Offshore tower for drilling and/or production
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B63B-035/44
B63B-021/50
출원번호
US-0288426
(2011-11-03)
등록번호
US-8899881
(2014-12-02)
발명자
/ 주소
Finn, Lyle David
Horton, III, Edward E.
Maher, James V.
출원인 / 주소
Horton Wison Deepwater, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Conley Rose, P.C.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
6
초록▼
An offshore structure comprises a hull having a longitudinal axis and including a first column and a second column moveably coupled to the first column. Each column has a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. In addition, the offshore structure comprises an anchor
An offshore structure comprises a hull having a longitudinal axis and including a first column and a second column moveably coupled to the first column. Each column has a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. In addition, the offshore structure comprises an anchor coupled to the second end of the second column and configured to secure the hull to the sea floor. The first column includes a variable ballast chamber and a first buoyant chamber positioned between the variable ballast chamber and the first end of the first column. The first buoyant chamber is filled with a gas and sealed from the surrounding environment. The second column includes a variable ballast chamber. Further, the offshore structure comprises a topside mounted to the hull.
대표청구항▼
1. An offshore structure, comprising: a hull having a longitudinal axis and including a first column and a second column moveably coupled to the first column, wherein the second column is configured to move axially relative to the first column, wherein each column has a longitudinal axis, a first en
1. An offshore structure, comprising: a hull having a longitudinal axis and including a first column and a second column moveably coupled to the first column, wherein the second column is configured to move axially relative to the first column, wherein each column has a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end;an anchor disposed at the second end of the second column;wherein the second column is configured to move axially down relative to the first column to urge the anchor into the sea floor and secure the hull to the sea floor;wherein the first column includes a variable ballast chamber positioned axially between the first end and the second end of the first column and a first buoyant chamber positioned between the variable ballast chamber and the first end of the first column, wherein the first buoyant chamber is filled with a gas and sealed from the surrounding environment;wherein the second column includes a variable ballast chamber positioned axially between the first end and the second end of the second column; anda topside mounted to the hull. 2. The offshore structure of claim 1, wherein the anchor has an aspect ratio less than 3:1. 3. The offshore structure of claim 1, further comprising: a first ballast control conduit in fluid communication with the variable ballast chamber of the first column and configured to supply a gas to the variable ballast chamber of the first column;wherein the first column includes a first port in fluid communication with the variable ballast chamber of the first column, wherein the first port of the first column is configured to allow water to flow into and out of the variable ballast chamber of the first column from the surrounding environment;a second ballast control conduit in fluid communication with the variable ballast chamber of the second column and configured to supply a gas to the variable ballast chamber of the second column;wherein the second column includes a first port in fluid communication with the variable ballast chamber of the second column, wherein the first port of the second column is configured to allow water to flow into and out of the variable ballast chamber of the second column from the surrounding environment. 4. The offshore structure of claim 3, wherein the first ballast control conduit has an end disposed within the variable ballast chamber of the first column, and the second ballast control conduit has an end disposed within the variable ballast chamber of the second column. 5. The offshore structure of claim 1, wherein the first column includes a fixed ballast chamber axially positioned between the variable ballast chamber of the first column and the second end of the first column; wherein the second column includes a fixed ballast chamber axially positioned between the variable ballast chamber of the second column and the second end of the second column;wherein each fixed ballast chamber is configured to be filled with fixed ballast. 6. The offshore structure of claim 1, wherein the anchor is a suction pile including a suction skirt extending axially from the second end of the second column. 7. The offshore structure of claim 6, further comprising a fluid conduit in fluid communication with a cavity defined by the suction skirt, wherein the fluid conduit is configured to vent the cavity, pump a fluid into the cavity, or draw the fluid from the cavity. 8. The offshore structure of claim 1, further comprising a second buoyant chamber disposed at the first end of the first column, wherein the second buoyant chamber is filled with a gas and sealed from the surrounding environment. 9. The offshore structure of claim 1, further comprising a locking assembly configured to selectively lock an axial position of the second column relative to the first column. 10. The offshore structure of claim 9, further comprising: an elongate guide coupled to the first column and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first column;an elongate rail coupled to the second column, wherein the rail is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second column;wherein the rail is disposed within and slidingly engages the guide;wherein the locking assembly is positioned between the rail and the guide. 