NO335480B1 - pipeline Suspension - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a lead balcony (22) for a floating unit (10). The cable balcony (22) comprises a support part (24) adapted to support at least one cable. The conduit balcony (22) further comprises a coupling part (26) adapted to connect the support part (24) to the floating unit (10). The conduit balcony (22) extends in a longitudinal direction (L) and a transverse direction (T). The coupling part (26) extends in the transverse direction (T) from a first coupling part (26 '), adapted to be attached to the floating unit (10), to a second coupling part (26' '), attached to the support part (24). ). The support member (24) comprises an inner support member (24 ') located closest to the first coupling member (26') in the transverse direction (T). The conduit balcony (22) is such that a first fixed extension (? 1), in the longitudinal direction (L), of the first coupling part (26 ') results in a second extension (? 2) of the inner support part (24'). The cable balcony (22) is configured so that the second extension (? 2) is less than or equal to 30% of the first extension (? 1).

Description

WIRING BALCONY

TECHNICAL AREA

The present description relates to a cable balcony according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the present description relates to a floating unit comprising a cable balcony.

BACKGROUND

A floating unit can be used for drilling, production or storage of gas and/or liquids offshore. A floating unit can, for example, be used for drilling, producing and storing hydrocarbons, such as oil and gas, at sea.

For this purpose, one or more wires can be connected to the floating unit. By way of example only, a wire may be an electrical cable or an umbilical. As another example, a conduit may be a riser that provides fluid communication between a bottom well on the seabed and the floating unit. As another example, a line can be an export riser that can be used to transport fluid from the floating unit to e.g. a pipeline.

The documents US 2009/0078425, WO 97/07016 and WO 01/62582 illustrate variations of how a wire can be connected to a floating device.

The wires can be supported by a wire balcony which can be connected to the floating unit so that the wire loads are at least partially transferred to the floating unit via the wire balcony.

Therefore, the one or more wires supported by the wire balcony can transmit loads to the wire balcony, which loads result in pressure on at least parts of the wire balcony in turn. Furthermore, possible deflections of the floating unit, for example due to waves acting on it, can result in additional pressure on at least parts of the cable balcony.

Depending on the load conditions taken into account for the cable balcony, pressures coming from different loads and/or deflections can be combined to obtain a total pressure in the cable balcony. Low total fatigue pressures in the cable balcony are generally desired since too high a total pressure can increase the risk of the cable balcony weakening from satisfactory operation.

SUMMARY

One purpose of the present explanation is to achieve a cable balcony with a suitably low risk of the cable balcony being exposed to undesirable high total pressures.

This purpose is achieved by a wire balcony according to claim 1.

As such, the present disclosure relates to a conduit balcony for a floating unit. The cable balcony comprises a support part adapted to support at least one cable. The cable balcony further comprises a coupling part adapted to connect the support part to the floating unit. The wire balcony extends in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction.

As used herein, the term "support part" relates to that part of the wiring balcony from which one or more wires can be suspended. Therefore, the support part is related to the part of the cable balcony which is adapted to receive load from one or more cables.

The support part may comprise one or more parts which are separate from one or more parts which form the connecting part. Optionally, the support part and the coupling part can form a unitary component. In such a case, the term "support part" relates to that part of such unit component which is adapted to receive the load from one or more wires.

The coupling part extends in the transverse direction from a first coupling part, adapted to be attached to the floating unit, to a second coupling part, attached to the support part. The support part comprises an inner support part located closest to the first coupling part in the transverse direction. The cable balcony is such that a first fixed extension, in the longitudinal direction, of the first connecting part results in a second extension, in the longitudinal direction, of the inner support part.

According to the present disclosure, at least a part of the wire balcony is relatively weak in the longitudinal direction so that the second extension is less than or equal to 30% of the first extension.

As used herein, the term "extension" refers to the relative movement between two endpoints of an element. As such, the term "elongation in the longitudinal direction" relates to the relative displacement in the longitudinal direction between two longitudinal endpoints of an element.

As such, at least a portion of the wire balcony is relatively weak in at least the longitudinal direction. This in turn means that possible longitudinal directions of the floating unit housing the cable balcony will only give moderate pressures to the support part. Therefore, the total pressures in the support part can be reduced compared to a wire balcony which is relatively rigid in the longitudinal direction. As an example only, the part of the wiring balcony that is relatively weak may be the connecting part.

