Composite buoyancy module with foam core
AssigneeEDO Corporation, Fiber Science Division
InventorRandall W. Nish
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A buoyancy system for a floating platform includes at least one composite buoyancy module coupled to a riser. The composite buoyancy module is sized to have a volume to produce a buoyancy force. The composite buoyancy module may include a vessel with a composite vessel wall. A layer of buoyant material fills the volume of the vessel between a stem pipe and the vessel. The buoyant material may be foam. The layer may include a plurality of discrete sections interconnected to form the layer. Protrusions and indentations may be formed in the sections to mate and interlock the sections.
Claims30
A composite buoyancy module configured to be coupled to a tensioned member of an oil platform, comprising:
- a) the tensioned member extending between the oil platform and an ocean floor;
- b) a layer of buoyant material, disposed around the tensioned member, including foam material;
- and
- c) a shell of composite material, disposed around the layer of buoyant material.
The composite buoyancy module configured to be coupled to a riser, comprising:
- a) a composite vessel having a volume sized to produce a buoyancy force;
- b) a stem pipe, disposed concentrically through the composite vessel and configured to receive the riser therethrough;
- and
- c) a modular layer of buoyant foam material, disposed in the volume of the composite vessel between the stem pipe and the composite vessel, having a plurality of discrete sections assembled together to form the layer, each section being formed of the buoyant foam material.
A method for fabricating a composite buoyancy module configured to be coupled to a riser, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an elongated stem pipe which is configured to receive the riser therethrough;
- b) disposing a layer of buoyant foam material about the stem pipe to form a mandrel;
- and
- c) wrapping resin impregnated fiber around the mandrel to form a composite shell around the layer of buoyant foam material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.