초록 ▼

A buoyancy system for a deep water floating platform includes at least one composite buoyancy module coupled to the a riser having a length greater than 1000 feet and an associated weight. The composite buoyancy module is sized to have a volume to produce a buoyancy force at least as great as the we

A buoyancy system for a deep water floating platform includes at least one composite buoyancy module coupled to the a riser having a length greater than 1000 feet and an associated weight. The composite buoyancy module is sized to have a volume to produce a buoyancy force at least as great as the weight of the riser. The composite buoyancy module may include a vessel with a composite vessel wall. The buoyancy module or vessel may have a non-circular cross-section defining an area which is greater than approximately 79 percent of an area defined by a square with sides tangent to the vessel wall to maximize buoyancy. A second buoyancy module may be directly coupled to the first buoyancy module to achieve a desired buoyancy.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A buoyancy system, comprising:a riser, configured to extend vertically substantially between an ocean surface and an ocean floor, and having a length greater than 1000 feet and a weight; at least one composite buoyancy module, coupled to the riser, configured to be disposed below the ocean surfac

1. A buoyancy system, comprising:a riser, configured to extend vertically substantially between an ocean surface and an ocean floor, and having a length greater than 1000 feet and a weight; at least one composite buoyancy module, coupled to the riser, configured to be disposed below the ocean surface and filled with air, and having a volume sized to produce a buoyancy force at least as great as the weight of the riser; and a floating or submerged platform, in which the composite buoyancy module and a portion of the riser are movably disposed, and having a grid structure with at least one individual square compartment through which the composite buoyancy module is disposed, the square compartment having a cross-sectional area; and the composite buoyancy module having a non-circular cross-section defining an area greater than approximately 79 percent of the cross-sectional area of the square compartment.