Anchoring system and method of installing a floating platform using said anchoring system

Abstract

An anchoring system for floating platform which eliminates the pitch and roll movements of the floating platform using anchoring lines (200) attached to the seabed (5), which are supported by several pulleys or rotary fixing means (2, 3) of the floating platform (100) and are all joined in a common counterweight (1) hanging from the floating platform (100). Each anchoring line (200) comprises a direct subline (200d) and a cross subline (200c), which maintain the counterweight (1) always located in correspondence with the central axis (300) of the floating platform (100). It also describes a novel method for installing the floating platform at its destination without the aid of special ships.

1 . An anchoring system comprising a floating platform and at least one pair of anchoring lines, configured to fix or anchor the floating platform to the seabed by means of at least one bottom section of each anchoring line, wherein each anchoring line also comprises a central section attached to a counterweight, wherein each pair of anchoring lines comprises two anchoring lines arranged in a plane that passes through a central axis of the floating platform, and located respectively on one side and the other of the central axis of the floating platform, wherein the anchoring system comprises at least one first rotating fixing means for each anchoring line, where each first rotating fixing means is fixed to a first point of the floating platform and is configured to fix each anchoring line to the floating platform at said first point of the floating platform, allowing the sliding of the anchoring line along said first rotary fixing means, characterized in that:
 each anchoring line comprises at least one direct subline and one cross subline, each comprising its own anchoring cable or chain, wherein each direct subline runs from the first rotary fastening means to the counterweight fly without passing through the central axis of the floating platform, and wherein each cross subline runs from the first rotary fastening means to the counterweight through the central axis of the floating platform;   wherein the system comprises at least one second rotary fastening means for each anchoring line, wherein each second rotary fastening means is fixed to a second point of the floating platform and is configured to fasten each cross subline of each anchoring line to the floating platform at said second point of the floating platform, allowing sliding of the cross subline along said second rotary fastening means, so that each cross subline runs from the first rotary fastening means to the counterweight first through the central axis of the floating platform and secondly sliding along the second rotary fastening means.   
     
     
         2 . The anchoring system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the floating platform comprises a pair of protruding structural arms for each pair of anchoring lines, wherein each pair of protruding structural arms comprises a first arm and a second arm located symmetrically with respect to the central axis of the floating platform, wherein each protruding structural arm is attached to a main structure of the floating platform, wherein each protruding structural arm runs radially from a first end attached to the main structure of the floating platform to a second end projected outwardly of the floating platform wherein the at least one first rotating fixing means is fixed to the floating platform in correspondence with the second end of the first arm, and wherein the at least one second rotating fixing means is fixed to the floating platform at a point located in correspondence with the second arm. 
     
     
         3 . The anchoring system according to  claim 2 , characterised in that the main structure of the floating platform comprises a geometry in the form of a cylindrical, conical or pyramidal shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The anchoring system according to  claim 3 , characterized in that it comprises a plurality of spokes connected to the main structure where at each free end of each spoke there is a flotation element. 
     
     
         5 . The anchoring system according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the flotation elements comprise at least one floodable chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The anchoring system according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the main structure comprises at least one flotation element. 
     
     
         7 . The anchoring system according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the at least one flotation element comprises at least one floodable chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The anchoring system according to  claim 2 , characterised in that the main structure of the floating platform comprises a ring-shaped geometry, said ring being joined by means of spokes to a cylindrical, conical or pyramidal shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The anchoring system according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the main structure constitutes a flotation ring. 
     
     
         10 . The anchoring system according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the flotation ring comprises at least one floodable chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The anchoring system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises at least a third rotary fixing means for each anchoring line, wherein each third rotary fixing means is fixed to a third point of the floating platform and is configured to attach each direct subline of each anchoring line to the floating platform at said third point of the floating platform allowing the sliding of the direct subline along said third rotary fixing means, so that each direct subline runs from the first rotary fixing means to the counterweight passing through and sliding along the third rotary fixing means. 
     
     
         12 . The anchoring system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises at least one rotary guiding means for each anchoring line, wherein each rotary guiding means is attached to a fourth point of the floating platform and is configured to guide the course of the cross-subline of each anchoring line allowing the sliding of the cross-subline by said rotary guiding means, so that each cross-subline runs between the first rotary fixing means and the second rotary fixing means passing through and sliding along the rotary guiding means. 
     
     
         13 . The anchoring system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that each bottom section of each anchoring line comprises a buoy that divides the bottom section into a first portion that runs between the seabed and the buoy and a second portion that runs between the buoy and the at least one first rotary fixing means. 
     
     
         14 . The anchoring system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the counterweight comprises at least one floodable chamber. 
     
     
         15 . A method of installing a floating platform using an anchoring system according to  claim 14 , characterized in that it comprises:
 positioning and/or anchoring to the seabed, under a place of installation of the floating platform, at least one anchor and/or at least one bottom weight, and/or at least one anchoring ring and/or a set of piles;   moving the floating platform and the counterweight to its place of installation, where the at least one floodable chamber is located without flooding;   attaching a free end of the bottom section of each anchoring line to the at least one anchor and/or the at least one bottom weight- and/or the at least one anchoring ring and/or the set of piles, or;   to a buoy previously joined by a first portion of the bottom section of the anchoring line, to the at least one anchor and/or the at least one bottom weight, and/or to the at least one anchoring ring and/or to the set of piles;   fixing a free end of the central section of each anchoring line to the counterweight;   dragging the floating platform sideways until the anchoring lines are tensioned, and;   flooding the at least one flotation chamber.