 ) and a cave ceiling (3 4 ), the floor (3 5 ) and ceiling (3 4 ) squels provide the junction between said cave side walls (3 2 ), and said bottom walls (3,) of each of the two caves occupy only part of the bottom of the cavern between said cavity side walls (3 2 ), so that seawater can pass through said hull from one cavern to another, passing through the free space (3 3 ) between at least one said side walls (3 2 ) of each of said caves (2, - 2 4 ) and said bottom wall (3,) of each of said caves (2, - 2 4 ).
2. Barge selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend au moins une paire de cavernes (2, - 24), chacune des deux cavernes (2, - 24) étant disposée sur une paroi périphérique différente (1 , - 14) de ladite coque, de préférence deux parois opposées (1 , - 12 ou 13 - 14) de ladite coque, de préférence encore disposées symétriquement par rapport à un plan axial longitudinal (XZ) ou plan axial transversal (YZ) de ladite coque.2. Barge according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one pair of caves (2, - 2 4 ), each of the two caves (2, - 2 4 ) being arranged on a different peripheral wall (1, - 1 4 ) of said shell, preferably two opposite walls (1, - 1 2 or 1 3 - 1 4 ) of said shell, preferably still arranged symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal axial plane (XZ) or transverse axial plane ( YZ) of said hull.
3. Barge selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend au moins une paire de cavernes (2, - 24) en communication dont lesdites parois de fond (3,) de chacune des deux cavernes occupent au moins 25%, de préférence au plus 95%, de la distance entre lesdites parois latérales (32) de caverne audit fond de caverne.3. Barge according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises at least one pair of caves (2, - 2 4 ) in communication whose said bottom walls (3,) of each of the two caves occupy at least 25%, preferably at most 95%, of the distance between said side walls (3 2 ) of the cave to said bottom of the cave.
4. Barge selon l'une des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisée en ce que la profondeur desdites cavernes (2, à 24) est telle que la distance entre les parois périphériques opposées de ladite coque au niveau desdites cavernes est d'au moins 25%, de préférence au plus 50%, par rapport à la distance entre les parois périphériques opposées de ladite coque adjacentes auxdites cavernes.4. Barge according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the depth of said caverns (2, to 2 4 ) is such that the distance between the opposite peripheral walls of said hull at said caverns is at least 25%, preferably at most 50%, relative to the distance between the opposite peripheral walls of said shell adjacent to said caves.
5. Barge selon la revendication 4, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte au moins une paire de cavernes latérales (2,, 22) réalisées dans desdites parois périphériques latérales longitudinales opposées (1 , , 12) de ladite coque, de préférence, lesdites cavernes étant disposées symétriquement par rapport au plan axial longitudinal (XZ) de ladite coque, lesdites cavernes de ladite paire de cavernes étant en communication selon la revendication 3,5. Barge according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises at least one pair of lateral caves (2 ,, 2 2 ) produced in said opposite longitudinal lateral peripheral walls (1, 1 2 ) of said hull, preferably , said caves being arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axial plane (XZ) of said shell, said caves of said pair of caves being in communication according to claim 3,
- lesdites parois de fond (3,) n'occupant qu'une partie du fond de ladite caverne, les dimensions desdites parois de fond (3,) dans ladite direction longitudinale correspondant à au moins 75% de la distance entre lesdites parois latérales de caverne (32), et- said bottom walls (3,) occupying only part of the bottom of said cavern, the dimensions of said bottom walls (3,) in said longitudinal direction corresponding to at least 75% of the distance between said side walls of cave (3 2 ), and
- la largeur de ladite coque (1) délimitée par la distance entre lesdites parois de fond (3,) des deux cavernes latérales (2, , 22) étant d'au moins 25%, de préférence au plus 50%, par rapport à la largeur de la coque définie par la distance entre les parois périphériques opposées de ladite coque, adjacentes aux dites cavernes, et- the width of said shell (1) delimited by the distance between said bottom walls (3,) of the two lateral cavities (2, 2 2 ) being at least 25%, preferably at most 50%, relative the width of the hull defined by the distance between the opposite peripheral walls of said hull, adjacent to said caves, and
