Honeycomb Buoyant Island Structures

Abstract

Multi-cylinder buoyant island structures, such as may be used for staging and storage related to offshore oil and gas production activities, and methods of use and manufacture.

1 . An offshore buoyant structure comprising:
 an inner cylinder having a radius;   a plurality of outer cylinders coupled around the inner cylinder such that each outer cylinder is not separated from immediately adjacent ones of the outer cylinders by a distance greater than the radius of the inner cylinder;   where the support structure is configured to be disposed in a body of water with the inner cylinder and outer cylinders substantially vertical.   
     
     
         2 . The support structure of  claim 1 , where each of the outer cylinders is in contact with two adjacent ones of the outer cylinders. 
     
     
         3 . The support structure of  claim 1 , where the structure is disposed in a body of water with the inner cylinder and outer cylinders substantially vertical, the support structure further comprising;
 a platform coupled to and supported above the cylinders.   
     
     
         4 . The support structure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more spacers disposed between at least two of the central and outer cylinders.   
     
     
         5 . The support structure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of intermediate vertical cylinders disposed between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinders.   
     
     
         6 . The support structure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an outer shell coupled around the outer cylinders.   
     
     
         7 . The support structure of  claim 6 , where the outer shell comprises steel, iron, alloy, and/or reinforced concrete. 
     
     
         8 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The support structure of  claim 1 , where at least one cylinder includes a variable-buoyancy mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The support structure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one suction anchor coupled to the cylinders.   
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 positioning a buoyant support structure of  claim 1  in a body of water such that the cylinders are substantially vertical.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 coupling the support structure to a suction anchor secured to a seafloor under the body of water.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 coupling a platform to and above the cylinders.   
     
     
         18 . A method of constructing an offshore support structure, the method comprising:
 coupling a plurality of outer cylinders around an inner cylinder having a radius such that each outer cylinder is not separated from immediately adjacent ones of the outer cylinders by a distance greater than the radius of the inner cylinder;   where the coupled inner cylinder and outer cylinders are configured to be disposed substantially vertically in a body of water to support a platform for production of hydrocarbons.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , where the outer cylinders are coupled such that each of the outer cylinders is in contact with two adjacent ones of the outer cylinders. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 disposed the support structure in a body of water with the inner cylinder and outer cylinders substantially vertical; and   coupling a platform to the inner cylinder and outer cylinders.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 disposing one or more spacers between at least two of the central and outer cylinders.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 coupling a plurality of intermediate vertical cylinders between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinders.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 coupling an outer shell around the outer cylinders.   
     
     
         24 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 disposing one or more production apparatuses within an interior region defined by the outer cylinders.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 coupling a heating element to the outer shell.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 18 , where at least one cylinder includes a variable-buoyancy mechanism. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 coupling the cylinders to at least one suction anchor.