Optionally, the wire balcony is configured to have some longitudinal stiffness such that the second elongation is less than or equal to 20%, preferably less than or equal to 10%, more preferably less than or equal to 5% of the first elongation.

As used herein, the term "wire" relates to any type of wire adapted to be connected to a floating entity to transport material and/or energy and/or information to and/or from the floating entity. By way of example only, a wire can be an electric cable, a umilical or a riser.

Optionally, the support part of a wire balcony is adapted to support at least one riser. As used herein, the term "riser" relates to any line adapted to be used for the transport of fluid to and/or from a floating unit.

Furthermore, the term "floating device" includes any type of device adapted to float in a body of water. By way of example only, the term "floating unit" includes a ship, a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) unit, a partially submersible unit, a barge, a spar buoy, a Tension Leg Platform (TLP) or the like.

Optionally, the wire balcony is configured such that the second extension is greater than or equal to 0.01% of the first extension.

The fact that the second elongation is greater than or equal to 0.01% of the first elongation implies that the wire loads in the longitudinal direction can be transferred to the floating unit in a suitable manner.

Optionally, the wire balcony is configured such that the second elongation is greater than or Hk 0.05%, preferably greater than or equal to 0.1%, more preferably greater than 0.2% of the first elongation.

Optionally, the first coupling member further comprises a longitudinal load transferring means adapted to transfer longitudinal wire loads from the support member to the floating unit.

Optionally, the longitudinal transfer means comprises at least one longitudinal transfer panel. The use of a panel means that a cost-effective and robust longitudinal load-transmitting means can be achieved. Optionally, the longitudinal load transmitting panel extends in a substantially horizontal direction, i.e. the longitudinal and transverse directions.

Optionally, the wire balcony is configured such that when a longitudinal load is applied to the support member at least 70%, preferably 90%, more preferably 95%, of the load is transferred to the first connecting member via at least one longitudinal load transmitting panel.

Optionally, the coupling part comprises a plurality of coupling plates, each of which extends at least in the transverse direction.

Optionally, the wire balcony further has an extension in a vertical direction, but each of the connecting plates further extended substantially in the vertical direction.

Optionally, each of the connecting plates has a bending stiffness about a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal direction that is at least 100 times greater, preferably at least 10,000 times greater, than the bending stiffness about a vertical axis parallel to the vertical direction.

The fact that the coupling plate has a bending stiffness around a longitudinal axis which is essentially greater than the bending stiffness around a vertical axis means that the coupling plate may be able to transmit relatively large loads in a vertical direction, while the coupling plate may bend when one end thereof, in the transverse direction, is subject to a displacement in the longitudinal direction.

Optionally, the longitudinal load transmitting means is located between two adjacent connecting plates.

Optionally, the wire balcony includes a transverse centerline extending in the transverse direction. The cable balcony comprises a distal clamping space between two adjacent connection plates. The cable balcony further comprises a proximal clamping space between two adjacent connection plates. The proximal stapling space is located closer, in the longitudinal direction, to the transverse centerline than the distal stapling space. The longitudinal load-transmitting panel is located in the proximal staple space.

A possible longitudinal deflection of a floating unit housing the wire balcony will generally result in larger deflections of the longitudinal ends of the wire balcony compared to the longitudinal center thereof. Therefore, the displacement of the longitudinal load-transmitting panel in the proximal clamp space, i.e. closer to the longitudinal center of the wire balcony than the position of the distal clamp space, means that a relatively small amount of the unit's longitudinal deflections will be transferred to the support part via the longitudinal load-transfer panel. As such, the above-discussed displacement of the longitudinal load-transmitting panel may result in a longitudinal wire load being transferred to the unit in an appropriate manner, but the deflection of the unit will not impose unreasonable stresses on the support portion of the wire balcony.

A second aspect of the present disclosure relates to a floating unit comprising a conduit balcony according to the first aspect of the present disclosure.