- lesdites parois latérales (32) de chaque caverne latérale (2, , 22) étant espacées d'une distance d'au moins 20%, de préférence de 20 à 30%, de la dimension de ladite coque dans ladite direction longitudinale (XX'), et- said side walls (3 2 ) of each side cavity (2,, 2 2 ) being spaced at a distance of at least 20%, preferably 20 to 30%, of the dimension of said shell in said longitudinal direction (XX '), and
- la hauteur de chaque dite caverne latérale (2,, 22) définie par la hauteur entre les bords desdits plancher et plafond au niveau desdites parois périphériques latérales (1 , , 12) étant d'au moins 25%, de préférence au moins 50%, de préférence encore de 50 à 75%, de la hauteur de la coque entre ledit pont supérieur (16) et le fond (15) de la coque immergée.- the height of each said lateral cavity (2 ,, 2 2 ) defined by the height between the edges of said floor and ceiling at said lateral peripheral walls (1,, 1 2 ) being at least 25%, preferably at less 50%, more preferably 50 to 75%, of the height of the hull between said upper deck (1 6 ) and the bottom (1 5 ) of the submerged hull.
6. Barge selon l'une des revendications 3 à 5, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend une cavité centrale verticale (4), correspondant de préférence à une baie de forage (4), et deux paires de cavernes latérales (2,, 22), lesdites cavernes présentant au fond un espace libre (33) permettant la communication entre les deux dites cavernes, ledit espace libre étant constitué entre un bord latéral de ladite paroi de fond (3,) de caverne et le bord interne d'une dite paroi latérale (32) de caverne, l'autre bord de ladite paroi de fond (3,) de caverne étant constitué par une paroi périphérique (4,) de ladite cavité centrale (4), les deux dites paires de cavernes latérales (2, , 22) étant disposées de part et d'autre de ladite cavité centrale verticale (4) dans ladite direction longitudinale (XX'), de préférence symétriquement par rapport aux plans axiaux verticaux (YZ, XZ) de ladite coque (1).6. Barge according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a vertical central cavity (4), preferably corresponding to a drilling bay (4), and two pairs of lateral cavities (2 ,, 2 2 ), said caves having at the bottom a free space (3 3 ) allowing communication between the two said caves, said free space being formed between a lateral edge of said cavity bottom wall (3,) and the internal edge d 'said cavity side wall (3 2 ), the other edge of said cave bottom wall (3,) being constituted by a peripheral wall (4,) of said central cavity (4), the two said pairs of lateral cavities (2,, 2 2 ) being arranged on either side of said vertical central cavity (4) in said longitudinal direction (XX '), preferably symmetrically with respect to the vertical axial planes (YZ, XZ) of said shell (1).
7. Barge selon la revendication 6, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend une paire de cavernes d'extrémité avant et arrière (23, 24), de préférence disposées symétriquement par rapport auxdits plans axiaux verticaux (YZ, XZ) de ladite coque, chaque caverne d'extrémité avant ou arrière (23, 24) étant en communication chacune avec deux cavernes 2λ, 22) d'une des deux paires de cavernes latérales disposées du même côté de ladite cavité centrale (4), la paroi de fond (3,) de chacune desdites cavernes avant ou arrière (23, 24) étant constituée par une paroi transversale reliant les parois de fond (3,) de chacune des deux dites cavernes latérales (2, , 22) d'une même dite paire de cavernes latérales, et les parois latérales (32) de chacune desdites cavernes avant et arrière (23, 24) étant espacées d'une distance de 50 à 80 % de la largeur maximum de la coque auxdites extrémités avant et arrière (23, 24) .7. Barge according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a pair of front and rear end caves (2 3 , 2 4 ), preferably arranged symmetrically with respect to said vertical axial planes (YZ, XZ) of said shell, each front or rear end cavern (2 3 , 2 4 ) being in communication each with two cavities 2 λ , 2 2 ) of one of the two pairs of lateral cavities arranged on the same side of said central cavity (4) , the bottom wall (3,) of each of said front or rear caverns (2 3 , 2 4 ) being constituted by a transverse wall connecting the bottom walls (3,) of each of the two said side caves (2,, 2 2 ) of the same said pair of side caverns, and the side walls (3 2 ) of each of said front and rear caverns (2 3 , 2 4 ) being spaced by a distance of 50 to 80% of the maximum width of the shell at said front and rear ends (2 3 , 2 4 ).
