Apparatus associated with sub-sea operations

Abstract

A method of drilling a bore at a subsea location is provided, the method comprising providing a remotely operated drilling assembly at a subsurface location; providing a conduit extending from the surface of the water to the remotely operated drilling assembly; and drilling the bore at the subsea location using the remotely operated drilling assembly. An apparatus for conducting a drilling operation at the seabed comprises a remotely operable drilling assembly deployed at a subsea location; and a conduit extending from the drilling assembly to the surface of the water.

1 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A method of carrying out predetermined operations at a deep seabed including the step of providing at the lower end of a conduit a docking station for mounting an assembly including equipment required to perform a required operation at the seabed, deploying a core string from the surface of the water above the seabed to present the docking station to a location of the seabed at which it is intended to perform said operation, and installing said assembly at the docking station. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 36 , wherein the conduit is used as a means for guiding the assembly into, docking relationship with the docking station. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein the assembly is lowered to the docking station using a sleeve in external sliding engagement with the conduit to guide the assembly into docking relationship. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 36 , wherein the docking station is used to guide the lower end of the assembly toward its docked position. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the upper part of the assembly is automatically moved into its operational setting with the docking assembly. 
     
     
         41 . Apparatus for enabling practical operations to be carried out at a deep seabed, the apparatus comprising a support assembly for mounting equipment for carrying out a said practical operation, a support assembly docking station provided at the lower end of a conduit deployable from the surface of the water above the seabed to present the docking station to a location of the seabed at which it is required to carry out a said operation, and means for guiding the assembly to the docking station. 
     
     
         42 . Apparatus according to  claim 41 , wherein the means for guiding the assembly to the docking station is means displaceable lengthways of the conduit and wherein the means displaceable lengthways of the conduit comprises a tubular sleeve slidable externally of the conduit. 
     
     
         43 . Apparatus according to  claim 41 , further comprising jack means for locking the upper end of the assembly in its operational position within the docking station. 
     
     
         44 . Apparatus according to  claim 41 , further comprising an axially directed sleeve extending the length of the assembly, the longitudinal axis of the sleeve being arranged to engage the lower end of the conduit. 
     
     
         45 . Apparatus according to  claim 41 , further comprising a drill string, the upper end of the drill string being arranged to be enterable into the lower end of the conduit. 
     
     
         46 . Apparatus according to  claim 45 , further comprising means for selectively controlling relative displacement between the drill string and the conduit. 
     
     
         47 . A method of recovering a core sample from a remotely controlled drilling assembly at a subsea location conducting a subsea drilling operation, the method comprising:
 providing a conduit between the drilling assembly and the surface;   providing a storage assembly for holding a container for a core sample in communication with the conduit; and   recovering a core sample to the surface by moving a container for a core sample between the storage assembly and the conduit.   
     
     
         48 . The method according to  claim 47 , wherein the storage assembly is provided adjacent the conduit. 
     
     
         49 . The method according to  claim 47 , wherein an empty container is moved from the storage assembly into the conduit and provided to the drilling assembly. 
     
     
         50 . The method according to  claim 47 , wherein a container containing a core sample is recovered from the drilling assembly and moved to the storage assembly. 
     
     
         51 . The method according to  claim 47 , wherein a container containing a core sample is recovered to the surface while the drilling assembly is in operation. 
     
     
         52 . An assembly for recovering a core sample from a remotely operable drilling assembly deployed at a subsea location, the assembly comprising:
 a conduit extending between the surface and the drilling assembly; a storage assembly for holding a container for a core sample in communication with the conduit, whereby a container may be moved between the storage assembly and the conduit to allow a core sample to be recovered through the conduit from the drilling assembly to the surface.   
     
     
         53 . The assembly according to  claim 52 , wherein the storage assembly is adjacent the conduit. 
     
     
         54 . The assembly according to  claim 53 , wherein the storage assembly and the conduit comprise a common opening through which containers may be passed in operation. 
     
     
         55 . The assembly according to  claim 52 , further comprising means for moving a container between the storage assembly and the conduit.