Static ballast device and method for assisting the sinking of a suction caisson

By installing a static ballast platform and adjusting the weights on the suction anchor, the problems of soil plugging, penetration difficulties, and tilting during the suction anchor construction process were solved, achieving efficient and environmentally friendly suction anchor installation. This method is suitable for various seabed soil types and reduces construction risks and costs.

CN119221518BActive Publication Date: 2026-04-21OFFSHORE OIL ENG CO LTD
View PDF 1 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
OFFSHORE OIL ENG CO LTD
Filing Date
2024-09-26
Publication Date
2026-04-21

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing suction anchors are prone to problems such as soil blockage, difficulty in penetration, tilting, noise pollution, and significant impact on marine ecology during construction. Furthermore, traditional methods have high requirements for seabed soil quality and limited applicability.

Method used

A static ballast device is adopted, which uses a static ballast platform installed on the suction anchor to adjust the levelness with weights and real-time adjustments with monitoring devices to ensure that the penetration depth and levelness of the suction anchor meet the design requirements, thereby reducing soil disturbance and pollution.

Benefits of technology

It improves the construction efficiency and stability of suction anchors, reduces steel consumption and construction risks, has a wide range of applications, is environmentally friendly and pollution-free, and allows for rapid recovery of soil properties.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure CN119221518B_ABST
    Figure CN119221518B_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

This invention discloses a static ballast device and method for assisting in the sinking of a suction anchor, belonging to the field of marine suction anchor penetration construction technology. The static ballast device includes a static ballast platform with a ballast cavity for placing weights. The static ballast platform is connected to the suction anchor via a fixing component. The levelness of the suction anchor can be changed by adjusting the position of the weights in the ballast cavity. A static ballast method for assisting in the sinking of the suction anchor is also disclosed. This invention uses static ballast, allowing for the stacking of weights of different shapes and weights according to the design requirements of specific projects. This ensures that the suction anchor penetration depth meets design requirements. Furthermore, if the levelness is found to exceed the design allowable limit or the standard in the specification, the position of the weights in the ballast cavity is adjusted to ensure that the levelness of the suction anchor meets design requirements.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of marine suction anchor penetration construction technology, and particularly relates to a static ballast device and method for assisting suction anchor sinking. Background Technology

[0002] With the accelerated development of offshore oil and gas resource exploitation, suction anchor foundations, as a new type of offshore foundation structure, have been widely used in various floating structures moored at sea, buoy positioning, storage facilities and other fields due to their advantages such as convenient construction, fast construction speed (for example, a suction cylinder foundation with a diameter of 9m and a height of 10m can be completed in 1 to 3 hours with only one water pump), reusability and cost-effectiveness.

[0003] The suction anchor foundation resembles a short steel pipe pile with a top cover. In practical engineering, the most commonly used suction anchor is a cylindrical structure with a closed top and an open bottom. The side walls and top cover are made of steel, and the top cover is equipped with a pumping device and other supporting equipment. The construction process of the suction anchor foundation is as follows: component prefabrication—component transportation—positioning and lifting—self-weight sinking—negative pressure sinking—elevation measurement—equipment recovery.

[0004] The process of a suction anchor penetrating the seabed: The suction anchor sinks freely to the seabed, and its own weight causes the edge of the cylinder to insert into the seabed soil, forming a sealed space between the cylinder and the soil. Then, a submersible pump is used to pump water out of the cylinder, creating a pressure difference between the inside and outside. When the force exerted by this pressure difference on the cylinder exceeds the resistance between the soil and the cylinder, the steel cylinder slowly penetrates the soil. Penetration stops when the top of the cylinder is in complete contact with the seabed soil. The submersible pump is then turned off and removed, completing the installation of the suction anchor. After installation, the negative pressure disappears, and the suction anchor essentially functions like a conventional embedded short pile, with its bearing capacity primarily relying on the friction between the inner and outer walls of the cylinder and the soil.

