Disconnectable yoke mooring systems and processes for using same

A process for disconnecting a vessel floating on a surface of a body of water moored to a yoke mooring system, comprising:

• applying a tension to a first lifting line connected to a second end of a first link arm or a first component of a first releasable connector connected to the second end of the first link arm of the yoke mooring system, wherein the tension applied to the first lifting line removes at least a portion of a tension load from the first releasable connector;
• applying a tension to a second lifting line connected to a second end of a second link arm or a first component of a second releasable connector connected to the second end of the second link arm of the yoke mooring system, wherein the tension applied to the second lifting line removes at least a portion of a tension load from the second releasable connector, wherein the yoke mooring system comprises:
• a base structure disposed on a seabed,
• a turntable connected to the base structure such that the turntable is rotatable with respect to the base structure about a vertical axis,
• a yoke having a first end connected to the turntable in a manner permitting the yoke to at least partially rotate about a longitudinal axis of the yoke and to at least partially rotate about a second axis that is substantially orthogonal or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the yoke,
• the first link arm and the second link arm each having a first end connected to a second end of the yoke,
• the first releasable connector comprises the first component connected to the second end of the first link arm and a second component disposed on the vessel, and
• the second releasable connector comprises the first component connected to the second end of the second link arm and a second component disposed on the vessel;
• releasing the first component from the second component of the first and second releasable connectors;
• lowering the first component of the first and second releasable connectors toward the seabed such that the yoke is supported by the seabed;
• and
• maneuvering the vessel away from the yoke mooring system.

A disconnectable submerged yoke mooring system for mooring a vessel floating on a surface of a body of water, comprising:

• a base structure configured to be disposed on a seabed;
• a turntable configured to be connected to the base structure such that the turntable is rotatable with respect to the base structure about a vertical axis;
• a yoke comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the yoke is configured to be connected to the turntable in a manner permitting the yoke to at least partially rotate about a longitudinal axis of the yoke and to at least partially rotate about a second axis that is substantially orthogonal or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the yoke;
• a first link arm and a second link arm each having a first end connected to the second end of the yoke;
• a first releasable connector and a second releasable connector each comprising a first component disposed on a second end of the first link arm and a second end of the second link arm, respectively, and a second component configured to be disposed on the vessel;
• a first lifting line having a first end configured to be connected to the second end of the first link arm or the first component of the first releasable connector;
• a second lifting line having a first end configured to be connected to the second end of the second link arm or the first component of the second releasable connector;
• and
• a first lifting device and a second lifting device each configured to be disposed on the vessel, wherein the first lifting device and the second lifting device are configured to be connected to a second end of the first lifting line and a second end of the second lifting line, respectively, and
• when the first and second lifting devices are disposed on the vessel and connected to the second end of the first and second lifting lines, respectively, and the first end of the first and second lifting lines are connected to the second end of the first and second link arms, respectively, the first and second lifting devices are configured to lift and lower the first and second link arms and the yoke.