Abstract:
A platform for offshore oil wells having a curbing around the periphery of the deck of the platform. The deck slopes downwardly from the curbing into a central opening to drain all oil spilled on the deck into the opening. A cylindrical sleeve open at its lower end to admission of water extends downwardly, preferably to the marine floor, from the opening. The diameter of the sleeve is at least as large, and preferably in the range of 20 to 50 feet, as the opening whereby all oil or other liquids draining into the opening is confined within the sleeve. The platform can be entirely of steel, steel framework mounted on a concrete substructure, or of concrete modules assembled at the well site.
Abstract:
A tank having an outer wall comprising a plurality of intersecting vertical cylindrical segments joined together at the intersection and arranged with their concave surfaces facing inwardly. Webs joined to junctures of the cylindrical segments and extending across the tank to other junctures carry a part of the outward force applied to the outer wall by liquids stored in the tank.
Abstract:
A multichannel pipe of reduced wall thickness and increased rigidity consists in a plurality of elongated strips welded along their lateral edges to one another. The strips are of arcuate shape in a direction transverse to their length to form a tubular structure. Webs extend from each juncture of two strips across the pipe to another juncture. The angles included by the arcs of the strips are such that the angle at which the strips and the webs meet is larger than 90* . The radius of curvature of the arcs on which the strips are curved is less than the radius of a circle having the same cross-sectional area as the pipe. In the preferred method of manufacture of the pipe the web structure is assembled and the arcuate strips then welded to one another and the ends of the webs.
Abstract:
An offshore platform for drilling wells and producing oil from wells comprising a plurality of stacked annular concrete modules having concentric inner and outer walls enclosing a central opening that extends downwardly from the deck to the marine floor and a buoyancy chamber surrounding the central opening. The ends of the buoyancy chamber are closed to allow the modules to be floated to the well site. Means are provided to supply compressed air into the buoyancy chambers to control the amount of water in the buoyancy chambers to control the negative buoyancy of the platform and the load placed on the marine floor by the platform. The deck of the platform slopes downwardly from a curbing around its periphery to the central opening. Means are provided to lock the modules together into a unitary structure.
Abstract:
Surface vessels and submarines for the transportation of large volumes of fluids are constructed of a plurality of cylindrical segments joined along their edges. The cylindrical segments serve both as the wall of the storage tanks in which the fluids transported are contained and the skin of the vessel. Webs joined to the junctures of the cylindrical segments extend across the interior of the vessel and are joined to junctures of cylindrical segments on the opposite side of the vessel.