Launching method

The invention relates to the naval field and in particular to a method for launching a structure (1) intended to float in water (15). This method comprises loading the structure (1) onto a pontoon (10) floating in the water, the bearing placement below the water (15) of at least one prop (2) connected to the structure (1) while the structure (1) rests on the pontoon (10) floating in the water (15), lowering the pontoon (10), with disengagement of the pontoon (10) vertically from the structure (1) and its subsequent removal while the structure (1) is supported by the at least one prop (2) bearing below the water (15), and lowering the structure (1), which is still supported by the at least one prop (2), until the structure (1) floats in the water (15).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. national phase entry under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/FR2018/051301, filed on Jun. 6, 2018, which claims priority to French Patent Application No. 1754994, filed on Jun. 6, 2017.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to the field of shipbuilding and more specifically to the field of launching structures intended to float in water.

The launching is a critical step after the construction or repair, on dry ground, of a structure intended to float in water such as, for example, a ship or a floating platform. This transition from a solid support onshore to floatation in water must normally be managed accurately to avoid damage to the launched structure. Those skilled in the art thus know, for example, the launching from an inclined plane, as described in the Japanese patent application publication JP S55-59226, the vertical launching using cranes or lifts, as described in the publications KR 2009 0011697, KR 10 0642343, FR 1 385 516, SG 181 576 or U.S. Pat. No. 7,419,329, and the launching in floodable dry dock. However, these methods generally require heavy, expensive and relatively uncommon infrastructures. Another alternative known to those skilled in the art is that of the immersion in a submersible barge, as described for example in the publications JP S62-152996 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,276,849. However, apart from the use of such a submersible barge, which is a complex and expensive equipment, this other alternative also requires a sufficient water depth to allow immersion of the barge at the location of the launching. However, at least in certain circumstances, it may be desirable to overcome at least partially such local constraints. For example, such freedom from local constraints in terms of infrastructure or water depth allows reducing the distance of towing floating structures intended to be anchored offshore, between the locations of their construction and launching, and their final location.

The Soviet inventor certificates SU 1030299 A and SU 1273293 A1 have disclosed methods for launching a floating platform which may include the steps of loading the platform on a pontoon floating in water, abutting under water support pillars connected to the platform while the latter rests on the pontoon floating in water, lifting the platform on the support pillars, removing the pontoon and lowering the platform, supported again by the support pillars, until the platform floats in water.

These methods however still require relatively heavy local infrastructures, in particular a subsea support to support the pontoon when loading the platform, as well as powerful lifting means to lift the platform on the support pillars in order to allow the removal of the pontoon.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure aims at overcoming these drawbacks, in particular by proposing a method for launching a structure intended to float in water that allows independence from local conditions, as well as from powerful lifting means.

This aim is achieved due to the fact that, according to at least a first aspect of this disclosure, this method, which can in particular comprise the steps of loading the structure on a pontoon floating in water, abutting under water at least one support pillar, connected to the structure, while the structure rests on the pontoon floating in water, removing the pontoon while the structure is supported by the at least one support pillar bearing under water, and lowering the structure, still supported by the at least one support pillar, until the structure floats in water, can further comprise a step of lowering the pontoon, vertically separating the pontoon from the structure, while the structure is supported by the at least one support pillar bearing under water and prior to the pontoon removal step.

Thanks to these dispositions, by lowering the pontoon, rather than raising the platform, it is possible to overcome both local conditions and the need for powerful lifting means to vertically separate the pontoon from the platform and thus allow the removal of the pontoon.

According to at least one additional aspect, the at least one support pillar can be removably connected to the structure, and the method can then also comprise a step of separating the at least one support pillar from the structure once the latter floats in water. It may thus be possible to reuse the at least one support pillar for the launching of other structures. Furthermore, the at least one support pillar can be connected to the structure through a location for the fastening of an anchor line on the structure. Thus, this location may offer a dual use, for the launching and subsequent anchoring of the structure after the launching of the latter.

According to at least another additional aspect, the method may also comprise a step of connecting the at least one support pillar to the structure before abutting under water the at least one support pillar.

According to yet another aspect, the pontoon can be lowered relative to its waterline during the pontoon lowering step. Particularly, the pontoon may be ballasted to carry out the pontoon lowering step. By thus lowering the pontoon in water, the pontoon can be easily vertically moved away from the structure supported by the at least one support pillar, provided that the pontoon does not already rest directly on the bottom of the water, in order to allow the subsequent removal of the pontoon.

However, alternatively or in addition to this lowering of the pontoon relative to its waterline, it is also conceivable that the water level will go down during the pontoon lowering step. Particularly, the water level can be lowered by the tide during the lowering of the pontoon. It is thus possible to make use of the natural phenomenon of the tides, rather than of complex devices or facilities, in order to vertically move away the pontoon from the structure supported by the at least one support pillar, so as to allow its subsequent removal.

According to yet another additional aspect, a vertical hydraulic and/or mechanical actuating cylinder can be interposed between the at least one support pillar and the structure to thereby actuate a relative vertical displacement of the support pillar relative to the structure.