[0005] Currently, suction anchors have been successfully applied to numerous marine projects. Compared with other forms of offshore foundations, they offer the following advantages: 1) They are prefabricated and assembled on shore, facilitating transportation; 2) During construction, they can be quickly installed, accelerating the construction progress, shortening construction time, saving construction costs, and thus reducing construction risks; 3) They significantly reduce steel consumption, noticeably lowering costs; 4) They are suitable for most marine structures and various soil types. However, their disadvantages are also apparent: suction anchors have relatively weak lateral and vertical stiffness, insufficient pull-out resistance, and poor inherent stability.

[0006] There are now various methods for installing suction anchors at sea. Some use the traditional method of sinking the suction anchor to the seabed. This method has high requirements for the soil quality of the seabed. It can ensure that a sealed environment is formed with the cylinder and that no air leakage occurs when the suction anchor is inserted. It can also ensure that the suction anchor provides sufficient resistance after installation. Some suction anchors are equipped with underwater high-frequency vibration devices. They rely on high-frequency vibration to insert the suction anchor into the seabed to the design elevation. Others are equipped with high-pressure water jet nozzles and sediment suction ports at the bottom of the suction anchor. They use high-pressure water flow to cut or wash away the soil at the bottom of the cylinder to insert the suction anchor into the seabed to the specified depth.

[0007] However, these design schemes have significant drawbacks for pile-stabilized platforms:

[0008] 1. Soil blockage is prone to occur. Under the influence of internal and external pressure differences, during the insertion of the suction anchor's bottom opening into the seabed, the soil inside the anchor cylinder may become higher than the top elevation of the same soil layer as the penetration depth increases. This can prevent the suction anchor from reaching the designed elevation. Because the upper part of the suction anchor protrudes above the seabed surface, it alters the original current path of the surrounding seabed, causing some soil around the suction anchor to be eroded away, forming scour pits. The presence of scour pits will significantly reduce the suction anchor's bearing capacity and various resistances, and in severe cases, may lead to installation failure.

[0009] 2. When the seabed soil is medium-dense or dense sand (i.e., relatively hard soil), if a traditional suction anchor foundation is used, it will initially penetrate part of the soil. However, as the penetration depth increases, the penetration resistance will become very large, making penetration difficult. If the seabed soil is uneven, the suction anchor will usually tilt, which will affect the use conditions of the suction anchor and limit its applicable range.

[0010] 3. The disassembly and assembly of the high-frequency vibration device takes a long time and the height of the instruments and equipment exposed on the suction anchor top cover is very limited. This places high demands on the design, construction, and installation of the equipment. If it is damaged or abnormal during installation, it cannot be repaired or replaced. At the same time, high-frequency vibration can weaken or liquefy normally deposited soil and prolong the soil recovery time. Moreover, the noise pollution it causes can have an adverse effect on marine life.

[0011] 4. Using high-pressure water flow to cut or wash away the soil at the bottom of the cylinder will reduce the bearing capacity of the soil and the frictional resistance of the cylinder, thus affecting the normal use of the suction anchor. It is necessary to lengthen the cylinder to compensate for this.

[0012] Therefore, there is an urgent need to design a static ballast device and method to assist in the sinking of suction anchors and solve the problems mentioned above. Summary of the Invention

[0013] The purpose of this invention is to provide a static ballast device and method for assisting suction anchor sinking, which has the advantages of simple and convenient construction process, readily available heavy block materials, reduced soil disturbance, environmental protection and no pollution, rapid recovery of soil indicators, reduced dependence on large-scale machinery, wide applicability, reduced steel consumption, improved economy, increased construction speed, and reduced construction risk, thus solving the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0014] To achieve the above objectives, the specific technical solution of the static ballast device and method for assisting suction anchor sinking according to the present invention is as follows:

[0015] A static ballast device for assisting the sinking of a suction anchor includes a static ballast platform with a ballast cavity for placing weights. The static ballast platform is connected to the suction anchor via a fixing component. The levelness of the suction anchor can be changed by adjusting the position of the weights in the ballast cavity.

[0016] Furthermore, the static ballast platform includes multiple support columns and multiple corner piles, with a bottom protective plate fixedly connected between the multiple support columns and multiple corner piles.

