Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6406222
-
Patent Number
6,406,222
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, September 27, 200023 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, June 18, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Will; Thomas B.
- Pechhold; Alexandra K.
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 405 1951
- 405 196
- 405 201
- 405 202
- 405 224
- 405 2242
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A floating construction (11) such as for instance a SPAR buoy, which is connected to the seabed (32) by tethers and/or risers (15, 16). At the top part the floating construction (11) comprises a displacement member (17′) mounted on a mounting frame (17). Two risers (15, 16) and/or tethers that are placed on respective sides of a vertical center line (22) of the mounting frame (17) are connected to the displacement members for causing oppositely directed and substantially equal displacements thereof upon tilting and/or the sideways excursion of the floating body (11). Hereby a substantially similar tension in the connecting elements (15, 16) is maintained. In one embodiment displacement member comprises a pivotable arm (5) or pivotable deck structure connected near the upper end of the floating body to provide a dry tree. Alternatively the displacement member may comprise pressure fluid cylinders (39) or a cable construction (51, 52). Preferably the floating construction is at its lower end provided with a pivotable guide casing to cause a gradual bending of the riser and/or tethers.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a floating construction comprising a floating body having a lower part extending below water level and an upper part extending above water level, the floating body being connected to the sea bed by means of at least two substantially parallel connecting elements extending in a substantially straight line between the sea bed and the floating body.
For offshore well operations tension leg platforms (TLP) are used which are moored to the seabed by vertical tethers or tendons, which may be connected to opposite legs of partially submersed parts of the platform. Upon pitch or roll motions of the platforms, large and unevenly distributed tensional forces are exerted on the tethers.
SPAR buoys are also used in the offshore industry for drilling, hydrocarbon storage and/or transfer, a SPAR buoy comprising a slender floating body supporting several deck structures such as a well head deck, a manifold deck, a production well drilling deck and the like. The deep draft SPAR buoys, which may have a height of 150 meters or more, are relatively insensitive to wave induced motions and have a favourable heave and pitch-roll response. Two types of moorings are most prevalent for attaching SPAR buoys to the seabed. These comprise radially spaced catenary anchor lines or taut leg moorings and vertical tether moorings. From the well head, one or more risers extend upward to the SPAR buoy for transferring hydrocarbons from the subsea well. The risers may be flexible or may comprise a rigid steel casing.
According to one known construction, the risers extend along the outside of the floating SPAR buoy and are fixed to the riser attachment deck. A tensioned tether is attached to the lower end of the SPAR buoy such that the natural heave period generally is less than 5 seconds. Upon drift of the SPAR buoy, the tether will be displaced from its vertical position. Due to mean and dynamic wave motions, a relative angular motion (pitch-roll) of the SPAR buoy and the tether occurs which will cause a slackening of the risers on one side of the tether and an overtensioning of the risers on the opposite side of the tether. This unequal load distribution may lead to fatigue weakening which may result in failure of the risers.
From U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,321 a free floating SPAR construction is known wherein the riser movement is decoupled from the SPAR buoy movements. In the SPAR buoy that is described in the above mentioned document, a number of risers extend upwards through the central well of the floating SPAR body to a dry production deck. Each riser is at its upper end buoyantly supported by a buoyancy tank situated around the respective riser. As the risers are free at their upper ends, they can axially slide up and down in the well. The SPAR buoy is moored to the seabed by taut lateral moorings, such that the natural heave period of the known construction is larger than 25 seconds. When the known SPAR buoy is tilted, overtensioning of the risers is prevented by the axial sliding motion of the risers within the well. However, the riser motion inside the well causes significant wear. Furthermore, the known construction has a relatively large diameter in order to accommodate the riser buoyancy tanks and is therefore relatively sensitive to current and wave induced motions. Also, in case of rupture of one of the risers, the hydrocarbons will spill into the confined well. In view of the absence of natural ventilation, this may result in a danger of explosions.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a mooring construction that avoids overtensioning of the elements extending between the sea bed and the floating body, which is of a relatively simple construction and which has a relatively small volume.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mooring construction which has a stable deck orientation.