Optionally, the length of the wire balcony in the longitudinal direction is 20%, preferably less than 6%, of the length of the longitudinal direction of the floating unit. The fact that the wire balcony is relatively short in relation to the length of the floating unit means that a relatively small part of the total extension of the floating unit, for example when it curves downwards in the middle (sagging) or when it curves upwards in the middle (hogging ), will be transferred to the wiring balcony.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Below follows a more detailed description of the embodiments of the statement cited as examples, with reference to the attached figures.

In the figures:

Fig. 1 illustrates a floating unit comprising a conduit balcony; Fig. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a wire balcony; Fig. 3 illustrates a part of the cable balcony in Fig. 2 when it is subjected to an extension; Fig. 4 illustrates a first cross-section, IV, of the cable balcony in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 illustrates a second cross-section, VI, of the wire balcony in Fig. 2; Fig. 6 a floating unit comprising a wire balcony; Fig. 7 illustrates a test procedure for determining the extension of a wire balcony; and Fig. 8 illustrates a test procedure for determining the load transfer through a wire balcony.

It should be noted that the accompanying figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and that the dimensions of some of the features of the present invention may have been exaggerated for clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the wire balcony and a floating unit will be presented in the following. However, it should be understood that the embodiment is included to explain the principles of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention.

Fig. 1 illustrates a floating unit 10. The floating unit is exemplified in Fig. 1 as a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) unit. However, it should be noted that embodiments of the wire balcony may instead, or in addition, be suitable for another type of floating unit such as a ship, a partially submersible unit, a barge, a lifebuoy, a Tension Leg Platform (TLP) or the like.

The floating unit 10 is adapted to float in a body of water 12 with a still water surface 14.

The floating unit 10 may be provided with an arrangement to keep it stationary (not shown). By way of example only, the arrangement for keeping it stationary may include at least one mooring line (not shown) and/or at least one thruster (not shown).

Fig. 1 further illustrates three lines 16, 18, 20, each of which is connected to the floating unit 10 via a line balcony 22. In Fig. 1, the line balcony 22 is adapted to be located below the still water surface 14. Other embodiments of the line balcony may, however, be adapted to be located at or above the still water surface 14.

Regardless of the position of the wire balcony 22, the purpose of a wire balcony is generally to support loads, particularly vertical loads, from the wires 16,18, 20.

By way of example only, a line may extend from the floating unit 10 to a seabed (not shown). As another non-limiting alternative, a line may extend from the floating unit 10 to another unit (not shown) which may be floating, or at least partially submerged, in the body of water 12.

In the example illustrated in Fig. 1, each of the three lines is a riser. A riser can be rigid or flexible. By way of example only, a riser may comprise a metal pipe, such as a steel pipe. As another non-limiting example, a riser may comprise a hose with a plastic layer. As a further non-limiting example, a riser can comprise a composite hose, for example, a hose comprising a plastic layer and a steel layer.

Furthermore, it should be noted that other embodiments of the wiring balcony may also, or instead, be suitable for being connected to other types of wiring, such as electrical cables (not shown) and/or umbilicals (not shown).

Furthermore, Fig. 1 illustrates that each of the lines 16, 18, 20 can comprise a corresponding upper part 17, 19, 21 which extends from the line balcony 22 to another part of the floating unit. The upper portion may form a unitary component with the corresponding portion of the conduit extending downwardly from the conduit balcony 22.

As another alternative, at least one of the upper parts 17, 19, 21 can be separated from the part of the wire which extends downwards from the wire balcony 22. Only as an example, such an upper part can be referred to as a hard hose.

As another non-limiting example, at least one of the upper parts 17, 19, 21 may be adapted to accommodate the corresponding wire 16, 18, 20 so that part of that wire extends through the upper part 17, 19, 21 and possibly to another part of the floating unit.

Fig. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a cable balcony 22 seen from above. The cable balcony 22 comprises a support part 24 adapted to support at least one cable (not shown in Fig. 2). As a non-limiting example, a support member 24 may be adapted to support at least three wires. The support part 24 in Fig. 2 is adapted to support eight wires.

By way of example only, the support part 24 may comprise a recess or an opening for each of the wires adapted to receive. In the implementation of the support part 24 in Fig. 2, the support part 24 comprises an opening 25 for each of the eight wires.

