CA2784107C - Mooring disconnect arrangement - Google Patents

Mooring disconnect arrangement Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2784107C
CA2784107C CA2784107A CA2784107A CA2784107C CA 2784107 C CA2784107 C CA 2784107C CA 2784107 A CA2784107 A CA 2784107A CA 2784107 A CA2784107 A CA 2784107A CA 2784107 C CA2784107 C CA 2784107C
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
mooring
offshore structure
floating offshore
buoy
floating
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
CA2784107A
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French (fr)
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CA2784107A1 (en
Inventor
John James Murray
Edmund O. Muehlner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Seatrium Floatec LLC
Original Assignee
Floatec LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Floatec LLC filed Critical Floatec LLC
Publication of CA2784107A1 publication Critical patent/CA2784107A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2784107C publication Critical patent/CA2784107C/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63BSHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B63B35/44Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63BSHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B21/00Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63BSHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B21/00Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring
    • B63B21/50Anchoring arrangements or methods for special vessels, e.g. for floating drilling platforms or dredgers
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63BSHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B22/00Buoys
    • B63B22/02Buoys specially adapted for mooring a vessel
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63BSHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B21/00Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring
    • B63B2021/003Mooring or anchoring equipment, not otherwise provided for
    • B63B2021/004Quick release elements in mooring connections
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63BSHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B22/00Buoys
    • B63B22/02Buoys specially adapted for mooring a vessel
    • B63B2022/028Buoys specially adapted for mooring a vessel submerged, e.g. fitting into ship-borne counterpart with or without rotatable turret, or being releasably connected to moored vessel
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63BSHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B63B35/44Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
    • B63B35/4413Floating drilling platforms, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
  • Revetment (AREA)
  • Bridges Or Land Bridges (AREA)
  • Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)
  • Laying Of Electric Cables Or Lines Outside (AREA)

Abstract

A mooring disconnect arrangement for a floating offshore structure and a mooring buoy. At least one high pressure water jet is positioned to direct water between the floating offshore structure and the mooring buoy. The floating offshore structure and mooring buoy are also provided with specially shaped complementary surfaces to assist in disconnection and separation. One or more mechanical restraining devices may be used to retain the floating offshore structure and mooring buoy connected together during normal drilling or production operations.

Description

MOORING DISCONNECT ARRANGEMENT
Field and Background of Invention
[0002] The invention is generally related to the disconnection of moored floating offshore structures from mooring buoys while under environmental loads.
[0003] In the offshore industry of drilling for and producing oil and natural gas, bottom founded and floating moored structures are used. There are times when floating structures that are moored in place must be released from their moorings and moved due to high environmental forces such as sea ice or storms such as hurricanes.
,[0004) When it becomes necessary to disconnect a floating structure due to the eminent danger of high environmental forces it is preferable that the mooring arrangements remain intact for reattachment at a later time.
[0005] Current existing and proposed arrangements for disconnecting a floating structure from their mooring arrangements are based on two basic approaches.
[0006] One approach is to disconnect each mooring line individually. This can result in the individual lines becoming entangled. The mooring arrangement must then be recovered and reinstalled line-by-line. The risks associated with this approach are 1) recoil of the mooring lines when released under tension striking and causing damage to the floating structure and 2) being very time consuming to recover each line and reconnect individually. This approach is especially not practical in ice covered waters.
[0007] A second approach is the use of a buoy that supports a mooring spread and keeps all lines attached to the disconnected buoy for subsequent reconnection as a group. This approach is typically based on a conical shaped buoy arrangement that drops away from the floating structure and facilitates all of the mooring lines remaining connected to the disconnected buoy. This keeps the lines together in a group, as compared to individual line disconnect, but the height of the buoy being released is constrained by the beam dimension of the floating vessel being released. This can result in a longer time duration for the buoy to clear the disconnected floating structure.

