CN107249977B

CN107249977B - Floating ship

Info

Publication number: CN107249977B
Application number: CN201680011765.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 尼古拉斯·约翰内斯·万登沃姆
Original assignee: Jurong Shipyard Pte Ltd
Current assignee: Jurong Shipyard Pte Ltd
Priority date: 2015-02-24
Filing date: 2016-01-27
Publication date: 2022-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 2036-01-27
Also published as: EP3261917A4; WO2016137643A1; EP3261917B1; AU2016223268B2; MX2017006314A; CN107249977A; PH12017500846A1; AU2016223268A1; BR112017018128A2; KR102365576B1; RU2017133098A3; RU2684939C2; CA2966003A1; SG11201706732TA; KR20170121177A; CA2966003C; IL251968B; EP3261917A1; RU2017133098A; BR112017018128B1

Abstract

A floating production storage offloading vessel configured to support at least one of drilling of a well, servicing of a well, production and storage of hydrocarbons, and personnel accommodation, the floating production storage offloading vessel having a hull with a bottom surface, a top deck surface, and at least two connected sections joined between the bottom surface and the top deck surface. The at least two connected segments are joined in series and are symmetrical about a vertical axis. The connected sections extend downwardly from the top deck surface toward the bottom surface. At least one radial fin is secured to the hull and the lower conical section provides the hull with additional mass improved hydrodynamic performance under linear and square damping.

Description

Floating ship

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application claims priority and benefit from a co-pending U.S. patent application serial No. 14/630,563 entitled "FLOATING VESSEL" filed 24/2/2015, 14/630,563, which was a partial continuation of a co-pending U.S. patent application serial No. 14/524,992 entitled "BUOYANT construction" filed 27/10/2014, whereas a U.S. patent application serial No. 14/524,992, which was a co-pending U.S. patent application serial No. 14/105,321 filed 13/12/2013, 14/105,321, which was currently granted U.S. patent No.8,869,727 on 28/10/2014, 14/105,321, which was a co-pending U.S. patent application serial No. 14/105,321 filed 9/2012, entitled "STABLE construction STABLE sea" Upper floating reservoir) "was filed in continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application serial No. 13/369,600, the united states patent application serial No. 13/369,600 has been currently granted as united states patent No.8,662,000 on 3/4/2014, 13/369,600 as a continuation-in-part application of united states patent application serial No. 12/914,709 on 28/10/2010, 12/914,709 as united states patent No.8,251,003 on 28/8/2012, 12/914,709 as claimed U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 61/521,701 on 9/2011, 61/259,201 on 8/11/2009, and 61/262,533 on 18/11/2009. These references are incorporated herein in their entirety.

Technical Field

The present embodiments relate generally to Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) vessels and to hull design and offloading systems for Floating Drilling Production Storage Offloading (FDPSO) vessels.

Background

The prior art related to the present invention is provided and the following background information related to the development of offshore energy systems, such as deepwater oil and/or natural gas production, is provided. Long flow lines, power cables and control umbilicals are often required between the seafloor wells and the main platform. The extended length causes energy loss, pressure drop and production difficulties. The cost of a structure for deepwater applications is high and the cost is frequently increased due to its manufacture outside.

Other difficulties associated with deep water offshore operations arise from the motions of the floating vessel which have an impact on personnel and efficiency, particularly in connection with hydrodynamics in the tanks. Problems related to main motions related to offshore petrochemical operations occur in large horizontal vessels where the liquid level oscillates and provides a false signal to the level gauge, resulting in process shutdowns and overall inefficiencies in the operation.

The main factors that can be modified to improve the motion characteristics of the moored floating vessel are draft, waterline area and rate of change of draft of the floating vessel, Center of Gravity (CG) position, metacentric height with respect to small amplitude roll and pitch motions occurring, frontal area and shape acted upon by wind, current and waves, system response of seabed contacting pipes and cables used as mooring elements, and hydrodynamic parameters of additional mass and damping. The values of the fluid dynamics parameters of the additional mass and damping can be determined by the potential flow equations in combination with the complex solving means of the detailed features and accessories of the floating vessel and in turn simultaneously solved for the potential source strength. It is important to note only in this context that the addition of features that allow the additional mass and/or damping to be "tuned" to a given condition requires that several features can be modified in combination, or more preferably in an independent manner, to provide the desired characteristics. This optimization can be greatly simplified if it has vertical axial symmetry as in the case of the vessel according to the invention, since it reduces from 6 degrees of freedom of motion to 4 degrees of freedom of motion (i.e. roll-pitch-yaw-motion, yaw-rotation-motion, and heave-vertical-motion). If the hydrodynamic design features can be disengaged, the optimization can be further simplified to linearize the process and simplify the study of ideal solutions.