It is again another object of the present invention to provide a mooring construction which can be easily installed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mooring construction wherein the inclination of the floating body from the vertical and the relative angle between the vertical center line of the floating body and the connecting elements may be limited.
It is again an object of the present invention to provide a mooring construction that limits the forces on the connecting elements during extreme weather conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
For this purpose, a floating construction according to the present invention is characterised in that the floating body comprises a mounting frame to which the upper parts of the connecting elements are movably attached, and a displacement member attached to the mounting frame and to the end parts of two connecting elements that are placed on respective sides of a vertical center line of the mounting frame for causing oppositely directed and substantially equal displacements of the connecting elements relative to the mounting frame upon tilting and/or a sideways excursion of the floating body to maintain a substantially similar tension in the connecting elements.
During a sideways excursion and/or during roll or pitch of the floating construction according to the present invention, the connecting elements will be maintained in a parallel relationship by the displacement member. Via the displacement member, one of the connecting elements is raised while the other is lowered by the same amount, such that the upper parts of two connecting members that are located on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line are maintained in a substantially horizontal plane. Hereby an overtensioning of the connecting elements is effectively prevented.
The present invention may be used for floating constructions such as mooring buoys, tension leg platforms, tankers and the like. The invention is particularly suitable for use in conjunction with SPAR buoys, which generally have a length dimension along the vertical center line which is at least five times larger than the width dimension. In this case the connecting elements, such as risers and/or tethers are placed on separate sides of the vertical center line of the SPAR buoy, that coincides with the vertical center line of the mounting frame. By the present invention overtensioning of the connecting elements, which may comprise risers and/or tethers, is prevented upon inclination of the center line of the SPAR buoy from the vertical.
In other embodiments, the vertical center line of the mounting frame does not coincide with the vertical center line of the vessel, for instance in case the mounting frame is placed on one side of a vessel.
In one embodiment of the floating construction according to the present invention, the displacement member comprises a pivotable arm. As used herein the term “arm” may also comprise a two-dimensional structure such as a deck construction. Each connecting element is pivotably connected to a respective end of the arm. The pivot arm allows limited vertical movement of the connecting elements while transferring excess tension in one connecting element to the other element having a smaller tension. In this manner a simple mechanism is provided for keeping the ends of the connecting elements in a substantially horizontal plane upon drift and/or pitch and roll of the floating body.
The connecting elements according to the present invention may comprise risers, tethers or both. When sufficiently strong, steel hard piping is used for the risers, it is envisaged that the floating body according to the invention may be anchored to the seabed by the use of the risers only. However, the floating body according to the present invention is preferably used in conjunction with one or more tethers, which may be connected to the floating body via a fixed or via a pivoting connection, which may include the mounting frame.
A preferred embodiment of a floating construction according to the present invention has a displacement member with at least two arms that are pivotably connected to one end of a respective hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder which is connected to the mounting frame. Each arm carries at its free end a connecting element. The hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders are mutually connected by a fluid duct. A constant volume of fluid is displaced between the cylinders upon movement of the floating body. Hereby the cylinders are actuated in opposite directions such that the tension in the connecting elements is substantially equalised. The use of pressure fluid cylinders is particularly useful upon installation of the risers, wherein additional cylinders can be added to the mounting frame as new risers are being put in place.
In another embodiment of a floating construction according to the present invention, the displacement member comprises two cable guide members, each connecting element being with its upper end attached to a respective end of a cable that extends from the first connecting element, via the cable guide members, to the second connecting element. The cable and cable guides form a relatively simple and light weight construction to maintain the connecting elements in a uniform tensile situation. The cable may comprise an elastic section, for instance a spring element to compensate for small secondary misalignments between the connecting elements that may be caused by bending of the riser casing near the lower part of the floating body such as at the SPAR/tether pivot, or by height variations in the seabed.
The floating structure may comprise a pivotable deck which is pivotably coupled to the connecting elements. The deck itself may act as the displacement member for the connecting elements, or may be pivotably connected to the displacement member. As the displacement member and the geometry of the parallel connecting elements cause the upper parts of the connecting elements to be located in a substantially horizontal plane, irrespective of the inclination of the floating body, the displacement member can effectively be used to keep a deck structure, such as the riser attachment deck, in a horizontal position.
In another embodiment of a floating construction according to the present invention, the mounting frame is situated at or near the upper part of the buoy, a guide frame being connected at or near the lower part. The connecting elements are guided through respective passages in the guide frame. The guide frame maintains the connecting elements in their proper position with respect to the floating body, and prevents the floating body from contacting the risers or tethers upon tilting.
The guide frame may be fixed to the floating body in a stationary manner, in which case a sliding movement of the connecting elements through the guide frame can occur. Alternatively, the guide frame is pivotably connected to the floating body. In this way, the guide frame remains properly aligned with respect to the connecting elements, and bending is reduced. Furthermore, by pivoting of the guide frame, the sliding movements of the connecting elements are reduced and a reliable operation during extreme weather conditions is achieved.
The guide frame may for each connecting element comprise a sleeve which is pivotably attached to a radial arm connected to the lower part of the floating body. The sleeves prevent excessive bending or buckling of the connecting elements. To prevent damage to the connecting elements, the sleeves can near their edges be provided with a relatively soft, preferably replaceable lining material. For the same reason, the connecting elements can in the region of the sleeves be provided with a contact member for contacting the internal wall of the sleeves.
To further reduce the angle of curvature of the connecting elements, the radial arms of the guide frame are connected to a central pivot at or near the longitudinal axis of the floating body, at or near the lower part thereof. A number of sleeves may be placed on a circular guide frame at spaced angular positions to accommodate a circular configuration of the connecting elements.
In a preferred embodiment, at least one tether is attached to the floating body. By the use of tethers a small natural period of the floating construction is achieved which is outside the region of significant wave excitation. Preferably the tethers are also passed through the guide frame to cause controlled bending. The tethers may be attached to the lower part of the floating body, to a pivoting part of the guide frame, to the upper part of the floating body or to the mounting frame. In a SPAR embodiment according to the present invention, the tethers and the risers are preferably alternatingly placed in a circular pattern so that they can be installed outside the SPAR body. This tether configuration also gives a better control of the horizontal movements of the SPAR.
The floating construction according to the present invention may be connected to the seabed via a template. Preferably the template has a compression space allowing an axial depression of the at least one tether. If during extreme weather conditions the tethers are depressed, buckling is prevented as the tethers can move down into the compression space.
In addition to the tethers, the floating construction may comprise at least two pairs of axially spaced mooring lines. In one embodiment, each of the spaced mooring lines has a first section extending from the seabed to a first guide element on the floating body, a second section extending axially from the first guide element to second guide element and a third section extending from the second guide element back in the direction of the seabed or towards the first section. By the use of the radial mooring, the SPAR and tether angles from the vertical and the relative angle between the SPAR and the tether can be minimised. Reduction of these angles reduces bending fatigue in the risers and tethers. Furthermore, the adjustment of the mooring lines, by one or more winches on the SPAR buoy, can bring the SPAR and tethers to a vertical orientation, which is favourable when drilling wells on the SPAR.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Some embodiments of a mooring construction according to the present invention will by way of example be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:
FIG. 1
shows a schematic side view of a floating construction comprising a displacement member according to the present invention,
FIGS. 2
a
and
2
b
show a SPAR buoy construction wherein the risers are located in a central well and are passed through a fixed guide frame,
FIGS. 3
a
and
3
b
show a SPAR buoy construction wherein the risers are passed through a pivotable guide frame,
FIG. 4
shows a schematic partial side view of the upper part of a SPAR buoy, wherein the displacement member comprises pressure fluid cylinders,
FIG. 5
shows a displacement member mean comprising a tensioning cable,
FIG. 6
shows a displacement member in the form of a tensioning cable having elastic compensating means,
FIG. 7
shows a displacement member in the form of a pivoting arm,
FIG. 8
shows a preferred embodiment wherein the tethers and the risers are connected to a pivotable deck structure at the upper end of the SPAR buoy and are each guided in a pivotable guide frame at the lower end of the buoy,
FIG. 9
shows an embodiment wherein the tethers are at one side connected to a fixed lower part of the SPAR buoy, and on the other side to a compression chamber in the template on the seabed,
FIG. 10
shows the embodiment wherein the tethers are connected to pivoting parts of the guide frame
FIG. 11
shows a detail on an enlarged scale of the guide frame according to the present invention,
FIGS. 12
a
and
12
b
show contact members on the risers and/or the tethers for limiting the bend radius, and
FIGS. 13 and 14
show lateral mooring arrangements of a SPAR buoy construction according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1
shows a floating construction
1
which may be a mooring buoy, a tension leg platform, a mono hull, or any other floating construction used in the offshore industry for well drilling, hydrocarbon production or storage. The floating construction
1
comprises a floating body
9
that is connected to the seabed
2
via connecting elements
3
,
4
. The connecting elements
3
,
4
may comprise rigid or flexible risers, tethers or tendons, or combinations thereof. In case the connecting elements are formed by risers, the risers are supported and maintained in a substantially vertical position by the buoyancy of the floating construction
1
. The connecting elements
3
,
4
are connected to a displacement member
5
via pivoting connections
7
,
8
, the displacement member in this embodiment being schematically indicated as a pivoting arm. The displacement member
5
is mounted on the floating construction via a mounting frame schematically indicated at
6
. Upon pitch or roll of the floating construction
1
, the displacement member
5
will pivot with respect to the mounting frame
6
such that a substantially horizontal position of the arm
5
is maintained and the tension in connecting elements
3
and
4
is kept substantially equal.
FIG. 2
a
shows an embodiment wherein the floating construction is formed by a SPAR buoy
11
having a top deck
12
with dry production trees
10
,
10
′ and an elongate floating body
13
comprising buoyancy, ballast and storage tanks. At the upper part
14
of the SPAR buoy
11
, risers
15
and
16
are connected to a displacement member in the form of a pivot arm
17
′. The pivot arm
17
′ is connected to a mounting frame on the upper part
14
comprising a pivoting connection
17
. At the lower part
18
of the SPAR buoy
11
, the risers
15
and
16
pass through a rigid guide frame, or casing guide
19
, for limiting the deflection of the risers when the SPAR buoy
11
is inclined from its vertical position. The risers
15
and
16
are connected to a well head
20
on the seabed
32
via a template
21
.
As can be seen in
FIG. 2
b
, the risers
15
and
16
will contact the casing guide
19
upon sideways drift of the SPAR buoy
11
and will slide along the inner surfaces of the casing guide. Superimposed on the average sideways drift, the vertical center line
22
of the SPAR buoy
11
will be inclined from the vertical by dynamic wave movements. The pivot arm
17
′, at the ends of which the risers
15
and
16
are suspended, will maintain the top parts of the risers
15
,
16
in a horizontal plane
23
, irrespective of the position of the vertical center line
22
of the SPAR buoy
11
. Hereby an overtensioning or slackening of the risers
15
,
16
is prevented.
In the embodiments of
FIGS. 2
a
and
2
b
, the SPAR buoy may be anchored to the seabed only by means of the risers
15
and
16
if sufficiently strong risers, such as for instance rigid steel piping, is used. Additional radial mooring lines
23
may be employed to minimize the inclination of the vertical center line
22
from the vertical caused by dynamic wave motions and to limit the sideways drift.
FIGS. 3
a
and
3
b
show an embodiment wherein the SPAR buoy
11
is anchored to the template
21
via a central tether
24
. The upper part of the tether
24
is connected to the lower part
18
of the SPAR buoy
11
via a pivot connection
26
. The upper part
25
of the tether
24
carries two casing guides
27
,
28
which can each pivot in respective pivot points
29
,
30
. Herein the second casing guide
28
is optional and may be omitted. The tether
24
is at its lower end connected to the template
21
in a template pivot
31
.