The cable balcony 22 in Fig, 2 further comprises a coupling part 26 adapted to connect the support part 24 to the floating unit 10. The cable balcony 22 extends in a longitudinal direction L and a transverse direction T. Only as an example, the support part 24 can be firmly attached to the coupling part 26 by means of a joint, e.g. a welding joint and/or a bolt joint (bolt joint).

Fig. 2 further illustrates that the coupling part 26 extends in the transverse direction T from a first coupling part 26' adapted to be attached to the floating unit 10, e.g. tii the outer shell 13 of the floating unit 10, to a second coupling part 26", attached to the support part 24. By way of example only, the first coupling part 26' can be adapted to be attached to the floating unit by means of a welding joint and/ or a bolt joint. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, the first coupling part 26' is adapted to be attached to the outer shell 13 of the hull of the floating unit 10. By way of example only, the floating unit 10 may comprise net/cradle 11' which is attached to the inside of the outer shell 13 of the floating unit 10.

As can further be seen from Fig. 2, the support part 24 comprises an inner support part 24' located closest to the first coupling part 26' in the transverse direction T.

Fig. 3 illustrates part of the cable balcony 22 in Fig. 2 when the first connecting part 26' is given an extension in the longitudinal direction L. The cable balcony 22 is such that the first fixed extension Ai in the longitudinal direction L, of the first connecting part 26' results in a second extension A2 of the inner support part 24', The second extension A2 is less than or equal to 30% of the first extension At,

In the embodiment of the wire balcony 22 in Fig. 2, the connection part 26 comprises a plurality of connection plates 28, each of which extends at least in the transverse direction T. Furthermore, the wire balcony 22 has an extension in a vertical direction V. Each of the connection plates 28 extends further essentially in the vertical direction V. A coupling plate 28, such as one of the plates illustrated in Fig. 2, may also be referred to as a coupling clamp. Fig. 2 further illustrates that the location in the longitudinal direction L of a connection plate 28 can be the same as the longitudinal location of a net frame 11' of the floating unit 10. In this way it is possible to achieve a load transfer between the cable balcony 22 and the the floating unit 10 without subjecting the panels forming the outer shell 13 of the floating unit 10 to undesired large pressures. Fig. 4 illustrates a connection plate 28 from Fig. 2 seen from the side. The implementation of the connection plate 28 in Fig. 4 has an extension in the transverse direction T and in the vertical direction V. Only as an example, the connection plate 28 in Fig. 4 comprises a metal plate, such as a steel plate. As a non-limiting example, the height H, i.e. maximum extension in the vertical direction V, of the coupling plate 29 can be within the range of 2 to 15 meters, preferably within the range of 4 to 10 meters.

Furthermore, and again as a non-limiting example, the width W, i.e. the maximum extension in the transverse direction T of the coupling plate 28 can be within the range 0.5 to 5 meters, preferably within 0.8 to 1.5 meters. Only as an example, the thickness of the connection plate 28 can be within the range 10 to 50 mm, preferably within the range 15 to 40 mm.

Preferably, the coupling plate 281 Fig. 4 has a bending stiffness at the first coupling part 26' around a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal direction L which is at least 100 times greater, preferably at least 1000 times greater, more preferably at least 10000 times greater than the bending stiffness around a vertical axis parallel to the vertical direction V.

Fig. 4 further illustrates that the support part 24 can comprise a support box assembly which in turn comprises an upper panel 27' and a lower panel 27". The upper and lower panels 27<*>, 27" can preferably be connected to each other with one or multiple webs 29', 29" and possibly also with incomplete webs (not shown in Fig. 4). By way of example only, each of the upper panel 27' and a lower panel 27" may be a metal panel, such as a steel panel. Furthermore, although it is only an example, each of the upper panel 27<*> and a lower panel 27" may have a thickness within the range of 10-150mm, preferably within the range of 30-100mm. As a non-limiting example, the vertical the distance between the upper panel 27' and a lower panel 27", i.e. the distance between a bottom surface of the upper panel 27' and an upper surface of the lower panel 27", be within the range 300-1000mm, preferably within the range 500- 700mm.