11. A method, comprising: (a) positioning a buoyant tower at an offshore installation site, wherein the tower includes a hull having a longitudinal axis and a topside mounted to the hull, wherein the hull includes a center column and a plurality of outer columns circumferentially spaced about the center column, wherein the center column has an anchor disposed at a lower end and is moveably coupled to the outer columns;(b) ballasting the center column;(c) moving the center column axially downward relative to the outer columns during (b);(d) ballasting the outer columns;(e) penetrating the sea floor with the anchor of the second column during step (c); and(f) allowing the tower to pitch about the anchor after step (e). 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising selectively locking the position of the center column relative to the outer columns before step (e). 13. The method of claim 11, wherein step (d) comprises allowing the tower to pitch to a maximum pitch angle relative to vertical that is less than 10°. 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the anchor has an aspect ratio less than 3:1. 15. The method of claim 11, wherein step (a) comprises: (a1) transporting the hull and the topside to the offshore installation site;(a2) floating the hull at the sea surface in a horizontal orientation;(a3) transitioning the hull from the horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation;(a4) mounting the topside to the hull above the sea surface to form the buoyant tower. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein step (a1) comprises: transporting the hull offshore on a vessel; andunloading the hull from the vessel offshore. 17. The method of claim 11, wherein each outer column has longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end; wherein each outer column includes a variable ballast chamber positioned axially between the first end and the second end of the outer column and a first buoyant chamber positioned axially between the variable ballast chamber and the first end of the outer column;wherein step (b) comprises flowing variable ballast into the variable ballast chamber of each outer column;wherein the center column has a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end opposite the first end;wherein the center column includes a variable ballast chamber positioned axially between the first end and the second end of the center column;wherein step (c) comprises flowing variable ballast into the variable ballast chamber of the center column. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein step (c) comprises allowing a gas in the variable ballast chamber of the center column to vent and allowing water to flow into the variable ballast chamber of the center column through a port in the center column. 19. The method of claim 11, wherein the anchor is a suction pile including a suction skirt extending axially from the second end of the center column; wherein step (e) comprises:(e1) penetrating the sea floor with the suction skirt; and(e2) pumping a fluid from a cavity within the suction skirt during step (e1). 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: (g) deballasting the hull after step (f); and(h) pulling the anchor from the sea floor. 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising: pumping a fluid into the cavity during step (h). 22. An offshore structure, comprising: a hull having a longitudinal axis and including a plurality of radially outer columns and a center column radially positioned between the outer columns, wherein each column is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis;wherein each column has a first end and a second end opposite the first end;wherein the center column is configured to move axially relative to the outer columns;an anchor disposed at the second end of the center column, wherein the anchor has an aspect ratio less than 3:1 and is configured to releasably engage the sea floor;wherein each of the plurality of outer columns includes a variable ballast chamber positioned axially between the first end and the second end of the corresponding outer column and a first buoyant chamber positioned axially between the variable ballast chamber and the first end of the corresponding outer column, wherein the first buoyant chamber is filled with a gas and sealed from the surrounding environment;wherein the center column includes a variable ballast chamber positioned axially between the first end and the second end of the center column;a topside mounted to the hull; anda locking assembly configured to selectively lock an axial position of the center column relative to the outer columns. 23. The offshore structure of claim 22, further comprising a plurality of first conduits, wherein one of the first conduits is in fluid communication with one of the variable ballast chambers and is configured to supply a gas to the corresponding variable ballast chamber. 24. The offshore structure of claim 23, wherein each of the plurality of outer columns includes a fixed ballast chamber positioned axially between the corresponding variable ballast chamber and the second end of the corresponding outer column. 25. The offshore structure of claim 24, further comprising a plurality of second conduits, wherein one of the second conduits is in fluid communication with each fixed ballast chamber and is configured to supply fixed ballast to the corresponding fixed ballast chamber. 26. The offshore structure of claim 22, wherein the anchor is a suction pile including a suction skirt. 27. The offshore structure of claim 26, further comprising a fluid conduit in fluid communication with a cavity within the suction skirt and configured to withdraw fluid from the cavity and pump fluid into the corresponding cavity. 28. The offshore structure of claim 22, wherein each of the center column and the plurality of outer columns includes a port in fluid communication with the corresponding variable ballast chamber.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (6)
Copple, Robert W.; Capanoglu, Cuneyt C.; Kalinowski, David W., Buoyant leg structure with added tubular members for supporting a deep water platform.
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