EP1259421B1 - Method and apparatus for increasing floating platform buoyancy - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for increasing floating platform buoyancy Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1259421B1
EP1259421B1 EP01914513A EP01914513A EP1259421B1 EP 1259421 B1 EP1259421 B1 EP 1259421B1 EP 01914513 A EP01914513 A EP 01914513A EP 01914513 A EP01914513 A EP 01914513A EP 1259421 B1 EP1259421 B1 EP 1259421B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
platform
hull
buoyancy
module
pontoons
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP01914513A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1259421A2 (en
EP1259421A4 (en
Inventor
Earl Horne
Andrew Kyriakides
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.)
Seahorse Equipment Corp
Original Assignee
Seahorse Equipment Corp
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 Seahorse Equipment Corp filed Critical Seahorse Equipment Corp
Publication of EP1259421A2 publication Critical patent/EP1259421A2/en
Publication of EP1259421A4 publication Critical patent/EP1259421A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1259421B1 publication Critical patent/EP1259421B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B21/00—Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring
    • B63B21/50—Anchoring arrangements or methods for special vessels, e.g. for floating drilling platforms or dredgers
    • B63B21/502—Anchoring arrangements or methods for special vessels, e.g. for floating drilling platforms or dredgers by means of tension legs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B63B35/44—Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
    • B63B35/4413—Floating drilling platforms, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to floating platform systems for testing and producing hydrocarbon formations found in deep (600-10,000 feet/182.9 - 3,048m) offshore waters. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and system for changing the buoyancy of the floating platform to accommodate changes in platform payload and water depth requirements without redesigning the platform hull.
  • US-A-5 609 443 discloses an offshore platform which is adaptable between a towing draft mode and an operative mode.
  • US-A-5964550 discloses an offshore platform with pontoons secured at its lower end.
  • Drilling and production platforms such as TLP's
  • TLP's are engineered for use in particular offshore environments and to support a maximum payload.
  • the specifications for the platform are based on assumptions which may or may not prove to be accurate once the platform is installed and in use for a period of time. Other factors, such as the discovery of recoverable oil and gas from adjacent deposits may alter the payload requirements for a platform already in use. Thus, being able to increase the payload a platform can support without redesigning the hull would be highly desirable and significantly reduce the cost of producing offshore oil and gas deposits.
  • Cost reductions can also be had by eliminating the need for completely redesigning the hull and node structure of the platform to accommodate different payload requirements.
  • the buoyancy of a floating platform may be increased by extending the column length of the platform rather than redesigning the hull, thereby saving time and engineering costs associated with redesigning the platform hull.
  • Such an increase in payload capacity may be provided by attaching a buoyancy module to the platform hull rather than redesigning the hull and node structure of the platform.
  • a floating platform comprising a hull supporting one or more decks in a body of water above the water line, anchor means securing the hull to the seabed, said hull including buoyancy means for supporting said one or more decks of said platform above the water line and pontoons secured on a lower end of said hull; characterised by supplemental buoyancy means mounted on said hull below the pontoons to increase the buoyancy of said platform.
  • the floating platform provides for recovery of oil and gas from offshore oil and gas fields.
  • the platform supports one or more decks above the water surface to accommodate equipment for drilling and processing oil, gas and water recovered from the oil and gas field.
  • the platform includes a hull having a portion located substantially below the water surface, and including a portion which extends above the water surface.
  • the platform hull includes a base and is anchored to the seabed by one or more tendons secured to the base of the hull at one end thereof and to the seabed at the opposite ends of the tendons.
  • the payload carrying capacity of the platform is increased without redesigning the structural design of the platform hull by attaching a column extension to the bottom of the hull of the platform.
  • a method for increasing the payload capacity of a floating platform without re designing the structural design of the hull of said pla tform the method being characterised by the step of securing supplemental buoyancy means provided below pontoons secured on a lower end of the hull of said platform.
  • the floating platform is generally identified by the reference numeral 10.
  • the platform 10 includes a central column or hull 12 which provides positive buoyancy and vertical support for the platform 10.