The prior art provides an offshore floating facility with improved fluid dynamics and the ability to moor at extended depths, thereby providing a satellite platform in deep water and making shorter flow lines, cables and umbilicals from the subsea tree to the platform facility. Previous designs included collapsible center assemblies that included features to enhance fluid dynamics and allowed the overall use of vertical separators that were both in number and size to provide opportunities for individual full time well flow monitoring and extended retention times.

The main feature of the industry's vessel is a retractable center assembly within the hull that can be raised or lowered on site to allow transport in shallow waters. The retractable center assembly provides a pitch motion damping device for large volume spaces incorporating optional ballast structures, storage, vertical pressurization or storage vessels, or centrally located moonpool for deploying video operations of submersible or Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), without the need for an additional support vessel.

The improvement of the hydrodynamic motion of the vessel is provided by: a basic hull configuration; a skirt and a fin (fin) extending at the hull base; a central assembly (lowered on site) extending the telescopic central section by means of hydrodynamic skirts and fins mounted at the bottom and middle and the mass of the separator under the hull deck lowering the center of gravity; and steel catenary risers, cables, umbilicals, and mooring lines attached near the center of gravity at the base of the hull. The mentioned features improve the stability of the vessel and provide increased additional mass and damping which improves the overall response of the system under ambient loads.

The prior art vessel may have a hull of hexagonal shape. The floating production storage offloading vessel may have an octagonal hull. The floating production storage offloading vessel of the prior art has a polygonal outer sidewall configuration with sharp corners to cut, resist and break the ice pieces and move the ice pressure ridges away from the vessel. The prior art also teaches a drilling and production platform consisting of a semi-submersible platform body in the shape of a cylinder with a flat bottom and a circular cross-section. Previous vessels have peripheral circular cutouts or recesses in the cylindrical lower part, which design reduces pitch and roll motions. Since floating production storage offloading vessels typically need to be stably connected to the production riser even under storm conditions, there is still a need for improvements in the design of the vessel hull.

In addition, there is a need for improvements in offloading the product from the floating production storage offloading vessel to a ship or tanker, and then transporting the product from the floating production storage offloading vessel to an onshore facility.

As part of the offloading system, Catenary Anchor Leg Mooring (CALM) buoys are typically anchored in the vicinity of a floating production, storage and offloading vessel. An example of a buoy can be used with an oil discharge system. The buoy is anchored to the seabed to provide a minimum distance from the vicinity of the floating production storage offloading vessel. In this example, a pair of cables attach the buoy to the floating production storage offloading vessel, and an offloading hose extends from the floating production storage offloading vessel to the buoy. The tanker is temporarily moored to the buoy and a hose extends from the tanker to the buoy for receiving product from the floating production, storage and offloading vessel through the hose and through the connected buoy. If severe weather conditions occur during unloading, such as a storm with high wind speeds, problems may arise due to the movement of the tanks caused by wind and water forces acting on the tanks. There is therefore also a need for improvements in offloading systems that are commonly applied for transferring product stored on a floating production storage offloading vessel to a tanker.

There is a need for a floating vessel that provides kinetic energy absorption capability to the vessel by providing a plurality of dynamically movable lean mechanisms (towing mechanisms) in a tunnel formed in the floating vessel.

There is also a need for a floating vessel that provides wave damping and wave breaking within a tunnel formed in the floating vessel.

There is a need for a floating vessel that provides friction to the hull of a vessel in a tunnel.

The present embodiment satisfies these needs.

Drawings

The detailed description is better understood in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

fig. 1 depicts a top plan view of a floating production, storage and offloading vessel according to the present invention, and a tanker moored to the floating production, storage and offloading vessel.

