# US 2014/0193207 A1 · Honeycomb Buoyant Island Structures

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- Number: US 2014/0193207 A1
- Document ID: US20140193207A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/026,771
- Filed: 2013-09-13
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2012-09-14
- Inventors: David Riggs; Denis Riordan; Michael Hey
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193207A1

## CPC

- B63B 35/4413: {Floating drilling platforms, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices}
- E02B 17/0021: {against ice-loads}
- B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06)
- E02B: HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING (ship-lifting E02C; dredging E02F)

## Abstract

Multi-cylinder buoyant island structures, such as may be used for staging and storage related to offshore oil and gas production activities, and methods of use and manufacture.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An offshore buoyant structure comprising:
an inner cylinder having a radius;
a plurality of outer cylinders coupled around the inner cylinder such that each outer cylinder is not separated from immediately adjacent ones of the outer cylinders by a distance greater than the radius of the inner cylinder;
where the support structure is configured to be disposed in a body of water with the inner cylinder and outer cylinders substantially vertical.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The support structure of claim 1, where each of the outer cylinders is in contact with two adjacent ones of the outer cylinders.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The support structure of claim 1, where the structure is disposed in a body of water with the inner cylinder and outer cylinders substantially vertical, the support structure further comprising;
a platform coupled to and supported above the cylinders.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The support structure of claim 1, further comprising:
one or more spacers disposed between at least two of the central and outer cylinders.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The support structure of claim 1, further comprising:
a plurality of intermediate vertical cylinders disposed between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinders.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The support structure of claim 1, further comprising:
an outer shell coupled around the outer cylinders.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The support structure of claim 6, where the outer shell comprises steel, iron, alloy, and/or reinforced concrete.

### Claim at position 8

8-12. (canceled)

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The support structure of claim 1, where at least one cylinder includes a variable-buoyancy mechanism.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The support structure of claim 1, further comprising:
at least one suction anchor coupled to the cylinders.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

A method comprising:
positioning a buoyant support structure of claim 1 in a body of water such that the cylinders are substantially vertical.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising:
coupling the support structure to a suction anchor secured to a seafloor under the body of water.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising:
coupling a platform to and above the cylinders.

### Claim 18

A method of constructing an offshore support structure, the method comprising:
coupling a plurality of outer cylinders around an inner cylinder having a radius such that each outer cylinder is not separated from immediately adjacent ones of the outer cylinders by a distance greater than the radius of the inner cylinder;
where the coupled inner cylinder and outer cylinders are configured to be disposed substantially vertically in a body of water to support a platform for production of hydrocarbons.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, where the outer cylinders are coupled such that each of the outer cylinders is in contact with two adjacent ones of the outer cylinders.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, further comprising:
disposed the support structure in a body of water with the inner cylinder and outer cylinders substantially vertical; and
coupling a platform to the inner cylinder and outer cylinders.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, further comprising:
disposing one or more spacers between at least two of the central and outer cylinders.

### Claim 22 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, further comprising:
coupling a plurality of intermediate vertical cylinders between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinders.

### Claim 23 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, further comprising:
coupling an outer shell around the outer cylinders.

### Claim at position 20

24-28. (canceled)

### Claim 29 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, further comprising:
disposing one or more production apparatuses within an interior region defined by the outer cylinders.

### Claim 30 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, further comprising:
coupling a heating element to the outer shell.

### Claim 31 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, where at least one cylinder includes a variable-buoyancy mechanism.

### Claim 32 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, further comprising:
coupling the cylinders to at least one suction anchor.