  • One or more decks 14 are supported on the hull 12 above the water surface 16. Drilling and/or production equipment necessary for the recovery and processing of oil, gas and water recovered from the oil and gas field are secured on the deck 14.
  • the hull 12 extends upward from the base or keel of the hull 12.
  • the base node of the hull 12 includes pontoons 18 extending radially outward from the hull 12.
  • the platform 10 is anchored to the seabed by tendons 20 secured at one end thereof to the pontoons 18 and at the opposite ends thereof to foundation piles (not shown in the drawings) embedded in the seabed.
  • the hull 12 provides sufficient buoyancy to support the payload of the platform 10, which payload includes the deck 14, drilling and/or completion equipment, production facilities, production and drilling risers and sufficient excess buoyancy to develop the tendon pre-tension.
  • the platform 10 is designed for the environmental and depth conditions at the offshore location of an oil and gas deposit of interest. At other locations, other platforms may be required to efficiently recover the oil and gas from other subsea deposits. Such other platforms may be required to carry a greater payload than the platform 10 is designed to support. The increased payload, however, may be accommodated by increasing the buoyancy of the platform 10. An increase in buoyancy may be accomplished by extending the length of the hull 12 rather than redesigning the structural design of the hull and base node structure of the platform 10. Likewise, the payload requirements for a platform may increase after installation, in which case a buoyancy module 32, as shown in Fig. 3, may be mounted to the bottom of the hull 12 of the platform 10.
  • the column extension 22 is a relatively short cylindrical chamber having an outside diameter approximately equal to the outside diameter of the hull 12.
  • the column extension 22 is welded to the bottom of the hull 12 at weld 23 at the fabrication or construction site of the platform 10.
  • FIG. 3 another embodiment depicts a buoyancy module 32 mounted to the bottom of the hull 12.
  • the buoyancy module 32 is added to the offshore platform 10 while it is located in the field. to increase the payload capacity of the platform 10 so that additional equipment may be installed on the deck of the platform 10 or so that the platform 10 may be installed- at a deeper water site.
  • the buoyancy module 32 like the column extension 22 shown in Fig. 2, is a relatively short cylindrical chamber having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the hull 12.
  • Mounting posts 24 secure the module 32 to the hull 12.
  • the mounting posts 24 may be welded or otherwise fixed to the hull 12 and module 32.
  • the mounting posts 24 may be pre-installed about the periphery of the hull 12, by welding or other connection means, so that the module 32 may be installed at a later time after the platform 10 is anchored offshore, as required, to increase the payload capacity of the platform 10.
  • the buoyancy module 32 shown in Fig. 3, is likewise provided with mounting posts 26 for co-operating engagement with the posts 24 mounted on the hull 12.
  • the mounting posts 24 are adapted to be received or telescoped into the posts 26.
  • Various connections means such as grout, mechanical connectors or welding, may be employed to lock the post 24 and 26 together and thus secure the buoyancy module 32 to the bottom of the hull 12.
  • This manner of connection has the added benefit of permitting the module 32 to be more easily detached from the hull 12 in the event the payload requirements of the platform 10 change and the buoyancy module 32 is no longer needed or to substitute a larger module in the event greater buoyancy is required.
  • Two or more modules 32 may also be connected in piggy-back manner in vertical alignment with the hull 12 in the event additional buoyancy is required.
  • the column extension 22 and buoyancy module 32 may be provided with the necessary plumbing, including a fill port 28 and vent 30, for connection with the ballast system of the platform 10. Additional riser hangers, such as porches 33, for hanging risers or flow lines 34 therefrom, as shown in Fig. 6, may be installed on the column extension 22 or module 32, as required.
  • the shape of the column extension 22 and module 32 is depicted as a closed cylinder or plug for illustrative purposes. It is understood that the extension 22 and module 32 may comprise various shapes. If, for example, the hull 12 includes a moon pool, the extension 22 and module 32 may be provided with an axial passage for matching alignment with the profile of the moon pool. The extension 22 and module 32 in such an arrangement would have a shape or profile similar to a doughnut. Likewise, the extension 22 and module 32 may include radial extensions or arms matching the profile of the pontoons 18, which arms may be secured to the bottom of the pontoons 18.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
  • Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)
  • Geophysics And Detection Of Objects (AREA)
EP01914513A 2000-02-22 2001-02-22 Method and apparatus for increasing floating platform buoyancy Expired - Lifetime EP1259421B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US18402200P 2000-02-22 2000-02-22
US184022P 2000-02-22
PCT/US2001/006160 WO2001062583A2 (en) 2000-02-22 2001-02-22 Method and apparatus for increasing floating platform buoyancy

