Title: Artificial ice pad for operating in a frigid environment

Abstract: An artificial ice structure for use as a base for oilfield operations is constructed on land in a frigid environment. A containment wall encloses a predetermined area on the land to contain flood water which is allowed to freeze. The area is flooded with water until the ice structure is a desired size. A silo arrangement, which extends through the ice structure and into the underlying ground, is utilized to house well control equipment, the below ground part thereof being separable from the above ground part thereof. A core may be formed about the silo and other cores may be formed in other parts of the ice structure to provide foundations or supports for equipment installed on the ice structure.

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Inventors: Thompson, Gene D. (Denver, TX, US)

Application Number: 709974
Filing Date: 1976-07-30
Publication_date: 1978-03-28
Assignee: Exxon Production Research Company (Houston, TX)
Primary Class(es): 405/217 62/260
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

3340928	Sep, 1967	Brown	175/7.
3818712	Jun, 1974	Burt et al.	61/50.
3931715	Jan, 1976	Fitch et al.	61/103.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Shapiro, Jacob
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Schneider; John S.