Granted Patent B2

US 8,376,659 · App. 10/899,361 · Granted Feb 19, 2013

Abstract

Claims (29)

1. A method of supporting a platform section for above the surface of the earth comprising:

landing said platform section a distance above said surface of said earth on one or more first supports depending from said platform,

drilling one or more holes in the earth,

inserting one or more second supports into said holes,

placing a filler material between said one or more holes and said one or more second supports, and

allowing said filler materials to solidify.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing said one or more first supports from said surface of said earth.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising said filler material comprising water and sand.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising said solidifying being freezing.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising said one or more second supports being within said one or more first supports.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising said surface of said earth being the surface of arctic tundra.

7. A method of supporting a platform section above the surface of the earth for the exploration of oil, gas, or hydrate reserves comprising:

lowering a platform to a distance above the surface of the earth,

engaging a first set of supports depending from said platform with the surface of the earth,

drilling holes in the earth,

inserting a second set of supports in the drilled holes,

adding a slurry in to the drilled holes, and

allowing the slurry to freeze to support the platform.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising, lifting said first set of supports off the surface of the earth after the second set of supports are installed.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein said earth is arctic tundra.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein said distance is predetermined.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein said distance is measured by sonar.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein said first set of supports are engaged by dropping them relative to said platform.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein said holes for said second set of supports are drilled from the deck of said platform section.

14. The method of claim 7 , wherein one or more of said second set of supports are installed concentrically with said first set of supports.

15. The method of claim 7 , wherein said second set of supports are supported by said platform section during he freezing.

16. The method of claim 7 , wherein said second set of post are supported on shoulders of said platform section during freezing,

and said platform section can be removed over the top of said second set of supports after freezing.

17. The method of claim 7 further comprising adding said slurry into said drilled holes thru the center of said second set of supports.

Assignments (10)