[0017] Furthermore, an inner protective plate is fixedly connected between adjacent support columns, and the inner protective plates are fixedly connected to form an inner plate. An outer protective plate is fixedly connected between adjacent corner piles, and the outer protective plates are fixedly connected to form an outer plate. The two ends of the bottom protective plate are fixedly connected to the inner plate and the outer plate respectively, and the inner plate, the bottom protective plate and the outer plate form a ballast cavity.

[0018] Furthermore, the support column extends beyond the bottom guard plate, and one end of the support column extending beyond the bottom guard plate is connected to the suction anchor via a fixing component.

[0019] Furthermore, side columns are provided between adjacent corner piles, and the side columns are fixedly connected to the bottom protective plate and the outer protective plate.

[0020] Furthermore, the corner stakes are connected to a buoy leveling assembly.

[0021] Furthermore, each support column is fixedly connected with a lifting lug, which can be connected to the lifting gear of the lifting vessel or crane.

[0022] A static ballast method for assisting suction anchor sinking, using the aforementioned static ballast device for assisting suction anchor sinking, includes the following steps:

[0023] S1. On the shore or land, the suction anchor is connected and fixed to the static ballast platform by a fixing device, and then placed on the transport barge by a crane and fixed.

[0024] S2. The heavy block is placed on the transport barge by a crane. After it is secured and checked to be correct, the transport barge proceeds to the designated location.

[0025] S3. After the transport barge arrives at the designated position, open the drainage hole at the top of the suction anchor. Then, the lifting vessel uses a lifting device to lift the suction anchor and the static ballast platform from the transport barge, so that the bottom of the suction anchor is facing down and the entire platform is placed in the water, keeping the static ballast platform a certain height above the water surface.

[0026] S4. The crane uses a lifting device to lift the heavy block from the transport barge onto the static ballast platform and secure it.

[0027] S5. The lifting vessel slowly lowers the static ballast platform using the lifting equipment, while observing the platform's levelness using measuring instruments installed on the static ballast platform. The entire static ballast platform is kept level and slowly lowered until the suction anchor is fully penetrated into the soil.

[0028] S6. Turn on the water pump to drain the water out of the elevation front cylinder and then close the drain hole.

[0029] S7. Open the fixing device to separate the suction anchor from the support column;

[0030] S8. The lifting vessel uses a lifting device to lift the static ballast platform to the sea surface, uses a crane to lift the heavy blocks off the static ballast platform and place them on the transport barge, and then the lifting vessel places the static ballast platform on the transport barge.

[0031] Furthermore, if the levelness of the suction anchor is found to exceed the design limit or the standard in the specification during the process of penetrating the seabed soil, the lifting vessel will stop lowering it and level it using the buoy leveling components to ensure that the levelness of the suction anchor meets the design requirements.

[0032] Furthermore, the levelness of the suction anchor is constantly monitored by a monitoring device installed on the suction anchor. If the levelness is found to be exceeding the design limit or the standard in the specification, the lifting vessel stops lowering the anchor, and the crane adjusts the position of the weight in the ballast chamber to ensure that the levelness of the suction anchor meets the design requirements.

[0033] The present invention has the following advantages:

[0034] (1) In response to the problem of high resistance and difficulty in penetration during the sinking and placement of suction anchor foundations, static ballast method is adopted. According to the design requirements of specific projects, different shapes and weights of heavy blocks (or prefabricated blocks) can be used to stack them to ensure that the penetration depth of the suction cylinder meets the design requirements.

[0035] (2) In response to the problem of uneven soil quality on the seabed and tilting of the suction anchor during the sinking and placement of the suction anchor foundation, a static ballast method is adopted. The levelness is constantly observed through the monitoring device installed on the top cover of the suction anchor. When an excessive trend is found, the weights stacked on top (or prefabricated) are adjusted in time to ensure that the levelness of the suction cylinder meets the design requirements.

[0036] (3) The construction process is simple and convenient, and heavy materials are readily available;

[0037] (4) Reduce soil disturbance, environmentally friendly and pollution-free, and soil indicators can be restored quickly; the static ballast method can minimize the disturbance to the soil under the seabed, and at the same time, it does not use mud, cement and other sources of pollution that may cause pollution to the ocean. Due to the small disturbance to the soil, the physical and mechanical indicators of the soil can be quickly restored to the original state.

