Replaceable element roller bearing assembly

An arrangement for in situ remediation of a bearing assembly rotatively coupling a vessel to a turret about a longitudinal axis of the turret, the arrangement comprising:

• an inner ring assembly structurally coupled to the turret defining a circular path about the longitudinal axis;
• an outer ring assembly structurally coupled to the vessel in concentric alignment with the inner ring assembly;
• a support row assembly connected between the inner and outer ring assemblies so as to allow rotation of the outer ring assembly with respect to the inner ring assembly and to axially transfer the weight of the turret to the vessel;
• a radial row assembly coaxially disposed about the longitudinal axis between the inner and outer ring assemblies;
• and
• a centralizer disposed between the inner and outer ring assemblies,
• wherein during normal operation the radial row assembly transfers any radial load from the vessel to the turret and the centralizer has a radial clearance with the outer ring assembly, and during in situ repair of the radial row assembly or the support row assembly the centralizer transfers any radial load from the vessel to the turret and maintains the outer ring assembly substantially concentric with the inner ring assembly.

In a three row, roller bearing assembly rotatively coupling a vessel to a turret, the three row, roller bearing assembly having a support row assembly, a radial row assembly, an uplift row assembly and a centralizer disposed between an inner ring assembly connected to the turret and an outer ring assembly connected to the vessel, a method for in situ remediation of the damaged three row, roller bearing assembly, comprising the steps of:

• removing an upper outer ring of the outer ring assembly;
• removing a plurality of radial rollers from the radial row assembly;
• maintaining substantial concentricity of the inner ring assembly with the remaining portion of the outer ring assembly;
• and
• transferring radial loads from the vessel to the turret via the centralizer.