Outer pipe sleeve for a sea floor mooring pile

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an improved system and method for increasing an anchoring force on a pile. The concepts regarding the pile can apply whether the pile is degraded and no longer able to support its intended load, or a load on the pile has increased to a level that may overstress the pile. A sleeve can be installed even in subsea conditions over the pile and can be used to provide an additional securing force to the existing pile. The sleeve may include its own padeye for coupling an anchor line or other coupling member to a structure to be secured. The sleeve may also include an assembly of rings coupled together with at least one longitudinal member. The assembly with the rings spaced a distance away from each other may help reduce an installation friction on the sleeve, as it is installed into the sea floor.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not applicable.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not applicable.NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT[0003]Not applicable.REFERENCE TO APPENDIX[0004]Not applicable.BACKGROUND[0005]1. Field[0006]The disclosure relates to pile anchor systems and methods, and particularly to pile anchor systems and methods for offshore petroleum structures, such as floating structures, drilling or production risers, and other marine structures.[0007]2. Description of Related Art[0008]Often marine structures used in offshore petroleum industry are moored to a pile that is anchored to a sea floor. The pile is generally a tubular element that is installed into seabed deposits that form the sea floor. Depending on the depth of the sea at a given location, various methods can be used to install the pile into the sea floor. At great depths, it may be problematic to use a pile-driving hammer or other equipment to install ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present patent provides an improved system and method for increasing the anchoring force on a pile, whether the pile is degraded or overstressed. A sleeve can be installed over the pile and used to provide additional securing force. The sleeve can be lowered over the pile and secured to it using a padeye. The patent also provides a rehabilitation system for a subsea pile, which includes a sleeve with a padeye and a section of material coupled to the sleeve with an opening disposed through the material. The system can transfer new or additional loading on the existing pile at a point either at the top, bottom or any selected location between the top and bottom of the pile sleeve system.

Problems solved by technology

At great depths, it may be problematic to use a pile-driving hammer or other equipment to install the pile.

Piles can become damaged, worn, or otherwise degraded.

Further, there are times in which an existing pile may be in a satisfactory condition, but may require to resist additional structural loads from a new design load case or change in design.

These new design load cases may overstress or be beyond the capacity of the existing pile.

However, the new solution still has the disadvantage of not providing full support until some later time, when the disturbed layers on the sea floor 4 can consolidate around the pile.

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