Claims
- 1. An apparatus for reducing drag and vortex induced vibration in a marine element, comprising providing a substantially cylindrical element about said marine equipment, said substantially cylindrical element having a smooth surface.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cylindrical element smooth surface has a K/D ratio of about 1.0×10−4 or less, where
K is the average peak to trough distance of said smooth surface; and D is the effective outside diameter of said cylindrical element.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the K/D ratio of 1.0×10−4 or less is inherent in the surface of said cylindrical element.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a coating is applied to the surface of the cylindrical element, resulting in a K/D ratio of 1.0×10−4.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said coating includes marine biological growth inhibitors.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said coating includes cathodic protection elements.
- 7. A marine buoyancy element for use in conjunction with a subsea marine element, comprising at least one generally cylindrical buoyancy element affixed to said marine subsea element, said buoyancy element having a smooth surface K/D ratio of 1×10−4 of less.
- 8. The marine buoyancy element of claim 7 wherein said buoyancy element is manufactured from syntactic foam and said K/D ratio is inherent in the surface of said buoyancy element.
- 9. The marine buoyancy element of claim 7 wherein said K/D ratio is achieved by application of a coating to said marine buoyancy element.
- 10. The marine buoyancy element of claim 7 wherein said coating includes marine biological growth inhibitors.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said coating includes cathodic protection elements.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:
(a) multiple marine buoyancy elements are affixed to said marine subsea element; and (b) a smooth sleeve is deployed between and about the surface of adjacent marine buoyancy elements, said smooth sleeve having a smooth surface K/D/ ratio of 1×10−4 or less.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said marine buoyancy elements are formed as half shells and bolted about said marine elements.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 13 further including smooth inserts inserted between said half shells and retained together and about said marine element by securing means.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 13, further including smooth inserts about said securing means.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 12, further including:
(a) multiple marine subsea elements connected together, each subsea element having at least one marine buoyancy element affixed about it; and (b) a smooth sleeve deployed between and about the surface of a marine buoyancy element on one subsea element and the surface on an adjacent marine buoyancy element on an adjoining marine subsea element.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said marine buoyancy elements are formed as hinged half shells and are retained about said marine element by securing means.
- 18. A marine buoyancy system for use in conjunction with multiple adjoining subsea elements, comprising:
(a) at least one marine buoyancy element affixed to each subsea element, said marine buoyancy element sleeve, wherein said marine buoyancy element and is formed as two half shells that are retained about said subsea element by securing means; (b) smooth surface inserts placed between said marine buoyancy half shells and about said said retaining means, said inserts; (c) a smooth sleeve deployed between and about the surface of a marine buoyancy element on one subsea element and the surface on an adjacent marine buoyancy element on an adjoining marine subsea element; and (d) smooth sleeves deployed between and about the surface of adjoining marine buoyancy elements on a subsea element; wherein said marine buoyancy elements, smooth surface inserts and smooth sleeves have a smooth surface K/D/ ratio of 1×10−4 or less.
- 19. The system of claim 18, wherein said marine buoyancy elements, smooth surface inserts and smooth sleeves have been treated with biological inhibitor coatings.
- 20. The system of claim 18, wherein said marine buoyancy elements, smooth surface inserts and smooth sleeves have been treated with cathodic protection coatings.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
99202541.1 |
Aug 1999 |
EP |
|
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/154,289, filed Sep. 16, 1999, assigned to the assignee of the present invention and having at least one common inventive entity.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60221949 |
Jul 2000 |
US |