As can be seen in
FIG. 3
b
, the casing guides
27
,
28
will remain in a substantially perpendicular position with respect to the tether
24
when the tether
24
is deflected from its vertical position due to sideways drift of the SPAR buoy
11
. Upon inclination of the vertical center line
22
of the SPAR buoy
11
from the vertical, the SPAR buoy
11
will tilt relative to the tether
24
in the pivot point
26
. The casing guides
27
,
28
will then pivot to cause a gradual bending of the risers
15
,
16
.
By movement of the pivot arm
17
′ with respect to the guide frame in pivot point
17
at the upper part
14
, the top parts of the risers
15
,
16
remain in the horizontal plane
23
. In the way the seabed
32
and the upper casing guide
27
and the riser parts of the risers
15
and
16
extending therebetween define a first parallelogram. The upper parts of the risers
15
and
16
that are located in the horizonal plane
23
, the upper casing guide
27
and the riser parts extending therebetween define a second parallelogram. In this configuration the tension in the risers
15
and
16
is substantially equalized.
FIG. 4
shows an embodiment wherein the displacement member acting upon the risers
43
,
44
is formed by hydraulic cylinders
39
,
40
. The cylinders
39
,
40
are mounted on a mounting frame
35
which is rigidly connected to an upper part
36
of the floating body. The upper parts of the risers
43
,
44
are suspended from lateral arms
37
,
38
by pivot connections
46
,
47
, which arms are with one end connected to the cylinders
39
,
40
. The arms
37
,
38
may be part of a circular frame extending around the upper part of a floating body
36
, out of the plane of the drawing. The upper parts of the risers
43
,
44
are connected to the floating body via flexible piping
48
,
49
to allow for relative movements between the upper part of the risers
43
,
44
and the floating structure, a heave of about 3 meter between the risers
43
,
44
and the mounting frame
35
being allowed. The cylinders
39
,
40
are mutually connected via fluid duct
45
such that a constant volume of fluid, preferably a liquid, is moved between cylinders
39
,
40
when the vertical center line
41
of the floating structure is inclined from its vertical position. Upon tilting of the mounting frame
35
, the arms
37
,
38
are moved with respect to the mounting frame
35
around the imaginary pivot point
42
on the vertical center line
41
.
FIG. 5
shows an embodiment wherein the risers
43
,
44
are coupled via a cable
50
. The cable
50
is supported on sheaves
51
,
52
which are placed on the mounting frame
35
. The ends of the cable
50
are connected to suspension members
53
,
54
at the end of the risers
43
,
44
.
In the alternative construction shown in
FIG. 6
, the sheaves, or pulleys
51
,
52
are suspended from the mounting frame
35
. The cable
50
comprises a spring member
55
for allowing a certain degree of independent movement of the risers
43
,
44
such that secondary misalignments can be evened out.
FIG. 7
shows an embodiment wherein the risers
43
,
44
are suspended from the ends of a pivot arm
56
, which is connected to the mounting frame
35
in a pivot mounting
57
. The pivot arm
56
can also be part of a two-dimensional construction such as a pivoting deck on which production or drilling equipment can be mounted in a stabilized horizontal position.
FIG. 8
shows a preferred embodiment wherein the risers
59
,
60
and the tethers
64
,
65
extend along the outside of the floating body
61
. Both the risers and the tethers are guided through respective sleeves of the casing guide
62
. The upper end of the risers and the tethers
59
,
60
,
64
,
65
are connected to a pivoting deck
63
at the upper part
66
of the floating body
61
. Preferably the risers and the tethers are alternatingly placed in a circular configuration. The lower part of the risers
64
,
65
are connected to a template
69
on the seabed, which template is provided with a circumferential skirt
70
. The circumferential skirt
70
provides an additional anchoring function of the template
69
. In case of the extreme situation wherein the template
69
is moved upward, the skirt
70
will create a suction force between the seabed and the template which will work against the uplift of the template
69
.
The construction shown in
FIG. 8
may have a height H
1
extending below sea-level of about 150 meters and a height H
2
extending above sea-level of about 20 meters. The diameter D
1
of the floating body
61
may be about 10 meters whereas the,distance D
2
of the riser
60
from the outside of floating body
61
may be about 5 meters. According to this embodiment of the invention a small and relatively light weight production SPAR is provided which can be constructed at relatively low cost.
FIG. 9
shows an embodiment wherein a central group of tethers
64
,
65
is connected to the lower part
67
of the floating body
61
of the SPAR buoy
58
. The risers
59
,
60
are placed at the outside of floating body
61
such that they can be easily installed. The risers
59
,
60
are connected to the pivoting deck
63
. In the embodiment of
FIG. 11
, the template
69
comprises a compression space
71
wherein an anchoring body
72
, connected to the tethers
64
,
65
is placed. When during extreme weather conditions the floating body
61
is lowered, the anchoring body
72
can move down into the compression space such that buckling of the tethers
64
,
65
is prevented.
In the embodiment shown in
FIG. 10
, the tethers
64
,
65
are connected to a radial arm
73
of the casing guide
62
on both sides of pivot joint
74
. In this arrangement, the risers
59
,
60
and the tethers
64
,
65
may be placed in an alternating circular configuration which may comprise for instance three groups of two tethers and two risers each.
In a further embodiment of a SPAR buoy
58
the risers
59
,
60
may extend through an internal shaft or central well of the floating body
61
and may with their upper parts be connected to the pivoting arm or pivoting deck
63
, carrying the production trees. The tethers
64
,
65
may extend outside of the floating body
61
and may be connected to a fixed upper part
66
of floating body
61
or pivoting deck
63
.
FIG. 11
shows an enlarged detail of the radial arm
73
of the casing guide
62
that is attached to the lower part
67
of the floating body
61
. The pivot joint
74
is formed by a resilient pivot element which may be made of rubber. The sleeves
75
,
76
of the casing guide
62
are connected to the radial arm
73
via flexible pivoting connection, for instance via a rubber connection. When the floating body
61
is tilted with respect to the tether
77
in the pivot joint
78
, the risers
59
,
60
will contact the inner walls of the sleeves
75
,
76
. Hereby the sleeves will be deflected in their flexible pivot joints such that a gradual bending of the risers
59
,
60
is ensured. The inner edges of the sleeves
75
,
76
are provided with replaceable protecting rings
79
,
79
′ which are made of a compliant material to prevent wear of the risers
59
,
60
. The protecting rings
79
,
79
′ may for instance be made of rubber.
As is shown in
FIG. 12
a
, the riser
59
may be provided with bumpers
80
,
81
which prevent direct contact of the riser
59
with the inner walls of the sleeve
75
. A stopper
82
may be provided around and is connected to the bumpers
80
,
81
to properly position the bumpers
80
,
81
inside the sleeve
75
. The spacer
82
and the bumpers
80
,
81
may be raised or lowered from the deck of the SPAR buoy via a cable
89
for removal or replacement. The protecting rings
79
,
79
′ of
FIG. 11
may be positioned and replaced in a similar manner.
FIG. 12
b
shows an alternative embodiment wherein the riser
59
is provided with a double stress joint
83
and guided through a ring
84
which is on an internal surface provided with a rubber element
85
for causing a gradual bending of the riser
59
. The ring
84
may be used as an alternative for the guide sleeves
75
.
