Subsea bunker construction

Claim 2

In a protective and leak senstitive, subsea bunker and template construction for selectively providing and detecting environmental conditions within the said bunker construction, comprising in combination: a bunker construction having means providing buoyancy therefor and provided with a well equipment chamber normally containing a fluid medium which is maintained at approximately ambient pressure during and after installation on a sea floor; said bunker construction including a floor, top and sidewalls of impervious material; said floor including one or more well hole openings therein providing a well hole template pattern; said top wall including removable cover plates over the well holes; and means located within said well equipment chamber for determining the environmental condition of a fluid medium in said chamber without removal of fluid from said chamber.

Claim 3

In a protective and leak senstitive, subsea bunker and template construction for selectively providing and detecting environmental conditions within the said bunker construction, comprising in combination: a bunker construction having means providing buoyancy therefor and provided with a well equipment chamber normally containing a fluid medium which is maintained at approximately ambient pressure during and after installation on a sea floor; said bunker construction including a floor, top and sidewalls of impervious material; said floor including one or more well hole openings therein providing a well hole template pattern; said top wall including removable cover plates over the well holes; and means located within said well equipment chamber for determining the environmental condition of a fluid medium in said chamber without removal of fluid from said chamber.

Claim 4

In a protective and leak senstitive, subsea bunker and template construction for selectively providing and detecting environmental conditions within the said bunker construction, comprising in combination: a bunker construction having means providing buoyancy therefor and provided with a well equipment chamber normally containing a fluid medium which is maintained at approximately ambient pressure during and after installation on a sea floor; said bunker construction including a floor, top and sidewalls of impervious material; said floor including one or more well hole openings therein providing a well hole template pattern; said top wall including removable cover plates over the well holes; and means located within said well equipment chamber for determining the environmental condition of a fluid medium in said chamber without removal of fluid from said chamber.

Claim 5

In a bunker construction as stated in claim 1 wherein said means located within said well chamber includes mechanical means for detecting the presence of oil in said chamber.

Claim 6

In a method of installing a subsea bunker and well template construction, the steps of: transporting a bunker construction including a well equipment chamber between end buoyancy chambers to a wellhead site; lowering said bunker construction to the sea bottom by introducing pressure air to buoyancy chambers and for discharge of pressure air from said buoyancy chambers to control the descent of said bunker construction to the sea floor; drilling one or more well holes through well openings in the floor of said construction; providing a wellhead unit and a production control unit within said equipment chamber for each well hole; sealing said well equipment chamber; introducing selected liquid to said equipment chamber to maintain ambient pressure therewithin during lowering of said bunker construction to the sea bottom and while at the sea bottom to inhibit marine and corrosive growth on well equipment within the said chamber; and continuously sensing within said equipment chamber for the presence and absence of oil in said equipment chamber.

Claim 7

In a method of installing a subsea bunker and well template construction, the steps of: transporting a bunker construction including a well equipment chamber between end buoyancy chambers to a wellhead site; lowering said bunker construction to the sea bottom by introducing pressure air to buoyancy chambers and for discharge of pressure air from said buoyancy chambers to control the descent of said bunker construction to the sea floor; drilling one or more well holes through well openings in the floor of said construction; providing a wellhead unit and a production control unit within said equipment chamber for each well hole; sealing said well equipment chamber; introducing selected liquid to said equipment chamber to maintain ambient pressure therewithin during lowering of said bunker construction to the sea bottom and while at the sea bottom to inhibit marine and corrosive growth on well equipment within the said chamber; and continuously sensing within said equipment chamber for the presence and absence of oil in said equipment chamber.

Claim 8

In a subsea bunker and template construction, the combination of: a bunker construction including a housing of impermeable material and provided with an equipment chamber; means for introducing and for exhausting a selected fluid medium into and from said eQuipment chamber to modify environmental conditions within said equipment chamber; said equipment chamber being filled with a fluid medium and maintained at approximately ambient pressure during lowering of the bunker construction to the sea bottom and while at the sea bottom; and means located within said chamber for sensing and responding to environmental conditions within said equipment chamber, said last-mentioned means being connected to a remote location for indicating at such location the condition within said chamber.

Claim 9

In a subsea bunker and template construction, the combination of: a bunker construction including a housing of impermeable material and provided with an equipment chamber; means for introducing and for exhausting a selected fluid medium into and from said eQuipment chamber to modify environmental conditions within said equipment chamber; said equipment chamber being filled with a fluid medium and maintained at approximately ambient pressure during lowering of the bunker construction to the sea bottom and while at the sea bottom; and means located within said chamber for sensing and responding to environmental conditions within said equipment chamber, said last-mentioned means being connected to a remote location for indicating at such location the condition within said chamber.

