Patent ID: 8807875

Claim:
A system for drilling and producing hydrocarbons in potential ice conditions in offshore areas comprising: a rig having a flotation hull with a relatively flat deck at the upper portion thereof and an ice-bending shape along the lower portion thereof and extending downwardly and inwardly around the periphery of the hull where the ice-bending shape extends from an area of the hull near the level of the deck and extends downwardly near the bottom of the hull; an ice deflecting portion extending around the perimeter of the bottom of the hull to direct ice around the hull and not under the hull; at least three legs that are positioned within the perimeter of the bottom of the flotation hull wherein the legs are arranged to be lifted up off the seafloor so that the rig may be towed through shallow water and also extend to the sea floor and extend further to lift the hull partially or fully out of the water; and a jack-up device associated with each leg to both lift the leg from the sea bottom so that the ice worthy jack-up rig may float by the buoyancy of the hull and push the legs down to the seafloor and push the hull partially up and out of the water when ice floes threaten the rig and fully out of the water when ice is not present; and a conical piled monopod having a body with a base at the bottom and a top deck at the top wherein the base is attached to pilings that are driven into the seafloor when the conical piled monopod structure is installed for use, an inclined ice engaging surface around the body extending from a wider lower region to a narrower upper region where the lower region is below the sea surface and the upper region is above the sea surface and includes tabs with sockets arranged to receive a foot on at least one of the legs to be attached and held in place for drilling through the conical piled monopod; wherein the rig is arranged to lift its hull out of the water and drill through the conical piled monopod, lower itself into the water to assume an ice defensive position such that ice would contact the ice-bending shape of the rig when ice is present, and be moved away when desired as the ice thickens.