Ben Clifford Gerwick
Engineers at Country Clb Dr, Oakland, CA

4422804, Dec 27, 1983

Dec 10, 1981

6/329372

Ben C. Gerwick - Oakland CA
Edward B. Price - Dallas TX
Thomas P. Taylor - Duncanville TX

Mobil Oil Corporation - New York NY

E02B 1700

405210

A gravity base offshore production platform structure and, more particularly, a production platform for use in an arctic environment, including an encircling structure having a predetermined configuration the protection of the offshore structure in iceberg-infested waters which are capable of resisting the destructive forces of an impact produced by a large iceberg. The gravity base offshore production platform structure consists of a monolithic, massive concrete structure of a configuration providing a plurality or horizontal array of upright, mostly cylindrical compartments, which is supported on a concrete or slab foundation nesting on the marine floor. Generally, although not necessarily, the compartmented structure rises above the marine surface and is covered by a concrete slab or similar covering structure to thereby form closed compartments within the monolithic structure. The circumference of the concrete structure incorporates a plurality of ice-deflecting nose portions which are integrally formed with the wall structure of the exteriorly located compartments of the array, and are reinforced to withstand large iceberg forces upon impact. These reinforced nose portions impart either a "scallop-like" configuration to the circumference of the structure, or when in the shape of substantially pointed wall sections, a "starpoint" form capable of resisting and absorbing extremely high energy of large, fast moving and strong icebergs by progressively crushing the leading edge of an impacting iceberg.

4433941, Feb 28, 1984

Dec 20, 1982

6/451372

Ben C. Gerwick - Oakland CA
Stephen J. Hatcher - Duncanville TX

Mobil Oil Corporation - New York NY

B63B 3508, E02B 1700

405211

A structure for use in exploiting arctic offshore areas where floating ice masses may be present. The structure is comprised of a floating hull having ice-breaking capabilities which is moored by a plurality of mooring means which extend vertically from a moonpool in the hull to the marine bottom directly under the hull. The mooring means comprises flexible lines, e. g. nylon, steel, or the like or rigid conduits, e. g. drill pipe. Means are provided within the moonpool for tensioning the mooring means to thereby draw the hull downward to a position below its normal buoyant position thereby substantially eliminating vertical heaving of the hull. When an ice mass contacts the hull, tension on the mooring means is relaxed to thereby allow the hull to rock upward against the ice thereby generating the forces necessary for the ice-breaking operation. Due to the present mooring means, the hull moves only a relatively short lateral distance in breaking an approaching ice mass. This is important in floating drilling operations.

4106301, Aug 15, 1978

Mar 28, 1977

5/782258

Ben C. Gerwick - Oakland CA

Kajima Corporation - Tokyo

E02B 1700, E02D 500

61 86

A building system for seismic-active areas includes a base structure and an upper structure connected to the base structure by a system of connector means which collectively provide a relatively rigid interconnection under normal conditions and a relatively flexible connection when subjected to seismic disturbances. When the building system is subjected to seismic disturbances, rigid connector members fail by buckling and other connector members flex without failing to provide the relatively flexible interconnection.