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Ballast extension-submersion truss stable platform

a stable platform and submerged technology, applied in waterborne vessels, special-purpose vessels, movement controllers, etc., can solve the problems of high cost, challenge, and current deep-water floating platform designs

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-09-06
CHOW ANDREW W
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  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] Ballast Extension-Submersion Truss Stable Platform (hereinafter BEST Stable Platform) capitalizes on a minimized wave-zone buoyancy design to enable platform construction in shallow water and facilitates towing of entire structure to deployment location. At oil-production work site BEST Stable Platform ballast and its truss are lowered to ensure platform stability. For horizontal movement, mooring lines are floated by water density-neutral means to remove anchor line curvature. Therefore, mooring lines could be pulled straight under water to provide optimal horizontal resistance.

Problems solved by technology

However, there are challenges with current deep-water floating platform designs.
Deep-draught platform transportation and deployment in deep waters requires installation of topside superstructure in mid ocean, which is challenging and expensive.

Method used

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Embodiment Construction

[0009] Current technology for oil and gas production requires flooding a spar in deep waters with subsequent lifting and installation of topside structures over the up-righted spar. The process is expensive as spars require substantial steel, and transporting components to drill site for assembly and lifting tremendous weight onto a floating spar add to the costs and technical challenges. The BEST Stable platform could be constructed with less steel, fabricated completely in shallow water at or near a dock or yard, and towed as a finished platform to a location for drilling and production.

[0010]FIG. 1 shows a BEST Stable Platform 10 which includes a reduced water-plane area section floating at waterline 20. The figure shows platform configuration as deployed over a drill site. Float 30 provides buoyancy to support the entire platform, and in comparison to spars, a horizontally extending float 30 can enclose a larger volume with less steel and can be fabricated at lower cost. Furthe...

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Abstract

To overcome high construction and deployment / installation costs of spar platforms that are typically employed in deep waters for oil and gas production, Ballast Extension-Submersion Truss Stable Platform (BEST Stable Platform) capitalizes on a minimized wave-zone buoyancy design to control platform water-plane area. With a truss connected ballast that could be positioned at different depths, the Best Stable Platform can be constructed in shallow water near a fabrication yard, and the entire assembly could be towed to a drill site where the extended and submerged ballast would provide operational stability. For horizontal stability, mooring lines are floated by water neutral-density means to remove anchor line curvature. Accordingly, mooring lines could be pulled straight under water to provide optimal horizontal resistance, thereby reducing the need for excessive mooring line pretension that increases platform loads. Savings are realized by not having to design floating platforms that must have extra capacity to accommodate added pretension.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This Application is related to application Ser. No. 11 / 159,089.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] not applicable INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC [0003] not applicable BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] As oil and gas operations extend farther and farther out into deeper ocean areas, new technology has facilitated the petroleum industry's ability to manage production in more difficult environments. However, there are challenges with current deep-water floating platform designs. Deep-draught platform transportation and deployment in deep waters requires installation of topside superstructure in mid ocean, which is challenging and expensive. At depth of 10,000 ft for example, mooring lines for horizontal stability are affected by catenary curvature flexibility of anchor cables or chains, and large horizontal platform movement results as mooring line curvature changes with...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): B63B35/44
CPCB63B35/4406B63B21/20B63B2001/044B63B2021/505B63B2039/067
Inventor CHOW, ANDREW W.
Owner CHOW ANDREW W
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