SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONVERTING A FLOATING DRILLING RIG TO A BOTTOM SUPPORTED DRILLING RIG

WIPO Patent Application WO/2004/046467

A1

A floating drilling rig (140) configured for performing drilling operations while floating on a body of water (142) is modified to become a converted vessel (200) configured for performing drilling operations while resting on bottom (170) by attaching a support barge component (180) adapted to add rest-on-bottom functionality. The support barge component (180) has a ballast system (300) that alone or by supplementing the ballast system of the floating drilling vessel (140) to be ballasted to rest on bottom (170). The ballast system of the support barge component (180) is adapted to be opened to the water to fill and drain as the water level raises and lowers, and thereby maintain a constant soil pressure. The support barge component (180) may also have a suction breaker system (400) to break suction formed between the support barge component (180) and bottom (170). If the floating drilling rig (140) was previously classified for service in a defined body of water, the support barge component (180) may enable reclassification of the converted vessel (200) for service outside the defined body of water.

FACEY GENE
WILLIFORD FRANK B
DAO BUI V

PCT/US2003/036581

June 03, 2004

November 14, 2003

Click for automatic bibliography generation  

ENSCO INTERNAT INC (US)

B63B9/04; B63B9/06; E02B17/00; (IPC1-7): E02B17/00; B63B9/06; B63B35/44; E02B17/02

WO1984002151A1

1984-06-07

US6048135A	2000-04-11
US3001370A	1961-09-26
US5190410A	1993-03-02

Rippamonti, Russell N. (5000 Bank One Center 1717 Main Stree, Dallas TX, US)

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