A METHOD AND A DEVICE FOR MOUNTING THE PILES ASSOCIATED WITH THE INSTALLATION OF A PILE-FOUNDED OFFSHORE PLATFORM.

摘要

A METHOD SERVES TO MOUNT THE PILES (6) ASSOCIATED WITH THE INSTALLATION OF A PILE-FOUNDED OFFSHORE PLATFORM, E.G. A PRODUCTION PLATFORM, WHEREIN THESE ARE DRIVEN DOWN INTO THE SEA BED THROUGH PILE GUIDES (12) ATTACHED TO OR FORMING PART OF THE FOUNDATION (16) OF THE PLATFORM. A DEVICE FOR PERFORMING THE METHOD COMPRISES AT LEAST ONE CHUTE (15) WHICH IS PREFERABLY C- OR U- SHAPED IN CROSS SECTION AND WHICH EXTENDS WITH A SUITABLE INCLINATION UPWARDLY FROM THE UPPER END (13) OF A PILE GUIDE (12) TO AT ANY RATE SUBSTANTIALLY IN BELOW THE POSITION WHICH THE PILE TIP (8) OF A PILE (6) TO BE PLACED IN THE PILE GUIDE (12) ASSUMES IN SAID FREELY HANGING POSITION OF THE PILE (6). A CONVENTIONAL DRILLING RIG MAY BE USED FOR INSTALLATION OF IN PARTICULAR SMALLER PLATFORMS, THUS PROVIDING GREAT SAVINGS IN TERMS OF ECONOMY AND FREQUENTLY ALSO IN TERMS OF TIME. (FIG. 9)