Installation method for an anchoring device on a seabed
The described installation method securely anchors water plants on the seabed by burying the anchor toe's fluke, addressing inefficiencies in existing anchoring methods and ensuring stability against external forces.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- AU · AU
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TECHNIP ENERGIES FRANCE SAS
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-23
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-16
AI Technical Summary
Existing methods for anchoring water plants like offshore platforms and wind turbines on the seabed are inefficient and lack a straightforward, effective installation process that ensures firm anchoring despite external forces such as wind, waves, and sea currents.
An installation method involving settling the anchor toe on a horizontal seabed, contacting a follower with the anchor toe's hammering edge, hammering to sink the edge into the seabed, removing the follower, and pulling the connection element upward to tilt the anchor toe vertically, ensuring the fluke is partly buried for firm anchoring.
The method provides a simple and effective anchoring process that securely anchors the water plant by burying the fluke in the seabed, resisting external forces and maintaining stability.
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Abstract
Description
TITLE : Installation method for an anchoring device on a seabed The present disclosure relates to an installation method for an anchoring device on a seabed ; the anchoring device comprising an anchor toe and a follower; the anchor toe comprising : a shank, extending along a longitudinal direction between a first end and a second end ; a fluke, protruding from the shank in a transverse direction, non-parallel to the longitudinal direction ; and a connection element fixed to the first end of the shank, the connection element allowing to fix said first end of the shank to a chain or cable ; the shank and the fluke comprising external surfaces substantially parallel to a sinking direction, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and to the transverse direction ; the anchor toe also comprising a sinking edge and a hammering edge, at least partly delimiting the shank and the fluke along the sinking direction ; the follower comprising a hammering surface, able to come into contact with the hammering edge of the anchor toe. Water plants, such as offshore platforms or offshore wind turbines, comprise floating structures which have to be firmly anchored on the seabed so as to remain in place despite the external forces such as wind, waves or sea currents. The present disclosure relates to an installation method easy to carry out and allowing an improved anchoring of the anchor toe. For this purpose, the disclosure relates to an installation method of the aforementioned type, comprising the steps of: - settling the anchor toe on a substantially horizontal seabed, the longitudinal direction extending substantially horizontally and the sinking edge being in contact with said seabed ; then - settling the follower on the anchor toe, so that the hammering surface of the follower is in contact with the hammering edge of the anchor toe ; then - hammering the anchor toe by means of the follower, so that the sinking edge sinks into the seabed; then - removing the follower; then - pulling the connection element upward, so that the anchor toe tilts in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction and to the sinking direction, to an installed configuration wherein the longitudinal direction extends substantially vertically. According to embodiments, the method may include one or more of the following features, considered alone or in any technically possible combination: - in the installed configuration, the fluke of the anchor toe is at least partly buried in the seabed ; - the fluke of the anchor toe is closer to the second end than to the first end of the shank along the longitudinal direction ; - each of the sinking edge and the hammering edge of the anchor toe extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to the sinking direction ; - the shank of the anchor toe comprises a main plate substantially extending in a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction and to the sinking direction ; - the shank of the anchor toe comprises side plates joined at the first end and distant from each other at the second end ; - the fluke of the anchor toe protrudes on either side of the shank ; - the shank of the anchor toe comprises openings between the first end and the fluke. The disclosure also relates to a water plant comprising an anchor toe installed on a seabed by an installation method as described above. According to an embodiment, the water plant also comprises : an anchor chain, fixed to the connection element of the anchor toe ; and a floating structure fixed to the anchor chain, opposite to the connection element. The disclosure will be easier to understand in view of the following description, provided solely as an example, and with reference to the appended drawings, wherein : [Fig 1] Figure 1 is a schematic view of an anchoring device according to a first embodiment of the disclosure, in a first configuration ; [Fig 2] Figure 2 is a schematic view of the anchoring device of Figure 1, in an second configuration ; [Fig 3] Figure 3 is a schematic view of an element of an anchoring device according to a second embodiment of the disclosure ; and [Fig 4] Figure 4 is a schematic view of an element of an anchoring device according to a third embodiment of the disclosure. Figures 1 and 2 show an anchoring device 10 according to a first embodiment of the disclosure. The anchoring device 10 comprises an anchor toe 12 and a follower 14. Figure 3 and Figure 4 show anchor toes 112 and 212, according to a second and to a third embodiments respectively. The anchor toes 12, 112 and 212 will be described simultaneously. The common elements will be designed by the same reference numbers. The anchor toe 12, 112, 212 comprises : a shank 16, 116, 216 ; a fluke 18, 118, 218; and a connecting element 20. The shank 16, 116, 216 extends along a longitudinal direction 22, between a first end 24 and a second