US4055052A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Arctic island
Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co
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Filing: 1976-07-30
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Granted: 1977-10-25
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Expires: 1996-07-30
Abstract
Abstract A man-made island and a method for constructing the same in an ice covered body of water using portions of the ice sheet as integral parts of the island. The island is formed by placing fill material, such as sand or gravel, on a portion of the ice sheet to ground that portion. The grounded ice sheet is cut free from the surrounding ice sheet and matter, such as fill material, blocks of ice, etc., is placed on the grounded portion of the ice sheet to construct an island in the body of water. Additional portions of the ice sheet can be separated and grounded on top of previously grounded portions prior to placing matter on the stack of grounded ice pieces to construct the island.
Inventors
- 👤 Michel Metge
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 17:47
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B17/00; E02B17/02; E02B17/028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for constructing an island in a body of water having an ice sheet floating thereon which comprises: placing sufficient fill material having a density greater than the water on a first piece of the ice sheet which is to become an integral part of the island to round the first piece; separating the first piece from the surrounding ice sheet; placing an amount of fill material having a density greater than the water on a second piece of the ice sheet which is to become an integral part of the island, said amount of fill material being not more than the amount which allows the second piece of ice to remain floating at the water's surface; separating the second piece from the surrounding ice sheet; positioning the second piece over the grounded first piece; placing additional fill material having a density greater than the water on the second piece to sink it atop the first piece; and placing sufficient matter upon the grounded pieces to construct an island.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for constructing an island in a body of water having an ice sheet floating thereon which comprises: placing sufficient fill material having a density greater than the water on a first piece of the ice sheet which is to become an integral part of the island to round the first piece; separating the first piece from the surrounding ice sheet; placing an amount of fill material having a density greater than the water on a second piece of the ice sheet which is to become an integral part of the island, said amount of fill material being not more than the amount which allows the second piece of ice to remain floating at the water's surface; separating the second piece from the surrounding ice sheet; positioning the second piece over the grounded first piece; placing additional fill material having a density greater than the water on the second piece to sink it atop the first piece; and placing sufficient matter upon the grounded pieces to construct an island.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
108 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising repeatedly conducting the following steps: placing an amount of fill material having a density greater than the water on a piece of the ice sheet which is to become an integral part of the island, said amount of fill material being not more than the amount which allows the piece of ice to remain floating at the water's surface; separating the piece from the surrounding ice sheet; positioning the piece at the water's surface over the location where it is to be sunk; and placing additional fill material having a density greater than the water on the piece to sink it.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising saturating the fill material placed on top of each piece and maintaining each piece at the water's surface until the saturated fill material has frozen to the piece.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising guiding each piece to a precise submerged location with piles and winching apparatus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising protecting the sides of the island with slope protection apparatus to minimize damage to the island caused by erosion and by the surrounding sheet of ice moving against the island.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising refrigerating the pieces which have been sunk to maintain the ice thereof in a frozen state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising bonding the island to the bottom of the body of water by freezing the island thereto with refrigeration apparatus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising placing blocks of ice upon the grounded pieces to assist in constructing an island.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising freezing water upon the grounded pieces to assist in constructing an island.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising placing fill material upon the grounded pieces to assist in constructing an island.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
116 words
An offshore island constructed in a body of water having an ice sheet floating thereon comprising: a first portion of the ice sheet; fill material positioned above the first portion of the ice sheet in an amount sufficient to ground the first portion of the ice sheet; a second portion of the ice sheet positioned above the first portion of the ice sheet and separated therefrom by a layer of fill material; and additional fill material positioned above the second portion of the ice sheet in an amount sufficient to ground the second portion of the ice sheet above the first portion of the ice sheet and result in an island in the body of water.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
116 words
An offshore island constructed in a body of water having an ice sheet floating thereon comprising: a first portion of the ice sheet; fill material positioned above the first portion of the ice sheet in an amount sufficient to ground the first portion of the ice sheet; a second portion of the ice sheet positioned above the first portion of the ice sheet and separated therefrom by a layer of fill material; and additional fill material positioned above the second portion of the ice sheet in an amount sufficient to ground the second portion of the ice sheet above the first portion of the ice sheet and result in an island in the body of water.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The offshore island of claim 11 further comprising a means for refrigerating the portions of the ice sheet which are integral parts of the island.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-10-24 | 1981-04-25 | 1981-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-10-24 | 1985-04-25 | 1985-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-10-24 | 1989-04-25 | 1989-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |