Abstract: A canopy system for deployment around the periphery of a vessel floating on a body of water is disclosed primarily for use in connection with drillships in Arctic waters.

Abstract: An improved method for storing a lighter-than-water fluid, e.g., oil, produced from the blowout of an offshore subsea well is provided herein. The method includes the steps of deploying a containment dome in shallow water near the location of the seabed where the containment dome is to be located. The containment dome as an upper expanded dome-like fluid impervious membrane, a fluid impervious hollow peripheral ring attached to the periphery of the membrane to provide a depending bag-like container, and discrete water drainage means within the bag-like container for connection to pump conduit means therefrom. Wet sand from the seabed is then pumped into the bag-like container, and water is then drained from the wet sand through the water drainage means so as to provide a body of drained sand disposed within the bag-like container and providing a hollow peripheral ring as a hollow peripheral torus acting as a self-supporting structure and as an anchor for the dome-like structural unit.

Abstract: A skirt system is disclosed in combination with a barge floating on a body of water, the barge having a roof extending over the body of water, for providing a substantial ice-free zone around a barge out to at least a hundred feet from the barge.

Abstract: Novel methods and means are provided for providing a substantially ice-free zone around a vessel out to 100 feet or more. The method includes the steps of (a) creating a finite substantially enclosed zone completely around the periphery of the vessel above the waterline, such zone including a peripheral zone approaching the waterline; then (b) continuously circulating warm air within the finite substantially enclosed zone; and finally (c) continuously injecting warm air into the peripheral zone to prevent ice formation within the peripheral zone. The apparatus includes (a) a plurality of floating modules disposed around, and each connected at one end to, the vessel; (b) a continuous, downwardly depending skirt extending completely around the outer periphery of the plurality of floating modules; and (c) a water/air heat exchanger in a selected plurality of such floating modules. The combination of the floating canopies around the vessel, and the hot air provides an ice-free zone around the vessel.

Abstract: The invention relates to an off-shore marine structure that provides an elevated support for a drilling and/or production platform. A structure comprised of three interlocking components is provided, the first component being a large foundation base installed on the sea bed; the second being a conical shaped support component which is engagable with the foundation base and which, releasably carries the third platform supporting component. In the preferred form, the platform supporting component comprises a centrally-disposed vertical column, means being provided to facilitate engagement of the column with the platform and the second component and to subsequently elevate the platform to an operating height above sea level.

Abstract: A modification is provided in an assembly for use in an offshore well test string during oil or gas tests on exploration wells. The well has a well bore and a test string with a subsea test tree located in the vicinity of the subsea blowout preventor at the sea floor. The modified assembly includes at least one line having one end in communication with a supply of methanol and the other end in communication with the test string below the sea floor.

Abstract: A surface drilling apparatus for drilling large diameter holes in soft to medium-hard earth formations includes a cylindrical casing defined by a stationary upper section and a lower section rotatable relative to the upper section; a plurality of circular rows of cutting discs rotatably mounted on the base of the lower section for cutting material beneath the apparatus; a transfer pipe in the center of the base of the lower section for receiving cut material from the cutting discs and feeding the cut material upwardly through a discharge pipe for carrying the material upwardly to the surface; and an annular, upwardly inclined slot in the discharge pipe at the top of the upper section through which air is fed under pressure into the discharge pipe to induce the cut material upwardly from the transfer pipe and blow the material upwardly.

Abstract: A novel barge construction is disclosed herein for providing a substantially ice-free zone around a vessel out to at least 100 feet from the vessel. The barge comprises: (a) a hull including a bow, a stern and, a pair of sides, a flat bottom all covered by plating and a deck covered by decking; (b) a hull stabilization system including a lattice framework filled with solid insulation material; (c) a liquid/gas heat exchange system within the hull, such heat exchange system having ducts and outlets therefrom from the hull to project hot gas towards the surface of the water and recirculation inflow structure to recover air and hot gas from the region of the surface of the water; (d) a cantilevered section extending forwardly from the bow and including longitudinally extending skirt ducts therein connected to the heat exchange system ducts and outlets; and (e) a skirt suspended from the forward edge of the cantilevered section to below the waterline of the barge.