[0038] (5) Reduce steel consumption; Select support columns of appropriate height according to the actual water depth and climate conditions on site. The static ballast platform is only arranged with one platform and equipped with four support columns. The amount of steel procurement, steel processing and prefabrication work will be significantly reduced, thereby greatly reducing the amount of steel consumption.

[0039] (6) Reduce dependence on large tools and equipment: The entire static ballast platform is only arranged on one platform and equipped with four support columns. Even considering the heavy blocks stacked on top, the overall weight is not large, so there is no need to rely on large tools and equipment, thus effectively reducing the dependence of the entire ballast device on large tools and equipment.

[0040] (7) Wide range of applications: The weight of the entire static ballast device (including the weights stacked on top) is applied to the suction anchor, enabling it to overcome the resistance of the soil and thus achieve the purpose of downward penetration. Depending on the soil properties, the weight of the weights applied on the platform should also be adjusted accordingly. Generally, it is suitable for dense sand, silt and hard cohesive soil sites. In addition, the length of the four support columns can be reasonably adjusted according to the water depth of the site to meet the requirements of different water depths. At the same time, it is not only suitable for conventional circular suction anchors, but also for irregular suction anchors. Only the support columns need to be adjusted.

[0041] (8) Improve construction efficiency and reduce construction risks: In the new invention, the entire static ballast device is arranged on a single platform and equipped with four support columns. The whole device has been prefabricated and assembled on land. At sea, it is only necessary to align the suction anchor and fix it and place it on the upper weight. This can greatly improve construction efficiency, solve the problem of short construction window period, and effectively reduce construction risks. Attached Figure Description

[0042] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the static ballast device of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the static ballast platform of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the vertical cross-sectional structure of the static ballast platform of the present invention;

[0045] The markings in the diagram are as follows: 1. Static ballast platform; 11. Support column; 12. Corner pile; 13. Outer protective plate; 14. Inner protective plate; 15. Side column; 16. Diagonal brace; 2. Suction anchor; 3. Weight; 4. Float leveling assembly; 5. Lifting lug; 6. Fixing assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0046] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0047] Those skilled in the art will understand that although some embodiments herein include certain features included in other embodiments but not others, combinations of features from different embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention and form different embodiments. For example, in the claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

[0048] The following is a reference to the appendix. Figure 1 To be continued Figure 3 This invention describes a static ballast device and method for assisting in the sinking of a suction anchor.

[0049] The current design scheme has significant drawbacks for the pile stabilization platform:

[0050] 1. Soil blockage is prone to occur. Under the influence of internal and external pressure differences, during the insertion of the suction anchor's bottom opening into the seabed, the soil inside the anchor cylinder may become higher than the top elevation of the same soil layer as the penetration depth increases. This can prevent the suction anchor from reaching the designed elevation. Because the upper part of the suction anchor protrudes above the seabed surface, it alters the original current path of the surrounding seabed, causing some soil around the suction anchor to be eroded away, forming scour pits. The presence of scour pits will significantly reduce the suction anchor's bearing capacity and various resistances, and in severe cases, may lead to installation failure.

[0051] 2. When the seabed soil is medium-dense or dense sand (i.e., relatively hard soil), if a traditional suction anchor foundation is used, it will initially penetrate part of the soil. However, as the penetration depth increases, the penetration resistance will become very large, making penetration difficult. If the seabed soil is uneven, the suction anchor will usually tilt, which will affect the use conditions of the suction anchor and limit its applicable range.

[0052] 3. The disassembly and assembly of the high-frequency vibration device takes a long time and the height of the instruments and equipment exposed on the suction anchor top cover is very limited. This places high demands on the design, construction, and installation of the equipment. If it is damaged or abnormal during installation, it cannot be repaired or replaced. At the same time, high-frequency vibration can weaken or liquefy normally deposited soil and prolong the soil recovery time. Moreover, the noise pollution it causes can have an adverse effect on marine life.

[0053] 4. Using high-pressure water flow to cut or wash away the soil at the bottom of the cylinder will reduce the bearing capacity of the soil and the frictional resistance of the cylinder, thus affecting the normal use of the suction anchor. It is necessary to lengthen the cylinder to compensate for this.

