Mooring configuration for tension-moored platforms - Patents.com

Abstract

A buoyant tension-tethered platform, the platform configured to support a renewable energy capture device when submerged in a body of water, the platform including at least three vertices or lateral extents, the at least three vertices or lateral extents having mooring arrangements including a first mooring line extending between the vertex or lateral extent and a first fixed point leading to the bottom of the body of water and extending obliquely relative to the bottom, and a second mooring line extending from the vertex or lateral extent to a second fixed point and extending obliquely relative to the bottom, such that the mooring arrangements of each corresponding vertex or lateral extent define a triangle positioned on a plane. The present invention aims to provide improved stability of such a platform when submerged to support a renewable energy capture device.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a renewable energy system mounting platform, and more particularly to a tension-tethered platform configured to support renewable energy utilization equipment while submerged in a body of water. [Background technology]

[0002] Tension-moored platform (TLP) refers to a type of offshore platform and mooring arrangement in which a buoyant platform is restrained by tensioned mooring lines. Buoyant forces acting perpendicular to the mooring lines stabilize the platform above the point where the moorings are fixed.

[0003] Traditionally, TLPs are equipped with vertical mooring lines; this configuration gives very good stiffness and therefore stability control in the vertical (haul) direction, but depending on the length of the mooring lines, the horizontal (surge) stiffness and therefore position control is less favourable.

[0004] Positional stability is a requirement for renewable energy devices, such as wind turbines and wave energy converters mounted on offshore platforms. Generally, all such machines will have limitations on motion parameters such as excursions, accelerations, and deflections before compromising performance or risking damage. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Therefore, mooring configurations that improve the stability of TLPs, in addition to the conventional vertical layout, are desirable to increase the feasibility of using TLPs to mount renewable energy devices or other systems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present disclosure is directed to a buoyant tension-tethered platform (TLP) and a mooring arrangement for said platform. The buoyant platform has at least three vertices or lateral extents, each of the at least three vertices or lateral extents having a mooring arrangement. The mooring arrangement is configured to triangulate each vertex or lateral extent of the platform with the bottom of the body of water in which the platform is submerged. Such triangulation has been found to improve the stability of the platform in underwater operating conditions by increasing the submergence rate of the buoyancy of the platform in response to lateral offsets as a result of wave forces acting on the platform. Hence, the horizontal (surge) stiffness of the platform is substantially improved by the mooring arrangement of the present invention. Stability in such a platform has been found to be advantageous for continuous and uninterrupted capture of renewable energy by the renewable energy harvesting devices attached to the platform, together with improved robustness against wave forces acting on the surface of the renewable energy harvesting devices and therefore an improved overall lifespan of the renewable energy harvesting system. Such enhanced life span has proven particularly beneficial due to the remoteness of such systems and the logistical requirements when considering the maintenance and repair required for such systems.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a buoyant tension-tethered platform configured to support a renewable energy capture device when the platform is submerged in a body of water is provided, the platform having at least three vertices or lateral extents, the at least three vertices or lateral extents having mooring configurations including a first mooring line extending between the vertex or lateral extent and a first fixed point communicating with the bottom of the body of water and extending obliquely with respect to the bottom of the body of water, and a second mooring line extending from the vertex or lateral extent to a second fixed point and extending obliquely with respect to the bottom of the body of water, such that the mooring configurations of each corresponding vertex or lateral extent define a triangle lying in a plane.

[0008] By triangulating each apex or lateral extent of the TLP with one or more diagonal lines, the stability of the TLP is improved as the submerged rate of buoyancy increases in response to lateral offsets, thus the horizontal (surge) stiffness of the TLP is substantially increased.

[0009] Within the context of the present invention, the term "body of water" will be understood by the skilled artisan to mean any suitable body of water, and is particularly intended to refer to a sea or ocean.

