Method and apparatus for elevating a marine platform

Abstract

A method of elevating the deck area of a marine platform (e.g., oil and gas well drilling or production platform) utilizes a specially configured sleeve support to support the platform legs so that they can be cut. Once cut, rams or jacks elevate the platform above the cuts. The sleeve support is then connected (e.g., welded) to the platform leg and becomes part of the structural support for the platform. In one embodiment, two sleeves are employed. In another embodiment, the jacks or rams elevate in two stages including a first stage wherein one sleeve elevates and the other sleeve does not elevate and a second stage wherein both sleeves elevate together.

1 . A method of elevating a marine platform having a deck that is supported by a plurality of hollow metallic leg sections that extend above and below a water line of a body of water, comprising the steps of:
 a) cutting one of the leg sections to provide a cut at a selected elevation;   b) attaching a plurality of hydraulic rams to the leg sections, each ram having a hollowed cylinder and an extensible push rod and first and second end portions, the rams being attached to the leg section at the end portions, one end portion being attached to the leg section below the deck and above the cut and the other end portion being attached to the leg section below the cut, and wherein each ram has a retracted and an extended position;   c) repeating steps “a” through “b” for the other leg sections of the platform; and   d) elevating the platform by extending each ram to the extended position.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising placing the rams on the outside of the leg section and circumferentially spacing the rams. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising affixing lugs above and below the cut and attaching the rams to the leg sections at the lugs. 
     
     
         5 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in step “b” there are between two (2) and eight (8) rams attached to each leg section. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each leg section is elevated above the cut a distance of more than four feet (1.2 m). 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each leg section is elevated above the cut a distance of more than five feet (1.5 m). 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each leg section is elevated above the cut a distance of between about 5 and 30 feet (1.5 and 9.1 m). 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each leg section is carrying a load of between 100 and 2,000 tons (90.7 and 1,814 metric tons). 
     
     
         12 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method of elevating a marine platform that is supported by a plurality of hollow metallic leg sections that extend above and below a water line of a body of water, comprising the steps of:
 a) cutting one of the leg sections to provide a cut at a selected elevation;   b) attaching a plurality of rams to the leg sections, each ram having a hollowed cylinder and an extensible push rod and first and second end portions, the rams being attached to the leg sections at the end portions, one end portion of one said ram being attached to one said leg section above the cut and the other end portion of the one said ram being attached to the one said leg section below the cut, and wherein each of the plurality of rams has a retracted and an extended position;   c) repeating steps “a” through “b” for the other leg sections of the platform; and   d) elevating the platform by extending each ram to the extended position.   
     
     
         16 . A method of elevating a marine platform having a deck that is supported by a plurality of hollow metallic leg sections that extend above and below a water line of a body of water, comprising the steps of:
 a) cutting one of the leg sections to provide a cut at a selected elevation;   b) attaching a plurality of rams to the leg sections, each ram having first and second end portions, the rams being attached to the leg sections at the first and second end portions, the first end portion of one said ram being attached to one said leg section below the deck and above the cut and the second end portion being attached to the one said leg section below the cut, and wherein each of the plurality of rams has a retracted and an extended position;   c) repeating steps “a” through “b” for the other leg sections of the platform; and   d) elevating the platform by extending each ram to the extended position.   
     
     
         17 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the ram has first and second telescoping rod portions comprising said push rod. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the ram has first and second telescoping rod portions comprising said push rod. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the ram has first and second telescoping rod portions comprising a push rod. 
     
     
         24 - 26 . (canceled)