Extended-deck jack-up

Abstract

An offshore structure has stabilizing deck extension members formed as watertight bodies and extending along a port peripheral wall and starboard peripheral wall of the hull. The stabilizing members add stability without substantially increasing weight of the structure. Each of the stabilizing members has an inverted triangle cross-sectional configuration wherein the water plane area of the stabilizing members increases from a lower portion toward an upper portion.

1 . A platform apparatus for an offshore structure having a port peripheral wall and a starboard peripheral wall, the platform comprising:
 an extension member secured along the port peripheral wall and an extension member secured along the starboard peripheral wall, each of said extension members comprising a watertight body having a lower portion and an upper portion, and wherein water plane area of said watertight body increases as vessel draft increases   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said platform apparatus further comprises a top deck, and wherein each of said extension members comprises a top plate secured for extension in a generally co-planar relationship to the top deck. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said platform apparatus further comprises a bottom plate, and wherein each of said extension members comprises a bottom wall extending at an angle between the bottom plate and the top plate. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said watertight body has a generally triangular cross-section. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of said extension members follows configuration aspect of a respective peripheral wall. 
     
     
         6 . A platform apparatus for an offshore structure having hull with a deck, a bottom plate, a port peripheral wall and a starboard peripheral wall, the platform comprising:
 a stabilizing member secured along the port peripheral wall and a stabilizing member secured along the starboard peripheral wall, each of said stabilizing members comprising a watertight body having a lower portion and an upper portion, and wherein water plane area of said watertight body increases as vessel draft increases.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each of said stabilizing members has a generally triangular cross-sectional configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each of said stabilizing members comprises a top plate oriented in a generally co-planar relationship to the deck of the hull and a bottom wall extending at an angle in relation to the top plate and the bottom plate of the hull. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said stabilizing members facilitate buoyancy of the hull without significantly affecting weight of the platform structure. 
     
     
         10 . A platform apparatus for an offshore structure having hull with a deck, a bottom plate, a port peripheral wall and a starboard peripheral wall, the platform comprising:
 a stabilizing member secured along the port peripheral wall and a stabilizing member secured along the starboard peripheral wall, each of said stabilizing members comprising a watertight body having a lower portion and an upper portion, a top plate, and a bottom wall extending at an angle in relation to a vertical axis of the hull, and wherein water plane area of said watertight body increases as vessel draft increases.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein each of said stabilizing members has an inverted triangular configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein each of the stabilizing members follows configuration aspect of a respective peripheral wall.