Arctic Walker for Hydrocarbon Exploration

摘要

A marine vessel for hydrocarbon exploration and methods of utilizing the same. In some embodiments, the vessel is enhanced with deployable and adjustable land propulsion mechanisms controlled by an active system to maintain position when on top of a drifting ice floe, water propulsion devices connected to the vessel hull capable of station-keeping in open water and/or within broken sea ice, sufficient power and flexibility to enable riding an ice floe, and at least one deployable ice hole cutter to open a channel through the ice floe.

主权项

1. A marine vessel comprising:
a hull having a height defining a first length; a plurality of land propulsion mechanisms positioned adjacent to the hull; a plurality of water propulsion devices connected to the hull; an ice cutter operatively connected to the vessel, the ice cutter having an ice cutter length greater than the first length; and a control system operatively connected to the plurality of land propulsion mechanisms, the ice cutter and the plurality of water propulsion devices, the control system is constructed and arranged to control the position of the vessel with respect to the wellhead by operation of the plurality of land propulsion mechanisms or the plurality of water propulsion devices or a combination thereof.