= CA 02784107 2012-07-27 [0008] The objectives of mooring systems that may be disconnected for this purpose are a quick release and quickly increasing the distance between the mooring and the floating offshore structure.
[0009] In general, the risks or problems that occur with these disconnectable arrangements are 1) binding between the disconnectable mooring buoy and floating structure when the mechanism is expected to release and 2) contact interaction between the disconnectable mooring buoy and floating structure that results in damage to one or both structures after the mooring system is released.
[0010] Binding may occur because the surfaces that are supposed to separate have been in contact for a number of years prior to the first disconnect attempt. The two bodies can be forced apart by mechanical devices, but these devices must be released as soon as separation occurs to prevent damage to the releasing device. Another major risk is that, due to the two bodies moving independently after release, but still in the same proximity, they can collide causing damage to one or both structures.
[0011] When the release mechanism is based on a conical buoy supporting the moorings, lower profiles of the buoy facilitate a quicker release and clearance growth.
The load from the floating structure is transferred to the mooring arrangement through the contact area between the floating structure and the buoy. For a given design load, this area will be the same for any buoy shape. This area can be developed by making the disconnectable buoy high with a relatively small diameter (Fig. 1A) or by making the height low with a larger diameter (Fig. 1B). Assuming the same rate of vertical separation, the buoy with the lower profile will separate more quickly than the higher buoy, thus reducing the risk of interaction after separation.
[0012] Therefore, it can be seen there is a need for an improved means of releasing a floating offshore structure from its mooring while under environmental loads.
Summary of Invention [0013] The present invention addresses the above need and is drawn to a mooring disconnect arrangement for a floating offshore structure and a disconnectable mooring buoy. At least one high pressure water jet is positioned to direct water between the floating offshore structure and the mooring buoy. The floating offshore structure and mooring buoy are also provided with specially shaped complementary surfaces to assist in disconnection and separation. One or more mechanical restraining devices may be = CA 02784107 2012-07-27 used to retain the floating offshore structure and mooring buoy connected together during normal drilling or production operations.
[0014] The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the present invention, and the operating advantages attained by its use, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter, forming a part of this disclosure, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.
Brief Description of the Drawings [0015] In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which reference numerals shown in the drawings designate like or corresponding parts throughout the same:
[0016] FIG. IA illustrates a prior art high profile release buoy.
[0017] FIG. 1B illustrates a prior art low profile release buoy.
[0018] FIG. 2 ¨ 5 schematically illustrate the invention and the separation of the floating structure from the mooring.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments [0019] As seen in Fig. 2, the mooring disconnect arrangement 10 comprises the use of high pressure water jets 12 in conjunction with specially shaped interface surfaces 14 on the floating offshore structure 16 and the mooring buoy 18.
[0020] It should be understood that only the lower portion of the floating offshore structure 16 is shown which is normally well below the surface of the water.
Thus, the water surface is not shown in relation to the invention and it is to be understood that the connection and disconnection sequences happen below the water surface.
[0021] The water jets 12 are preferably provided on the hull of the floating offshore structure 16. The water capacity and pressure, number of water jets 12, and spacing between the water jets 12 is determined by the size of the floating offshore structure 16 and mooring buoy 18.
[0022] During normal offshore operations of drilling for or producing oil and natural gas, mechanical connection or restraining devices 20 are used to restrain the floating offshore structure 16 and mooring buoy 18 locked together. Any suitable connection devices such as hydraulic rams or rack and pinion jacking arrangements may be used as the mechanical connection devices 20.
[0023] Ballasting force may also be used to force the floating offshore structure and mooring buoy together.
[0024] A downward facing cone shape 22 on the floating offshore structure 16 is preferably used in conjunction with a complementary shape 24 on the mooring buoy 18 for receiving the cone shape 22. As seen in the drawings, the cone shape 22 and its complementary shaped receiver 24 are preferably designed to have a low profile height that is less than currently existing designs.
[0025] In operation, the floating offshore structure 16 and mooring buoy 18 are held together during drilling or production operations by mechanical restraining devices 20. When environmental forces cause the need to disconnect, the mechanical restraining devices 20 are released and high pressure water jets 12 are activated to help initiate separation of the floating offshore structure 16 from the mooring buoy 18.
[0026] As seen in Fig. 3, the mooring lines 26 aid in retaining a force for causing the mooring buoy 18 to return to its normal equilibrium position.
[0027] Fig. 4 illustrates a scenario where the force of ice may cause the offshore floating structure 16 to rotate prior to full disconnection and separation from the mooring buoy 18. However, it can be seen that the specially shaped, low profile surfaces aid in separation.
[0028] As illustrated in Fig. 5, ballasting forces may also be used to aid in separation of the floating offshore structure 16 from the mooring buoy 18 by removing ballast from the floating offshore structure 16 (causing it to float upward) and adding ballast to the mooring buoy 18 (causing it to move downward). The illustrated change in normal trim angle of the mooring buoy 18 is caused by the ballasting forces and pressure from the water jets 12.
[0029] The invention provides several advantages over the previously used means of disconnecting the mooring system.
[0030] It allows a floating structure to be disconnected from the mooring while under environmental loads, such as sea ice, and the upper section of the floating structure to be removed from the continued threat while keeping the mooring arrangement intact for reattachment to the floating structure.
- 4 -. CA 02784107 2012-07-27 ..
[0031] The invention solves the problem of binding and maintains a safe distance between the floating structure and the buoy supporting the mooring arrangement.
[0032] The invention facilitates a quicker release than the prior art and thus reduces the risk of damage to the offshore structure and mooring due to contact during the release.
[0033] The method of release of the invention helps to prevent binding between the buoy carrying the mooring lines and the floating structure.
[0034] While specific embodiments and/or details of the invention have been shown and described above to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it is understood that this invention may be embodied as more fully described in the claims, or as otherwise known by those skilled in the art (including any and all equivalents), without departing from such principles.
- 5 -