8. Barge selon l'une des revendications 6 ou 7, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend quatre piliers d'angle (5) assurant la jonction entre le fond (15) de la coque et ledit pont supérieur (16) de la barge, et formant lesdites parois latérales (32) desdites cavernes, une des parois latérales (32) de chacune desdites cavernes d'extrémité avant ou arrière (23, 24) étant formée par une face desdits piliers (5), et une des parois latérales (32) de chacune desdites cavernes latérales (2,, 22) étant formée par une autre face desdits piliers, l'autre dite paroi latérale (32) de chaque dite caverne latérale (2,, 22) longitudinale étant constituée par une paroi périphérique (4,) de ladite cavité centrale verticale (4) .8. Barge according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that it comprises four corner pillars (5) ensuring the junction between the bottom (1 5 ) of the hull and said upper deck (1 6 ) of the barge, and forming said side walls (3 2 ) of said caves, one of the side walls (3 2 ) of each of said front or rear end caves (2 3 , 2 4 ) being formed by one face of said pillars (5), and one of the side walls (3 2 ) of each of said side cavities (2 ,, 2 2 ) being formed by another face of said pillars, the other said side wall (3 2 ) of each said longitudinal side cavity (2 ,, 2 2 ) being constituted by a peripheral wall (4,) of said vertical central cavity (4).
9. Barge selon l'une des revendications 1 à 8, caractérisée en ce que lesdites cavernes (2,, 22) présentent une même hauteur représentant au moins 50%, de préférence de 50 à 75%, de la hauteur de la coque, située de préférence plus proche dudit pont supérieur (16) que dudit fond (15) de la coque et ayant de préférence au moins 50%, de préférence encore de 50 à 75%, de la hauteur située au-dessous de la ligne de flottaison (7) de ladite coque, ladite coque présentant un creux d'une hauteur inférieure à 30%, de préférence 15%, de sa longueur.9. Barge according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said caves (2 ,, 2 2 ) have the same height representing at least 50%, preferably from 50 to 75%, of the height of the hull , preferably located closer to said upper deck (1 6 ) than to said bottom (1 5 ) of the hull and preferably having at least 50%, more preferably 50 to 75%, of the height located below the waterline (7) of said hull, said hull having a hollow with a height of less than 30%, preferably 15%, of its length.
10. Barge selon l'une des revendications 1 à 9, caractérisée en ce que ladite coque (1) comprend au moins un tunnel (1 1) formé par une cavité transversale traversant ladite coque d'une paroi périphérique latérale (1 ,) à l'autre (12) dans une direction transversale perpendiculaire (YY') à ladite direction longitudinale (XX') de la coque, le tunnel étant situé au moins partiellement dans la partie immergée de ladite coque.10. Barge according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said shell (1) comprises at least one tunnel (1 1) formed by a transverse cavity passing through said shell of a lateral peripheral wall (1,) to the other (1 2 ) in a transverse direction perpendicular (YY ') to said longitudinal direction (XX') of the hull, the tunnel being located at least partially in the submerged part of said hull.
1 1. Barge selon l'une des revendications 1 à 10, caractérisée en ce que lesdites cavernes et le cas échéant ledit tunnel sont de forme essentiellement parallélépipédique , les planchers et plafonds étant disposés horizontalement et les parois latérales (32) et parois de fond (3,) étant disposées verticalement.1 1. Barge according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said caverns and where appropriate said tunnel are of essentially parallelepiped shape, the floors and ceilings being arranged horizontally and the side walls (3 2 ) and walls of bottom (3,) being arranged vertically.
12. Barge selon l'une des revendications 1 à 1 1 , caractérisée en ce que ladite caverne, et le cas échéant ledit tunnel, comprend des structures internes ou externes constituant des amortisseurs (10, - 10, 5) pour réduire les mouvements de ladite coque en créant des turbulences dans le mouvement de l'eau à l'intérieur de ladite caverne (2, - 24) ou dit tunnel (H).12. Barge according to one of claims 1 to 1 1, characterized in that said cavity, and where appropriate said tunnel, comprises internal or external structures constituting shock absorbers (10, - 10, 5 ) to reduce the movements of said hull by creating turbulence in the movement of water inside said cavern (2, - 2 4 ) or said tunnel (H).
13. Barge selon la revendication 12, caractérisée en ce que ladite caverne, ou le cas échéant ledit tunnel, comprend au moins un amortisseur consistant en une paroi verticale (105) ou une paroi horizontale (10,, 102) ou inclinée (104), de préférence perforée (103) , disposée sur ou à proximité dudit plancher (35) ou sous le plafond (34) de ladite caverne, ou le cas échéant dudit tunnel.13. Barge according to claim 12, characterized in that said cavity, or if necessary said tunnel, comprises at least one shock absorber consisting of a vertical wall (10 5 ) or a horizontal wall (10 ,, 10 2 ) or inclined (10 4 ), preferably perforated (10 3 ), disposed on or near said floor (3 5 ) or under the ceiling (3 4 ) of said cave, or where appropriate of said tunnel.