[0010] The term "apex" refers to the major "lateral vertex" formed at the periphery of the platform, the number of vertices being determined by the major two-dimensional cross-sectional shape, preferably a regular polygon, representing the platform. For example, a platform having an almost triangular shape will be understood to have three vertices. It will be understood that the present disclosure is suitable for use with platforms having any number of vertices. It will be understood that in a platform having three or more vertices, at least three vertices will include the anchoring configuration as described above. The vertices having the anchoring configuration are preferably equally spaced around the platform and approximately equidistant from the center of the platform. In the context of the present disclosure, the term "lateral extent" is understood to be interchangeable with the term "apex" and is intended to mean a point or area of ​​the platform located around the outer edge of the platform or distal to the center of the platform. Any reference herein to the term "apex" or "vertices" is intended to include within its meaning "lateral extent" or "lateral vertices", respectively. Examples of such vertices or lateral extents include ends of elongated structures or members that extend away from a major vertex on a polygon or near the center of the platform. Such elongated structures may extend radially outward from near the center of the platform, for example, in a star or sunburst configuration. In a most preferred embodiment, each vertex or lateral extent of the platform includes an anchoring configuration as described above.

[0011] The angles at which both the first and second mooring lines lie relative to the bottom of the body of water are the same, such that each mooring configuration of corresponding apexes or lateral extents defines a triangle lying in a plane. This triangulation of the apexes or lateral extents relative to the seabed provides the necessary improvement in surge stiffness of the TLP, thereby providing improved stability of the platform.

[0012] In some preferred embodiments, the first and second mooring lines of the mooring arrangement may be positioned at 45 degrees relative to the bottom of the body of water. This configuration has been found to have a particularly beneficial effect on the stability of the platform. Further preferred configurations have been discovered for improved stability, including positioning the first and second mooring lines of the mooring arrangement at 90 degrees relative to each other.

[0013] In some preferred embodiments, the first and second fixed points are positioned equidistant from a central axis of the mooring arrangement, the central axis extending perpendicularly from a corresponding apex or lateral extent of the mooring arrangement. It will be appreciated that in many embodiments the fixed points are fixed points at which the platform is tethered to the bottom of the body of water by mooring lines.

[0014] In a particularly preferred embodiment, each face of the triangle formed by the mooring arrangement is parallel. The parallel faces may preferably be oriented perpendicular to the most common wave direction and / or the most common wind direction. Faces arranged perpendicular to the most common wave and / or wind direction are identified to provide surprising robustness against surge forces. In many locations, it may be possible to predict the predominant wind and / or wave direction experienced by the platform and any renewable energy utilization device mounted thereon. To provide optimal stability in such embodiments, it is preferred to arrange the faces perpendicular to said directions. Such a "most common" direction may be determined prior to placement in some embodiments to inform the orientation of said faces.

[0015] In some embodiments, each triangular face formed by the mooring arrangement intersects with another triangular face. The intersecting nature of the faces of the mooring arrangement in such embodiments preferably provides robustness against surges in multiple directions, and is thus preferred for embodiments located in locations expected to have wind and / or wave directions that change over time. In some embodiments, the faces may intersect to form an intersecting angle, such that the sum of all intersecting angles of the platform is approximately equal to (n-2) x 180°, where n is the number of vertices of the platform. It will be understood that the intersecting angle is the internal angle of the faces that intersect near the platform. In such embodiments, the intersecting angles are preferably the same. For example, in an embodiment having three vertices, the triangular faces formed by the mooring arrangement of the three vertices may be positioned such that they intersect and each intersection forms an equal angle of approximately 60°. In some embodiments having faces configured to intersect, the faces may be tangent to the corresponding vertex of the platform.