FIG. 13
shows a further embodiment of a SPAR buoy
93
according to the present invention wherein the risers
90
,
91
are placed outside the floating body
92
of the spar buoy
93
. The risers
90
,
91
are formed of hard pipe risers connected to the template
95
via stress joint
96
. The risers
90
,
91
are at the upper part
97
supported by a pivoting arm or deck
98
, which carries the production trees
99
,
99
′. The lower part
100
of the floating body
92
carries a vertically adjustable riser spacer
101
which is suspended from spacer lines
103
,
104
. A central tether
105
is pivotably connected to the lower part
100
of floating body
92
and at a lower side to the template
95
. On each side of the vertical center line
106
of the floating body
92
a mooring line
107
,
108
is provided. Each mooring line comprises a first section
109
extending from the seabed towards an upper sheave
111
. A second section
109
′ of the mooring line
107
extends towards a lower sheave
112
and a third section
109
″ is reconnected back to the first section
109
. By turning the sheaves
111
,
112
the tension in the anchor lines
107
,
108
can be varied and the lateral drift of this SPAR buoy
93
and the inclination of the vertical center line
106
from the vertical can be minimized. Examples of a mooring system for effective reduction of average and dynamic angles of a similar type is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/879,261 in the name of Imodco. Reduction of the dynamic and mean deflection of the SPAR buoy
93
is beneficial for the risers and the tethers as bending fatigue is hereby reduced. Also the ability of adjusting the anchor lines
107
,
108
, which may be formed by cables, ropes, chains or combinations thereof, to maintain the SPAR buoy
93
and the tether
105
in a vertically aligned position is especially desirable when the SPAR buoys is used for well drilling. By keeping the risers
90
,
91
outside the floating body
92
, space is created for accomodating the sheaves
111
,
112
and the anchor lines
107
,
108
. For proper positioning, the risers may be guided through additional fixed casing guides
113
,
114
, that are placed on the floating body.
FIG. 14
shows a further embodiment of a lateral mooring system in which an upper and a lower anchor line
115
,
116
extend upwards from the seabed, through the floating body
92
via sheaves
117
,
117
′, back to the seabed on the other side of the vertical centerline
106
. By taking in or slackening the anchor lines
115
and
116
, the tether
105
can be vertically alined and the inclination of the vertical center line
106
from its vertical position can be minimized.
Claims
- 1. Floating construction (1,11,58) comprising a floating body (9,13,61,92) having a lower part (18,67,100) extending below water level and an upper part (14,36,66,97) extending above water level, the floating body being connected to the sea bed by means of at least two substantially parallel connecting elements (3,4; 15,16; 59,60,64,65) extending in a substantially straight line between the sea bed and the floating body, characterised in that the floating body comprises a mounting frame (6,17,35) to which upper parts of the connecting elements are movably attached so as to be movable relative to the mounting frame, and a displacement member (5,17′; 39,40; 50,51,52; 56,63) attached to the mounting frame and to end parts of the at least two connecting elements (3,4; 15,16; 43,44; 59,60; 64,65) that are placed on respective sides of a vertical center line (22,41,106) of the mounting frame, the displacement member being adapted to cause oppositely directed and substantially equal displacements of the connecting elements, in the length direction thereof, relative to the mounting frame upon tilting of the floating body to maintain a substantially similar tension on the connecting elements, the upper part remaining above water level.
- 2. Floating construction according to claim 1 having a length dimension along the vertical center line (22,41,106) and a width dimension, the length dimension being at least five times larger than the width dimension.
- 3. Floating construction according to claim 1, characterised in that the displacement member comprises a pivotable arm (5,17′,56,63), each connecting element being pivotably connected to a respective end of the arm.
- 4. Floating construction according to claim 1, characterised in that the displacement member comprises at least two arms (37,38) that are pivotably connected to one end of a respective pressure fluid cylinder (39,40) which is connected to the mounting frame (35), the cylinders being mutually connected by a fluid duct (45), wherein each arm pivotably carries a connecting element (43,44).
- 5. Floating construction according to claim 1, characterised in that the displacement member comprises at least two cable guide members (51,52), an upper end of each of the at least two connecting elements (43,44) being attached to a respective end of a cable (50) that extends from a first of the two connecting elements (43), via the cable guide members (51,52), to a second of the two connecting elements (44).
- 6. Floating construction according to claim 5, characterised in that the cable (50) comprises an elastic section (55).
