US2008014024A1PendingUtilityA1

Method for fabricating a reduced-heave floating structure

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Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jun 25, 2003Filed: Jun 25, 2003Published: Jan 17, 2008
Est. expiryJun 25, 2023(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Roald T. LokkenJ. Ward Turner
B63B 35/4406B63B 39/06B63B 75/00B63B 77/00B63B 2035/442
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Claims

Abstract

A method for installing a heave plate ( 100 ) on a floating structure ( 10 ). The method allows for construction of the floating structure ( 10 ) and heave plate ( 100 ) on-shore, while providing for installation of the heave plate on the floating structure at sea.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method for installing a heave plate on an offshore floating structure, said method comprising:
 (a) providing said heave plate and said floating structure at an offshore joining site, said heave plate containing a template capable of receiving at least a portion of the horizontal cross section of said floating structure;   (b) vertically positioning said floating structure with said heave plate along a common vertical axis;   (c) contacting said floating structure with said template of said heave plate; and   (d) structurally connecting said heave plate to said floating structure.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said floating structure is a spar. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said heave plate is connected to said floating structure so that said heave plate is horizontally disposed. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said heave plate is a vessel capable of variable buoyancy. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said offshore floating structure further comprises a deck, and wherein said vessel with variable buoyancy transports said deck to said offshore joining site. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said heave plate is non-buoyant. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said non-buoyant heave plate is transported to said offshore joining site on a vessel. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said vertical positioning step comprises submerging said heave plate and positioning said heave plate beneath said floating structure. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said template within said heave plate comprises an opening that extends through a portion of the height of said heave plate. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said contacting step comprises contacting the lower end of said floating structure with the top of said template. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said contacting step further comprises the use of guide lines. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said vertical positioning step comprises submerging said floating structure and positioning said floating structure beneath said heave plate. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said template within said heave plate comprises an opening that extends through the height of said heave plate. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said contacting step further comprises the use of joining lines. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said contacting step comprises contacting the upper end of said floating structure with the bottom of said template. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising re-positioning said heave plate from the upper end of said floating structure to the lower end of said floating structure prior to said step of connecting said heave plate to said floating structure. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said connecting step comprises latching said heave plate to said floating structure. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said connecting step comprises grouting the annulus between said heave plate and said floating structure. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising towing the combined floating structure and heave plate from said offshore joining site to an offshore production location. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said vertical positioning step comprises submerging said floating structure and positioning said floating structure beneath said heave plate. 
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 (e) producing offshore hydrocarbon resources using the floating structure.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 (f) transporting the hydrocarbon resources to shore.   
   
   
       23 . An offshore floating structure with a heave plate installed according to any one of  claims 1  through  20 .

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