[0016] In some preferred embodiments, each mooring arrangement preferably includes two or more mooring lines. In preferred such embodiments, each of the two or more mooring lines may be fixed to a corresponding fixed point, the fixed points of each mooring arrangement defining a vertex of a regular two-dimensional shape, each fixed point being equidistant from the center of the shape. In preferred embodiments, the center of the shape is vertically aligned with the apex or lateral extent of the corresponding platform of the mooring arrangement forming the shape. The term "vertically aligned with the apex or lateral extent of the corresponding platform" is understood in the context of the present disclosure to mean positioned directly below the apex or lateral extent of the platform, and may additionally refer to being horizontally aligned with the apex or lateral extent on a plane directly below the plane of the apex or lateral extent.

[0017] Preferably, the mooring line comprises a mooring line material, the mooring line material being one or more selected from the group of: chain, rope. The mooring line material is preferably rust-resistant. In embodiments where the material is a chain, the chain may comprise or be formed of steel or an alloy including steel. In embodiments where the material is a rope, the rope may be comprised of a metal, such as a plurality of metal wires, for example, the metal wires may comprise or be formed of steel or an alloy including steel. In some embodiments, the rope may be a synthetic rope, examples of suitable synthetic materials may be nylon and dyneema. It will be appreciated that the embodiment, the mooring line material is any suitable material to provide a tension moored platform.

[0018] The platform preferably further includes a buoyant member positioned on or adjacent each apex or lateral extent. The buoyant member preferably defines a center of buoyancy of the corresponding apex or lateral extent, the center of buoyancy preferably being positioned on a central axis of the corresponding mooring arrangement. The buoyant member may be configured in some embodiments to provide adjustable buoyancy of the apex or lateral extent.

[0019] The mooring arrangement is preferably configured to hold the platform in a submerged position within the body of water. In some embodiments, the platform may include an upper portion positioned above the water surface in the submerged position. The upper portion may support a renewable energy capture device.

[0020] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a mooring arrangement for use with the platform of the first aspect.

[0021] It will be understood that any feature described in this specification as suitable for incorporation in one or more aspects or embodiments of the present invention is intended to be generalizable across any and all aspects of the disclosure.

[0022] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1A] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a platform according to a first embodiment of the invention with a wind turbine mounted thereon, the platform including three vertices, when in use in an underwater operating configuration, and a mooring configuration of a second embodiment with parallel configured faces. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1B shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1A. [Diagram 2] 1B shows a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the platform of FIG. 1A having a mooring configuration with intersecting surfaces, in use. [Figure 3A] 1B shows a perspective view of a further alternative embodiment of the platform of FIG. 1A having four vertices forming a square platform. [Figure 3B] 3B shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the platform of FIG. 3A having a diamond-shaped orientation with respect to the mooring configuration. [Figure 4] 1B shows a perspective view of a further alternative embodiment of the platform of FIG. 1A having six vertices forming a hexagonal platform. [Figure 5A] FIG. 1B shows a plan view of a further alternative embodiment of the platform of FIG. 1A, where each mooring arrangement has three mooring lines. [Figure 5B] FIG. 5B shows a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 5A. [Figure 6A] 5B shows a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the platform of FIG. 5A. [Figure 6B] FIG. 6B shows a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 6A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] With reference to Figure 1A, an embodiment 100 of a floatable platform according to the first aspect of the present disclosure is described, in use the floatable platform is tethered in an underwater operating configuration to the bottom of a body of water by a mooring arrangement according to the second aspect constituting a tension-tethered platform (TLP). In the example embodiment shown, the platform 102 includes a substantially flat lower portion and an upper portion extending from the lower portion and remaining above the surface of the body of water, the upper portion including a wind turbine 104 mounted thereon. The lower portion of the platform supports an array of wave energy conversion devices (WECs). It will be appreciated that in other embodiments the platform is any suitable floatable structure configured to support any suitable renewable energy capture or utilization device.