14. Barge selon l'une des revendications 1 à 12, caractérisée en ce que ledit plafond (34) ou, de préférence, ledit plancher (35) desdites cavernes comprend des plans obliques (10, 5) ou verticaux formant des marches (1016).14. Barge according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that said ceiling (3 4 ) or, preferably, said floor (3 5 ) of said caves comprises oblique (10, 5 ) or vertical planes forming steps (10 16 ).
15. Barge selon l'une des revendications 12 à 14, caractérisée en ce que ledit plancher (35) d'une dite caverne, ou le cas échéant d'un dit tunnel, est perforé par des deuxièmes cavités (107) rejoignant le fond (15) de ladite coque, de préférence verticalement.15. Barge according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that said floor (3 5 ) of a said cave, or if necessary of a said tunnel, is perforated by second cavities (10 7 ) joining the bottom (1 5 ) of said shell, preferably vertically.
16. Barge selon l'une des revendications l i a 15, caractérisée en ce que ladite caverne (2, — 24), et/ou le cas échéant ledit tunnel (11), comprend des structures de renfort consistant en des poutres ou des parois verticales (105), de préférence perforées (103), disposées entre ledit plancher (35) et ledit plafond (34) de ladite caverne, ou dudit tunnel.16. Barge according to one of claims lia 15, characterized in that said cavern (2, - 2 4 ), and / or where appropriate said tunnel (11), comprises reinforcing structures consisting of beams or walls vertical (10 5 ), preferably perforated (10 3 ), disposed between said floor (3 5 ) and said ceiling (3 4 ) of said cave, or of said tunnel.
17. Barge selon l'une des revendications 12 à 16, caractérisée en ce que ladite coque (1) comprend des extensions de structures à l'extérieur (104, 106), sur au moins une partie de la longueur de ladite coque, lesdites structures d'extension jouant le rôle de quilles anti-roulis (106), situées de préférence le long desdits planchers (35) dédite caverne ou dit tunnel et le long des bords inférieurs desdites parois périphériques latérale (1 ,, 12) de ladite coque.17. Barge according to one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that said hull (1) comprises extensions of outside structures (10 4 , 10 6 ), over at least part of the length of said hull , said extension structures playing the role of anti-roll skittles (10 6 ), preferably located along said floors (3 5 ) dedicated cave or said tunnel and along the lower edges of said lateral peripheral walls (1 ,, 1 2 ) of said shell.
18. Barge selon l'une des revendications 12 à 17, caractérisée en ce que ladite caverne, ou le cas échéant ledit tunnel, comprend au moins une paroi horizontale interne (10,, 102) située à proximité du plafond (34) ou du plancher (35), ladite paroi étant de préférence perforée (10,) et, de préférence encore, s'étendant à l'extérieur (104) de la coque de manière inclinée vers le haut. 18. Barge according to one of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that said cave, or where appropriate said tunnel, comprises at least one internal horizontal wall (10 ,, 10 2 ) located near the ceiling (3 4 ) or from the floor (3 5 ), said wall preferably being perforated (10,) and, more preferably, extending outside (10 4 ) of the shell in an inclined manner upwards.
19. Barge selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que la structure de la coque (1) est en béton, acier, combinaison de béton et acier ou tout autre matériau composite, et reçoit des équipements de forage, production, traitement et stockage de pétrole.19. Barge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the structure of the hull (1) is made of concrete, steel, combination of concrete and steel or any other composite material, and receives drilling, production, treatment equipment. and oil storage.
20. Barge selon l'une des revendications 1 à 19, caractérisée en ce que la longueur de ladite coque (1) est supérieure à 200 m, de préférence supérieure à 300 m, sa largeur étant supérieure à 30 m, de préférence supérieure à 50 m, et sa hauteur étant supérieure à 20 m, de préférence supérieure à 35 m 20. Barge according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the length of said hull (1) is greater than 200 m, preferably greater than 300 m, its width being greater than 30 m, preferably greater than 50 m, and its height being greater than 20 m, preferably greater than 35 m
PCT/FR2003/003381 2002-11-15 2003-11-14 Large-dimensioned barge comprising chamber-forming cavities in the hull WO2004045946A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2003290202A AU2003290202A1 (en) 2002-11-15 2003-11-14 Large-dimensioned barge comprising chamber-forming cavities in the hull

