Method and system for deep sea drilling

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an underwater drilling system that includes a shuttle for transporting drill rods, geophysical tools, and/or core barrels from the underwater drilling platform to a surface vessel and/or a robotic vehicle to provide power to the underwater drilling platform and monitor and/or control the operation of the underwater drilling platform.

1 . An underwater drilling system, comprising: 
 (a) an underwater drilling platform positioned on the bottom;    (b) a surface vessel; and    (c) a submersible robotic vehicle movable between the underwater drilling platform and surface vessel and operable to perform at least one of the following underwater operations: 
 (i) provide power to the underwater drilling platform;  
 (ii) monitor and/or control the operation of the underwater drilling platform;  
 (iii) assemble drill rods to form a drill string; and  
 (iv) recover a core barrel from the drill string and transport the core barrel to the surface.  
   
   
   
       2 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 1 , wherein the robotic vehicle is operable to perform operation (i).  
   
   
       3 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 1 , wherein the robotic vehicle is operable to perform operation (ii).  
   
   
       4 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 1 , wherein the robotic vehicle is operable to perform operation (iii).  
   
   
       5 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 1 , wherein the robotic vehicle is operable to perform operation (iv).  
   
   
       6 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (d) an anchor cable extending between the surface vessel and drilling platform; and    (e) a shuttle movably engaging the anchor cable and movable between the surface vessel and drilling platform.    
   
   
       7 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 6 , wherein the drilling platform comprises a fixed chuck, a moveable chuck, and an actuator engaging the moveable chuck and wherein the actuator displaces the moveable chuck along a longitudinal axis of a drill string operatively engaging the drilling platform.  
   
   
       8 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 6 , wherein the shuttle comprises a shuttle barrel for receiving a rod, a shuttle barrel guide for engaging the anchor cable, a shuttle barrel end cap engaging a wire-line cable extending between the shuttle and the surface vessel, and a chuck for gripping a drill rod positioned within the shuttle barrel.  
   
   
       9 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 6 , wherein the shuttle comprises a carrier for receiving a core barrel, a shuttle barrel for receiving the carrier, a shuttle barrel guide for engaging the anchor cable, and a shuttle barrel end cap engaging a wire-line cable extending between the shuttle.  
   
   
       10 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 9 , wherein the wire-line cable passes through the end cap and the carrier comprises a closure member for sealing the interior of the carrier from the ambient water.  
   
   
       11 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 6 , wherein the drilling platform comprises a guide member to direct the rod, which protrudes from the shuttle, to mate with an upper end of the drill string.  
   
   
       12 . An underwater drilling system, comprising: 
 (a) an underwater drilling platform positioned on the bottom;    (b) a surface vessel; and    (c) a shuttle movable between the surface vessel and underwater drilling platform, wherein the shuttle carries at least one of a tool, rod, and core barrel between the surface vessel and the drilling platform.    
   
   
       13 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 (d) a submersible underwater robotic vehicle movable between the underwater drilling platform and surface vessel and operable to perform at least one of the following underwater operations: 
 (i) provide power to the underwater drilling platform;  
 (ii) monitor and/or control the operation of the underwater drilling platform;  
 (iii) assemble drill rods to form a drill string; and  
 (iv) recover a core barrel from the drill string and transport the core barrel to the surface.  
   
   
   
       14 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 (d) an anchor cable extending between the surface vessel and drilling platform, wherein the shuttle moves along the anchor cable between the surface vessel and drilling platform.    
   
   
       15 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 14 , wherein the shuttle comprises a shuttle barrel for receiving a rod, a shuttle barrel guide for engaging the anchor cable, a shuttle barrel end cap engaging a wire-line cable extending between the shuttle and the surface vessel, and a chuck for gripping a drill rod positioned within the shuttle barrel.  
   
   
       16 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 14 , wherein the shuttle comprises a carrier for receiving a core barrel, a shuttle barrel for receiving the carrier, a shuttle barrel guide for engaging the anchor cable, and a shuttle barrel end cap engaging a wire-line cable extending between the shuttle.  
   
   
       17 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 16 , wherein the wire-line cable passes through the end cap and the carrier comprises a closure member for sealing the interior of the carrier from the ambient water.  
   
   
       18 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 14 , wherein the drilling platform comprises a guide member to direct the rod, which protrudes from the shuttle, to mate with an upper end of the drill string.  
   
   
       19 . An underwater drilling method, comprising: 
 (a) transporting a shuttle from a surface vessel to an underwater drilling platform, wherein the shuttle carries at least one of a drill rod, geophysical tool, and a core barrel;    (b) positioning the shuttle over a drill string at the underwater drilling platform; and    (c) engaging the at least one of a drill rod, geophysical tool, and core barrel with the drill string.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the shuttle is transported between the surface vessel and underwater drilling platform along an anchor cable.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the shuttle comprises a shuttle barrel for receiving the at least one of a drill rod, geophysical tool, and core barrel, a shuttle barrel guide for engaging the anchor cable, and a shuttle barrel end cap engaging a wire-line cable extending between the shuttle and the surface vessel.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the shuttle comprises a chuck for gripping at least one of a drill rod and carrier positioned within the shuttle barrel.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one of a drill rod, geophysical tool, and core barrel is a geophysical tool and/or core barrel, wherein the at least one of a drill rod and carrier is a carrier, wherein the wire-line cable passes through the end cap, and wherein the carrier comprises a closure member for sealing the interior of the carrier from the ambient water.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein engaging step comprises the substeps: 
 (c1) connecting an end of the carrier with an upper end of the drill string; and    (c2) the wire-line cable lowering the geophysical tool and/or core barrel into the drill string.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 (d) the wire-line cable raising the geophysical tool and/or core barrel into the carrier;    (e) disconnecting the end of the carrier from the upper end of the drill string;    (f) closing the closure member;    (g) after step (f), transporting the shuttle from the drilling platform to the surface vessel.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 a robotic vehicle performing at least one of the following steps: 
 (i) providing power to the underwater drilling platform and  
 (ii) monitoring and/or controlling the operation of the underwater drilling platform.