In-situ turret bearing repair and assembly

In an offshore system including a floating vessel having a turret supporting structure allowed to weather vane about a turret, a mooring structure extending from the turret to the seafloor, and a bearing structure rotatably supporting the turret on the turret supporting structure of the vessel and that includes a support bearing (20) providing vertical load transfer of the turret to the vessel, the support bearing positioned between a bearing inner ring (30) and an outer lower ring (22), wherein an in-situ remedial support bearing arrangement comprises:

• a circumferential support ring (202) connected to the outer lower ring secured to the vessel;
• a circumferential reaction ring (220) positioned above the support ring;
• a remedial support bearing (200) positioned between and separating the support ring and the reaction ring;
• a plurality of strongback assemblies (230) abutting a top surface of the reaction ring and connected to the bearing inner ring.

In an offshore system including a floating vessel having a turret supporting structure, a turret (12) moored to a seafloor, and a bearing assembly (10) interconnecting the turret to the turret supporting structure of the vessel, the bearing assembly including a support row assembly (20) axially transferring the weight of the turret to the vessel and allowing the vessel and the turret supporting structure to weather vane about the turret, a method for in situ remediation of the support row assembly after being damaged, comprising the steps of:

• removing an outer upper ring (42) from engagement with an outer lower ring (22);
• installing a support ring (202) on the outer lower ring;
• installing a lower race (206) and a plurality of support rollers (208) of a remedial support row assembly (200) on the support ring;
• positioning a reaction ring (220) above the support ring;
• connecting the reaction ring to an inner ring secured to the turret;
• and
• axially displacing the inner ring and turret relative to the outer lower ring and transferring the turret axial loading to the remedial support row assembly between the support ring and the reaction ring.

A remedial support bearing assembly for a damaged support bearing (20) positioned between a turret and a turret supporting structure of a floating vessel and providing vertical load transfer of the turret to the floating vessel, the remedial support bearing assembly comprising:

• a circumferential support ring (202) arranged and designed to be connected to the turret supporting structure;
• a circumferential reaction ring (220) arranged and designed to be positioned above the support ring;
• a remedial support bearing (200) arranged and designed to be positioned between and separating the support ring and the reaction ring;
• and
• a plurality of strongback assemblies (230) arranged and designed to abut a top surface of the reaction ring and be connected to the turret.