Offshore structure support

Abstract

A pile based braced caisson structural support device includes a number of legs. These legs are configured in a teepee type configuration such that the footprint of the base is larger than the footprint of the opposing end. This structural support can be used as a base for an offshore drilling platform in that the support reduces the lateral forces on the support caused by wave action.

1 . A method of constructing a structure support comprising the steps of: 
 providing at least three legs in a teepee configuration;    providing at least one central member extending substantially vertically through an intersection point of said at least three legs;    placing a first end of the first three legs on a mounting surface; and    affixing a structure to a second end of the at least three legs, wherein the three legs are unitary structures from a first end to a second end, and wherein the structure is located at a position above the intersecting point of the at least three legs.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the structure is a drilling rig.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing an angular guide structure to orient the at least three legs.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the angular guide structure is positioned at said intersecting point.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of drilling a well bore with the drilling rig.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the step of producing a hydrocarbon product through the well bore.  
   
   
       7 . A method of constructing a support structure comprising the steps of: 
 providing at least three legs in a teepee configuration, said at least three legs being substantially linear unitary structures from a first end to a second end;    placing a first end of the first three legs on a mounting surface;    intersecting said at least three legs at an intersecting point such that a surface area of a plane defined by said first ends of said at least three legs is greater than a surface area of a plane defined by said second ends of said at least three legs; and    fixedly securing a support structure to said second ends of the at least three legs;    wherein a distance from the support structure to the intersecting point of the at least three legs is less than a distance from the intersecting point of the at least three legs to the first ends of said at least three legs.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the support structure supports a drilling rig.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of drilling a well bore with the drilling rig.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of producing a hydrocarbon product through the well bore.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of providing an angular guide structure orient the at least three legs.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the angular guide structure is positioned at said intersecting point of said at least three legs.