Jackup oil rig and similar platforms

Abstract

An improved jackup oil rig or similar structure that can operate in harsher environments compared to jackup oil rigs is described. The improved oil rigs is able to operate in harsher environments with a worse sea state as it has a built-in capability of driving and extracting piles without the need for dedicated pile drivers or extractors. Further, this oil rig is able to operate in icy waters as it has a novel, inventive and cost-effective ice breaking means. The rig makes use of its own jackup capability to perform these functions and can extend its productivity by being capable of operating in harsher environments for a longer period of time.

1 . A method for driving piles for a jackup rig, the jackup rig comprising a jackup hull, a mat and at least one leg, the method comprising: 
 b. installing a piling sub-system on the rig; the piling sub-system comprising a plurality of piles, each pile with at least one collars, each collar with a locking means;    c. moving the rig to a desired location;    d. raising the jackup hull with the piling sub-system unlocked;    e. locking the locking means for at least one pile;    f. lowering the jackup hull a predetermined distance, thereby driving in the at least one pile into the seabed;    g. unlocking the locking means for the at least one pile;    h. raising the jackup hull by another predetermined distance, leaving the at least one pile unmoved;    i. repeating steps d to g until the pile is driven to a desired depth; and    j. repeating steps c to h until the desired number of piles is driven into place, thereby utilizing the built-in jackup capability of the rig to obviate the need for a dedicated pile driver.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the locking and unlocking of the locking means is coordinated by a control sub-system.  
   
   
       3 . A method for extracting piles for a jackup rig, the jackup rig comprising a jackup hull, a mat and at least one leg, the method comprising: 
 a. installing a piling sub-system on the rig; the piling sub-system comprising a plurality of piles, each pile with at least one collars, each collar with a locking means;    b. lowering the jackup hull a first predetermined distance with the piling sub-system unlocked;    c. locking the locking means for at least one pile;    d. raising the jackup hull a second predetermined distance, thereby extracting in the at least one pile from the seabed;    e. unlocking the locking means for the at least one pile;    f. lowering the jackup hull by another predetermined distance, leaving the at least one pile unmoved;    g. repeating steps c to g until the pile is extracted; and    h. repeating steps b to g until a desired number of piles are extracted, thereby utilizing the built-in jackup capability of the rig to obviate the need for a dedicated pile extractor.    
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein the locking and unlocking of the locking means is coordinated by a control sub-system.  
   
   
       5 . A jackup oil rig possessing a pile driving and extracting capability, the pile driving and extracting capability comprising a piling sub-system; the piling sub-system further comprising: 
 at least one collar;    at least one locking means;    at least one pile;    wherein the at least one collar, the at least one locking means and the at least one pile work in conjunction with the jackup oil rig to drive and extract the at least one pile without the need for a dedicated pile driver or extractor.    
   
   
       6 . The jackup oil rig according to  claim 5 , the pile driving and extracting capability further comprising a control sub-system to coordinate the operation of the piling sub-system.  
   
   
       7 . A jackup rig comprising an upper hull and a mat, the jackup rig further possessing at least one ice-breaking means wherein the at least one ice breaking means breaks ice only by being moved against ice by the operation of the jackup rig.  
   
   
       8 . The jackup rig of  claim 7 , the ice breaking means located at the underside of the upper hull.  
   
   
       9 . The jackup rig of  claim 7 , the ice breaking means located at the upper surface of the mat.  
   
   
       10 . The jackup rig of  claim 7 , the ice breaking means suspended from the upper hull.  
   
   
       11 . The jackup rig of  claim 7 , the ice breaking means comprising a heavy metal structure sloped on both upper and lower surfaces for ice breakage.  
   
   
       12 . The jackup rig of  claim 7 , the upper hull further comprising recesses to house the ice breaking means.  
   
   
       13 . The jackup rig of  claim 7 , the mat further comprising recesses to house the ice breaking means.