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Offshore platform for hydrocarbon production and storage

a technology for hydrocarbon production and storage, applied in special-purpose vessels, floating buildings, transportation and packaging, etc., can solve the problems of increasing structure costs and practical limit to the depth at which such tension leg mooring systems can be employed

Inactive Publication Date: 2002-06-06
FMC TECH INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Such additional buoyancy requires more steel in the cylindrical hull which results in increased costs of the structure.
Nevertheless, because oil and gas fields are found in ultra deep waters, there is a fear that a practical limit to depths at which such tension leg mooring systems can be employed.

Method used

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  • Offshore platform for hydrocarbon production and storage
  • Offshore platform for hydrocarbon production and storage

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the invention showing a side view of a floating structure 10. The floating structure 10 includes an upper section 100 and a lower section 110. In this embodiment, the upper section includes a superstructure 70, a column 20, and a broad base 30; and the lower section includes at least three tension members 40 and a ballast weight 50.

[0016] The superstructure 70 is adapted to support and connect to a deck used for hydrocarbon production and storage operations as known in the art. (not shown in FIG. 1). Alternatively, the superstructure 70 can serve as the deck, itself, in these operations.

[0017] The column 20 connects to the bottom of the superstructure 70 and extends downwardly piercing the water surface 90. Preferably, the waterplane area created by this surface piercing is small thereby reducing the effects of surface waves on the floating structure 10. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, a single column 20 is shown with a single waterplane area...

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PUM

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Abstract

In a floating structure, a ballast weight is suspended at a truss angle from an upper section of the floating structure using at least three tension members. This ballast weight is suspended at such a depth and in such a manner that the center of gravity of the floating structure is below the center of buoyancy of the floating structure. The suspension of the ballast weight allows the floating structure to maintain greater stability and achieve desirable motions in response to environmental conditions such as wind and waves.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60 / 251,184, filed on Nov. 29, 2000.[0002] 1. Field of the Invention[0003] This invention relates generally to offshore platforms designed and arranged for oil and gas production and storage operations. More specifically, this invention relates to a method and apparatus to provide stability for a floating structure.[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art[0005] Spars are known structures for providing a platform above the sea surface for conducting oil and gas production and storage operations. One arrangement is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,321 to Horton. That arrangement relies on a long cylindrical structure which presents a small waterplane area to sea surface waves and has a large depth which minimizes heave motions. Anchor legs between the sea bottom and the structure substantially fix the structure to the sea floor. Its stability results from designing the structure such that the center of...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): B63B35/44B63B39/02B63B43/04
CPCB63B35/4406B63B43/04B63B39/02
Inventor COTTRELL, ROY H.
Owner FMC TECH INC