Internal jacket leveling tool

Abstract

A jacket leveling tool may comprise a substantially cylindrical central body and a plurality of hydraulic cylinders disposed about the body. Disposed about an exterior surface of the central body may be a radial skirt and radial collar, each of which may also be attached to one end of the plurality of hydraulic cylinders. A cap may be attached to an upper end of the central body, with first and second links configured to attach to connection points on an outer surface of a jacket, such that the relative vertical position of the jacket may be adjusted through the injection of hydraulic fluid into the hydraulic cylinders.

1 . A jacket leveling tool comprising:
 a substantially cylindrical central body comprising a central longitudinal axis;   a plurality of hydraulic cylinders disposed about the body;   a radial skirt attached to a lower portion of an exterior surface of the central body and to a lower portion of each of the plurality of hydraulic cylinders;   a radial collar disposed about an upper portion of the exterior surface of the central body and attached to an upper end of each of the plurality of hydraulic cylinders;   a cap attached to an upper end of the central body; and   first and second links attached to the cap.   
     
     
         2 . The jacket leveling tool of  claim 1 , wherein the radial skirt further comprises a plurality of radially extending fins. 
     
     
         3 . The jacket leveling tool of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of hydraulic cylinders further comprise an extension member connected to one of the plurality of radially extending fins. 
     
     
         4 . The jacket leveling tool of  claim 1 , further comprising pins configured to engage the first and second links. 
     
     
         5 . A system for leveling a jacket leg surrounding a pile of an offshore structure, the system comprising:
 a pile comprising a hollow interior space with a central longitudinal axis;   a jacket leveling tool comprising:
 a substantially cylindrical central body disposed within the hollow interior space of the pile; 
 a plurality of hydraulic cylinders disposed about the body; 
 a radial skirt attached to a lower portion of an exterior surface of the central body and to a lower portion of each of the plurality of hydraulic cylinders; 
 a radial collar disposed about an upper portion of the exterior surface of the central body and attached to an upper end of each of the plurality of hydraulic cylinders; 
 a cap attached to an upper end of the central body; and 
 first and second links attached to the cap; 
   a substantially cylindrical jacket disposed around the pile and comprising an inner surface and an outer surface.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the radial skirt further comprises a plurality of radially extending fins. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of hydraulic cylinders further comprise an extension member connected to one of the plurality of radially extending fins. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising pins configured to engage the first and second links. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the jacket further comprises first and second connection points attached to the outer surface. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the pins are configured to connect the first link to the first connection point and the second link to the second connection point. 
     
     
         11 . A method of leveling a jacket leg surrounding a pile of an offshore structure, the method comprising:
 placing a substantially cylindrical jacket around a pile comprising a hollow interior space;   placing within the pile a jacket leveling tool comprising:
 a substantially cylindrical central body disposed within the hollow interior space of the pile; 
 a plurality of hydraulic cylinders disposed about the body; 
 a radial skirt attached to a lower portion of an exterior surface of the central body and to a lower portion of each of the plurality of hydraulic cylinders; 
 a radial collar disposed about an upper portion of the exterior surface of the central body and attached to an upper end of each of the plurality of hydraulic cylinders; 
 a cap attached to an upper end of the central body; and 
 first and second links attached to the cap; 
   connecting the first and second links to an outer surface of the jacket; and   injecting hydraulic fluid into one or more of the plurality of hydraulic cylinders.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of connecting the first and second links to an outer surface of the jacket comprises the insertion of pins. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of removing the jacket leveling tool from the jacket and the pile. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of removing the jacket leveling tool comprises withdrawing a pin from the first and second links. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of removing the jacket leveling tool further comprises lifting the cap away from the pile. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein an inner surface of the jacket substantially abuts an outer surface of the pile.