[0025] The platform 102 in the embodiment of FIG. 1A includes an open metal framework forming a generally triangular structure with three vertices 106. A second aspect of a mooring arrangement 108 extends from each vertex 106 toward the bottom of the body of water (in this example, a sea or ocean). The mooring arrangement 108 includes a first mooring line 110 anchored to the bottom of the body of water at a first fixed point 112 and a second mooring line 114 anchored to the bottom of the body of water at a second fixed point 116, the mooring arrangement 108 thus forming a triangle 118 positioned in a substantially vertical plane. In the embodiment shown, the triangular shape formed by the mooring arrangement 108 of each of the corresponding vertices 106 is positioned in parallel planes, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 1B.

[0026] The body of water and other internal and external water sources will subject the platform 102 to a number of forces and moments during use. For example, it is desirable for the platform 102 to remain stable during use so that sustained optimal renewable energy capture can occur, and also so that damage to the platform 102 or, in extreme cases, collapse of the platform 102 does not occur. The tension in the mooring lines 110, 112 allows the three vertices of the platform 102 to remain substantially parallel to the surface of the body of water in a relatively fixed plane while the platform 102 is subjected to forces and moments, for example, from waves and wind. In this manner, the mooring arrangement 108 provides stability to the platform 102.

[0027] In the example shown, each vertex 106 of the platform 102 includes a pair of buoyancy tanks. Thus, the downward gravitational force acting on the platform 102 supporting the turbine 104 is outweighed by the upward buoyancy of the platform 102 provided by the buoyancy tanks. The buoyancy tanks provide a predominant net positive upward buoyancy force to the platform 102. In the example shown, for each vertex 106 of the platform 102, each of the pair of buoyancy tanks is positioned equidistant from a vertical axis of the center of the corresponding vertex 106, providing a combined center of buoyancy for the vertex 106 on the axis. Thus, in the submersible operating configuration shown, the mooring lines 110, 114 of the mooring arrangement 108 are under tension by the upward buoyant force acting on the mooring lines, thereby providing a tension-tethered platform (TLP).

[0028] In the underwater operating configuration of the platform 102 shown, the first mooring line 110 and the second mooring line 114 are positioned relative to the bottom of the body of water at the same interior angle, which in the example embodiment shown is 45°. The first mooring line 110 and the second mooring line 114 are positioned relative to one another at an interior angle of 90° in the example embodiment shown. In the example embodiment, the tip of a triangle 118 formed by corresponding vertices 106 is positioned vertically aligned with the center point of the hypotenuse of the triangle 118 that passes along the bottom of the body of water between the first fixed point 112 and the second fixed point 116. Thus, the fixed points 112, 116 are equidistant from the vertical axis of the center of the corresponding vertex 106, which in the embodiment shown places the fixed points 112, 116 equidistant from the center of buoyancy of the corresponding vertex 106.

[0029] Positioning of the mooring arrangement 108 of multiple vertices in parallel planes in the embodiment is performed with knowledge of the predominant wave direction at the location where the embodiment 100 is to be deployed, as shown in plan view in FIG. 1B. Such information is ascertained, for example, by measuring the wave direction over time prior to deployment. In the particular embodiment shown, the parallel faces of the mooring arrangement 108 are oriented perpendicular to the determined predominant wave direction. Such an orientation preferably provides improved stability against, for example, wave-induced surge forces acting on the platform 102. It will be understood that the embodiment may be such that the mooring arrangement 108 is oriented in any direction.

[0030] The mooring lines 110, 114 of the mooring arrangement 108 may include any suitable mooring lines, such as ropes, chains, or other suitable mooring means.

[0031] In some embodiments, the buoyancy provided by the buoyancy tanks can be monitored and controlled, for example, by removing or adding gas or fluid to the buoyancy tanks, and it will be understood that alternative buoyancy methods may be utilized to provide this buoyancy.