[0054] Therefore, the static ballast device for assisting the sinking of the suction anchor includes a static ballast platform 1. The static ballast platform 1 is provided with a ballast cavity for placing the weight 3. The static ballast platform 1 is connected to the suction anchor 2 through a fixing component 6 to ensure that the static ballast platform 1 and the suction anchor 2 will not have relative displacement. The levelness of the suction anchor 2 can be changed by adjusting the position of the weight 3 in the ballast cavity.

[0055] Preferably, the specific number of weights 3 is multiple, so that the level of the suction anchor 2 can be changed by adjusting the position of the weights 3 in the ballast chamber. In other embodiments of the present invention, the weights 3 can also be set as a whole, as long as the suction anchor 2 can be lowered in a static ballast mode.

[0056] To address the problem of high resistance and difficulty in penetration during the placement of the suction anchor 2 foundation, the new invention adopts a static ballast method. Depending on the design requirements of the specific project, different shapes and weights of weight blocks 3 (which can also be prefabricated) can be stacked to ensure that the penetration depth of the suction cylinder meets the design requirements.

[0057] Furthermore, in response to the problem of uneven seabed soil and tilting of suction anchor 2 during the foundation placement process, the new invention adopts a static ballast method. The monitoring device installed on the top cover of suction anchor 2 is used to observe its levelness at all times. When a tendency to exceed the standard is found, the weight block 3 stacked on top (which can also be prefabricated) is adjusted in time to ensure that the levelness of the suction cylinder meets the design requirements.

[0058] The static ballast platform 1 includes multiple support columns 11 and multiple corner piles 12. A bottom protective plate is fixedly connected between the multiple support columns 11 and multiple corner piles 12. An inner protective plate 14 is fixedly connected between adjacent support columns 11. Adjacent inner protective plates 14 are fixedly connected to form an inner plate. An outer protective plate 13 is fixedly connected between adjacent corner piles 12. Adjacent outer protective plates 13 are fixedly connected to form an outer plate. The two ends of the bottom protective plate are fixedly connected to the inner plate and the outer plate, respectively. The inner plate, bottom protective plate and outer plate form a ballast cavity, so that the ballast cavity is an upward-facing cavity. The inner plate, bottom protective plate and outer plate prevent the weight 3 inside the ballast cavity from sliding or even sliding off the platform.

[0059] Preferably, the ballast cavity is divided into multiple placement chambers by multiple partitions, and the shape of the placement chambers corresponds to that of the weight 3, further preventing the weight 3 from sliding.

[0060] Specifically, the static ballast platform 1 is rectangular, so that the specific number of support columns 11 and corner piles 12 is four. The support columns 11 are located at the four corners inside the static ballast platform 1, and the corner piles 12 are located at the four corners outside the static ballast platform 1. In this invention, the static ballast platform 1 can also be other shapes, such as circular or polygonal. In this case, the number of support columns 11 and corner piles 12 needs to correspond to the shape of the static ballast platform 1, and the positions of the support columns 11 and corner piles 12 need to correspond to the shape of the static ballast platform 1, as long as the suction anchor 2 can be lowered in the static ballast mode.

[0061] Specifically, the support column 11 extends beyond the bottom guard plate, and one end of the support column 11 extending beyond the bottom guard plate is connected to the suction anchor 2 through the fixing component 6. The four support columns 11 serve to support the weight of the upper static ballast platform 1 and transfer the weight of the upper static ballast platform 1 to the suction anchor 2.

[0062] Preferably, a side post 15 is provided between adjacent corner piles 12. The side post 15 is fixedly connected to the bottom protective plate and the outer protective plate 13, and the side post 15 provides auxiliary support for the outer protective plate 13.

[0063] Furthermore, a pontoon leveling assembly 4 is connected to the corner pile 12. By setting the pontoon leveling assembly 4, if the levelness is found to exceed the design limit or the standard in the specification during the process of the suction anchor 2 penetrating the seabed soil, the lifting vessel stops lowering and levels the suction anchor 2 by using the pontoon leveling assembly 4 to ensure that the levelness of the suction anchor 2 meets the design requirements. Preferably, the specific number of pontoon leveling assemblies 4 is the same as the specific number of corner piles 12, which is four. When the static ballast platform 1 is of other shapes, the specific number of pontoon leveling assemblies 4 is the same as the specific number of corner piles 12.

