EP 0039589 A3 19820526 - SUBMERGED BUOYANT OFFSHORE DRILLING AND PRODUCTION TOWER AND APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DEFINING AND INSTALLING SAME

Title (en)

SUBMERGED BUOYANT OFFSHORE DRILLING AND PRODUCTION TOWER AND APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DEFINING AND INSTALLING SAME

Publication

EP 0039589 A3 19820526 (EN)

Application

EP 81301923 A 19810501

Priority

US 14636280 A 19800502

Abstract (en)

[origin: EP0039589A2] A submerged tubular tower (10) is connected at its lower end (15) to an ocean floor (11) at a site where at least one subsea hydrocarbon well is to be drilled. A riser duct (22) for each well to be drilled extends from an upwardly accessible connection point (20) at the upper end (14) of the tower to the lower end of the tower. The tower is positively buoyant to stand erect in an unguyed manner. The upper end (18) of the tower is located a substantial distance above the ocean floor at a depth sufficiently small to enable wells to be drilled through the riser ducts, through equipment (19) landed on the top of the tower, using floating drilling equipment (12) designed for use in substantially shallower water depths.

IPC 1-7

E21B 43/01; E21B 7/12; E21B 17/01; E02B 17/00; B63B 35/44

IPC 8 full level

E21B 15/02 (2006.01); E21B 7/12 (2006.01); E21B 7/128 (2006.01); E21B 17/01 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP)

E21B 7/128 (2013.01); E21B 17/01 (2013.01); E21B 17/012 (2013.01)

Citation (search report)

[X] US 3017934 A 19620123 - RHODES AARON D, et al
[X] US 3378067 A 19680416 - LEONARD JOHN R, et al
[X] US 3261398 A 19660719 - HAEBER JOHN A
[X] US 4094162 A 19780613 - ALLEE JOHN W
[X] US 3387459 A 19680611 - MANNING WILLIAM F
[X] GB 2024766 A 19800116 - MOBIL OIL CORP
[X] US 4188156 A 19800212 - FISHER EDMUND A [US], et al
[X] US 3677016 A 19720718 - GARRIGUS JAMES P
[X] US 4109478 A 19780829 - GRACIA BERT E
[A] US 4119145 A 19781010 - TUSON SAMUEL
[A] US 3166123 A 19650119 - WATKINS BRUCE J

Designated contracting state (EPC)

FR GB IT NL

DOCDB simple family (publication)

EP 0039589 A2 19811111; EP 0039589 A3 19820526; CA 1173358 A 19840828; JP S57500520 A 19820325; NO 814490 L 19811230; OA 06985 A 19830831; WO 8103157 A1 19811112

DOCDB simple family (application)

EP 81301923 A 19810501; CA 376654 A 19810430; JP 50166781 A 19810423; NO 814490 A 19811230; OA 57582 A 19820102; US 8100531 W 19810423