US 2002/0162495 A1Published application

Method for tendering

AssigneeDrillmar, Inc.

InventorChristopher Louis Beato

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Abstract

A method of using a semi-submersible tender with a deck, a shape that results in a combined environmental load less than 1000 kips in a 100-year extreme weather condition, a plurality of supports each with a rounded shape connected to the deck, a plurality of pontoons connecting the supports with each pontoon being capable of ballast transfer, wherein the tender is used for mooring in a tendering position relative to an offshore platform during a 1-year, 10-year, and 100-year storm, as well as non-storm conditions, using hawsers with adequate elasticity to accommodate the wave frequency between the platform and the tender and adequate stiffness to synchronize the mean/low frequency movement between the platform and the tender under an environmental load produced during a 10-year winter storm, and enough slack during a 10-year storm to enable the tender to move to a tender standby position, and wherein the tender uses an at least 6-point mooring system for creating global equilibrium between the platform and the tender.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A method of using a semi-submersible tender for tendering an offshore platform, wherein said tender comprises a deck, a shape that results in a combined environmental load less than 1000 kips in a 100-year extreme weather condition;

a plurality of supports each with a rounded shape, connected to said deck;
a plurality of pontoons connecting said supports, each pontoon being capable of ballast transfer;
at least two hawsers for connecting said tender to the platform, each hawser having a length which is selected from the group:
the length of the tender, the tendering distance, the length of platform;
and wherein the hawsers have adequate elasticity to accommodate the wave frequency between the platform and the tender, and adequate stiffness to synchronize the mean and low frequency movement between the platform and the tender under an environmental load produced during a storm having a designation of up to a 10-year winter storm in the tendering position, and wherein said hawsers remain slack during a storm designated as at least a 10-year storm for the tender in the tender standby position;
connecting means mounted on the tender for securing a first end of each hawser;
a hawser guidance system for each hawser to direct each said hawser to the platform;
an at least 6-point tender mooring system for said tender;
and means for creating global equilibrium between the platform's mooring system and the at least 6-point mooring system of said tender;
said method comprising the following steps:
a. presetting at least 6 anchors in the sea floor;
b. moving the tender over anchors and securing the tender to the anchors with at least six mooring lines;
c. attaching the tender to the platform with at least two hawsers;
d. tensioning the hawsers;
e. synchronizing the low/mean frequency movements while maintaining a tendering position relative to the platform;
f. using a ballast systems to maintain the vertical position of the tender and offshore platform offsetting the heeling forces created by the hawsers;
and
g. connecting umbilicals to the offshore platform.

15 more elements

a plurality of supports each with a rounded shape, connected to said deck;
a plurality of pontoons connecting said supports, each pontoon being capable of ballast transfer;
at least two hawsers for connecting said tender to the platform, each hawser having a length which is selected from the group:
the length of the tender, the tendering distance, the length of platform;
and wherein the hawsers have adequate elasticity to accommodate the wave frequency between the platform and the tender, and adequate stiffness to synchronize the mean and low frequency movement between the platform and the tender under an environmental load produced during a storm having a designation of up to a 100-year winter storm in the tendering position, and wherein said hawsers are disconnected during a storm designated as at least a 100-year storm and the tender is moved to a tender standby position;
connecting means mounted on the tender for securing a first end of each hawser to the platform;
a hawser guidance system for each hawser to direct each said hawser to the platform;
an at least 6-point tender mooring system for said tender;
and means for creating global equilibrium between the platform's mooring system and the at least 6-point mooring system of said tender;
said method comprising the following steps:
a. presetting at least 6 anchors in the sea floor;
b. moving the tender over anchors and securing the tender to the anchors with at least six mooring lines;
c. attaching the tender to the platform with at least two hawsers;
d. tensioning the hawsers;
e. synchronizing the low/mean frequency movements of the platform and the tender while maintaining a tendering position relative to the platform;
f. using a ballast systems to maintain the vertical position of the tender and offshore platform offsetting the heeling forces created by the hawsers;
g. connecting umbilicals;
and
h. in the presence of a 100-year storm, disconnecting the hawsers and moving the tender to a tender standby position.

16 more elements

a plurality of supports each with a rounded shape, connected to said deck;
a plurality of pontoons connecting said supports, each pontoon being capable of ballast transfer;
at least two hawsers for connecting said tender to the platform, each hawser having a length which is selected from the group:
the length of the tender, the tendering distance, the length of platform;
and wherein the hawsers have adequate elasticity to accommodate the wave frequency between the platform and the tender, and adequate stiffness to synchronize the mean and low frequency movement between the platform and the tender under an environmental load produced during a storm having a designation of up to a 10-year winter storm in the tendering position, and wherein said hawsers are loosened during a storm designated as at least a 10-year storm and the tender is moved to a tender standby position;
connecting means mounted on the tender for securing a first end of each hawser to the platform;
a hawser guidance system for each hawser to direct each said hawser to the platform;
an at least 6-point tender mooring system for said tender;
and means for creating global equilibrium between the platform's mooring system and the at least 6-point mooring system of said tender;
said method comprising the following steps:
a. presetting at least 6 anchors in the sea floor;
b. moving the tender over anchors and securing the tender to the anchors with at least six mooring lines;
c. attaching the tender to the platform with at least two hawsers;
d. tensioning the hawsers;
e. synchronizing the low/mean frequency movements between the tender and the platform while maintaining a tendering position relative to the platform;
f. using a ballast systems to maintain the vertical position of the tender and offshore platform offsetting the heeling forces created by the hawsers;
g. connecting umbilicals;
and
h. in the presence of a 10-year storm, loosening the hawsers and moving the tender to a tender standby position.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/136,501Filed 1 May 2002
Priority: 1 May 2001
Published: 7 Nov 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B63B 35/44
Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for: floating buildings, stores,…
B63B 21/50
Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring: anchoring arrangements or methods for special vessels, e.g. for floating drilling…
B63B 1/107
With multiple hulls: semi-submersibles; Small waterline area multiple hull vessels and the like, e.g. SWATH
B63B 2001/128
The hulls being interconnected rigidly: comprising underwater connectors between the hulls

Family

Application09/847,018Continuation in part · filed 1 May 2001
Application10/136,501Continuation in part · filed 1 May 2002
US 2002/0040671 A1Published application
US 6,390,008 B1Related patent
US 6,575,111 B2Related patent
US 2002/0162495 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.