Mooring Assembly

Abstract

A mooring assembly for attaching a vessel to a subsea well including a well conductor, the mooring assembly comprising: (a) a housing for the well conductor; (b) a base defining an interface for a subsea ground surface; and (c) a rotatably mounted vessel attachment point; wherein, in use, a vessel moored to the subsea well is capable of rotational movement around the subsea well.

1 - 66 . (canceled) 
     
     
         67 . A mooring assembly for attaching a vessel to a subsea well including a well conductor, the mooring assembly comprising:
 (a) a housing for the well conductor;   (b) a base defining an interface for a subsea ground surface; and   (c) a rotatably mounted vessel attachment point;   
       wherein, in use, a vessel moored to the subsea well is capable of rotational movement around the subsea well. 
     
     
         68 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 67 , wherein the housing defines a conduit for the well conductor. 
     
     
         69 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 67 , wherein the housing comprises fixing means to enable it to be fixed in position relative to the well conductor. 
     
     
         70 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 69 , wherein the fixing means comprises a first mating surface provided on the housing that is compatible with a second mating surface on the well conductor. 
     
     
         71 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 70 , wherein the first mating surface comprises a pin, a ball, a bore, a projection, a blade, or a channel. 
     
     
         72 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 67 , wherein the housing further comprises a locating means for centring a well casing therein. 
     
     
         73 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 67 , wherein the housing further comprises a guide means to further assist with landing a well casing in the housing. 
     
     
         74 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 67 , wherein the base comprises at least one engaging means for the subsea ground surface. 
     
     
         75 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 74 , wherein the engaging means for the subsea ground surface comprises a projection. 
     
     
         76 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 74 , wherein the engaging means for the subsea ground surface comprises at least one arm or strut that extends laterally from the base to allow the interface to extend over a larger area of subsea ground surface; and, optionally, the engaging means for the subsea ground surface comprises a projection. 
     
     
         77 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 74 , wherein the engaging means for the subsea ground surface is adapted to receive an additional anchoring element; and, optionally:
 (i) the engaging means for the subsea ground surface comprises a projection,   (ii) the engaging means for the subsea ground surface comprises at least one arm or strut that extends laterally from the base to allow the interface to extend over a larger area of subsea ground surface, or   (iii) both (i) and (ii).   
     
     
         78 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 77 , wherein the additional anchoring element is a stake, pile, screw or a spike. 
     
     
         79 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 67 , wherein the base further comprises a spacing means to allow the formation of void between the base and the subsea ground surface, when in use. 
     
     
         80 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 79 , wherein the void is adapted to allow for the passage of a fixing material, such as mortar, glue, cement, or concrete to an area adjacent to a lower portion of the base. 
     
     
         81 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 67 , wherein the base comprises a skirt or at least one arm that extends out radially from the main longitudinal axis of the housing. 
     
     
         82 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 67 , wherein the rotatably mounted vessel attachment point comprises at least one bearing member that defines a bearing surface. 
     
     
         83 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 67 , wherein the rotatably mounted vessel attachment point comprises an attachment member for releasably receiving a vessel anchor line or hawser. 
     
     
         84 . A method for fitting a mooring assembly for a vessel to a subsea well including a well conductor, the method comprising the steps of
 (a) providing the mooring assembly including a base; and   (b) rotatably mounting the mooring assembly to the well conductor at or near a subsea ground surface;   
       wherein, in use, a vessel moored to the subsea well is capable of rotational movement around the subsea well. 
     
     
         85 . A method according to  claim 84 , further comprising the step of fixing the mooring assembly to the well conductor. 
     
     
         86 . A method for mooring a vessel to a subsea well, the method comprising the step of attaching the vessel to the subsea well via a mooring assembly according to  claim 67  and wherein, when moored, the vessel is capable of rotational movement around the subsea well.