Method and Apparatus for Hawser Connection in a TLP - TAD System

A method of connecting a tension leg platform (TLP) to a tender-assisted drilling (TAD) vessel comprising:

• a) attaching a first connector to a first end of a first support line;
• b) attaching an opposing, second end of the first support line to the TAD vessel at a first, higher location proximate the midline of the TAD vessel;
• c) attaching a first end of a second support line to the first connector ;
• d) attaching an opposing, second end of the second support line to the TAD vessel at a second, lower location proximate the midline of the TAD vessel;
• e) attaching a first end of a first hawser to the first connector;
• f) attaching a second, opposing end of the first hawser to the TAD vessel at a first hawser connection location;
• g) attaching a first end of a second hawser to the first connector;
• h) attaching an opposing, second end of the second hawser to the TLP at a second hawser TLP connection location;
• i) attaching a second connector to a first end of a third support line;
• j) attaching an opposing, second end of the third support line to the TAD vessel at a second, higher location proximate the midline of the TAD vessel;
• k) attaching a first end of a fourth support line to the second connector;
• l) attaching an opposing, second end of the fourth support line to the TAD vessel at a second, lower location proximate the midline of the TAD vessel;
• m) attaching a first end of a third hawser to the second connector;
• n) attaching a second, opposing end of the third hawser to the TAD vessel at a third hawser connection location;
• o) attaching a first end of a fourth hawser to the second connector;
• p) attaching an opposing, second end of the fourth hawser to the TLP at a fourth hawser TLP connection location.

A method of connecting a tension leg platform (TLP) to a semi-submersible tender-assisted drilling (TAD) vessel having a bow, a stern, at least two columns on a first side connected by a first pontoon, and at least two columns on an opposing second side connected by a second pontoon, the method comprising:

• a) attaching a first connector to a first end of a first support line;
• b) attaching an opposing, second end of the first support line to the TAD vessel at a first, higher location on a first column on the first side of the TAD vessel;
• c) attaching a first end of a second support line to the first connector ;
• d) attaching an opposing, second end of the second support line to the TAD vessel at a second, lower location on the first column of the TAD vessel;
• e) attaching a first end of a first hawser to the first connector;
• f) attaching a second, opposing end of the first hawser to the TAD vessel at a first hawser connection location on the second side of the TAD vessel;
• g) attaching a first end of a second hawser to the first connector;
• h) attaching an opposing, second end of the second hawser to the TLP at a first, hawser TLP connection location that is generally aligned with the first hawser connection location on the second side of the TAD vessel;
• i) attaching a second connector to a first end of a third support line;
• j) attaching an opposing, second end of the third support line to the TAD vessel at a second, higher location on a second column located on the second side of the TAD vessel such that, in use, the second connector is vertically displaced from the first connector;
• k) attaching a first end of a fourth support line to the second connector;
• l) attaching an opposing, second end of the fourth support line to the TAD vessel at a second, lower location on the second column on the second side of the TAD vessel;
• m) attaching a first end of a third hawser to the second connector;
• n) attaching a second, opposing end of the third hawser to the TAD vessel at a second, hawser connection location on the first side of the TAD vessel;
• o) attaching a first end of a fourth hawser to the second connector;
• p) attaching an opposing, second end of the fourth hawser to the TLP at a second, hawser TLP connection location that is generally aligned with the second, hawser connection location on the first side of the TAD vessel.

A method of connecting a tension leg platform (TLP) to a semi-submersible tender-assisted drilling (TAD) vessel having a bow, a stern, at least two columns on a first side connected by a first pontoon, and at least two columns on an opposing second side connected by a second pontoon, the method comprising:

• a) attaching a first connector to a first end of a first support line;
• b) attaching an opposing, second end of the first support line to the TAD vessel at a first, higher location on a first column on the first side of the TAD vessel;
• c) attaching a first end of a second support line to the first connector ;
• d) attaching an opposing, second end of the second support line to the TAD vessel at a second, lower location on the first column of the TAD vessel;
• e) attaching a first end of a first hawser to the first connector;
• f) attaching a second, opposing end of the first hawser to the TAD vessel at a first hawser connection location on the second side of the TAD vessel;
• g) attaching a first end of a second hawser to the first connector;
• h) attaching an opposing, second end of the second hawser to the TLP at a first, hawser TLP connection location that is generally aligned with the first hawser connection location on the second side of the TAD vessel;
• i) attaching a second connector to a first end of a third support line;
• j) attaching an opposing, second end of the third support line to the TAD vessel at a second, higher location on a second column located on the second side of the TAD vessel such that, in use, the second connector is vertically displaced from the first connector;
• k) attaching a first end of a fourth support line to the second connector;
• l) attaching an opposing, second end of the fourth support line to the TAD vessel at a second, lower location on the second column on the second side of the TAD vessel;
• m) attaching a first end of a third hawser to the second connector;
• n) attaching a second, opposing end of the third hawser to the TAD vessel at a second, hawser connection location on the first side of the TAD vessel;
• o) attaching a first end of a fourth hawser to the second connector;
• p) attaching an opposing, second end of the fourth hawser to the TLP at a second, hawser TLP connection location that is generally aligned with the second, hawser connection location on the first side of the TAD vessel;
• q) attaching a third connector to a first end of a fifth support line;
• r) attaching an opposing, second end of the fifth support line to the TAD vessel at a location intermediate the first, higher location on a first column on the first side of the TAD vessel and the second, lower location on the first column of the TAD vessel;
• s) attaching a first end of a fifth hawser to the third connector;
• t) attaching a second, opposing end of the fifth hawser to the TAD vessel at a third, hawser connection location on the second side of the TAD vessel;
• u) attaching a first end of a sixth hawser to the third connector;
• v) attaching an opposing, second end of the sixth hawser to the TLP at a third, hawser TLP connection location that is generally aligned with the first and third hawser connection locations on the second side of the TAD vessel;
• w) attaching a fourth connector to a first end of a sixth support line;
• x) attaching an opposing, second end of the sixth support line to the TAD vessel at a location intermediate the second, higher location on a second column located on the second side of the TAD vessel and the second, lower location on the second column on the second side of the TAD vessel such that, in use, the fourth connector is vertically displaced from the third connector;
• y) attaching a first end of a seventh hawser to the fourth connector;
• z) attaching a second, opposing end of the seventh hawser to the TAD vessel at a fourth, hawser connection location on the first side of the TAD vessel;
• aa)attaching a first end of an eighth hawser to the fourth connector;
• bb)attaching an opposing, second end of the eighth hawser to the TLP at a fourth, hawser TLP connection location that is generally aligned with the second and fourth, hawser connection locations on the first side of the TAD vessel.

A method of connecting a tension leg platform (TLP) to a tender-assisted drilling (TAD) vessel comprising:

• a) attaching a first connector to a first end of a first support line;
• b) attaching an opposing, second end of the first support line to the TLP at a first, higher location proximate the midline of the TLP;
• c) attaching a first end of a second support line to the first connector ;
• d) attaching an opposing, second end of the second support line to the TLP at a second, lower location proximate the midline of the TLP;
• e) attaching a first end of a first hawser to the first connector;
• f) attaching a second, opposing end of the first hawser to the TLP at a first hawser connection location;
• g) attaching a first end of a second hawser to the first connector;
• h) attaching an opposing, second end of the second hawser to the TAD vessel at a second hawser TAD vessel connection location;
• i) attaching a second connector to a first end of a third support line;
• j) attaching an opposing, second end of the third support line to the TLP at a second, higher location proximate the midline of the TLP;
• k) attaching a first end of a fourth support line to the second connector;
• l) attaching an opposing, second end of the fourth support line to the TLP at a second, lower location proximate the midline of the TLP;
• m) attaching a first end of a third hawser to the second connector;
• n) attaching a second, opposing end of the third hawser to the TLP at a third hawser connection location;
• o) attaching a first end of a fourth hawser to the second connector;
• p) attaching an opposing, second end of the fourth hawser to the TAD vessel at a fourth hawser TAD vessel connection location.

A method of connecting a semi-submersible tender-assisted drilling (TAD) vessel to a tension leg platform (TLP) to having at least two columns on a first side connected by a first pontoon, and at least two columns on an opposing second side connected by a second pontoon, the method comprising:

• a) attaching a first connector to a first end of a first support line;
• b) attaching an opposing, second end of the first support line to the TLP at a first, higher location on a first column on the first side of the TLP;
• c) attaching a first end of a second support line to the first connector ;
• d) attaching an opposing, second end of the second support line to the TLP at a second, lower location on the first column of the TLP;
• e) attaching a first end of a first hawser to the first connector;
• f) attaching a second, opposing end of the first hawser to the TLP at a first hawser connection location on the second side of the TLP;
• g) attaching a first end of a second hawser to the first connector;
• h) attaching an opposing, second end of the second hawser to the TAD vessel at a first, hawser TAD vessel connection location that is generally aligned with the first hawser connection location on the second side of the TLP;
• i) attaching a second connector to a first end of a third support line;
• j) attaching an opposing, second end of the third support line to the TLP at a second, higher location on a second column located on the second side of the TLP such that, in use, the second connector is vertically displaced from the first connector;
• k) attaching a first end of a fourth support line to the second connector;
• l) attaching an opposing, second end of the fourth support line to the TLP at a second, lower location on the second column on the second side of the TLP;
• m) attaching a first end of a third hawser to the second connector;
• n) attaching a second, opposing end of the third hawser to the TLP at a second, hawser connection location on the first side of the TLP;
• o) attaching a first end of a fourth hawser to the second connector;
• p) attaching an opposing, second end of the fourth hawser to the TAD vessel at a second, hawser TAD vessel connection location that is generally aligned with the second, hawser connection location on the first side of the TLP.