Gap spar with ducking risers

Abstract

A spar platform is disclosed having a deck supported by a buoyant tank assembly having a first buoyant section connected to the deck and defining a central moonpool and a second buoyant section disposed beneath and axially vertically aligned with the first buoyant section. A buoyant section spacing structure connects the first and second buoyant sections in a manner providing a horizontally extending vertical gap therebetween and a counterweight spacing structure connects the counterweight to the buoyant tank assembly. A flexjoint receptacle connected to the exterior base of the second buoyant section receives a receptacle connection on the exterior of the riser to support a catenary section of the riser between the receptacle connection and the seafloor. An exterior section of the riser mounts to the exterior of the second buoyant section and an ingress section passes through the horizontally extending vertical gap to the moonpool. An interior section of the riser then extends to the deck through the moonpool within the first buoyant section.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.