[0032] Turning now to Figure 2, an embodiment 200 is shown having a platform 202 that is substantially identical to the platform 102 of Figure 1A, with an upper portion supporting a wind turbine 204 and a submerged flat lower portion having three vertices 206. The vertices 206 of Figure 2 each have a mooring arrangement 208 extending therefrom, with a first mooring line 210 and a second mooring line 214 each secured to corresponding fixed points 212, 216 positioned on the bottom of the body of water, in a manner similar to the embodiment 100 of Figure 1A. In the embodiment 200 of Figure 2, the mooring lines 210, 214 of each mooring arrangement 208 form a triangle positioned in a plane that intersects with the plane of each other triangle formed by the other mooring arrangements. Collectively, the faces of the mooring arrangement 208 of the illustrated embodiment 200 make up substantially the same shape of and are concentric with the platform 202, but their sides are configured such that they are positioned tangentially relative to the vertices 206 of the platform 202. The intersecting faces of the mooring arrangement 208 in the illustrated embodiment 200 therefore form interior angles at their intersections that add up to approximately (n-2) x 180° (where "n" is the number of vertices 206 of the platform 202), which in this case is 180°.

[0033] The intersecting nature of the mooring arrangement 208 of the embodiment 200 shown preferably provides stability for the platform in a greater number of directions than the embodiment 100 shown in Figure 1A. Therefore, the embodiment 200 of Figure 2 may preferably be suitable for deployment in areas subject to highly variable wave and / or wind direction.

[0034] In the embodiment 200 shown, the mooring lines of adjacent mooring configurations have individual anchorage points. It will be understood that there are embodiments in which the mooring lines of adjacent mooring configurations share a common anchorage point.

[0035] Additional embodiments 300, 302 of a TLP according to the first aspect are shown in Figure 3A and are substantially similar to embodiment 100 of Figure 1A, with anchoring configurations positioned in parallel planes, and corresponding platforms 304 having four vertices instead of three. The embodiments 300, 302 are substantially identical, with the orientation of the corresponding platforms rotated about a central axis to provide a square configuration in embodiment 300 of Figure 3A, and a diamond configuration in embodiment 302 of Figure 3B.

[0036] A further embodiment 400 is shown in FIG. 4 illustrating a hexagonal platform, having six vertices, each with a corresponding parallel mooring arrangement.

[0037] It will be understood that in embodiments that are equivalent to the embodiment of FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 4, the anchoring arrangements are positioned in intersecting planes, similar to embodiment 200 of FIG.

[0038] 5A and 5B, a further embodiment 500 is provided according to the first aspect. In the illustrated embodiment 500, a platform 502 is provided substantially as shown and described in FIG. 1A, but each of the three vertices 506 of the platform 502 includes a mooring arrangement 508 having three mooring lines 510. The mooring lines 510 of each mooring arrangement 508 cooperate to form a triangle in a plane parallel to the triangles formed by the other mooring arrangements, and also intersect with the triangles formed by the other mooring arrangements. Such an arrangement provides particularly enhanced surge stability in a variety of directions.

[0039] The three mooring lines 510 of each mooring arrangement 508 share a common interior angle with the anchoring points describing a triangular shape relative to the bottom of the body of water. The center point of the triangular shape formed by the anchoring points of the three mooring lines 510 of each mooring arrangement 508 in the embodiment shown is aligned vertically with the corresponding vertex 506 and specifically aligned with the center of buoyancy of the vertex 506 provided by the buoyant member secured thereto. Such a configuration provides optimal tension to counteract the buoyancy forces while stabilizing the platform against additional surge forces that may result in a lateral offset of the platform.

[0040] A further embodiment 600 is illustrated in Figures 6A and 6B and is substantially identical to the embodiment 500 of Figures 5A and 5B and uses similar reference numbers, but has the anchoring points of each mooring line of the corresponding mooring arrangement positioned in a different location than the embodiment described with respect to Figures 5A and 5B, while providing substantially the same advantages.

