Method for securing a tubular element to the bottom of a body of water and apparatus for carrying out this method

Claim 1

A method of securing a tubular element in the bottom of a body of water, comprising the steps of lowering the tubular element from the watersurface to the waterbottom and allowing said tubular element to fill completely with water, selectively removably mounting a pumping unit on the tubular element either before or after the lowering of the tubular element through the water to an underwater position of the pumping unit and tubular element on the bottom, closing the tubular element at the upper end, pumping water from said tubular element to reduce the pressure within the tubular element by operating the pumping unit so that the pressure difference of the water outside and within the tubular element causes the tubular element to penetrate into the waterbottom substantially completely, stopping the operation of the pumping unit, disconnecting the pumping unit from the tubular element, raising the pumping unit to the watersurface and recovering it.

Claim 2

A method of securing a tubular element in the bottom of a body of water, comprising the steps of lowering the tubular element from the watersurface to the waterbottom and allowing said tubular element to fill completely with water, selectively removably mounting a pumping unit on the tubular element either before or after the lowering of the tubular element through the water to an underwater position of the pumping unit and tubular element on the bottom, closing the tubular element at the upper end, pumping water from said tubular element to reduce the pressure within the tubular element by operating the pumping unit so that the pressure difference of the water outside and within the tubular element causes the tubular element to penetrate into the waterbottom substantially completely, stopping the operation of the pumping unit, disconnecting the pumping unit from the tubular element, raising the pumping unit to the watersurface and recovering it.

Claim 3

An apparatus for securing a tubular element in the bottom of a body of water, said apparatus comprising a tubular element which is adapted to be closed at the upper end and which is open at the lower end, cable means extendible from the watersurface to the bottom of the water for lowering the tubular element to the bottom, a thin cutting edge at the lower end of the tubular element, a pumping unit for reducing the pressure within the tubular element, said pumping unit being mounted on the tubular element, a remotely controlled releasable coupling connecting said pumping unit to said tubular element, power transmission cable means connected to said pumping means for supplying power thereto and extending from the watersurface to the pumping unit, hoisting means for raising the pumping unit to the watersurface, and a remotely controlled valve for opening or closing a conduit at the upper end of and in communication between the interior and the exterior of the tubular element.

Claim 4

An apparatus for securing a tubular element in the bottom of a body of water, said apparatus comprising a tubular element which is adapted to be closed at the upper end and which is open at the lower end, cable means extendible from the watersurface to the bottom of the water for lowering the tubular element to the bottom, a thin cutting edge at the lower end of the tubular element, a pumping unit for reducing the pressure within the tubular element, said pumping unit being mounted on the tubular element, a remotely controlled releasable coupling connecting said pumping unit to said tubular element, power transmission cable means connected to said pumping means for supplying power thereto and extending from the watersurface to the pumping unit, hoisting means for raising the pumping unit to the watersurface, and a remotely controlled valve for opening or closing a conduit at the upper end of and in communication between the interior and the exterior of the tubular element.