Control Package Container

Abstract

Embodiments described herein comprise an apparatus and method for transporting a control package for a lower marine riser package (LMRP) to an offshore platform. The apparatus may include a lifting cage and a base. The lifting cage may be configured to lock to the base. The base may be configured to secure a control package in the interior of the container.

1 . A container comprising:
 a base configured to hold a control package, the base comprising:
 a frame for supporting the weight of the control package; 
 one or more receiving members configured to couple to a portion of the control package and including one or more base fastening devices configured to secure at least a portion of the control package to the one or more receiving members; and 
   a lifting cage configured to engage the base and substantially surround the control package when the control package is secured to the one or more receiving members.   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a control package and wherein the control package is a subsea control package. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the subsea control package further comprises an upper pod and a lower pod. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the lower pod is configured to secure to a piece of subsea equipment. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the upper pod is configured to secure to the lower pod when the lower pod is secured to the piece of subsea equipment. 
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 5 , further comprising a pod clamp frame configured to secure the upper pod to the base. 
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 3 , further comprising one or more legs of the lower pod configured to secure to the one or more receiving members of the base. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 7 , further comprising a pod clamp frame configured to secure the upper pod to the base, the pod clamp frame comprising one or more clamp member connector devices for securing the pod clamp frame to the one or more receiving members of the base. 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 8 , further comprising an upper clamp frame that is removably coupled to the pod clamp frame. 
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the upper clamp frame is configured to engage a portion of the upper pod thereby securing the upper pod to the base. 
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 8 , further comprising a storage device configured to store the upper clamp frame while the lower pod is secured to the one or more receiving members. 
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container lock further comprises a base lock portion and a lifting cage lock portion. 
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the base lock portion further comprises one or more pins having an aperture through at least a portion of the pin. 
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the base lock portion further comprises a cavity configured to receive the pin and one or more apertures through the cavity. 
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the container lock further comprises a second pin configured to be received in the aperture of the pin and the aperture of the cavity thereby preventing relative movement between the lifting cage and the base. 
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising one of more lifting lugs configured to allow a crane to lift the container. 
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises one or more fork lift eyes configured to allow a forklift to lift the container. 
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lifting cage further comprises one or more fork lift eyes configured to allow a forklift to lift the lifting cage. 
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lifting cage and base are formed of structural members. 
   
   
       20 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the structural members further comprise a tubular member. 
   
   
       21 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein there is one or more inner members between the structural members of the lifting cage. 
   
   
       22 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein the inner members further comprise sheet metal. 
   
   
       23 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a four sided structural frame formed of four base structural members. 
   
   
       24 . A method for transporting a subsea control package, comprising:
 placing a portion of the subsea control package on a base;   securing the portion of the control package to the base;   lowering a lifting cage over the portion of the control package and the base;   engaging the lifting cage to the base;   locking the base to the lifting cage to form a container housing the portion of the subsea control package;   lifting the container onto a vessel;   sailing the vessel to the offshore platform;   engaging one or more lifting lugs on the container with a hoisting member; and   lifting the container onto the offshore platform.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein securing the portion of the control package to the base further comprises coupling one or more legs of a lower pod of the subsea control package to one or more receiving members on the base. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising locking the lower pod to the receiving members by moving a rod through an aperture in the receiving members. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein securing the portion of the control package to the base further comprises:
 removing the lower pod from the receiving members;   placing a portion of a pod clamp frame in the receiving members;   placing an upper pod on the base wherein a lip of the upper pod is located above a top of the pod clamp frame; and   securing a top portion of the lip with an upper clamp frame by coupling the upper clamp frame to the pod clamp frame.   
   
   
       28 . An container for transporting a control package, comprising:
 a base;   a lifting cage configured to couple to the base thereby forming the container for storing at least a portion of the control package, wherein the control package comprises an upper pod and a lower pod;   a pod support means for securing the upper pod and lower pod to the base; and   one or more shock absorbing members located between the base and the at least a portion of the control package.   
   
   
       29 . The container of  claim 28 , further comprising a storage device configured to store a portion of the pod support means when the portion is not in use. 
   
   
       30 . The container of  claim 28 , further comprising a container lock configured to lock the lifting cage to the base for transport and storage. 
   
   
       31 . The container of  claim 28 , further comprising one or more fork lift eyes located on the lifting cage for raising and lowering the lifting cage. 
   
   
       32 . A container for transporting an upper pod and a lower pod of a subsea control package, comprising:
 a base, the base comprising:
 a structural frame; 
 one or more receiving members; 
 one or more base lock portions; 
   a lifting cage, the lifting cage comprising:
 a structural frame; 
 one or more lifting cage lock portions; 
 one or more lifting lugs for lifting the lifting cage off of the base; 
   a pod support device configured to secure the upper pod and the lower pod to the base, the pod support device comprising:
 a pod fastening device configured to fasten one or more legs of the lower pod to the one or more receiving members; and 
 a pod clamp frame a portion of which is configured to secure into the one or more receiving members when the lower pod legs are not secured to the receiving members and wherein the pod clamp frame is configured to engage at least a portion of the upper pod thereby securing the upper pod to the base. 
   
   
   
       33 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more shock absorbing members configured to dampen any impact load from the base to the control package. 
   
   
       35 . The container of  claim 33 , wherein the one or more shock absorbing members are one or more shock absorbers located between the base and the control package. 
   
   
       36 . The container of  claim 33 , wherein the one or more shock absorbing members are a dampening material. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising dampening impact loads to the portion of the control package using one or more shock absorbing members. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the damping impact loads further comprises impacting a shock absorber.