Underwater Guide Pipe Anchoring for Platform Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underwater drilling arrangements face challenges in maintaining precise positioning of foundation elements due to displacement caused by strong submarine currents and transverse forces during the insertion of drilling tools, especially when dealing with inaccuracies and large target surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The underwater drilling arrangement features a guide pipe supported in a longitudinally displaceable and rotatable manner on the working platform, driven by a guide pipe drive to anchor the platform and guide the drilling tool, with a collet drive for high-torque rotation and cutting teeth for harder ground penetration, ensuring precise placement and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a large drilling tool is placed into the guide pipe on the working platform, then the drilling tool can be used for forming drill-holes, but the current can apply considerable transverse forces to the working platform, leading to displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The guide pipe is driven into the bed before the drilling tool is inserted. This preliminary anchoring of the guide pipe prevents platform displacement when the large drilling tool is later placed into the guide pipe, as the guide pipe already provides resistance to current forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide pipe acts as an intermediary element between the working platform and the bed. By driving the guide pipe into the bed first, it creates a stable anchor point that mediates the forces from the drilling tool and current, preventing direct transmission of transverse forces to the platform.
2Ease of operation
If the working platform is placed onto the bed using ground contact elements, then the platform can be positioned, but strong submarine currents can displace or drift the platform off course
Solution Approach 1:
The guide pipe is driven into the bed before the drilling operation begins. This preliminary action creates an additional anchoring point that prevents platform displacement by strong currents during the subsequent drilling process.
Solution Approach 2:
The grounding method is extended from two-dimensional contact (ground contact elements on the platform surface) to three-dimensional anchoring by driving the guide pipe vertically into the bed, creating resistance to horizontal current forces.
3Reliability
If the guide pipe is driven into the bed by a guide pipe drive, then the working platform is anchored and transverse forces are absorbed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide pipe serves multiple functions: it acts as a guide for the drilling tool, provides anchoring for the working platform, and absorbs transverse forces from currents and drilling operations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate anchoring mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide pipe combines the functions of a guide element and an anchoring element into a single component. By merging these functions, the overall device complexity is reduced compared to having separate guide pipes and anchoring structures.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an underwater drilling arrangement and a method for introducing a foundation element into a bed of a body of water comprising a submersible working platform for placement onto the bed of a body of water, several ground contact elements which are arranged in an adjustable manner on the working platform for aligning the working platform on the bed of a body of water, and at least one guide pipe for receiving and guiding the drilling tool. For an improved anchoring provision is made according to the invention for the guide pipe to be supported in a longitudinally displaceable and rotatable manner on the working platform and for a guide pipe drive to be provided on the working platform for driving the guide pipe in a rotating manner.