The present invention relates generally to floating platform systems for testing and producing hydrocarbon formations found in offshore waters. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and system for achieving hydrostatic stability of a floating structure while ballasting during installation of the structure.
The exploration for oil and gas deposits in offshore waters, and recovery of the oil and gas therefrom is very expensive. Various methods and offshore production systems have been utilized to locate and recover offshore oil and gas deposits. Exploration and production systems such as converted Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (“MODU”), Tendon Leg Platforms (TLP) and other floating structures typically used in offshore waters are very expensive to manufacture and install.
Installation of an offshore platform, such as a TLP, may require that the platform hull be wet towed to the installation site. The hull of a single column TLP comprises the central column and a plurality of pontoons extending radially outwardly from the central column. The hull of a single column TLP is quite stable floating on the pontoons because of the large water plane area provided by the central column and pontoons. During installation, the hull is ballasted down for connection to a plurality of tendons which anchor the hull to the seabed. As the hull is ballasted down, the hydrostatic stability of the hull decreases significantly after the pontoons submerge. To reduce stability problems during installation, the hull is typically installed without the deck and with a stabilizing upward force applied at the top of the hull as it is ballasted down to connect with the pre-installed tendons. This stabilizing force is typically supplied by a derrick barge. After the hull is lowered, connected to tendons and deballasted, the system is very stable. The deck may then be lifted using the derrick barge and safely set on the platform hull.
For some offshore platform installations, it may be very advantageous commercially to utilize an installation alternative that eliminates the need for the expensive derrick barge during hull and deck installation. One such installation method, would for example, include installing the deck on the hull in a less exposed, shallower water location with less expensive lifting means, wet-towing the hull-deck assembly to the installation site, and safely lowering the hull-deck assembly and connecting it to pre-installed tendons without using a derrick barge.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method of installing an offshore floating platform without using a derrick barge.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of installing a floating platform including the steps of assembling the complete hull, deck and most production equipment at or near the fabrication site; wet towing the assembled platform to the installation site; and ballasting down the assembled platform to tendon connection draft without a derrick barge.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of installing a floating platform by providing hydrostatic stability for the hull of the platform at all drafts through the use of supplemental buoyancy.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a floating platform includes a hull and a deck mounted on the uppermost end of the hull. A plurality of pontoons extend radially outwardly from the lower end of the hull. The platform is anchored to the seabed by a plurality of tendons connected to the hull at the upper ends thereof and secured to the seabed at the lower ends thereof. The platform includes detachable ballast means providing supplemental buoyancy for hydrostatically stabilizing the platform without utilizing a derrick barge while ballasting the platform during installation.
So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of the present invention are attained can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings.
It is noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
Referring first to
The central column 13 extends upward from the base or keel of the platform 10. The base node of the platform 10 is at the intersection of the central column 13 and the pontoons 18 extending radially outwardly therefrom. The platform 10 is anchored to the seabed by tendons 20 secured at one end thereof to the pontoons 18, as shown in
Referring still to
Referring now to
The secondary buoyancy assembly includes a transition structure 22 releasably connected to the distal ends of the pontoons 18. Any number of releasable connection means may be utilized to securely mount the transition structure 22 to the pontoons 18. In a preferred embodiment shown in
The secondary buoyancy assembly further includes a floodable hard tank 28 welded or otherwise mounted on top of the transition structure 22. The hard tank 28 is provided with the necessary plumbing, including a fill port 30 and vent 32, for connection with the ballast system of the marine installation equipment.
Referring still to
Referring again to
As the hull 12 is ballasted down and after the floodable hard tank 28 is immersed (after the assembly of buoys 34 is pulled up with the lift line 40), but before the first buoy 34 starts to submerge, a “buoyancy gap” may occur. To minimize the effect of such a buoyancy gap, the buoy support frame 38 is connected to the buoy support post 36 by a synthetic rope 37, shown in
Upon reaching the installation draft of the platform 10, the tendons 20 are connected to the pontoons 18 and the platform 10 is deballasted to develop the tendon pre-tension required to provide stability to the platform 10. The secondary buoyancy assemblies mounted on the distal ends of the pontoons 18 are then filled with seawater and detached from the ends of the pontoons 18 and removed from the platform 10.
Referring now to
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims which follow.
The application is a national stage entry of PCT/US02/32461 filed Oct. 9, 2002, which claims benefit from provisional application 60/327,945 filed Oct. 9, 2001.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US02/32461 | 10/9/2002 | WO | 00 | 7/14/2004 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO03/031255 | 4/17/2003 | WO | A |
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3955521 | Mott | May 1976 | A |
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6241425 | Kazim | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6435773 | Khachaturian | Aug 2002 | B1 |
6688250 | Davies et al. | Feb 2004 | B1 |
6830413 | Wybro et al. | Dec 2004 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20050013669 A1 | Jan 2005 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60327945 | Oct 2001 | US |