[0064] Furthermore, each support column 11 is fixedly connected with a lifting lug 5, which can be connected to the lifting device of the lifting vessel or crane.

[0065] Furthermore, each support column 11 is connected to the corresponding side column 15 by a diagonal brace 16. There are eight diagonal braces 16, which serve as auxiliary supports.

[0066] The static ballast device of this invention has good stability, is suitable for deep water areas, has a certain ability to resist the influence of sea wind, waves and ocean currents, meets the penetration requirements of suction anchor 2, has a simple and convenient construction process, the weight block 3 material is readily available, reduces soil disturbance, is environmentally friendly and pollution-free, allows soil indicators to recover quickly, reduces dependence on large-scale machinery, has a wide range of applications, reduces steel consumption, improves economy, increases construction speed, and reduces construction risks.

[0067] A static ballast method for assisting the sinking of a suction anchor 2, using the aforementioned static ballast device for assisting the sinking of a suction anchor 2, includes the following steps:

[0068] S1. On the shore or land, the suction anchor 2 is connected and fixed to the static ballast platform 1 by a fixing device. After carefully checking the normal function of each component and ensuring that it meets the design and construction requirements, it is placed on the transport barge by a crane and fixed.

[0069] Specifically, to increase safety and save time, the suction anchor 2 can be connected and fixed to the static ballast platform 1 by a fixing device on the shore or on land. The transport barge should also be equipped with a fixed position for easy placement of construction equipment and related tools for fixing it.

[0070] S2. The weight 3 is placed on the transport barge by a crane. After it is secured and checked to be correct, the transport barge moves to the designated location.

[0071] S3. After the transport barge arrives at the designated position, open the drainage hole at the top of the suction anchor 2. Then, the lifting vessel uses a lifting device to lift the suction anchor 2 and the static ballast platform 1 from the transport barge, so that the bottom of the suction anchor 2 is facing down and the entire platform is placed in the water, keeping the static ballast platform 1 above the water surface at a certain height.

[0072] Specifically, by opening the drainage hole at the top of the suction anchor 2, the seawater in the cylinder before the suction anchor 2 is inserted into the design elevation can be discharged out of the cylinder in a timely manner, so as not to have an adverse effect on the insertion process of the suction anchor 2.

[0073] S4. The crane uses a lifting device to lift the heavy block 3 from the transport barge onto the static ballast platform 1 and fix it in place;

[0074] Specifically, during the process of hoisting the heavy block 3 onto the static ballast platform 1, the stability of the static ballast platform 1 should be maintained as much as possible to facilitate the fixing of the heavy block 3, while avoiding excessive tilting or even overturning and other safety accidents.

[0075] S5. The lifting vessel slowly lowers the static ballast platform 1 using the lifting equipment. At the same time, the level of the platform is observed by the measuring instruments installed on the static ballast platform 1. The entire static ballast platform 1 is kept level and slowly lowered until the suction anchor 2 is fully penetrated into the soil.

[0076] Preferably, if the levelness of the suction anchor 2 exceeds the design limit or the standard in the specification during the process of penetrating the seabed soil, the lifting vessel stops lowering the anchor and levels it using the buoy leveling component 4 to ensure that the levelness of the suction anchor 2 meets the design requirements.

[0077] Preferably, the level of the suction anchor 2 is constantly monitored by a monitoring device installed on the suction anchor 2. If the level is found to be exceeding the design limit or the standard in the specification, the lifting vessel stops lowering the anchor, and the crane adjusts the position of the weight 3 in the ballast chamber to ensure that the level of the suction anchor 2 meets the design requirements.

[0078] S6. Turn on the water pump to drain the water out of the elevation front cylinder and then close the drain hole.

[0079] S7. Open the fixing device to separate the suction anchor 2 from the support column 11;

[0080] S8. The lifting vessel uses a lifting device to lift the static ballast platform 1 to the sea surface, and uses a crane to lift the weight 3 off the static ballast platform 1 and place it on the transport barge. Then the lifting vessel places the static ballast platform 1 on the transport barge.