- 7. Floating construction according to claim 1, characterised in that the construction comprises a pivotable deck structure (17′,63) which is pivotably coupled to the at least two connecting elements.
- 8. Floating construction according to claim 1, characterised in that the mounting frame (17,35) is situated at or near the upper part (14,36) of the floating body, a guide frame (19,27,28,62,94) being connected at or near the lower part (18,67,100) of the floating body. (13,61,92), the at least two connecting elements being guided through respective passages in the guide frame.
- 9. Floating construction according to claim 8, characterised in that the guide frame (27,28,62,94) is pivotably connected to the floating body (13,61,92).
- 10. Floating construction according to claim 8, characterised in that the guide frame comprises for each connecting element a sleeve (75,76) which is pivotably attached to a radial arm (73) connected to the lower part (67) of the floating body.
- 11. Floating construction according to claim 10, characterised in that the sleeves (75,76) comprise near their edges a relatively compliant lining material (79,79′).
- 12. Floating construction according to claim 10, characterised in that the radial arm (73) is connected to a central pivot (74) at or near the vertical center line of the floating body.
- 13. Floating construction according to claim 10, characterised in that the sleeves (75,76) are placed on the guide frame at spaced angular positions, and wherein the guide frame is circular.
- 14. Floating construction according to claim 10, characterised in that the at least two connecting elements are in a region of the sleeves provided with a contact member (80,81,83) for contacting the internal wall of the sleeves (75,84).
- 15. Floating construction according to claim 14, characterised in that a stopper (82) is placed around the at least two connecting elements and is attached to the contact members (80,81,83) for engaging with the sleeves (75,76) to position the contact members (80,81,83) within the sleeves (75,76), a pulling device (89) being connected to the stopper (82) and the contact members (80,81,83) for pulling them along the at least two connecting elements.
- 16. Floating construction according to claim 1, characterised in that, the at least two connecting elements comprise risers (15,16; 43,44; 59,60), wherein the floating construction is anchored to the seabed by at least one tether (24,64,65,105).
- 17. Floating construction according to claim 16, characterised in that the risers and a number of tethers are placed in a circular, alternating configuration.
- 18. Floating construction according to claim 16, characterised in that the risers and the at least one tether are attached to the upper part (66) of the floating body (61).
- 19. Floating construction according to claim 16, characterised in that the at least one tether is attached to the lower part (18,67,100) of the floating body, or to the guide frame (62).
- 20. Floating construction according to claim 1, connected to a well head on the sea bed, characterised in that the risers are rigid steel tubes connected to the well head via a flexible joint, a stress joint or a pivot joint.
- 21. Floating construction according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least two connecting elements are tethers that are anchored in a cavity (71) of a template (69) on the seabed, the cavity forming a compression space allowing an axial depression of the at least two connecting elements.
- 22. Floating construction according to claim 1, comprising on each side of the vertical center line (106) at least two axially spaced mooring line sections (109,109″; 115,116).
- 23. Floating construction according to claim 22, wherein the axially spaced mooring line sections are formed by a mooring line having a first section (109) extending from the seabed to a first guide element (111) on the floating body, a second section (109′) extending axially from the first guide element (111) to second guide element (112) and a third section (109″) extending from the second guide element (112) back in the direction of the seabed or in the direction of the first section (109) of the mooring line (107).
- 24. Floating construction according to claim 22, wherein the axially spaced mooring lines comprise an upper and a lower mooring line (115,116) extending from the seabed on one side of the vertical center line (106) of the floating body, to a cable guide means on the floating body.
- 25. Floating construction according to claim 24, wherein each upper and lower mooring line (115,116) is formed of a single mooring line extending on each side of the vertical center line (106).
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
98200985 |
Mar 1998 |
EP |
|
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/EP99/02048 |
|
WO |
00 |
Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
WO99/50136 |
10/7/1999 |
WO |
A |
US Referenced Citations (11)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2 729 636 |
Jul 1996 |
FR |
2 274 476 |
Jul 1994 |
GB |