According to yet another additional aspect, the structure may be a floating platform, such as for example a floating drilling or exploration platform or a floating platform for harnessing renewable energies with at least one wind turbine or marine turbine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The steps of a method for launching a structure1according to one aspect of the present disclosure are illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 8. The structure1may be, as in the example illustrated, a floating platform as the one disclosed in document FR 2 970 696 B1, but could alternatively be for example a ship. It may have been assembled and/or built on-site, for example from modules prefabricated off-site and conveyed on-site. In a first step illustrated inFIG. 1, it is possible to carry out the loading of the structure1on a pontoon10. Its loading can be carried out, as illustrated, on wheels or rollers11, possibly placed on rails. For this, a surface for loading12the pontoon10can be at substantially the same level, in this first step, as the surface13of the ground at the adjacent shore14, from which the structure1is loaded.

Once the structure1is loaded, it is possible, in a second step illustrated inFIG. 2, to connect support pillars2to the structure1. Alternatively, however, the connection of the support pillars2to the structure1could be carried out before the loading of the structure, with the support pillars2already installed, on the pontoon10. These support pillars2can be connected to the structure1by fasteners3, which can be removably fastened, for example, to locations5for the fastening of the anchor lines on this structure1.

The support pillars2may be movable at least vertically relative to the fasteners3. In order to actuate and/or brake their vertical motion, cylinders4may be interposed between the fasteners3and the support pillars2. The cylinders4may be hydraulic cylinders, and in particular water cylinders, as illustrated for example inFIG. 10A, with a piston41secured to the fastener3slidably received in a cylinder42formed in the support pillar2and able to receive and discharge pressure water through a duct43, with possibly restricted flow and able to be equipped with a valve44that can be opened to allow the passage of water in either direction in order to raise or lower the pillar support2relative to the fastener3or closed to fasten the position of the support pillar2relative to the fastener. Alternatively, however, the cylinders4may be mechanical cylinders, each comprising for example, as illustrated inFIG. 10B, one or more pinion(s)45, associated with one of the fastener3and the support pillar2, and a rack46, associated with the other of the fastener3and the support pillar2. The pinions45can be coupled to at least one motor47and a brake48to respectively actuate or brake or even block a relative vertical motion of the pillar support2compared to the fastener.

Thus, in a third step, illustrated inFIG. 3, it is possible to lower the support pillars2until they abut under water15on the seabed16. This lowering can simply be driven by gravity, or actuated by the cylinders4, but in any case its speed can be restricted through these cylinders4. Once the support pillars2abut under water15, their relative position relative to the fasteners3and therefore relative to the structure1can be fastened, for example by blocking the cylinders4, so that the bearing of the support pillars2under water15can support the structure1.

In a fourth step, the pontoon10can be lowered under the structure1, now supported, through the fasteners3, by the support pillars2bearing under water15, so as to vertically move away the pontoon10from the structure. According to a first aspect, illustrated by one example inFIG. 4A, in this fourth step, the pontoon10can be lowered relative to its waterline17. This can be done for example by ballasting the pontoon10, with solid or liquid ballast, so as to enhance its displacement. According to a second aspect, illustrated by one example inFIG. 4B, in this fourth step, the water15level goes down, so as to lower the pontoon10even if its level relative to its waterline17is maintained. This lowering of the water level can be achieved by a set of locks, but also, in a simpler manner and without resorting to particular infrastructures, it can be the effect of the tides: the support pillars2could therefore be lowered and abut under water15during high tide, and the pontoon10could go down and vertically move away from the structure1due to the low tide. Of course, these two aspects are not mutually exclusive, and it would also be possible to combine them, for example by ballasting the pontoon10to increase its descent because of the tide.

Once a sufficient vertical gap is achieved between the pontoon10and the structure1, now supported by the support pillars2, it is possible to proceed to a fifth step, as in the example illustrated inFIG. 5, in which the pontoon10is removed. The space under the pontoon10being thus released, it is then possible to proceed to a sixth step, as in the example illustrated inFIG. 6, in which the structure1is lowered until it floats in water15. As the lowering of the support pillars2, this lowering of the structure1can be at least partially driven by gravity, or actuated by the cylinders4, but in any case its speed can be restricted through these cylinders4. Furthermore, this sixth step can be followed by a seventh step, as in the example illustrated inFIG. 7A, in which the support pillars2can still be raised higher relative to the structure1, for example by using the cylinders4, so as to disengage the support pillars2from the seabed16and thus allow the free floatation of the structure1while facilitating a subsequent separation of the support pillars2from the structure1. However, alternatively or in combination with this raising of the support pillars2relative to the structure, a rise in the level of the water15, for example due to the return of the high tide, can also serve to disengage the support pillars2relative to the seabed16, as in the example illustrated inFIG. 7B.

Once the structure1floats in water15and the support pillars2are disengaged from the seabed16, it is possible to proceed to an eighth step, as in the example illustrated inFIG. 8, in which the fasteners3can be detached from the structure1, and the support pillars2be separated from the structure1. The structure1can thus float freely in water, and be displaced, for example by towing, offshore, where it can be anchored by anchor lines20fastened to the anchor line fastening locations5, as in the example illustrated inFIG. 9.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it is obvious that various modifications and changes can be made to these examples without departing from the general scope of the invention as defined by the claims. In addition, individual characteristics of the various exemplary embodiments mentioned can be combined in additional exemplary embodiments. Consequently, the description and drawings should be considered in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.