Figure 2 depicts a side view of the floating production, storage and offloading vessel.

Fig. 3 depicts an enlarged, more detailed side view of the floating production, storage and offloading vessel.

Fig. 4 depicts an enlarged, more detailed top plan view of the floating production, storage and offloading vessel.

Figure 5 depicts a side view of an alternative embodiment of the hull of the floating production, storage and offloading vessel according to the invention.

Fig. 6 depicts a side view of an alternative embodiment of the hull for a floating production, storage and offloading vessel, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 depicts a top plan view of a moveable cable connector according to the present invention.

Figure 8 depicts a side view of the floating production, storage and offloading vessel according to the invention.

Figure 9 depicts a cross section of the floating production storage offloading vessel as viewed along line a-a.

Fig. 10 depicts in cross-section a side view of the floating production, storage and offloading vessel.

Figure 11 depicts a detailed view of fins fixed on a hull according to floating production storage offloading for the purpose of providing hydrodynamic performance under linear and square damping.

The present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the listed drawings.

Detailed Description

Before explaining the present device in detail, it is to be understood that the device is not limited to the particular embodiments, and may be practiced or carried out in various ways.

Embodiments relate to a Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) vessel with several alternative hull designs and a mobile cable system for offloading that allows the tanker weathervane to span a wide arc relative to the floating production storage offloading vessel.

Embodiments are also directed to a floating vessel configured to support at least one of drilling of a well, servicing of a well, production and storage of hydrocarbons, and personnel accommodation.

In embodiments, the planar shape of the hull of the floating production, storage and offloading vessel may be circular, oval, elliptical or polygonal.

In an embodiment, the hull of the floating production storage offloading vessel may have a bottom surface (referred to as keel), a deck surface (also referred to as main deck), at least two connected sections joined between the bottom surface (keel) and the deck surface (main deck).

In an embodiment, the at least two connected sections may be joined in series and each connected section may be configured to be symmetrical about a vertical axis. The connected sections may extend downwardly from the deck surface towards the bottom surface.

In an embodiment, the connected sections may have at least two of an upper cylindrical portion, a cylindrical neck section and a lower conical section.

In further embodiments, the at least one radial fin may be fixed to the hull to reduce motion.

The lower conical section provides additional mass improved hydrodynamic performance under linear and square damping to the hull. In particular, the floating production storage offloading vessel does not specifically require a telescopic center column to control pitch, roll and heave.

Turning now to the drawings, fig. 1 depicts in plan top view a floating production, storage and offloading vessel 10.

The tank T is shown in two different positions a and B as a tank wind vane on the floating production storage offloading vessel 10.

The floating production storage offloading vessel 10 may be a hull 9 a. The floating production storage offloading vessel 10 floats in water W and may be used for production storage and/or offloading of resources extracted from the surface, such as hydrocarbons including crude oil and natural gas, and minerals that can be produced by dissolution. The floating production storage offloading vessel 10 may be assembled onshore, which may be similar to shipbuilding, using known methods, and towed to an offshore location, above an oil and/or gas field in the ground, typically located below the offshore location. At least one

anchor line

16a, 16b, 16c and 16d fastened to anchors in the seabed, not shown, moors the floating production, storage and offloading vessel 10 at a desired location.

At least one movable cable assembly 18 may be used. Each movable cable assembly may be disposed at a different location on the hull, i.e., as a movable cable connection assembly 40 and a movable cable assembly 60.

A hose 20 may extend between the hull 9a and the tank T for transferring crude oil and/or other fluids from the floating production storage offloading vessel 10 to the tank T.

Fig. 2 depicts a side view of the floating production, storage and offloading vessel 10 according to the invention.

In a typical application of the floating production storage offloading vessel 10, crude oil may be produced from the ground below the seabed below the floating production storage offloading vessel 10, transferred into the hull 9a and temporarily stored in the hull 9a, and offloaded to a tanker T for transportation to an onshore facility. The tanker T may be temporarily moored to the floating production storage offloading vessel 10 during offloading operations by means of the movable cable connection assembly 40. A hose 20 may extend between the hull 9a and the tank T for transferring crude oil and/or other fluids from the floating production storage offloading vessel 10 to the tank T.

