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AssigneesModec International, L.L.C., Sea Engineering Associates, Inc.
InventorsPieter G. Wybro, Shukai Wu, Johannes J. Treu, David E. Chaplin
Estimating the term…
A method and system for attaching a TLP to its tendons using pull-down lines to rapidly submerge the hull to installation draft while compensating for inherent hull instability during submergence and to provide motion arrest and aid in station keeping. The system includes tensioning devices mounted on the TLP, usually one for each tendon. Each tensioning device is equipped with a pull-down line which is connected to the corresponding tendon. The TLP hull is submerged to lock-off draft by applying tensions to the pull-down lines connected to the top of the tensions, or by a combination of applying tensions to the pull-down lines and ballasting the hull. As the tensioners take in pull-down line, the hull submerges, i.e. the draft increases. After lock-off, high levels of tension in the pull-down lines can be rapidly transferred to the connection sleeves by slacking the pull-down lines, thus allowing the TLP to be made storm-safe much faster than by prior art methods which require de-ballasting to tension the tendons. In concert with TLP installation, the method may be used attach the mooring tendons to the seabed by suspending and lowering the tendons into their foundation receptacle in the seabed.
An installation method for a tension leg platform and first and second preassembled mooring tendons in a body of water, the tension leg platform (10) characterized by a buoyant hull (14) that defines first and second extremities (16), two or more vertical columns (20) each having a lower end carried by and fixed to the hull and an upper end, a superstructure (28) carried by the upper ends of the two or more vertical columns, and first and second tendon connection sleeves (22) fixed to the first and second extremities (16) of the hull respectively, the first and second preassembled mooring tendons (12) each characterized by a lower end terminating with a lower connector (120) arranged for mating with a subsea anchoring structure (50) and an upper end having a tip (26) and an upper connector (27) arranged for connecting to one of said first and second tendon connection sleeves (22), the method comprising the steps of:
An installation method for a tension leg platform and first and second preassembled mooring tendons in a body of water, the tension leg platform (10) characterized by a buoyant hull (14) that defines first and second extremities (16), two or more vertical columns (20) each having a lower end carried by and fixed to the hull and an upper end, a superstructure (28) carried by the upper ends of the two or more vertical columns, and first and second tendon connection sleeves (22) fixed to the first and second extremities (16) of the hull respectively, the first and second preassembled mooring tendons (12) each characterized by a lower end terminating with a lower connector (120) arranged for mating with a subsea anchoring structure (50) and an upper end having a tip (26) and an upper connector (27) arranged for connecting to one of said first and second tendon connection sleeves (22), the method comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.