Underwater drilling apparatus and method for creating a cased borehole underwater

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12146408-B2
Application number	US-202318471972-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2023
Priority date	Oct 6, 2022
Publication date	Nov 19, 2024
Grant date	Nov 19, 2024

Abstract

The invention relates to an underwater drilling apparatus comprising a lowerable platform configured for setting down on a waterbody bottom, at least one support tube axially displaceable and rotatably mounted on the platform, at least one tubular drive arranged on the platform and configured for rotationally driving the support tube, in order to rotationally introduce the support tube into the waterbody bottom, and an in-hole drilling rig arranged in the support tube, wherein the in-hole drilling rig comprises: a rig base body, at least one clamping device for bracing and securing the in-hole drilling rig in the support tube, and a drill head which is axially displaceably and is rotatably mounted on the rig base body and can be rotationally driven by means of a drill drive. According to the invention, it is provided that, when the support tube is rotationally driven, the in-hole drilling rig is arranged in the support tube and is axially clamped thereto.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An underwater drilling apparatus for creating a cased borehole under water, comprising
a lowerable platform configured for setting down on a waterbody bottom,
at least one support tube axially displaceable and rotatably mounted on the platform,
at least one tubular drive arranged on the platform and configured for rotationally driving the support tube, in order to rotationally introduce the support tube into the waterbody bottom,
at least one in-hole drilling rig arranged in the support tube, wherein the in-hole drilling rig comprises:
a rig base body,
at least one clamping device for bracing and securing the in-hole drilling rig in the support tube,
a drill drive on the rig base body, and
a drill head which is axially displaceable and rotatably mounted on the rig base body and can be rotationally driven by means of the drill drive,

wherein when rotationally driving the support tube, the in-hole drilling rig is arranged in the support tube and is axially clamped thereto.

2. The underwater drilling apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein,
in order to form the tubular drive at the platform, a collet device for clamping the support tube on its outer side is arranged to be rotatably or pivotably and axially movable, wherein a torque of the tubular drive can be transmitted to the support tube.

3. The underwater drilling apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein
the tubular drive is configured for transmitting a continuous rotary motion to the support tube.

4. The underwater drilling apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein
the tubular drive is configured for transmitting an oscillating rotary motion to the support tube.

5. The underwater drilling apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein
the in-hole drilling rig comprises an axial feed device with which the drill head is axially displaceable relative to the rig base body.

6. The underwater drilling apparatus according to claim 5 ,
wherein
the feed device comprises at least one hydraulic feed cylinder.

7. The underwater drilling apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein
at least one supply line is connected to the in-hole drilling rig at an upper portion of the rig base body.

8. The underwater drilling apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein
two or more support tubes are rotatably and axially displaceably mounted on the platform.

9. The underwater drilling apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein
at least one upper clamping device is arranged on the rig base body and at least one lower clamping device is arranged on the drill head.

10. The underwater drilling apparatus according to claim 9 ,
wherein
when the support tube is rotationally driven, the at least one lower clamping device on the drill head is radially extended and the drill head is clamped to the support tube and the at least one lower clamping device on the rig base body is radially retracted and is released from the support tube.

11. The underwater drilling apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein
the platform at the waterbody bottom comprises a supply device connected to an overwater supply unit via at least one main supply line, and
the at least one tubular drive and the at least one in-hole drilling rig are connected to the supply device of the platform for energy supply, in particular via supply lines.

12. A method for creating a cased borehole under water with an underwater drilling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
at least one support tube is arranged on a platform of the underwater drilling apparatus,
at least one in-hole drilling rig is arranged in the at least one support tube,
the platform is lowered onto a waterbody bottom,
the at least one support tube is rotationally driven via a tubular drive at the platform and is drilled into the waterbody bottom,
prior and/or subsequent to the drilling of the support tube, the drill head of the in-hole drilling rig arranged in the support tube is rotationally driven and is drilled into the waterbody bottom to create the borehole, while the support tube is held on the platform in a rotationally fixed manner, and
when the support tube is rotationally driven, the in-hole drilling rig remains in the support tube and is axially clamped thereto.

Assignees

• Bauer Maschinen Gmbh

Inventors

• Finkenzeller Stefan
• Klippenstein Jürgen

Classifications

• E21B7/12 Primary

  Underwater drilling (using heave compensators E21B19/09) · CPC title

• E02D15/08

  Sinking workpieces into water or soil {inasmuch as not provided for elsewhere} · CPC title

• E02D27/525

  using elements penetrating the underwater ground (sinking work pieces E02D15/08, sinking caissons E02D23/02) · CPC title

• E21B7/124 Primary

  with underwater tool drive prime mover, e.g. portable drilling rigs for use on underwater floors · CPC title

• E02D7/28

  Placing of hollow pipes or mould pipes by means arranged inside the piles or pipes {(E02D13/08 takes precedence)} · CPC title