Mounting Of Offshore Structures

Abstract

Offshore structures such as wind turbines, wave machines and tidal stream turbines are mounted in a previously located foundation including a socket. The foundation includes an upper body with a conical inner surface which acts as a guide for inserting a leading end of the structure into the socket. The conical surface also provides a reaction surface for setting the vertical alignment of the structure when inserted in the socket. Clamps are provided supported by an A frame for controlled lowering of the structure into the socket.

1 . A structure comprising an end part adapted for insertion into a foundation, the foundation comprising a socket having a base surface, an intermediate supporting part and an upper body having an internal guiding surface adapted to guide said end part into the intermediate supporting part, said structure further comprising an active adjustable alignment means disposed on said end part positionable, when said end part has been accommodated in the socket, to act on said internal guiding surface, the alignment means being configured such that adjustment thereof moves the structure relative to the socket to align the structure into a desired alignment, the alignment means detachable from the end part with the end part remaining in the foundation. 
     
     
         2 . The structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the end part is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         3 . The structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the end part further includes a leading end portion of substantially conical shape. 
     
     
         4 . The structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the alignment means are a plurality of hydraulic cylinders. 
     
     
         5 . The structure as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a means for recovering the alignment means from the end part after the end part is inserted into the foundation and the alignment means is detached from the end part. 
     
     
         6 . The structure as claimed in  claim 1 , the alignment means moveable along the length of end part. 
     
     
         7 . The structure as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein a curved, substantially spherical or part spherical element is disposed on the tip of the leading end portion whereby the conical leading end portion is prevented from fully abutting the base surface of the socket. 
     
     
         8 . The structure as claimed in  claim 6 , the alignment means reattachable to the end part. 
     
     
         9 . An offshore structure mountable in a foundation, wherein the structure comprises an end part having a leading end portion of substantially conical shape and controllable alignment means located on the leading end part, the foundation comprising a socket comprising a base surface of substantially conical shape sized substantially to conform with the substantially conical end portion, an intermediate supporting part and an upper body having an internal guiding surface that is frusto-conical, wherein the socket operatively receives the leading end part such that the conical base surface and the conical end portion are in juxtaposition and the internal guiding surface operatively provides a reaction surface against which the adjustable alignment means operatively act for adjustment of the structure into a desired alignment when the end part has been accommodated in the socket, the alignment means detachable from the end part after the end part is inserted in the foundation, and wherein the inner surface of the intermediate supporting part and the outer surface of the end part of the structure are cylindrical. 
     
     
         10 . The structure as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said inner and outer surfaces are spaced apart in use. 
     
     
         11 . The structure as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein a curved, substantially spherical or part spherical element is disposed on the tip of the leading end portion whereby the conical leading end portion is prevented from fully abutting the conical base surface of the socket. 
     
     
         12 . The structure as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the alignment means are a plurality of hydraulic cylinders. 
     
     
         13 . The structure as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising a means for recovering the alignment means from the end part after the end part is inserted into the foundation and the alignment means is detached from the end part. 
     
     
         14 . The structure as claimed in  claim 9 , the alignment means moveable along the length of the end part. 
     
     
         15 . The structure as claimed in  claim 9 , the alignment means reattachable to the end part.