Passive Grout Seal for Offshore Pile Sleeve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grout seals for offshore platforms, particularly inflatable packers and passive seals, face challenges such as high costs, complexity, and reliability issues during offshore pile installation, with passive seals being vulnerable to physical damage and inadequate for deepwater applications due to dynamic loading.
Innovation Solution
A passive grout seal assembly composed of resilient materials, featuring hanging strips, an annular tube with a cone section, and a bottom tube section fixed to the sleeve inner wall, which provides compression force and protection against pile offset, activated automatically without a power system, and capable of relative sliding between the pile and sleeve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an inflatable packer is used as a grout seal, then the sealing function can be activated, but the assembly becomes very expensive and complicated with potential damages during site installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex power subsystem, high pressure air/water injection subsystem, and piping subsystem from the grout seal assembly. Only the essential seal element remains, which is passively activated by the pile itself during installation, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining sealing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The seal element is designed to be self-activating through the pile installation process itself. The pile's movement and position automatically compress the seal element against the sleeve inner wall, eliminating the need for external activation systems and reducing overall assembly complexity
2Reliability
If an inflatable packer is used as a grout seal, then the sealing function can be activated, but the assembly becomes very expensive in terms of yard installation and field operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a simple, disposable seal element that can be easily manufactured and installed without expensive equipment. The seal element is designed for single-use in field operations, eliminating the need for costly recovery and reuse processes associated with inflatable packers
Solution Approach 2:
By removing the expensive power subsystem, injection subsystem, and piping infrastructure, the patent dramatically reduces both yard installation costs and field operation costs while retaining the essential sealing function through a passive, mechanically-activated element
3Ease of manufacture
If a passive seal such as CRUX annular seal is used, then the cost is reduced, but the seal is vulnerable to physical damage during pile installation activities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the seal element between the pile and the sleeve inner wall before pile installation begins. The seal element acts as a cushioning element that absorbs and distributes the forces during pile driving, protecting against physical damage while maintaining cost-effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The seal element is constructed as a flexible, resilient component that can deform to accommodate pile installation forces without suffering permanent damage. This flexibility provides inherent protection during installation while keeping the design simple and cost-effective
4Adaptability or versatility
If a mechanical grout seal is used, then it can be used for shallow water applications, but it cannot take potential dynamic loading from shear keys in deepwater applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a resilient seal element with specific material properties that allow it to withstand dynamic loading conditions. The seal's elasticity and recovery characteristics enable it to handle the dynamic forces from shear keys in deepwater applications, expanding the adaptability beyond shallow water limitations
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
The solution enhances sealing capacity, resilience, and protection during pile driving, maintaining sealing effectiveness regardless of pile offset, and reduces installation complexity and costs by eliminating the need for expensive control systems, while ensuring reliable operation in deepwater conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a bulbous ring 20 with a fiber core forms the sealing function. The inner diameter of the bulbous ring 20 is less than the outer diameter of a pile so that the deformed ring produces compression force against the pile outer surface to form a sealing function
Implementation Method 2
a grout seal is typically utilized to seal the annulus between a pile sleeve inner surface and a pile outer surface and against a high column of concrete during the grout hardening period
Data Source
AI summary
A passive annular grout seal assembly is disclosed for sealing an annular opening between a driven pile and a skirt pile sleeve for an offshore platform. The annular seals are located at the bottom of the pile sleeves near sea floor and automatically activated when piles are inserted and driven through the pile sleeves without any active operational procedure during offshore piling. The seal configuration fully utilizes the seal height, the grout column height and the density difference between grout and sea water to produce enhanced sealing capacity against the column of grout above.