US 5,342,148 A · Method and system for developing offshore hydrocarbon reserves

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for establishing hydrocarbon production for offshore reservoirs in which a compliant platform is installed at a selected site, an offshore drilling vessel is docked to the compliant platform and the vessel is positioned over a selected well site for conducting drilling operations, and the production riser is transferred from the vessel to the compliant platform and secured there. Communication between a surface tree installed on the production riser and facilities supported by the compliant platform is established and these steps are repeated for each selected well site served by the compliant platform.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A docking apparatus for joining first and second offshore structures, comprising:

a means for maneuvering the relative position of the first and second structures;
a docking frame member mounted to pivot vertically and extend outwardly from the first structure;
a corresponding docking support mounted on the second structure adapted to receive the docking frame member in a connection that accommodates two degrees of freedom, vertical and horizontal pivoting actions;
a strut mounted on and extendable from the first structure;
and
a corresponding connection point on the second structure adapted to receive the strut in a vertically pivotable engagement.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

08/035,849Filed 23 Mar 1993 · continuation

Priority

10 Dec 1990

Granted

30 Aug 1994

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

B63B 21/50
Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring: anchoring arrangements or methods for special vessels, e.g. for floating drilling…
B63B 1/107
With multiple hulls: semi-submersibles; Small waterline area multiple hull vessels and the like, e.g. SWATH
E21B 7/128
Underwater drilling: from floating support with independent underwater anchored guide base
E21B 19/002
Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables: specially adapted…

Method and system for developing offshore hydrocarbon reserves

Life of this patent

Method and system for developing offshore hydrocarbon reserves

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9