In an embodiment, at least one movable cable assembly 18 may be used. Each movable cable assembly may be arranged at a different location on the hull 9a, i.e. as a movable cable connection assembly 40 and a movable cable assembly 60.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the floating production, storage and offloading vessel 10.

The hull 9b of the floating production, storage and offloading vessel 10 is shown as having a top deck surface 12a, an upper cylindrical portion 12b extending downwardly from the deck surface 12a, an upper conical section 12c extending downwardly from the upper cylindrical portion 12b and tapering inwardly, a cylindrical neck section 12d extending downwardly from the upper conical section 12c, a lower conical section 12e extending downwardly from the cylindrical neck section 12d and being outwardly divergent, and a lower cylindrical section 12f extending downwardly from the lower conical section 12 e.

In an embodiment, the lower tapered section 12e may be described herein as having an inverted conical shape or having an inverted conical shape opposite the upper tapered section 12c, which upper tapered section 12c may be described herein as having a regular conical shape. The floating production storage offloading vessel 10 floats such that the water surface intersects the regular upper conical section 12c, which may be referred to herein as the waterline, on the regular conical shape.

In an embodiment, the floating production storage offloading vessel 10 may be loaded and/or ballasted to maintain the water line on the bottom portion of the regular upper tapered section 12 c. When the floating production, storage and offloading vessel 10 can be properly installed and floating, the cross-section of the hull 9b taken through any level may have a circular shape.

In an embodiment, the hull 9b may be designed and sized to meet the requirements of a particular application, and may request services from the dutch maritime institute to provide optimized design parameters to meet the design requirements for the particular application.

In this embodiment, the upper cylindrical portion 12b may have approximately the same height as the cylindrical neck section 12d, while the lower cylindrical section 12f may have a height that is approximately 3 to 4 times greater than the height of the upper cylindrical portion 12 b. The lower cylindrical section 12f may have a larger diameter than the upper cylindrical portion 12 b. The upper tapered section 12c may have a higher height than the lower tapered section 12 e. The bottom surface 12g is also depicted.

In this embodiment, a plurality of

catenary production risers

90a and 90c are depicted. In an embodiment, the plurality of catenary production risers may be at least one of: catenary risers or vertical production risers, or combinations thereof.

Also depicted is a cable 18 including a movable cable connection assembly 40 and a movable cable assembly 60. A tubular passage 42 is also depicted.

In this embodiment, the hose 20 may be depicted as being located on a hose reel. Hoses may extend from the hull 9b and tanks for transferring crude oil and/or other fluids from the floating production storage offloading vessel 10 to the tanks.

In this embodiment, at least one anchor line 16 is depicted.

Fig. 4 depicts the movable cable connection assembly 40 in one embodiment almost completely surrounding the tubular passage 42. The tubular passage 42 may have a rectangular cross-section and a longitudinal slot.

In this figure, the hull 9b of the floating production, storage and offloading vessel 10 is shown as having a top deck surface 12a and a lower conical section 12 e.

The lower tapered section 12e may be described herein as having an inverted conical shape or having an inverted conical shape.

In this embodiment, a cable 18 is also depicted that includes a movable cable connection assembly 40 and a movable cable assembly 60.

In an embodiment, the hose 20 may be depicted as being located on a hose reel, which may be a hose 20 extending between the hull 9b and the tank for transferring crude oil and/or another fluid from the floating production storage offloading vessel 10 to the tank.

In this embodiment, at least one

anchor line

16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d is depicted.

Fig. 5 depicts a side view showing an alternative design of the hull 9 c.

In an embodiment, the hull 9c may have a top deck surface 12a, wherein the upper conical section 12c extends from the top deck surface 12a and tapers inwardly while extending downwardly. A cylindrical neck section 12d may be attached to the lower end of the upper tapered section 12c and extend downwardly therefrom. A lower tapered section 12e may be attached to the lower end of the cylindrical neck section 12d and taper outwardly while extending downwardly from the cylindrical neck section 12 d. A lower cylindrical section 12f extends downwardly from the lower conical section 12 e.

In other embodiments, a significant difference between the hull 9c and other hull designs may be that the hull 9c does not have an upper cylindrical portion 12 b.

Fig. 6 depicts a side view showing an alternative design of the hull 9 d.