Claims (8)

Claims What is claimed as invention is:
1. A mooring disconnect arrangement for a floating offshore structure and a mooring buoy, comprising:
a. at least one high pressure water jet for directing water between the floating offshore structure and mooring buoy during a disconnection operation; and b. complementary low profile interface surfaces on the floating offshore structure and mooring buoy that aid in separation.
2. The mooring disconnect arrangement of claim 1, wherein the interface surface on the floating offshore structure is a cone shape.
3. The mooring disconnect arrangement of claim 2, wherein the interface surface on the floating offshore structure is an inverted cone shape.
4. A mooring disconnect arrangement for a floating offshore structure and a mooring buoy, comprising:
a. at least one high pressure water jet for directing water between the floating offshore structure and mooring buoy during a disconnection operation;
b. complementary low profile interface surfaces on the floating offshore structure and mooring buoy that aid in separation; and c. releasable mechanical restraining means that lock the floating offshore structure and mooring buoy together during normal drilling and production operations.
5. The mooring disconnect arrangement of claim 4, wherein the interface surface on the floating offshore structure is a cone shape.
6. The mooring disconnect arrangement of claim 5, wherein the interface surface on the floating surface is an inverted cone shape.
7. A mooring disconnect arrangement for a floating offshore structure and a mooring buoy, comprising:
a. at least one high pressure water jet for directing water between the floating offshore structure and mooring buoy during a disconnection operation;
b. complementary low profile interface surfaces on the floating offshore structure and mooring buoy that aid in separation, with the interface surface on the floating offshore structure being an inverted cone shape; and c. releasable mechanical restraining means that lock the floating offshore structure and mooring buoy together during normal drilling and production operations.
8. The mooring disconnect arrangement of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the at least one pressure water jet is mounted on the offshore structure and facing the mooring buoy.
CA2784107A 2011-07-29 2012-07-27 Mooring disconnect arrangement Active CA2784107C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/194,065 US20130029546A1 (en) 2011-07-29 2011-07-29 Mooring Disconnect Arrangement
US13/194,065 2011-07-29

