Spar hull belly strake design and installation method

A method of utilizing a spar hull for offshore oil and gas operations, comprising:

• providing a spar hull having a belly strake, wherein at least a portion of the belly strake has at least one folded and unfolded position;
• fixing the strake in the folded position;
• positioning the spar hull offshore in a transport position;
• upending the spar hull;
• unfolding the strake;
• fixing the strake in the unfolded position;
• and
• positioning the spar hull in an installed position.

A spar hull for a floating vessel, comprising:

• a hard tank having an outer surface, wherein the outer surface has a belly portion;
• a fixed strake coupled to a first portion of the outer surface of the tank, the fixed strake including one or more fixed strake sections extending radially outwardly from the first portion of the outer surface of the tank;
• a folding strake coupled to a second portion of the outer surface of the tank different than the first portion, the folding strake including at least one folding strake panel configured to be selectively folded toward the outer surface of the tank;
• and
• a support configured to couple to the at least one folding strake panel when the at least one folding strake panel is in an unfolded position, the support being configured to at least temporarily retain the at least one folding strake panel in the unfolded position.