Deepwater platform for ice infested areas

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Disclosed is a bottom-founded platform for deepwater application in an area which is subjected to sea ice and other environmental loadings. Ice effects which have resulted in collapse of prior jacket structures in ice zones is avoided by the provision of an ice- fracturing cone being provided at the top of the jacket structure in the stratum of expected ice occurrence. On-site subsea storage is also provided for the jacket structure. The combined structure permits the exploitation of the subsea hydrocarbons in hostile environments which were previously inaccessible because of the combined factors of deep water ice loads, and soft surficial sea bed conditions.