The side view of the hull 9d shows that the hull 9d may have a top deck surface 12a, an upper cylindrical portion 12b, an upper conical section 12c extending from the upper cylindrical portion 12b and tapering inwardly while extending downwardly.

In this embodiment, the lower tapered section 12e may be attached to the upper tapered section 12 c. The lower tapered section 12e may extend downward while diverging outward. A lower cylindrical section 12f extends downwardly from the lower conical section 12 e.

In an embodiment, a significant difference between the hull 9d and other hull designs may be that the hull 9d does not have a cylindrical neck section 12 d.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the movable cable connection assembly 40 according to the present invention.

In this embodiment, the movable cable connection assembly 40 is depicted as being located on the floating production storage offloading vessel, which may help regulate the movement of the transport tanks relative to the floating production storage offloading vessel.

In an embodiment, the movable cable connection assembly 40 in one embodiment includes a tubular channel 42 that almost completely surrounds the channel having a rectangular cross-section and a longitudinal slot.

In this embodiment, the tubular passage 42 is shown with a set of spaced apart posts 44a and 44b that can connect the tubular passage 42 horizontally to the top deck surface 12 a. Trolley 46 (trolley) may be captured within tubular passage 42 and movable within tubular passage 42. A trolley shackle 48 may be attached to the trolley 46, providing a connection point, and a plate 50 is pivotably attached to the trolley shackle 48 by a plate shackle 52.

In an embodiment, plate 50 may have a generally triangular shape with the apex of the triangle attached to plate shackle 52 by a pin 54 passing through a hole in plate shackle 52. The plate 50 may have a first hole 55a adjacent to another point of the triangle and a second hole 55b adjacent to a third point of the triangle. The end of the cable 18 has

double connection points

19a and 19b, the cable

double connection points

19a and 19b being connected to the plate 50 by passing through

holes

55a and 55b, respectively.

In an alternative embodiment, dual attachment points 19a and 19b of plate 50 and/or plate shackle 52 may be omitted and cable 18 may be directly attached to trolley shackle 48. Other variations can be used in connecting cable 18 to trolley 46.

Fig. 8 depicts a side view of the floating production, storage and offloading vessel 10 according to the invention.

The floating production, storage and offloading vessel 10 may have a hull 9d and a top deck surface 12a, and the cross-section of the hull 9d taken through any horizontal plane may be circular in shape as the hull floats.

An upper cylindrical portion 12b extends downwardly from the top deck surface 12a and an upper conical section 12c extends downwardly from the upper cylindrical portion 12b and tapers the floating production, storage and offloading vessel 10. The lower tapered section 12e extends downwardly from the upper tapered section 12c and may be flared outwardly. The lower cylindrical section 12f may extend downwardly from the lower conical section 12 e. The hull 9d may have a bottom surface 12g, also referred to as a keel. The lower tapered section 12e may be described herein as having an inverted conical shape or having an inverted conical shape opposite the upper tapered section 12c, which may be described herein as having a regular conical shape.

In this embodiment, the floating production storage and offloading vessel 10 is shown floating such that the water surface may intersect the upper cylindrical portion 12b when loaded and/or ballasted. In this embodiment, the upper tapered section 12c may have a much greater vertical height than the lower tapered section 12e, and the upper cylindrical portion 12b may have a slightly higher vertical height than the lower cylindrical section 12 f.

In this embodiment, to reduce heave and otherwise stabilize the floating production, storage and offloading vessel 10, at least one fin 84 may be attached to the lower and outer portions of the hull.

In this embodiment, a low center of gravity 87 is depicted that provides the floating production, storage and offloading vessel 10 with inherent stability.

At least one anchor line 16a and 16f for mooring the floating production, storage and offloading vessel 10 is shown.

The moon pool 92 is shown as being formed in the center of the hull 9d and extending through the bottom surface 12 g.

Catenary production risers 90a and 90d are also shown.

Fig. 9 depicts a cross section of a floating production, storage and offloading vessel having a hull 9 d.