[0041] The present embodiment is described with respect to a polygonal platform having vertices. It is understood that the embodiment can achieve substantially the same effect with any suitable shape, such as a platform including a plurality of elongated structures extending away from a center or midsection of the platform, each elongated member having a distal end relative to the center or midsection, radially or radiating, that constitutes a lateral extent that includes the mooring arrangement as described herein. It will be understood that the mooring arrangement may be provided by any suitable arrangement, such as a line, for example, fixed directly to a stationary point on the platform framework, or configured to be spooled using a winch. The spooling type may be used where adjustment of the length of the line is desired, for example, during deployment and to sink the platform to a desired depth. There are instances where the desired depth changes over time, for example due to rising and falling sea levels, or as a result of changing sea conditions, such as during a storm. In such instances, a mooring arrangement with an adjustable length is desired. In a preferred such embodiment, the adjustment of the length of the mooring lines, and therefore the submerged depth of the platform, may be independent of any capture of renewable energy by the renewable energy capture devices mounted on the platform. Hence, the depth adjustment may be performed without requiring any interruption of the operation of the renewable energy capture devices, thus optimizing energy capture. This may for example preferably be during storm conditions, during which prevailing sea conditions call for reducing the depth of the platform in order to reduce the lateral forces acting on the platform by the waves, while providing the opportunity for maximum energy capture by, for example, wind turbines or wave energy capture devices mounted on the platform.

[0042] In some preferred embodiments, the renewable energy capture device includes one selected from a wave energy conversion system (WEC), a tidal energy conversion system, and a wind energy conversion system. The WEC, in some embodiments, may include any suitable type of WEC structure, such as a point absorber, an oscillatory wave surge absorber, or a submerged differential pressure absorber. In some preferred embodiments, the renewable energy capture device includes one selected from a wave energy conversion device, a tidal energy conversion device, and a wind turbine. The tidal energy conversion device may include any suitable tidal energy conversion device, such as a tidal turbine having a horizontal axis turbine or a vertical axis turbine. The wind energy conversion device may include any suitable wind energy conversion device, such as a wind turbine. In some preferred embodiments, the renewable energy processing device includes a hydrogen electrolyzer. It will be appreciated that the embodiments are provided with any suitable renewable energy processing device, the renewable energy processing device configured to generate secondary resources from the utilized and / or stored energy. In embodiments involving hydrogen production, electrical power may be generated by any renewable energy utilization and / or conversion device, any renewable energy utilization and / or conversion device, either singly or in combination, may be attached to, secured to, supported on, or contained within the present invention and used to generate hydrogen.

[0043] As shown and described with respect to the described examples, in some preferred embodiments, the platform may include a lower portion and one or more upper portions, the platform having a submerged in-use configuration in which the lower portion is positioned below the surface of the body of water and the upper portion is positioned above the surface of the body of water. In the in-use configuration, the upper portion may be configured to remain positioned above the surface of the body of water. It will be appreciated that the upper portion may therefore include equipment or housings optimized for dry conditions and therefore preferably remain above the surface of the body of water during use. The housing may be, for example, a chamber housing control, operating or maintenance equipment. The upper portion of the platform may in some embodiments include a renewable energy device, such as a wind turbine, mounted on the platform.

[0044] In preferred embodiments, the center of buoyancy of the apex or lateral extent of the platform may be defined by a position on a first plane parallel to the platform and on a second plane perpendicular to the platform, and the mooring points are positioned near or at the position of the center of buoyancy of the corresponding buoyant member in at least one of the first and second planes. In some preferred embodiments, at least one mooring member is configured to apply tension on each mooring point where the mooring line communicates with the respective apex or lateral extent, the tension acting in a plane parallel to and near or coplanar with the second plane. The mooring points provide tension in a plane parallel to the plane occupied by the buoyant forces acting on the platform, preferably at the center of buoyancy. The tension applied to the mooring points by the mooring arrangement of the apex or lateral extent therefore preferably counteracts the buoyant forces acting on the center of buoyancy of the corresponding buoyant member. The parallel and near, and preferably coplanar nature of the counteracting forces preferably provides optimal stability to the platform in use.