Furthermore, the wire balcony 22 in Fig. 2 is configured so that the second extension A2 can be greater than or equal to 0.01% of the first extension. As such, the wire balcony 22 is configured to have a certain longitudinal stiffness. The longitudinal stiffness can be beneficial since it can allow longitudinal wire loads to be transferred to the floating unit.

The above-discussed longitudinal stiffness of at least a portion of the wire balcony 22 can be achieved in several ways. As an example only, one or more connecting plates 28 can be designed so that they have a relatively large bending stiffness around a vertical axis parallel to the vertical direction V.

However, as a non-limiting example, the first connecting member 26 may comprise a longitudinal load transferring means 30 adapted to transfer longitudinal wire loads from the support member ti! the floating unit.

Fig. 2 illustrates an implementation of the longitudinal load transmitting means 30 which comprises at least one longitudinal load transmitting panel. The implementation of in Fig. 2 actually illustrates two longitudinal load-transmitting means 30, each of which comprises a load-transmitting panel, namely a first load-transmitting panel 32 and a second load-transmitting panel 34.

By way of example only, the wire balcony 22 may be configured such that when a longitudinal load is applied to the support member 24 at least 70%, preferably 90%, more preferably 95%, of the load is transferred to the first connecting member 26' via the at least one longitudinal load transmitting panel 32 , 34.

A cross-section of the embodiment of the wire balcony 22 in Fig. 2 illustrating the position of the second load-transmitting panel 34 is presented in Fig. 5.

Regardless of the design of the longitudinal load transmitting means 30, the longitudinal load transmitting means 30 may preferably be located between two adjacent coupling plates 28. In other words, a longitudinal load transmitting means 30 may preferably be located in a clamping space between two adjacent coupling plates 28. Fig, 2 illustrates that the embodiment of the wire balcony 22 illustrated herein comprises a transverse center line 38 which extends in the transverse direction T. Furthermore, the wire balcony in Fig. 2 comprises a proximal clamping space between two adjacent plates 28. Fig. 2 illustrates that the embodiment of the wire balcony 22 illustrated herein comprises a transverse center line 38 extending in the transverse direction T. As such, the transverse center line 38 is located at the longitudinal center of the wire balcony 22.

The embodiment of the cable balcony 22 in Fig. 2 comprises a distal clamping space 42 between two nearby connecting plates 28. Furthermore, the cable balcony in Fig. 2 comprises a proximal clamping space 44 between two nearby connecting plates 28.

The proximal clamping space 44 is located closer, in the longitudinal direction L, to the transverse centerline 38 than the distal clamping space 44. In the embodiment of the wire balcony 22 in Fig. 2, the proximal clamping space 44 is the clamping space which is located closest to the transverse centerline 38.

As another non-limiting example, a load-transmitting panel 32, 34 can have a thickness within the range 5 - 60mm, preferably within the range 15-40mm.

As another non-limiting example, a load-transmitting panel 32, 34 may be fixedly attached to its adjacent connecting plates 28. Furthermore, as a non-limiting example, a load-transferring panel 32, 34 may also, or instead, be fixedly attached to at least one of the support part© 24, e.g. the inner support part 24', and the floating unit 10 such as the outer shell 13 thereof. By way of example only, the fixed attachment of a load-transmitting panel 32, 34 to any of the above-mentioned components may be achieved by a welded joint and/or a bolted joint.

It should be noted that although the embodiments of the conductor balcony 22 that have been described above comprise a coupling part 26 which in turn comprises coupling plates 28 and possibly also one or more load transmitting plates 32, 34, it is also conceivable that the embodiments of the conductor balcony may comprise a coupling part which in turn comprises a lattice work and/or a truss system (not shown).

Furthermore, it should be noted that although the embodiments of the cable balcony 22 that have been described above comprise a support part 24 which in turn comprises panels 27", 27", it is also conceivable that the embodiments of the cable balcony 22 comprise a support part 24 which in turn comprises a lattice work and/or a truss system (not shown). Fig. 6 illustrates part of a floating unit 10. The floating unit 10 in Fig. 6 comprises a plurality of wire balconies 22. The floating unit 100 has a length Untieti the longitudinal direction L (ie the length between vertical planes of the floating unit 10 ).

