# US 4,391,332 A · Offshore facility for recovery hydrocarbon deposits from deep sea beds

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- Number: US 4,391,332 A
- Document ID: US4391332A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/264,951
- Filed: 1981-05-18
- Granted: 1983-07-05
- Earliest claimed: 1980-05-20
- Assignees: Astilleros y Talleres Del Noroeste S.A.
- Inventors: Jose M. Fayren
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4391332A

## CPC

- E21B 17/015: {Non-vertical risers, e.g. articulated or catenary-type}
- E21B 43/017: Production satellite stations, i.e. underwater installations comprising a plurality of satellite well heads connected to a central station
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

An improved facility, for the drilling and production of hydrocarbon deposits located in a deep sea bed, includes a central structural column having a bottom end secured to a submarine base mounted on the sea bed and a top end secured to a subsea buoy. A plurality of peripheral tubular conduits are located around the central structural column and connected thereto by a guide device which permits the peripheral tubular amendments to move relative thereto and positions the peripheral tubular conduits in parallel with the central structural column.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An improved facility, for the drilling and production of hydrocarbon deposits located in a deep sea bed, of the type having a submarine base secured to the deep sea bed, a bundle of tubular conduits connected to the submarine base and vertically extended therefrom to a moderate depth where the effect of surface sea waves is negligible, a subsea buoy connected to the top end of the bundle of tubular conduits at the moderate depth to thereby exert an ascensional force which places the tubular conduits under a vertical tension, well heads mounted on at least some of the tubular conduits, control means mounted on the subsea buoy for controlling the well heads for drilling and producing hydrocarbons, a floating plant adapted to float at sea level, and a top conductor connected to the subsea buoy and the floating plant, the improvement, in combination therewith, wherein the bundle of tubular conduits comprises a central structural column having a bottom end secured to the submarine base and a top end secured to the subsea buoy, a plurality of peripheral tubular conduits located around said central structural column, guide means for securing said peripheral tubular conduits to said central structural column at vertically spaced intervals, said peripheral tubular conduits being mounted to said guide means for sliding movement relative thereto and in a parallel position relative to said central structural column.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An improved facility, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the subsea buoy comprises a main buoy connected to the top end of said central structural column and peripheral buoys, each of said peripheral buoys being connected to a top end of one of said peripheral tubular conduits to support the weight of said peripheral tubular conduits.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

An improved facility, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said control means comprises devices mounted to the top end of said peripheral tubular conduits at a submerged depth above the subsea buoy.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

An improved facility, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the top conductor comprises a plurality of conductors in catenary flexibly mounted to each other in series.