Foundation system for tension leg platforms

A tension leg platform foundation system in combination a tension leg platform secured to a floor of an ocean, said tension leg platform having a buoyant hull adapted to float in said ocean, said foundation system comprising:

• a plurality of tension legs depending vertically downwardly a substantially common distance from said buoyant hull, each said tension leg being formed from at least one tendon structure;
• a plurality of piles secured to the ocean floor, each said pile having a distal end driven into the ocean floor and a proximal end exposed to said ocean adjacent said ocean floor, each said pile being unsecured to any other structure on the ocean floor,
• each said pile having a connection socket formed in said proximal end thereof,
• each said pile being disposed substantially directly vertically below a connection of a respective tension leg to said platform, each said tendon structure of each said tension leg being connected directly into said connection socket of a said pile disposed substantially directly vertically therebelow to define a tendon structure to pile anchoring system, whereby load from each said tendon structure is transferred to the ocean floor through substantially axially aligned load paths of tendon structure to connection socket to pile to ocean floor, and wherein each tendon structure to pile anchoring system is substantially independent of one another,
• further comprising a well template and at least one pile guide template detachably connected to said well template and separable from said piles.

A tension leg platform foundation system in combination with a tension leg platform secured to a floor of an ocean, said tension leg platform having a buoyant hull adapted to float in said ocean, said foundation system comprising:

• a plurality of tension legs depending vertically downwardly a substantially common distance from said buoyant hull, each said tension leg being formed from at least one tendon structure;
• a plurality of piles secured to the ocean floor, each said pile having a distal end driven into the ocean floor and a proximal end exposed to said ocean adjacent said ocean floor, each said pile being unsecured to any other structure on the ocean floor,
• each said pile having a connection socket formed in said proximal end thereof,
• each said pile being disposed substantially directly vertically below a connection of a respective tension leg to said platform, each said tendon structure of each said tension leg being connected directly into said connection socket of a said pile disposed substantially directly vertically therebelow to define a tendon structure to pile anchoring system, whereby load from each said tendon structure is transferred to the ocean floor through substantially axially aligned load paths of tendon structure to connection socket to pile to ocean floor, and wherein each tendon structure to pile anchoring system is substantially independent of one another;
• and
• at least one temporary template disposed on the ocean floor for facilitating determining a location for said piles, said at least one temporary template being free from mechanical interconnection to any of said piles.