A conduit balcony 22 preferably has a length LRBi in the longitudinal direction L which is less than 20%, preferably less than 6% of the floating unit's length Lem,*-Just as an example, a floating unit 10 may comprise a plurality of riser balconies each of which has a length less than 20%, preferably less than 6% of the length of the floating unit Lanh*t-

Finally, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or procedural steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated into any other disclosed or described or proposed form or embodiment as a general design choice. For example, although an FPSO has been used as an example of a floating unit in the description presented above, a wireline balcony can also be attached to another type of floating unit, such as a semi-submersible unit a barge, a Tension Leg Platform , a lifebuoy, a ship or similar. It is therefore intended to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claim attached hereto.

DESCRIPTION OF TEST PROCEDURE

DETERMINATION OF THE SECOND EXTENSION OF THE INTERNAL SUPPORT PART

Fig. 7 illustrates a procedure for determining the second extension of the inner support part when the first coupling part is exposed to a first determined extension.

First, a Finite Element (FE) model is generated for the wire balcony 22. The FE model should be generated to model the shape and material of the parts that make up the wire balcony 22.

Once the FE model has been generated, the FE nodes of the first link part 26' are identified. As has been discussed previously, the first coupling member 26' is adapted to be attached to the floating unit (not shown in Fig. 7).

The nodes of the inner support part 24' which are located at the first and second longitudinal ends 48, 50 of the wire balcony 22 are determined. Furthermore, the longitudinal distance Ls1 between the nodes at the first and second longitudinal ends 48, 50 of the inner support part 24' is determined before any part of the cable balcony 22 has been subjected to any movement.

A size of the first determined extension Ai is determined. The magnitude of the first fixed extension Ai should be relatively small so that mainly only elastic deformations occur in the wire balcony, but some unavoidable local plastic deformations may occur. Furthermore, the first fixed extension Ai is distributed along the longitudinal direction L so that the displacement is zero at the first longitudinal end 26'a of the first coupling part 26' and the longitudinal displacement is equal to Ai at the second longitudinal end 26'b of the first the coupling part 26'. As such, each node of the first link portion 26' included in the first longitudinal end 26'a is locked for movement in all three transmission movement directions, i.e. the longitudinal, transverse and vertical directions and also locked for rotation about the axis parallel to the longitudinal , the transverse and vertical directions.

The longitudinal displacement d of a node of the first link part, in which the node is located at a position x from 26'a in the longitudinal direction L is equal to:

Where LRB equals the distance, in the longitudinal direction L, between 26'a and 26'b before the extension of 26'.

Each of the FE nodes of the first coupling part 26' is subjected to a longitudinal displacement corresponding to the longitudinal position of the node according to equation 1 above. Each node, except those located at 26'a, is locked in the remaining 5 degrees of freedom.

Next, the resulting displacement of the wire balcony 22 is determined using FE analysis software.

The longitudinal distance Ls2 between the nodes at the first and second longitudinal ends 48, 50 is determined after the first coupling part 26' has been subjected to the above-discussed displacements. If the FE model includes a plurality of nodes where each is located at the first and second longitudinal ends, ends 48 and 50, but at different vertical positions, the average position of these nodes at each end is used to determine the value of the distances Ui. U2 between the first and second longitudinal ends 48, 50.

Then the second extension is determined by:

DETERMINATION OF LOAD TRANSFER THROUGH A LONGITUDINAL LOAD TRANSFER PANEL

Fig. 8 illustrates a procedure for determining the load transfer through a cable balcony.

First, a Finite Element (FE) model is generated for the wire balcony 22. The FE model should be generated so that it models the design and material of the parts that make up the wire balcony 22.

Once the FE model has been generated, the FE nodes of the first link part are identified. As has been discussed previously, the first coupling part 26' is adapted to be attached to the floating unit (not shown in Fig, 8). Each node included in the first link portion 26' is locked from movement in all three transverse directions of movement, i.e. the longitudinal, transverse and vertical directions and locked for rotation about axes parallel to the longitudinal, transverse and vertical directions.

A magnitude of a longitudinal load Fl is determined. The magnitude of the first determined extension FL should be relatively small so that essentially only elastic deformations occur in the wire balcony, but some unavoidable local plastic deformations may occur.