Claim 10

In a protective and leak sensitive subsea bunker and template construction for selectively providing and detecting environmental conditions within said bunker construction, comprising in combination: a bunker construction having means providing buoyancy therefor and provided with a well equipment chamber normally containing a fluid medium which is maintained at approximately ambient pressure during and after installation on a sea floor; said bunker construction including a floor, top, and sidewalls of impervious material; said floor including one or more well hole openings therein providing a well hole template pattern; said top wall including removable cover plates over the well holes; and means within said well equipment chamber for determining the fluid environmental condition in said chamber and including means for detecting the presence of oil in said chamber, said means for detecting the presence of oil in said chamber including a pivoted float means within said chamber.

Claim 11

In a protective and leak sensitive subsea bunker and template construction for selectively providing and detecting environmental conditions within said bunker construction, comprising in combination: a bunker construction having means providing buoyancy therefor and provided with a well equipment chamber normally containing a fluid medium which is maintained at approximately ambient pressure during and after installation on a sea floor; said bunker construction including a floor, top, and sidewalls of impervious material; said floor including one or more well hole openings therein providing a well hole template pattern; said top wall including removable cover plates over the well holes; and means within said well equipment chamber for determining the fluid environmental condition in said chamber and including means for detecting the presence of oil in said chamber, said means for detecting the presence of oil in said chamber including a pivoted float means within said chamber.

Claim 12

In a method of installing a subsea bunker and well template construction, the steps of: transporting a bunker construction to a wellhead site; lowering said bunker construction to the sea bottom by introducing pressure air to buoyancy chambers and for discharge of pressure air from said buoyancy chambers control the descent of said bunker construction to the sea floor; drilling a well hole through each well opening in the floor of said construction; providing a wellhead unit and a production control unit for each well hole within an equipment chamber; sealing said well equipment chamber; introducing selected liquid to well equipment chamber to maintain ambient pressure and to inhibit marine and corrosive growth on well equipment; and continuously sensing for the presence and absence of oil in said equipment chamber; and maintaining a selected working temperature within said equipment chamber to enhance working conditions therein by introducing and circulating warm water therein.

Claim 13

In a method of installing a subsea bunker and well template construction, the steps of: transporting a bunker construction to a wellhead site; lowering said bunker construction to the sea bottom by introducing pressure air to buoyancy chambers and for discharge of pressure air from said buoyancy chambers control the descent of said bunker construction to the sea floor; drilling a well hole through each well opening in the floor of said construction; providing a wellhead unit and a production control unit for each well hole within an equipment chamber; sealing said well equipment chamber; introducing selected liquid to well equipment chamber to maintain ambient pressure and to inhibit marine and corrosive growth on well equipment; and continuously sensing for the presence and absence of oil in said equipment chamber; and maintaining a selected working temperature within said equipment chamber to enhance working conditions therein by introducing and circulating warm water therein.

Claim 14

In a protective and leak sensitive subsea bunker and template construction for selectively providing and detecting environmental conditions within said bunker construction, comprising in combination: a precast concrete reinforced bunker construction having end chamber means providing buoyancy therefor and having end chamber for well equipment normally containing a fluid medium which is maintained at approximately ambient pressure during and after installation on a sea floor; said bunker construction providing a floor, top, and sidewalls of impervious material; said floor being adapted to rest on a sea bottom and including one or more well openings therein providing a well hole template pattern; pipe means embedded in said floor and provided with connecting means to well equipment in said equipment chamber; said top wall including removable cover plates over the well holes; and means located within said well equipment chamber for determining environmental condition of a fluid medium in said chamber.

Claim 15

In a protective and leak sensitive subsea bunker and template construction for selectively providing and detecting environmental conditions within said bunker construction, comprising in combination: a precast concrete reinforced bunker construction having end chamber means providing buoyancy therefor and having end chamber for well equipment normally containing a fluid medium which is maintained at approximately ambient pressure during and after installation on a sea floor; said bunker construction providing a floor, top, and sidewalls of impervious material; said floor being adapted to rest on a sea bottom and including one or more well openings therein providing a well hole template pattern; pipe means embedded in said floor and provided with connecting means to well equipment in said equipment chamber; said top wall including removable cover plates over the well holes; and means located within said well equipment chamber for determining environmental condition of a fluid medium in said chamber.