Buoyancy device for marine structures
OwnerJean-Luc Legrasinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a buoyancy device for tensioning an elongate vertical (or quasi vertical) subsea structure at a point below the sea surface, anchored at its bottom. The device comprises as its main buoyancy elements a plurality of hollow elongate objects, and further comprises at least one auxiliary buoyancy element comprising a solid buoyant material. Ideally, the solid buoyant material provides enough uplift to maintain the device afloat should the main buoyancy elements be flooded. A riser apparatus comprising such a buoyancy device is also described.
Claims19
1-19. (canceled)
A buoyancy device for tensioning an elongate subsea structure, wherein the elongate subsea structure is adapted to be disposed substantially vertically and under a water surface in use, at a point below the sea surface, wherein said buoyancy device comprises as main buoyancy elements a plurality of floodable hollow objects, and further comprises at least one auxiliary buoyancy element substantially comprising a solid buoyant material.
An elongate subsea structure, adapted to be disposed substantially vertically and underneath a sea surface in use, the elongate subsea structure comprising:
- an anchor at the bottom of the elongate subsea structure to anchor the elongate subsea structure to a seabed;
- and
- a buoyancy device for tensioning the elongate subsea structure, the buoyancy device being attached at, or near to, the top of the elongate subsea structure in use;
- wherein the buoyancy device comprises as main buoyancy elements a plurality of floodable hollow objects, and further comprises at least one auxiliary buoyancy element substantially comprising a solid buoyant material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.