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1259421A2 EP1259421A2 (en) 2002-11-27
EP1259421A4 EP1259421A4 (en) 2003-04-09
EP1259421B1 true EP1259421B1 (en) 2006-05-03

Family

ID=22675281

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01914513A Expired - Lifetime EP1259421B1 (en) 2000-02-22 2001-02-22 Method and apparatus for increasing floating platform buoyancy

Country Status (8)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1259421B1 (es)
AU (2) AU3989101A (es)
BR (1) BR0108589B1 (es)
CA (1) CA2400903C (es)
ES (1) ES2264439T3 (es)
MX (1) MXPA02008141A (es)
NO (1) NO332002B1 (es)
WO (1) WO2001062583A2 (es)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2506938B (en) 2012-10-15 2015-08-05 Subsea 7 Ltd Improvements relating to buoyancy-supported risers
GR1009551B (el) * 2018-03-08 2019-07-01 Ετμε: Πεππας Και Συνεργατες Ε.Ε. Πλωτη πλατφορμα θαλασσιας επιτηρησης και τηλεπικοινωνιων
CN110185394A (zh) * 2019-06-14 2019-08-30 中铁八局集团有限公司 一种抗急流浮式钻孔装置及搭设方法

Family Cites Families (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2144075A5 (es) * 1971-06-29 1973-02-09 Inst Francais Du Petrole
US3961489A (en) * 1972-05-02 1976-06-08 Olav Mo Method for placing a floating structure on the sea bed
US3982401A (en) * 1975-04-02 1976-09-28 Texaco Inc. Marine structure with detachable anchor
US3996755A (en) * 1975-07-10 1976-12-14 Texaco Exploration Canada Ltd. Tension leg structure with riser stabilization
US4468157A (en) * 1980-05-02 1984-08-28 Global Marine, Inc. Tension-leg off shore platform
US4365576A (en) * 1980-07-21 1982-12-28 Cook, Stolowitz And Frame Offshore submarine storage facility for highly chilled liquified gases
NO162032C (no) * 1984-09-04 1989-10-25 Norwegian Contractors Fremgangsmaate ved fundamentering og stabilisering av en fralandskonstruksjon.
GB2186901B (en) * 1986-02-24 1990-05-02 British Gas Plc Offshore platforms
GB2200882A (en) * 1987-02-12 1988-08-17 Heerema Engineering Stabilization system
US4906139A (en) * 1988-10-27 1990-03-06 Amoco Corporation Offshore well test platform system
GB9424930D0 (en) * 1994-12-09 1995-02-08 Kazim Jenan Marine system which retains hydrostatic stability even when fully submerged
US5609442A (en) * 1995-08-10 1997-03-11 Deep Oil Technology, Inc. Offshore apparatus and method for oil operations
US5964550A (en) * 1996-05-31 1999-10-12 Seahorse Equipment Corporation Minimal production platform for small deep water reserves
AU5444298A (en) * 1996-11-12 1998-06-03 H.B. Zachry Company Precast, modular spar system
US6012873A (en) * 1997-09-30 2000-01-11 Copple; Robert W. Buoyant leg platform with retractable gravity base and method of anchoring and relocating the same
US6210075B1 (en) * 1998-02-12 2001-04-03 Imodco, Inc. Spar system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2001062583A2 (en) 2001-08-30
NO332002B1 (no) 2012-05-21
ES2264439T3 (es) 2007-01-01
AU3989101A (en) 2001-09-03
BR0108589A (pt) 2003-12-23
CA2400903A1 (en) 2001-08-30
EP1259421A2 (en) 2002-11-27
BR0108589B1 (pt) 2010-11-16
CA2400903C (en) 2008-12-30
EP1259421A4 (en) 2003-04-09
WO2001062583A3 (en) 2002-01-17
MXPA02008141A (es) 2003-01-28
NO20023980L (no) 2002-10-21
NO20023980D0 (no) 2002-08-21
AU2001239891B2 (en) 2006-03-02

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