Abstract:
1,189,968. Boring earth &c., wells &c., subaqueous structures. WESTTNGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORP. 13 March, 1969 [18 Nov., 1968], No. 13258/69. Headings E1F and H. An underwater structure, e.g. a well head, has a circular flat base 11, conical sides 17 and a central tube 18 through which well drilling &c. can be carried out. A pipe 32 may anchor the structure to the sea bottom. The assembly 40 locates at 23 and couples the well shaft via 46 to separators &c. 64 through couplings 56, 58 or may have a pipe leading directly to the surface. Grooves 20, 22 are used for locking and location of a submarinevessel that may carry a chamber containing a man, the chamber being connected at 23 to enable the equipment to be secured, and to this end, a chamber (76) (see fig. 6) in the structure provides suitable ambient conditions for an unprotected man. The feed pipe connecting the structure to the surface is made to coil around the outside of the structure when released.