[0081] S9. After completing all on-site work, the work can be moved to the next construction location.

[0082] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples for clearly illustrating the present invention, and are not intended to limit the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make other variations or modifications based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively describe all embodiments here. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A static ballast method for a static ballast device that assists in the sinking of a suction anchor, characterized in that, It includes a static ballast platform with a ballast cavity for placing heavy blocks. The static ballast platform is connected to a suction anchor through a fixing component. The levelness of the suction anchor can be changed by adjusting the position of the heavy blocks in the ballast cavity. The static ballast platform includes multiple support columns and multiple corner piles, and a bottom protective plate is fixedly connected between the multiple support columns and multiple corner piles; Inner protective plates are fixedly connected between adjacent support columns, and the inner protective plates are fixedly connected to form an inner plate. Outer protective plates are fixedly connected between adjacent corner piles, and the outer protective plates are fixedly connected to form an outer plate. The two ends of the bottom protective plate are fixedly connected to the inner plate and the outer plate respectively. The inner plate, the bottom protective plate and the outer plate form a ballast cavity. The ballast cavity is divided into multiple placement cavities by multiple partitions. The shape of the placement cavity corresponds to the shape of the weight. A float leveling assembly is connected to the corner pile. The static ballast method for assisting suction anchor sinking includes the following steps: S1. On the shore or land, the suction anchor is connected and fixed to the static ballast platform by a fixing device, and then placed on the transport barge by a crane and fixed. S2. The heavy block is placed on the transport barge by a crane. After it is secured and checked to be correct, the transport barge proceeds to the designated location. S3. After the transport barge arrives at the designated position, open the drainage hole at the top of the suction anchor. Then, the lifting vessel uses a lifting device to lift the suction anchor and the static ballast platform from the transport barge, so that the bottom of the suction anchor is facing down and the entire platform is placed in the water, keeping the static ballast platform a certain height above the water surface. S4. The crane uses a lifting device to lift the heavy block from the transport barge onto the static ballast platform and secure it. S5. The lifting vessel slowly lowers the static ballast platform using the lifting equipment, while observing the platform's levelness using measuring instruments installed on the static ballast platform. The entire static ballast platform is kept level and slowly lowered until the suction anchor is fully penetrated into the soil. S6. Turn on the water pump to drain the water out of the elevation front cylinder and then close the drain hole. S7. Open the fixing device to separate the suction anchor from the support column; S8. The lifting vessel uses a lifting device to lift the static ballast platform to the sea surface, uses a crane to lift the heavy blocks off the static ballast platform and place them on the transport barge, and then the lifting vessel places the static ballast platform on the transport barge.

2. The static ballast method of the static ballast device for auxiliary suction anchor sinking according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support column extends beyond the bottom guard plate, and one end of the support column extending beyond the bottom guard plate is connected to the suction anchor via a fixing component.

3. The static ballast method of the static ballast device for assisting suction anchor sinking according to claim 1, characterized in that, Side columns are provided between adjacent corner piles, and the side columns are fixedly connected to the bottom protective plate and the outer protective plate.

4. The static ballast method of the static ballast device for assisting suction anchor sinking according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each support column is fixedly connected to a lifting lug, which can be connected to the lifting gear of the lifting vessel or crane.

5. The static ballast method of the static ballast device for auxiliary suction anchor sinking according to claim 1, characterized in that, If, during the process of the suction anchor penetrating the seabed, it is found that the levelness tends to exceed the design limit or the standard in the specification, the lifting vessel will stop lowering it and use the buoy leveling components to level it, ensuring that the levelness of the suction anchor meets the design requirements.

6. The static ballast method of the static ballast device for assisting suction anchor sinking according to claim 1, characterized in that, The level of the suction anchor is constantly monitored by a monitoring device installed on the suction anchor. If the level is found to be exceeding the design limit or the standard in the specification, the lifting vessel stops lowering the anchor and the crane adjusts the position of the weight in the ballast chamber to ensure that the level of the suction anchor meets the design requirements.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Multi-cylinder combined type suction anchor device and construction method thereof

    CN117644939A