end 26. The shank 16, 116, 216 comprises external surfaces substantially parallel to a sinking direction 28. The sinking direction 28 is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 22. According to embodiments, the shank 16, 116, 216 comprises one or more plates 30, 232, 234, each plate being substantially parallel to the sinking direction 28. Each of the shanks 16 and 116 of Figures 1-2 and Figure 3 comprise a main plate 30, substantially extending in a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction 22 and to the sinking direction 28. In a different manner, the shank 216 of Figure 4 comprise a first 232 and a second 234 side plates, joined at the first end 24 and inclined relative to the longitudinal direction 22. Similarly, the shank 16, 116, 216 may comprise more than two plates, joined at the first end 24 and distant from each other at the second end 26. The fluke 18, 118, 218 protrudes from the shank 16, 116, 216 in a transverse direction 36, non-parallel to the longitudinal direction. The fluke 18, 118, 218 comprises external surfaces substantially parallel to the sinking direction 28. The fluke 18, 118, 218 may be closer to the second end 26 than to the first end 24 of the shank 16, 116, 216 along the longitudinal direction 22. The fluke 18, 118, 218 may be integral with the second end 26 of the shank. The one or more plates 30, 232, 234 of the shank 16, 116, 216 may comprise openings 38 between the first end 24 and the fluke 18, 118, 218. In the embodiments of Figures 1-2, and of Figure 3, the fluke 18, 118 comprises plate-shaped lateral portions 38, 40, 138, 140 protruding from either side of the shank 16, 116. Said shank 16, 116 and each of the lateral portions 38, 40, 138, 140 of the fluke 18, 118 form a positive angle a, inferior or equal to 90° and oriented toward the first end 24 of the shank. The lateral portions 38, 40, 138, 140 of the fluke 18, 118 may be symmetrical relative to the shank 16, 116. In the embodiment of Figures 1-2, the lateral portions 38, 40 of the fluke 18 are substantially flat. In the embodiment of Figure 3, the lateral portions 138, 140 of the fluke 118 are curved, with a concavity oriented toward the first end 24 of the shank. In the embodiment of Figure 4, the fluke 218 comprises a plate-shaped central portion 241, extending between the first 232 and the second 234 side plates at the second end 26 of the shank 216. The central portion 241 of the fluke 218 and the first 232 and the second 234 side plates of the shank 216 delimit a cylindrical space 242. Said cylindrical space 242 is open at both ends along the sinking direction 28. In the embodiment of Figure 4, the central portion 241 is substantially flat and the cylindrical space 242 has a substantially triangular base. Alternatively, the central portion may be curved or formed by adjacent flat parts. Optionally, the fluke 218 also comprises plate-shaped lateral portions 238, 240, protruding from the first 232 and from the second 234 side plates respectively, opposite the central portion 241. The connection element 20 is fixed to the first end 24 of the shank 16, 116, 216. The connection element 20 allows the fixing of said first end 24 to a chain 41 or a cable. In the shown embodiments, the connection element 20 is a padeye. The anchor toe 12, 112, 212 also comprises a sinking edge 43 and a hammering edge 44, 144, 244, substantially perpendicular to the sinking direction 28. The sinking edge 43 and the hammering edge 44, 144, 244 delimit the shank 16, 116, 216 and the fluke 18, 118, 218 along the sinking direction 28. According to embodiments, each of the sinking edge 43 and the hammering edge 44, 144, 244 extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to the sinking direction 28. The anchor toe 12, 112, 212 may be made of metallic plates. On Figure 2, the anchor toe 12 is shown in an initial configuration of an installation method described below. The sinking edge 43 of the anchor toe 12 rests on a substantially horizontal seabed 46. In the initial configuration of Figure 2, the longitudinal 22 and transverse 36 directions are substantially horizontal and the sinking direction 28 is substantially vertical. On Figure 3, the anchor toe 112 is shown in an installed configuration of the installation method described below. The longitudinal direction 22 is substantially vertical and the sinking direction 28 is substantially horizontal. The fluke 118 rests on the seabed 46 and is at least partly buried in said seabed. The follower 14 of the anchoring device 10 will now be described. The follower 14 comprises a hammering surface 50, able to come into contact with the hammering edge 44 of the anchor toe 12. The hammering surface 50 may have a shape similar to a shape of the hammering edge 44 of the anchor toe 12. In the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2, the hammering surface 50 is cross-shaped. The hammering surface 50 may comprise a slot 52 of a shape substantially complementary to a shape of the hammering edge 44 of the anchor toe 12, so as to allow an insertion of said hammering edge 44. According to embodiments, the follower 14 has a height 54 comprised between 5 m and 20 m perpendicularly to the hammering surface 50. According to embodiments, the follower 14 has a weight comprised between 20 tons and 100 tons. The anchor toes 112 and 212 may be part of anchoring devices similar to the anchoring device 10, along with followers similar to the follower 14. Said followers comprise hammering surfaces adapted to the shapes of the hammering edges 144 and 244. An installation method for installing the anchor toe 12 on the seabed 46 will now be described. The anchor toe 12 is settled on the substantially horizontal seabed 46, in the initial configuration of Figure 2. By “seabed”, it is meant an immersed bottom of a sea or of a lake or river. The seabed 46 comprises soft material such as sand or gravel. Then, the follower 14 is immersed so that the hammering surface 50 comes into contact with the hammering edge 44 of the anchor toe 12. According to embodiments, the hammering edge 44 inserts into the slot 52 of the hammering surface 50. Then, the anchor toe 12 is hammered by the follower 14, so that the sinking edge 43 sinks into the seabed 46. The hammering may be