The longitudinal load FL is applied to the support part 24 of the cable balcony 22. To this end, half of the longitudinal load FL/2 is applied to the transverse center 40 of the support part 24 at its rear longitudinal end 41 and half of the longitudinal load Fl/2 is applied at the leading longitudinal end 42.

The reaction forces in the longitudinal direction of the nodes belonging to 32 as well as the first coupling part 26' have been determined using FE analysis. The sum of these reaction forces is the total load transferred by the longitudinal load transferring panel 32 to the unit 10.

In case there is more than one load transferring panel, the reaction forces of all the panels according to above shall be added to obtain the total longitudinal load transfer of the panels to the unit.

Claims (12)

1. A cable balcony (22) for a floating unit (10), where said cable balcony (22) comprises a support part (24) which is adapted to support at least one cable, where said cable balcony (22) further comprises a connecting part (26) which is adapted to connect said support part (24) to said floating unit (10), where said cable balcony (22) extends in a longitudinal direction (L) and a transverse direction (T), where said connecting part (26) extends in said transverse direction (T) from a first coupling part (26'), which is adapted to be attached to said floating unit (10), to a second coupling part (26"), attached to said support part (24), where said support part (24 ) comprises an inner support part (24') which is located closest to said first connecting part (26') in said transverse direction (T), where said cable balcony (22) is such that a first prescribed extension (Ai), in said longitudinal direction ( L), of said first connecting part (26'), leads to a second extension (A2), i said longitudinal direction (L), for said inner support part (24'), characterized in that at least part of said cable balcony (22) is relatively weak in at least said longitudinal direction (L) so that said second extension (A2) is less than or equal to 30% of said first extension (Ai). 2. The cable balcony (22) according to claim 1, where said cable balcony (22) is configured to have a certain longitudinal stiffness so that said second extension (A2) is greater than or equal to 0.01% of said first extension (Ai). 3. The cable balcony according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first connecting part (26') further comprises a longitudinal load transmitting means (30) which is adapted to transfer longitudinal cable loads from said support part (24) to said floating unit (10). 4. The cable balcony (22) according to claim 3, wherein said longitudinal load transmitting means (30) comprises at least one longitudinal load transmitting panel (32, 34). 5. The cable balcony (22) according to claim 4, where said cable balcony (22) is configured so that when a longitudinal load (FL) is applied to said support part (24) then at least 70%, preferably 90%, more preferably 95%, of said load transferred to said first connecting part (26') via said at least one longitudinal load-transmitting panel (32, 34). 6. The cable balcony (22) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said connecting part (26) comprises a plurality of connecting plates (28), each of which extends at least in said transverse direction (T). 7. The cable balcony (22) according to claim 6, where said cable balcony (22) further has an extension in a vertical direction (V), where each of said connecting plates (28) further extends substantially in said vertical direction (V). 8. The cable balcony (22) according to claim 7, where each of said connection plates (28) has a bending stiffness around a longitudinal axis parallel to said longitudinal direction (L) which is at least 100 times higher, preferably at least 10,000 times higher, than the bending stiffness around a vertical axis parallel to said vertical direction. 9. The cable balcony (22) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, when they are dependent on claim 3, wherein said longitudinal load transmitting means (30) is located between two connecting plates which lie next to each other. 10. The wiring balcony (22) according to claim 9, wherein said wiring balcony (22) comprises a transverse center line (38) which extends in said transverse direction (T), wherein said wiring balcony (22) comprises a distal clamping space (42) between two adjacent connection plates (28), where said cable balcony (22) further comprises a proximal clamp space (44) between two adjacent connection plates (28), where said proximal clamp space (44) is located closer, in said longitudinal direction (L), to said transverse center line ( 38) than said distal clamp space (42), where said longitudinal load transmitting means (30) is located in said proximal clamp space (44). A floating unit (10) comprising a conduit balcony (22) according to any one of the preceding claims. 12. The floating unit (10) according to claim 11, wherein the length (Lrb) in the longitudinal direction (L) of the cable balcony (22) is less than 20%, preferably less than 6%, of the length (Lrb) in the longitudinal direction (L) of the floating unit (10).