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2784107A1 CA2784107A1 (en) 2013-01-29
CA2784107C true CA2784107C (en) 2014-09-09

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2784107A Active CA2784107C (en) 2011-07-29 2012-07-27 Mooring disconnect arrangement

Country Status (7)

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US (1) US20130029546A1 (en)
EP (1) EP2551184B1 (en)
KR (1) KR101368582B1 (en)
CN (1) CN102897286B (en)
CA (1) CA2784107C (en)
DK (1) DK180119B1 (en)
RU (1) RU2516960C2 (en)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2017192827A1 (en) * 2016-05-05 2017-11-09 Cabot Corporation Electrodes, compositions, and devices having high structure carbon blacks
DE102016011572A1 (en) * 2016-09-23 2018-03-29 Martin Daum Building for construction at water surface and method for its construction
KR102552142B1 (en) 2017-10-13 2023-07-05 현대자동차주식회사 The fabrication method of composite material based on cathode active material and solid electrolyte, and the fabrication method of cathode for solid cell including the same
CN114604364B (en) * 2021-06-08 2023-05-16 中国科学院海洋研究所 Tethered underwater helicopter profile measurement system and method

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US3339516A (en) * 1965-12-06 1967-09-05 Dorsett Plastics Co Inc Jet propelled fire fighting boat
FR1595875A (en) * 1968-12-02 1970-06-15
US3735722A (en) * 1971-12-09 1973-05-29 Interstate Oil Transport Co Rigid disconnectable coupling for waterborne vessels
US4604961A (en) * 1984-06-11 1986-08-12 Exxon Production Research Co. Vessel mooring system
NZ288410A (en) * 1995-05-11 1998-09-24 Jens Korsgaard Method and apparatus for mooring a vessel to a submerged mooring element
US5676083A (en) * 1995-12-29 1997-10-14 Korsgaard; Jens Offshore mooring device and method of using same
US6113314A (en) * 1998-09-24 2000-09-05 Campbell; Steven Disconnectable tension leg platform for offshore oil production facility
US6340272B1 (en) * 1999-01-07 2002-01-22 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Co. Method for constructing an offshore platform
US6968797B2 (en) * 2002-09-13 2005-11-29 Tor Persson Method for installing a self-floating deck structure onto a buoyant substructure
US7861974B2 (en) * 2004-03-18 2011-01-04 Michigan Aerospace Corporation Docking system
EP1849701B1 (en) * 2006-04-27 2009-04-01 Bluewater Energy Services B.V. Disconnectable mooring system
NO20071491L (en) * 2007-03-21 2008-09-22 Sevan Marine Asa Detachable platform for operation in exposed areas
US8387549B2 (en) * 2007-07-16 2013-03-05 Bluewater Energy Services B.V. Assembly of turret and disconnectable buoy
NO20080956L (en) * 2008-02-05 2009-08-06 Moss Maritime As Ice-strengthened vessel for drilling and production in Arctic waters
US7669660B1 (en) * 2008-11-26 2010-03-02 Floatec, Llc Riser disconnect and support mechanism
CN101612982B (en) * 2009-08-13 2012-05-09 上海利策科技有限公司 Circular floating ocean platform capable of releasing multi-point mooring

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
RU2516960C2 (en) 2014-05-20
CN102897286A (en) 2013-01-30
US20130029546A1 (en) 2013-01-31
EP2551184B1 (en) 2019-03-27
CN102897286B (en) 2015-10-07
KR101368582B1 (en) 2014-02-28
EP2551184A1 (en) 2013-01-30
CA2784107A1 (en) 2013-01-29
DK201270454A (en) 2013-01-30
KR20130014373A (en) 2013-02-07
RU2012132405A (en) 2014-02-10
DK180119B1 (en) 2020-05-19

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