carried out by means of a hammering or vibrating engine. At the end of the hammering, a lower part of the external surfaces of the anchor toe 12, parallel to the sinking direction 28, is buried in the soft material of the seabed 46. Then, the follower 14 is removed ; and the connection element 20 is pulled upward. The pulling may be carried out by means of a chain 41 or a cable attached to the connection element 20. The attachment of the chain or cable may take place before or after the hammering. In the embodiments wherein the shank 16 comprises openings 38 between the first end 24 and the fluke 18, the shank is lighter so that less energy is necessary to pull the connection element 20 upward. Due to the pulling upward of the connection element 20, the anchor toe 12 tilts in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction 22 and to the sinking direction 28. The soft material in contact with the fluke 18 is displaced and part of said material flows above the fluke 18. In the embodiments wherein the fluke 118 is inclined or curved with a concavity oriented toward the first end 24 of the shank, even more of the soft material is retained above the fluke during the tilting. The tilting of the anchor toe 12 is pursued up to an installed configuration, similar to the configuration of Figure 3, wherein the longitudinal direction 22 extends substantially 5 vertically and wherein the sinking direction 28 extends substantially horizontally. According to embodiments, in the installed configuration, the fluke 18 is at least partly buried in the soft material of the seabed 46. In the installed configuration described above, the anchor toe 12, 112, 212 is firmly maintained on the seabed 46, by a weight of the soft material partly burying the fluke. io According to embodiments, the anchor toe 12, 112, 212 in the installed configuration is part of a water plant (not shown) also including : an anchor chain 41, fixed to the connection element 20 ; and a floating structure (not shown) fixed to the chain 41, opposite to the connection element 20. The floating structure may comprise a wind turbine. is According to embodiments, the water plant may comprise several anchor toes according to the description above, installed on the seabed and connected to a same floating structure.
Claims
1. Installation method for an anchoring device (10) on a seabed (46) ; the anchoring device comprising an anchor toe (12, 112, 212) and a follower (14);the anchor toe comprising : a shank (16, 116, 216), extending along a longitudinal direction (22) between a first end (24) and a second end (26) ; a fluke (18, 118, 218), protruding from the shank in a transverse direction (36), non-parallel to the longitudinal direction ; and a connection element (20) fixed to the first end of the shank, the connection element allowing to fix said first end of the shank to a chain (41) or cable ;the shank and the fluke comprising external surfaces substantially parallel to a sinking direction (28), perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (22) and to the transverse direction (36) ;the anchor toe also comprising a sinking edge (43) and a hammering edge (44, 144, 244), at least partly delimiting the shank and the fluke along the sinking direction ;the follower (14) comprising a hammering surface (50), able to come into contact with the hammering edge (44, 144, 244) of the anchor toe ;the method comprising :- settling the anchor toe (12, 112, 212) on a substantially horizontal seabed (46), the longitudinal direction (22) extending substantially horizontally and the sinking edge (43) being in contact with said seabed ; then- settling the follower (14) on the anchor toe, so that the hammering surface (50) of the follower is in contact with the hammering edge (44, 144, 244) of the anchor toe ; then- hammering the anchor toe (12, 112, 212) by means of the follower (14), so that the sinking edge (43) sinks into the seabed (46); then- removing the follower; then- pulling the connection element (20) upward, so that the anchor toe (12, 112, 212) tilts in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction (22) and to the sinking direction (28), to an installed configuration wherein the longitudinal direction (22) extends substantially vertically.
2. Installation method according to claim 1, wherein, in the installed configuration, the fluke (18, 118, 218) of the anchor toe (12, 112, 212) is at least partly buried in the seabed (46).
83. Installation method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fluke (18, 118, 218) of the anchor toe (12, 112, 212) is closer to the second end (26) than to the first end (24) of the shank (16, 116, 216) along the longitudinal direction (22).
4. Installation method according to any one of the previous claims, wherein each of the sinking edge (43) and the hammering edge (44, 144, 244) of the anchor toe (12, 112, 212) extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to the sinking direction (28).
5. Installation method according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the shank (16, 116) of the anchor toe (12, 112) comprises a main plate (30) substantially extending in a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction (22) and to the sinking direction (28).
6. Installation method according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the shank (216) of the anchor toe (212) comprises side plates (232, 234) joined at the first end (24) and distant from each other at the second end (26).
7. Installation method according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the fluke (18, 118, 218) of the anchor toe (12, 112, 212) protrudes on either side of the shank (16, 116, 216).
8. Installation method according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the shank (16) of the anchor toe (12) comprises openings (38) between the first end (24) and the fluke (18).
9. Water plant comprising an anchor toe (12, 112, 212) installed on a seabed (46) by an installation method according to any one of the previous claims.
10. Water plant according to claim 9, also comprising : an anchor chain (41), fixed to the connection element (20) of the anchor toe (12, 112, 212) ; and a floating structure fixed to the anchor chain (41), opposite to the connection element (20).