Artificial islands and method of forming

Abstract

A structure and method for building offshore, artificial islands employs modular, preformed elongated box members which are built ashore and transported by marine vessel to deepwater, offshore sites. They are sunk into position to form artificial island perimeters of various configurations of choice. The water within the space formed by the perimeter walls is pumped out and filled with stone, dredge spoils, rip-rap, and other solid materials at high rates of speed and relatively low cost by specially modified vessels. A variety of offshore facilities, including nuclear power plants, LNG terminals, and deep water container stations, can be constructed on the islands.

1 . An artificial island positioned on the subsurface floor of the body of water, said island comprising:
 an outer perimeter wall circumscribing the island and forming an inner space, said wall comprising a series of preformed, adjacently aligned elongated box members with internal chambers, each said box member comprising curved side surfaces shaped to engage and mate with the curved side surfaces of adjacent box members, and outwardly extending foot elements for placement on the subsurface floor, said box members being positionable adjacent to each other on the subsurface floor to form a plurality of different outer perimeter wall configurations; and   a solid material substantially filling the inner space formed by the outer perimeter wall.   
   
   
       2 . The artificial island as in  claim 1  wherein the internal chambers comprise void spaces to provide lightning and buoyancy. 
   
   
       3 . The artificial island as in  claim 1  wherein one curved surface of a box member comprises a convex surface and the adjacent curved surface comprises a corresponding mating concave surface at the area of engagement and mating between adjacent box members. 
   
   
       4 . The method of forming an artificial island on the subsurface floor of a body of water comprising the steps of:
 placing a plurality of preformed box members with internal chambers, exterior front and rear surfaces, and curved side surfaces, on a marine vessel;   transporting the box members on the vessel to a designated location in the body of water;   discharging the box members from the vessel into the water;   sinking the box members;   positioning the box members on the subsurface floor;   aligning the box members such that their curved surfaces are adjacent to each other, forming an enclosed outer perimeter wall and an inner space within the perimeter wall by aligning the box members adjacent to each other;   removing water from within the inner space; and   filling the inner space with solid material.   
   
   
       5 . The method of forming an artificial island as in  claim 4  comprising the additional steps of providing solid material along the exterior front and rear surfaces of the box members for stabilizing the box members on the subsurface floor. 
   
   
       6 . The method of forming an artificial island as in  claim 4  comprising the additional step of building structures on the solid material within the inner space. 
   
   
       7 . The method of forming an artificial island as in  claim 4  wherein each box member comprises one curved side surface and one convex side surface, such that when the box members are aligned adjacent to each other, a curved convex side surface of one box member is engaged and mated with a curved convex side surface of the adjacent box member.