[0045] In a preferred embodiment, the at least three apexes or lateral extents form the outer edge of the platform. Locating the apexes or lateral extents (with or without corresponding buoyant members) at the outer edge of the platform preferably provides optimal stability on the platform in use due to the mooring configuration. The at least three apexes or lateral extents are preferably positioned in a common plane parallel to the plane of the platform.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment, the at least three vertices or lateral extents are substantially equidistant from and substantially equally spaced about or about the central axis of the platform.

[0047] Further embodiments within the scope of the present invention may be envisaged that have not been described above, for example, there may be any combination of renewable energy conversion devices on the platform as described herein. One, several or all of the vertices or lateral extents may include renewable energy conversion devices. The platform may include multiple non-buoyant vertices or lateral extents that do not include buoyant members. These non-buoyant vertices or lateral extents may be aligned in the same horizontal plane or in an offset plane with the buoyant vertices or lateral extents. These non-buoyant vertices or lateral extents may include renewable energy conversion devices. The platform may include a single body part or may be in the form of an assembly of multiple parts. The present invention is not limited to the specific examples or configurations described.

Claims

1. 1. A buoyant tension-tethered platform configured to support a renewable energy capture device when the platform is submerged in a body of water, the platform having at least three vertices or lateral extents, the at least three vertices or lateral extents having a mooring configuration; The mooring arrangement includes a first mooring line extending between the apex or lateral extent and a first fixed point in communication with the bottom of the body of water and extending obliquely relative to the bottom; a second mooring line extending from the apex or lateral extent to a second fixed point and extending obliquely relative to the bottom; said anchoring configurations of each of the corresponding vertices or lateral extents being adapted to define a triangle lying in a plane; A platform characterized by:

2. The platform of claim 1 , wherein each apex or lateral extent of the platform has a corresponding mooring configuration.

3. 3. The platform of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second mooring lines of the mooring arrangement are positioned at 45° to the seabed and further at 90° to each other.

4. 2. The platform of claim 1, wherein the first and second fixed points are positioned equidistant from a central axis of the mooring formation, the central axis extending perpendicularly from the corresponding vertex or lateral extent of the mooring formation.

5. The platform of claim 1 , wherein the faces of each of the triangles formed by the mooring arrangement are parallel.

6. The platform of claim 5 , wherein the face is oriented perpendicular to the most common wave direction and / or the most common wind direction.

7. The platform of claim 1 , wherein the face of each of the triangles formed by the mooring arrangement intersects with a face of another of the triangles.

8. 8. The platform of claim 7, wherein the faces intersect to form an angle, the sum of all of the angles of the platform being approximately equal to (n-2) x 180 degrees, where n is the number of vertices or lateral extents of the platform.

9. The platform according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the crossing angles are identical.

10. 9. The platform of claim 7 or 8, wherein the faces are tangent to the corresponding vertices or lateral extents of the platform.

11. The platform of claim 1 , wherein each of the mooring arrangements includes two or more mooring lines.

12. 12. The platform of claim 11, wherein each of the two or more mooring lines is fixed to a corresponding one of the fixed points, the fixed points of each of the mooring arrangements defining vertices of a regular two-dimensional shape, each fixed point being equidistant from a center of the shape.

13. The platform of claim 12 , wherein the center of the shape is vertically aligned with an apex or lateral extent of the corresponding platform of the mooring configuration that forms the shape.

14. 2. The platform of claim 1, wherein the mooring line comprises a mooring line material, the mooring line material being one or more selected from the group of: chains, e.g., steel chains; metal ropes, e.g., steel cables; and synthetic ropes, e.g., nylon and / or dyneema ropes.

15. The platform of claim 1 , further comprising a buoyant member positioned on or adjacent each of said apexes or lateral extents.

16. The platform of claim 15 , wherein the buoyant member is configured to provide adjustable buoyancy of the apex or lateral extent.

17. The platform of claim 1 , wherein the mooring arrangement is configured to hold the platform in a submerged position within the body of water.

18. A mooring arrangement for use with the platform of claim 1.

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