Jack-Up Drilling Auxiliary Floating Unit Shallow Water Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional jack-up drilling systems are limited in their ability to operate in very shallow water, requiring additional equipment and increasing the complexity and cost of drilling programs, as they struggle to provide sufficient buoyancy in such conditions.

Innovation Solution

The integration of an auxiliary floating unit with a complementary design to the jack-up, allowing for adjustable buoyancy through a controlled-flooding hydraulic system, which can be connected and disconnected as needed to enhance stability and extend the operating range into shallower waters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the jack-up operates in very shallow water, then the drilling range is extended, but the buoyancy becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling rangeVSAvoidbuoyancy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The buoyancy system is divided into two independent parts: the main floating structure and the auxiliary floating unit. This segmentation allows the auxiliary unit to be added only when shallow water operation is needed, providing additional buoyancy force without affecting the jack-up's normal operation in deeper water, thus resolving the contradiction between extended drilling range and sufficient buoyancy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The buoyancy configuration is made dynamic and adjustable. The auxiliary floating unit can be selectively connected to or disconnected from the main floating structure based on water depth requirements. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt its buoyancy characteristics to different operating conditions, enabling operation in both deep and shallow water while maintaining adequate buoyancy in each scenario.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Force

If auxiliary floating tanks are individually attached to the jack-up, then sufficient buoyancy is achieved, but the operation becomes time consuming and complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovebuoyancyVSAvoidconnection operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple individual auxiliary floating tanks are merged into a single integrated auxiliary floating unit. This unified design can be connected to the main floating structure as one complete assembly rather than attaching multiple separate tanks individually, significantly simplifying the connection operation and reducing the time required while still providing the necessary buoyancy force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the auxiliary floating unit is connected to increase buoyancy, then the jack-up can operate in shallow water, but the connection process increases device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshallow water operation capabilityVSAvoidconnection system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A standardized connecting member acts as an intermediary element between the auxiliary floating unit and the main floating structure. This intermediary component provides a simple, pre-designed interface that facilitates easy connection and disconnection, reducing the overall system complexity despite the added functionality of shallow water operation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Stability of the object's composition

If the legs extend above the floating structure, then the jack-up has standard configuration, but the floating structure cannot be adjusted for different water depths

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestandard configurationVSAvoidwater depth adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The floating structure's configuration is made dynamic through the selective connection of the auxiliary floating unit. In standard deep water operation, only the main floating structure is used with legs extending above it. When shallow water operation is required, the auxiliary unit is connected to increase overall buoyancy, allowing the same jack-up to adapt to different water depths while maintaining structural stability in each configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enables the jack-up to operate stably in previously unreachable shallow water by distributing buoyancy evenly, simplifying the connection process and reducing operational overhead, thus expanding the drilling range without compromising stability.

Implementation Method 1

an auxiliary floating unit (12) connectable selectively to the floating structure (6) to increase the buoyancy of the jack-up (1)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentEP2783050B1System and method of executing an underwater well drilling program in the bed of a body of water

Publication Date: 2020.02.12 SAIPEM SPA

Figure 1
Figure 2~3
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AI summary

A system for executing an underwater well drilling program in the bed (2) of a body of water (3) has a jack-up (1) having a floating structure (6) and a drilling installation (8) supported on the floating structure (6); and an auxiliary floating unit (12) connectable selectively to the jack-up (1) to allow transfer of the jack- up (1) over the body of water (3), even in very shallow water.