Multi-use offshore structure

Abstract

Described is a multi-use offshore structure having a first configuration and a second configuration. The first configuration includes a pontoon base disposed at a lower end of the multi-use offshore structure. A deck is disposed at an upper end of the multi-use offshore structure, and hull column structures extend between the pontoon base and the deck. The second configuration includes the pontoon base, the deck, and the hull column structures of the first configuration. A set of sponsons is formed to be installed on the hull column structures, and a deck expansion unit is connectable with the deck.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A multi-use offshore structure, comprising:
 a multi-use offshore structure having a first configuration and a second configuration, the first configuration comprising:
 a pontoon base disposed at a lower end of the multi-use offshore structure, the pontoon base having a top surface and a bottom surface;
 a deck disposed at an upper end of the multi-use offshore structure; and 
 
 a plurality of hull column structures extending between the pontoon base and the deck, each hull column structure having a top end and a bottom end; 
   the second configuration comprising:
 the pontoon base, the deck, and the plurality of hull column structures of the first configuration, and 
 a set of sponsons, each sponson formed to be installed on one hull column structure of the plurality of hull column structures, 
 wherein each of the plurality of hull column structures is designed to receive a sponson; and 
 a deck expansion unit connectable with the deck. 
   
     
     
         2 . The multi-use offshore structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first configuration has a first deck capacity and the second configuration has a second deck capacity, wherein the second deck capacity is greater than the first deck capacity. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-use offshore structure of  claim 1 , comprising one or more sponson connections attached with a hull column structure, wherein each sponson comprises at least one connection element for attaching with a sponson connection. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-use offshore structure of  claim 3 , wherein at least one sponson is formed to be ballasted. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-use offshore structure of  claim 1 , wherein each sponson is installed on a hull column structure such that a bottom end of each sponson is substantially aligned with the bottom surface of the pontoon base. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-use offshore structure of  claim 1 , wherein each sponson is installed on a hull column structure such that a top end of each sponson is substantially aligned with the top end of the hull column structure. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-use offshore structure of  claim 1 , wherein each sponson is configured to be removably installed on a hull column structure. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-use offshore structure of  claim 1 , wherein the deck expansion unit is configured to be detachably attached with the deck in the second configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-use offshore structure of  claim 8 , comprising at least one module formed to be installed on the deck expansion unit in the second configuration. 
     
     
         10 . A method for forming a multi-use offshore structure, comprising:
 designing the multi-use offshore structure to be expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration, the first configuration comprising:
 a pontoon base disposed at a lower end of the multi-use offshore structure, the pontoon base having a top surface and a bottom surface; 
 a deck disposed at an upper end of the multi-use offshore structure; and 
 a plurality of hull column structures extending between the pontoon base and the deck, each hull column structure having a top end and a bottom end; 
 the second configuration comprising: 
 the pontoon base, the deck, and the plurality of hull column structures of the first configuration; and 
 a set of sponsons; 
 the method further comprising: 
   installing the set of sponsons on the multi-use offshore structure while in the first configuration, wherein each sponson is installed on one hull column structure of the plurality of hull column structures; and   connecting a deck expansion unit to the deck, forming the second configuration.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the designing comprises:
 determining a target increase in deck capacity for the second configuration; and   based on a plurality of calculated parameters, forming the set of sponsons and deck expansion unit to meet the target increase in deck capacity.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of calculated parameters comprises one or more of weight, length, width, mooring size, airgap, heave, roll, pitch, and riser porch vertical velocity. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first configuration has a first deck capacity and the second configuration has a second deck capacity, wherein the second deck capacity is greater than the first deck capacity. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising attaching each sponson to a hull column structure via a sponson connection. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising ballasting at least one sponson. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein connecting the deck expansion unit to the deck comprises lifting the deck expansion unit to the deck utilizing one or more cranes installed on the multi-use offshore structure. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each sponson is installed on one of the hull column structures of the plurality of hull column structures such that a bottom end of each sponson is substantially aligned with the bottom surface of the pontoon base. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each sponson is installed on one of the hull column structures of the plurality of hull column structures such that a top end of each sponson is substantially aligned with the top end of the hull column structure.