Method and apparatus for recovering the substructure of an offshore platform

摘要

This invention relates to recovering the substructure of an offshore platform. A floating barge is used comprising a ballastable hull having a deck suitable for receiving the substructure in a substantially horizontal position and including ballastable floats disposed above the deck to right and to left of the intended location for the substructure. The hull and the floats are ballasted so that although it does not sink, the barge moves down into the water and tilts into a position where its deck can be moved against one of the faces of the substructure. The barge is fixed to the substructure, the substructure is disconnected from the sea bed, ballast is removed from the barge to return it to a position where it is floating and carrying the substructure, and the barge is moved to the desired location for unloading the substructure. The invention is applicable to recovering substructures of large dimensions.