The hull 9d may have at least one fin. In the present embodiment, a plurality of

fins

84a, 84b, 84c, and 84d are shown. When

multiple fins

84a, 84b, 84c, and 84d are used, they may be separated from each other by

multiple gaps

86a, 86c, and 86 d. The plurality of

gaps

86a, 86c, and 86d may be spaced between the plurality of

fins

84a, 84b, 84c, and 84d, which may provide space to accommodate at least one catenary production riser, e.g., production riser, and an anchor line, outside of the hull 9d, wherein the at least one catenary production riser and anchor line are not in contact with the at least one

fin

84a, 84b, 84c, and 84 d. In an embodiment, the fin may be a radial fin.

At least one

anchor line

16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d may be received in the plurality of

gaps

86a, 86c, and 86d, respectively. At least one anchor line secures the floating drilling production storage offloading vessel and/or the floating production storage offloading vessel 10 to the seabed. Catenary production risers may be received in the plurality of

gaps

86a, 86c, and 86d and may transport resources obtained from the surface below the seabed, such as crude oil, natural gas, and/or leached minerals, into the tanks of the floating production storage offloading vessel 10.

The moon pool 92 is also depicted as having an opening 91 to the bottom surface.

Fig. 10 depicts at least one

fin

84a and 84b for reducing heave.

Each of the at least one

fin

84a and 84b may have a right triangle shaped vertical cross section, wherein a 90 degree angle may be positioned adjacent to the lowest exterior sidewall of the lower cylindrical section 12f of any hull, here shown as hull 9d, such that the triangular shaped bottom edge 85 of the at least one

fin

84a and 84b is coplanar with the bottom surface 12g of the hull 9 d.

The hypotenuse 82 of the triangular shape extends upwardly and inwardly from a distal end 88 of a bottom edge 85 of the triangular shape to attach to the outside wall of the lower cylindrical section 12f at a point only slightly above the lowest edge of the lower cylindrical section 12 f. Some experimentation may be required to size at least one of the

fins

84a and 84b for best results. As one example, the starting point may be a bottom edge 85 that extends radially outward a distance that may be half the vertical height of the lower cylindrical section 12f, and the beveled edge 82 is attached to the lower cylindrical section 12f at a location, for example, from the bottom surface 12g of the hull up to about one-quarter of the vertical height of the lower cylindrical section 12f, or a combination of both.

Each triangular shaped fin may be oriented 45 degrees and attached to and can be used in a ship hull.

After the floating production storage offloading vessel may be anchored and its installation may be completed in other ways, the floating production storage offloading vessel may be used to drill exploration or production wells, and may be used to produce and store resources or products, with the derrick already installed.

At least one ballast tank 96 is depicted for ballasting and de-ballasting the floating production storage offloading vessel 10 and the moon pool 92.

Fig. 11 provides a detailed perspective view of the floating production, storage and offloading vessel 10 with details of the at least one fin 84 attached to and transitioning out of one of the hull configurations described above.

A plurality of

gaps

86a and 86b are shown separating at least one fin 84.

It should be noted that a hull design with a submerged section of the hull, having at least one fin and a heavier or larger lower cylindrical section, may provide improved hydrodynamic performance under linear and square damping of the hull, i.e. the occurrence of radiation waves and viscous friction is suppressed when the submerged section is submerged.

In one embodiment, the vessel may have an elliptical planform and the dynamic response of the hull may be independent of the wave direction (when any asymmetry in the mooring system, risers and subsea attachments is ignored), thereby minimizing wave induced yaw forces. When the vessel has a tapered hull, the hull is more structurally efficient than conventional ship-type offshore structures, providing higher payload and storage per ton of steel.

In embodiments, the hull may have an elliptical wall which may be elliptical in radial cross-section, but such a shape may be formed approximately by using a large number of flat metal plates rather than bending the plates to the desired curvature. A polygonal hull planform may be used according to alternative embodiments.

In embodiments, the elliptical hull may minimize or eliminate wave interference.

In other embodiments, the floating production storage offloading vessel may be configured to support at least one of: drilling of wells, servicing of wells, production and storage of hydrocarbons, and personnel accommodation.

In embodiments, the floating production, storage and offloading vessel may have a hull that may be circular, oval, elliptical or polygonal hull planform.

In an embodiment, the hull may have a bottom surface and a deck surface.

In an embodiment, the hull may be formed by using at least two connected sections joined between the bottom surface and the deck surface.

