Loading patent…
AssigneeSingle Buoy Moorings Inc.
InventorsMichael Macrea, Rene Perratone, Jack Pollack
Estimating the term…
The invention relates to a method of connecting a first floating structure (1, 16, 25, 41) to the seabed, comprising the steps of: providing a second floating structure (2, 18, 26, 40), anchored to first and second anchoring points (6, 7; 22, 23; 32, 33; 47) respectively on the sea bed via at least two anchor lines (4, 5; 19, 20; 30, 31; 43, 45), attaching the second floating structure to the first structure via a pulling device (13, 24, 35, 46), on the side of the first anchor line, displacing the first floating structure (1, 16, 25, 41) away from the second anchoring point (7; 22, 33, 47) towards the first anchoring point (6, 23, 32), disconnecting the first anchor line (4, 20, 30, 45) from the second floating structure (2, 18, 26, 40) while maintaining a pulling force on the second anchor line (5, 19, 31, 43) via the pulling device, and attaching the first anchor line (4, 20, 30, 45) to the first floating structure (1, 16, 25, 41). By interconnecting a temporary buoy to the vessel to be anchored via a tension member, the anchor lines of the buoy and the vessel can remain under tension at all times whereby damage to the anchor lines is prevented. The timepath of fabrication and installation of the risers and the vessel, such as a FPSO, is made more flexible and less critical terms of first oil and contingencies and the installation costs can be reduced.
Method of connecting a first floating structure (1, 16, 25, 41) to the sea bed, comprising the steps of:
Method according to any of the preceding claims, the first floating structure comprising a mooring buoy (1,16) or a hydrocarbon storage and/or processing vessel (25), the second floating structure (2,18,26) being removed after transfer of the anchor lines to the first floating structure (1,16,25).
Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the relative position of the first floating structure (1, 16, 25, 41) and second floating structure (2, 18, 26, 40) during transfer of at least the first mooring line (4, 20, 31, 45) and the second or last mooring line (5, 19, 30, 43) is ensured by a tag boat (9, 15, 37, 42) pulling at one of the floating structures via a hawser (10, 17, 36).
Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tension member (13, 24, 35, 46) is a hawser of at least 20 meters long.
Method according to any of the preceding claims, each anchor line comprising a large tensioned synthetic rope section, the method comprising the steps of:
Floating structure (2, 18, 26, 40, 50, 50′) for temporary mooring purposes anchored to first and second anchoring points (6,7;
Floating structure (2, 18, 26, 40) for temporary mooring purposes comprising a barge (50) with connection points (54, 54′) for one or more mooring lines and a connection point (57) for a hawser, a deck storage capacity for at least two reels (51, 51′) with mooring ropes, at least two anchors (52, 52′), lifting means (53, 53′;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.