Minimal production platform for small deep water reserves

A tension-leg platform comprising:

• (a) a hull having a single surface-piercing column supporting one or more decks above the water surface for accommodating hydrocarbon process equipment thereon, wherein said hull includes two or more vertically stacked buoyancy tanks forming said surface-piercing column and further including a vertically extending reduced diameter column secured on the uppermost of said buoyancy tanks above the water surface;
• (b) said hull including a base secured at the lower end of said surface-piercing column, said base comprising a substantially cylindrical body having three or more pontoons extending radially outwardly therefrom, said pontoons having proximal and distal ends;
• (c) wherein said pontoons include tendon support means mounted at the distal ends thereof, and further include one or more load cells embedded in said tendon support means;
• and
• (d) anchor means securing said hull to the seabed.