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR02/14292 2002-11-15
FR0214292A FR2847225B1 (en) 2002-11-15 2002-11-15 LARGE-SIZE BARGE HAVING CAVITIES FORMING CAVES IN HULL

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2004045946A1 true WO2004045946A1 (en) 2004-06-03

Family

ID=32187627

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/FR2003/003381 WO2004045946A1 (en) 2002-11-15 2003-11-14 Large-dimensioned barge comprising chamber-forming cavities in the hull

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2003290202A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2847225B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2004045946A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007097610A1 (en) 2006-02-27 2007-08-30 Heerema Marine Contractors Nederland B.V. Semi-submersible vessel, method for operating a semi-submersible vessel and method for manufacturing a semi-submersible vessel
NO337402B1 (en) * 2013-09-13 2016-04-04 Sevan Marine Asa A floating hull with stabilizer section

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3805725A (en) * 1969-10-10 1974-04-23 Offshore Co Method of and apparatus for dampening wave induced oscillations of floating vessels
US4232623A (en) * 1977-11-25 1980-11-11 Brown & Root, Inc. Apparatus to reduce vessel motions
NL7907448A (en) * 1979-10-08 1981-04-10 Marine Structure Consul Semi-submersible cargo vessel - has columns between upper and lower pontoon, one of full ship's width for cargo and water ballast
US4345533A (en) * 1979-02-20 1982-08-24 Mitsui Engineering And Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. Semi-submerged ship

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3805725A (en) * 1969-10-10 1974-04-23 Offshore Co Method of and apparatus for dampening wave induced oscillations of floating vessels
US4232623A (en) * 1977-11-25 1980-11-11 Brown & Root, Inc. Apparatus to reduce vessel motions
US4345533A (en) * 1979-02-20 1982-08-24 Mitsui Engineering And Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. Semi-submerged ship
NL7907448A (en) * 1979-10-08 1981-04-10 Marine Structure Consul Semi-submersible cargo vessel - has columns between upper and lower pontoon, one of full ship's width for cargo and water ballast

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2847225A1 (en) 2004-05-21
AU2003290202A1 (en) 2004-06-15
FR2847225B1 (en) 2005-08-26

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN110461702A (en) Floating offshore platform
CA1305370C (en) Modular system for the production, storage and loading of hydrocarbons at sea
EP3472458A1 (en) Floating device supporting an offshore wind turbine, and corresponding floating wind turbine unit
FR2967642A1 (en) OFFSHORE WIND POWER DEVICE WITH PARTICULAR SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE FLOAT
WO2014184454A1 (en) Offshore wind turbine on a floating mount comprising a combination of shock-absorbing means
CA2878109A1 (en) Semi-submersible platform with a stabilising fin, and offshore wave power plant incorporating such a platform
FR2966175A1 (en) DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A WIND TURBINE FOR PRODUCING ELECTRIC ENERGY AT SEA, INSTALLATION FOR PRODUCING CORRESPONDING ELECTRIC ENERGY IN SEA.
EP0840690B1 (en) Offshore oil rig
EP1250510B1 (en) Seafloor-surface linking device comprising a stabilising element
WO2012123209A1 (en) Buoyant device having a special anchoring system
EP3286069B1 (en) Floating mounting having a depth-variable horizontal cross-section
CA2785494A1 (en) Pendular system for transporting a civil engineering structure in an aquatic medium
EP3490882B1 (en) Floating support structure comprising a floater and a damping plate with a row of apertures
WO2004045946A1 (en) Large-dimensioned barge comprising chamber-forming cavities in the hull
WO2014184480A1 (en) Device for anchoring a raceway mounting of a seabed-to-surface facility
EP1838570B1 (en) Stabilized floating support
FR3072643A1 (en) FLOATING WIND TURBINES WITH REDUCED PILLARS
EP1204806A1 (en) Floating support comprising a central cavity including a plurality of sections
EP3490883B1 (en) Marine wind turbine comprising a wind turbine and a floating support
FR3142744A1 (en) Floating intervention vessel intended to temporarily dock on an offshore wind platform, associated intervention assembly and installation
EP0963906A1 (en) Method for the installation of a gravity, self-elevating oil production platform at sea
FR3122160A1 (en) Floating platform for the high seas and in particular a system for producing electrical energy using such a platform.
FR2774967A1 (en) Barge for the development and exploitation of an oilfield at sea
WO2006077310A1 (en) Guiding structure for conduits connecting the seafloor to a floating support

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BW BY BZ CA CH CN CO CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EC EE EG ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NI NO NZ OM PG PH PL PT RO RU SC SD SE SG SK SL SY TJ TM TN TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VC VN YU ZA ZM ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): BW GH GM KE LS MW MZ SD SL SZ TZ UG ZM ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GQ GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: JP

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Country of ref document: JP