Mooring apparatus and method of installation for deep water tension leg platform

A method of mooring an offshore platform in a body of water having a surface and a floor comprising the steps of:

• locating a plurality of anchoring means on the floor of the body of water, the anchoring means adapted for receipt of a plurality of mooring tendons through a side entry opening therein;
• stationing a semi-submersible floating structure on the surface of the body of water above said anchoring means, said floating structure including a plurality of external tendon receptacles adapted for side entry receipt of said plurality of mooring tendons, said tendon receptacles being located at an initial distance above said anchoring means;
• providing a plurality of one piece, substantially rigid tendons disposed substantially horizontally near said surface and adjacent said floating structure, said tendons having enlarged top and bottom end connectors and an actual length which is greater than said initial distance;
• swinging the enlarged bottom end connector of said one of said tendons downwardly into a position adjacent one of said plurality of anchoring means;
• pulling said enlarged bottom end connector of said one of said tendons through said side opening in said one of said anchoring means;
• lifting said enlarged bottom end connector upwardly into seated engagement with said anchoring means;
• positioning the enlarged top end connector of one of said tendons in one of said tendon receivers;
• adjusting an effective length of said one of said tendons so that said effective length is less than said initial distance, and
• repeating said steps of positioning, swinging, pulling and adjusting for each of said plurality of tendons whereby said offshore platform is moored in the body of water.