In an embodiment, at least two connected sections may be joined in series and configured symmetrically about the vertical axis, wherein the connected sections extend downwardly from the deck surface towards the bottom surface.

In other embodiments, the connected sections may be at least two of the upper cylindrical portion, the neck section, and the lower tapered section.

In an embodiment, the at least one fin may be fixed to the hull and extend from an outer side of the hull.

In embodiments, the hull may be configured such that the lower conical section provides the hull with additional mass improved hydrodynamic performance under linear and square damping, and wherein the floating production storage offloading vessel does not require a telescopic center column to control pitch, roll and heave.

In an embodiment, the floating production storage offloading vessel may have a centrally located moonpool. The moon pool may be opened through the bottom surface.

In an embodiment, the floating production storage offloading vessel may have at least one anchor line extending from a deck surface or hull to moor the floating production storage offloading vessel to the seabed.

In an embodiment, the floating production, storage and offloading vessel may have at least one fin fixed discontinuously on the outer surface of the hull around the hull.

In an embodiment, the floating production storage offloading vessel may have at least one catenary production riser or at least one vertical riser fixed to the bottom surface below the transport depth of the floating production storage offloading vessel.

In an embodiment, the floating production storage offloading vessel may have at least one ballast tank for ballasting and de-ballasting the floating production storage offloading vessel.

In an embodiment, the floating production, storage and offloading vessel may have a movable cable connection assembly mounted to the hull.

In embodiments, the floating production storage offloading vessel may have a low center of gravity, thereby providing inherent stability to the structure.

While embodiments have been described with emphasis upon the embodiments, it should be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, embodiments may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.

Claims

1. A floating production storage offloading vessel configured to support at least one of drilling of a well, servicing of a well, production and storage of hydrocarbons, and personnel accommodation, the floating production storage offloading vessel comprising:

a hull having a planar shape that is circular, oval, elliptical or polygonal, wherein the hull comprises:

(i) a bottom surface;

(ii) a top deck surface; and

(iii) at least two connected sections joined between the bottom surface and the top deck surface, the at least two connected sections joined in series and configured symmetrically about a vertical axis, wherein the at least two connected sections extend downward from the top deck surface toward the bottom surface, the at least two connected sections including a lower tapered section and at least one of:

1. an upper cylindrical portion; and

2. a cylindrical neck section;

wherein the floating production storage offloading vessel is shaped and arranged in a manner to control pitch, roll and heave without a telescoping center column;

at least one radial fin having a vertical cross-section in the shape of a right triangle such that a bottom edge of the right triangle is coplanar with a bottom surface of the hull, wherein the at least one radial fin comprises a distal end facing a vertex formed by the bottom edge and a hypotenuse of the right triangle and an end opposite the distal end facing a vertex formed by the hypotenuse of the right triangle and a cathetus perpendicular to the bottom edge, the at least one radial fin being fixed around the hull,

a gap configured to separate the at least one radial fin such that a portion of a distal end of the at least one radial fin is discontinuous,

characterized in that a further gap is formed between a portion of the end opposite the distal end and at least a portion of the hull,

wherein the lower conical section provides additional mass improved hydrodynamic performance under linear and square damping to the hull.

2. The floating production, storage and offloading vessel of claim 1, further comprising a moon pool, wherein the moon pool opens through the bottom surface.

3. The floating production storage offloading vessel of claim 1, wherein the hull further comprises a low center of gravity, thereby providing inherent stability to the floating production storage offloading vessel.

4. The floating production storage offloading vessel of claim 1, wherein at least one anchor line is provided for mooring the floating production storage offloading vessel to a seabed.

5. The floating production storage offloading vessel of claim 1, wherein at least one catenary production riser is secured to the bottom surface below a transport depth of the floating production storage offloading vessel.

6. The floating production, storage and offloading vessel of claim 1, comprising at least one ballast tank for ballasting and de-ballasting the floating production, storage and offloading vessel.

7. The floating production, storage and offloading vessel of claim 1, comprising a movable cable connection assembly mounted to the hull.

8. The floating production, storage and offloading vessel of claim 1, wherein the at least one radial fin is configured to provide hydrodynamic performance under linear and square damping.