JPS59149887A - Weight structure with stabilizer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To stably keep a weight structure horizontal under water, by erecting stabilizer columns as floats on the four corners of the weight structure, which has a ballast tank for floating and sinking and is anchored to a marine platform or the like. CONSTITUTION:A weight structure 2, which is provided with a ballast tank so that the structure can float and sink, is used to anchor a marine platform 1 through tension legs 4 connected to anchoring parts 5. Stabilizer columns 6 are erected as floats on the four corners of the weight structure 2. The structure is sunk onto the sea bottom as the pouring and draining to and from the ballast tank is adjusted, to anchor the marine platform 1 through the tension legs 4. At that time, the weight structure 2 is stably kept horizontal under water by the stabilizer columns 6 as floats.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a weight structure for mooring a marine platform or the like.

Conventional tension leg type platform anchors include those in which piles are driven using a template,
A method in which sinkers are installed individually has been developed, but both require large-scale machinery (fleets, etc.), and with the pile method, it is difficult to confirm the connection of the tension leg to the anchor at great depths. The problem is that the work is extensive.

The present invention aims to solve these problems, and is designed to provide a stabilizer-equipped device that does not require large-scale machinery, simplifies the necessary work, and can be reused economically. The purpose is to provide a weight structure.

For this reason, the external weight structure with a stabilizer of the present invention includes a weight that is equipped with a ballast tank and is configured to float and sink;
A stabilizer as a buoyant member is connected to the weight to maintain preliminary buoyancy while holding the weight below the water surface at a predetermined depth, and a stabilizer is provided to the weight or stabilizer to anchor a moored object. The stabilizers are arranged at intervals so as to form a space into which the moored object can be introduced at the predetermined water depth.

Below, an explanation will be given of an external weight structure with a stabilizer 2-riser as an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a front view showing the state before use, and Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are all FIG. 5 is a front view showing the working process for its use, and FIG. 5 is a front view showing its usage condition.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 indicates a platform as a moored object, 2 a weight which is made to be able to adjust its buoyancy and is in a floating state, and 3 a water surface. Further, reference numeral 5 simulates a locking part that connects the tension leg 4, 6 is a column-shaped stabilizer as a buoyancy member provided upright at the four corners of the weight 2, and 8 is a skirt that is sunk into the bottom of the water. shows.

The position of the tension leg locking part 5 is determined to correspond to the column part 1a of the platform 1, and the position of the stabilizer 6 is changed from the state shown in FIG. 3 to the state shown in FIG. are spaced apart so that a space is created for moving the platform 1 and introducing the platform 1.

Inside the weight 2, a plurality of cavities 9 as ballast tanks are provided, and an opening or opening/closing valve 10 is provided at the bottom or side of the cavity 9, and a part of the cavity 9 is is provided with a supply/exhaust port or a supply/exhaust valve 11.

The stabilizer 6 may be any buoyancy member that can maintain preliminary buoyancy while holding the weight 2 below the water surface at a predetermined depth as shown in FIG. 3, and may be solid or hollow. The mounting portion may be used as a hinge to raise and lower the mounting portion.

Further, as the stabilizer 6, a float connected to the weight 2 via a support or a wire may be used.

Since the stabilizer-equipped weight structure of the present invention is constructed like a two-part structure, when using it, first pull out the tension leg 4 from the platform 1 and attach the L weight 2. Connected to the upper locking part 5.

Next, water is injected into the cavity 9 inside the weight 2. At that time, if an on-off valve 10 is provided at the bottom or side of the cavity 9, open it to control the exhaust from the supply/exhaust valve 11. Water is gradually added to the condition shown in Figure 3. This state is stably maintained by the action of the stabilizer 6 which has preliminary buoyancy. From this state shown in FIG. 3, the tension leg 4 is gradually drawn into the platform 1, and the weight 2 is moved to the state shown in FIG. 4. From the state shown in FIG. 4, the tension leg 4 is gradually sent out while injecting water into the cavity 9 inside the weight 2. When the stabilizer 6 of the weight 2 is completely submerged in water, the water injection is stopped, and the supply/exhaust valve 11 of the cavity 9 is stopped. Close the on-off valve 10 at the bottom of the cavity and continue feeding the tension leg 4.
The volume of the air trapped in the cavity 9 of the weight 2 decreases due to the increased water pressure, and the buoyancy of the weight 2 as a whole decreases. Along with this, a downward force acts on the platform 1 by the amount of the decrease in the volume of air, so the ballast (water) that can be discharged from the platform 1 is discharged to maintain balance.

If it becomes impossible to drain the air from the platform 1, connect the air supply/exhaust line (not shown) connected to the cavity 9 in the weight 2 to the air compressor (not shown) installed on the platform 1, and drain the air in the cavity 9 mentioned above. While supplying air in an amount commensurate with the volume reduction, the weight 2 is brought to the bottom 7 of the water as shown in FIG.

Thereafter, the air supply is stopped and, conversely, the air is exhausted to inject water into the cavity 9 inside the weight 2, thereby completing the sinking of the weight structure.

In addition, when this weight structure is floated and moved, the above-mentioned reverse operation is performed, and it becomes possible to reuse it.

At that time, a suction breaker (not shown) may be installed and activated to make it easier for the weight 2 to separate from the water bottom 7.

In this way, the light and heavy weight structure with stabilizer of the present invention has the advantage that mooring of a platform, etc. can be easily realized using an economical tension leg method without using a conventional large-scale machine. , and its reuse becomes possible.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figures show a weight structure with a stabilizer as an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a front view showing its state before use, and Figs. 2, 3, and 4 show its state before use. FIG. 5 is a front view showing the working process, and FIG. 5 is a front view showing the state of use. 1. Platform as a moored object, 1a.. 6-column part, 2. Weight, 3. Water surface, 4. Tension leg, 5. Locking part, 6. Stabilizer, 7.. Water bottom, 8. Skirt, 9. Cavity as ballast tank, 10. Opening or opening/closing valve, 11. Supply/exhaust port or supply/exhaust valve. Sub-Agent Patent Attorney Yoshihiko Iinuma 7- Figure 4 1 Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Claims] A weight equipped with a ballast tank and configured to float, a stabilizer as a buoyancy member connected to the weight to maintain preliminary buoyancy while holding the weight below the water surface at a predetermined depth, and a moored weight. and a locking part provided on the weight or stabilizer to lock an object, and the stabilizers are arranged at intervals so as to form a space into which the object to be moored can be introduced at the predetermined water depth. A weight structure with a stabilizer.