US 12,480,270 B2 · Submersible offshore platform and method of installing the same

Abstract

Provided is a submersible offshore platform configured to be installed at a sea floor installation site and a method of installing the offshore platform. The offshore platform may include: a primary node and a primary column disposed thereon; a plurality of support nodes; a plurality of pontoon sections, each of the plurality of pontoon sections configured to connect the plurality of support nodes to the primary node or to each other; a plurality of buoyant modules, wherein each of the plurality of buoyant modules is detachably connected to a respective support node; and a primary column support system, wherein the primary column support system includes: a plurality of vertical supports fixed around a perimeter of the primary column, each of the plurality of vertical supports having one end connected to the primary column node; and a support structure connecting a top portion of each of the plurality of vertical supports to the primary column.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An offshore platform configured to be submerged and installed at a sea floor installation site, the offshore platform comprising:

a primary node and a primary column disposed thereon;
a plurality of support nodes;
a plurality of pontoon sections, each of the plurality of pontoon sections configured to connect the plurality of support nodes to the primary node or to each other;
a plurality of buoyant modules, wherein each of the plurality of buoyant modules is detachably connected to a respective support node;
and
a primary column support system, wherein the primary column support system comprises:
a plurality of vertical supports fixed around a perimeter of the primary column, each of the plurality of vertical supports having one end connected to the primary column node;
and
a support structure connecting a top portion of each of the plurality of vertical supports to the primary column,
wherein the plurality of buoyant modules are removable from the plurality of support nodes after the offshore platform is submerged and installed at the sea floor installation site.

7 more elements

A method of installing an offshore platform at a sea floor installation site, the method comprising:

assembling the offshore platform, the offshore platform comprising:
a primary node and a primary column disposed thereon;
a plurality of support nodes;
a plurality of pontoon sections, each of the plurality of pontoon sections configured to connect the plurality of support nodes to the primary node or to each other;
a plurality of buoyant modules, wherein each of the plurality of buoyant modules is detachably connected to a respective support node;
and
a primary column support system, wherein the primary column support system comprises:
a plurality of vertical supports fixed around a perimeter of the primary column, each of the plurality of vertical supports having one end connected to the primary column node;
and
a support structure connecting a top portion of each of the plurality of vertical supports to the primary column;
transporting the offshore platform to a location of the sea floor installation site;
submerging the offshore platform to the sea floor installation site;
embedding the offshore platform into the sea floor installation site;
and
removing the plurality of buoyant modules from the plurality of support nodes.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Submersible offshore platform and method of installing the same

Life of this patent

Submersible offshore platform and method of installing the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16