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, that provides the primary support structure for the subsea well, the mooring assembly comprising:
 (a) a housing fixed to the well conductor and including a rotatably mounted vessel attachment point extending laterally therefrom;   (b) a base defining an interface for a subsea ground surface; and   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 fixing means comprises a first mating surface provided on the housing that is compatible with a second mating surface on the well conductor. 
     
     
         70 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 67 , wherein the housing further comprises a locating means for centring a well casing therein. 
     
     
         71 . 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. 
     
     
         72 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 67 , wherein the base comprises at least one engaging means for the subsea ground surface. 
     
     
         73 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 72 , wherein the engaging means for the subsea ground surface comprises a projection. 
     
     
         74 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 72 , 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. 
     
     
         75 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 72 , 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).   
     
     
         76 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 75 , wherein the additional anchoring element is a stake, pile, screw or a spike. 
     
     
         77 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 67 , wherein the base further comprises a spacing means to allow the formation of a void between the base and the subsea ground surface, when in use, and 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. 
     
     
         78 . 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. 
     
     
         79 . 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. 
     
     
         80 . 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. 
     
     
         81 . A method of fitting a mooring assembly for a vessel to a subsea well including a well conductor, that provides the primary support structure for the subsea well, the method comprising the steps of
 (a) providing the mooring assembly including a base and a vessel attachment point; and   (b) rotatably mounting and fixing 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.   
     
     
         82 . 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. 
     
     
         83 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 67 , wherein the well conductor comprises a conductor pipe or conductor casing. 
     
     
         84 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 68 , wherein the conduit defines an upper end and a lower end and an inner surface therebetween with a profile that is sized and shaped to allow the housing to form a sleeve or sheath around the well conductor. 
     
     
         85 . The mooring assembly according to  claim 67  fitted to a subsea well, wherein the subsea well further comprises a flow controller and wherein the rotatably mounted vessel attachment point is adapted to rotate independently of the flow controller. 
     
     
         86 . The method according to  claim 81 , wherein fixing the mooring assembly to the well conductor comprises the step of applying a fixing material such as concrete or cement. 
     
     
         87 . The method according to  claim 82 , wherein the step of applying a fixing material such as concrete or cement further comprises applying the fixing material so that it extends below the subsea ground surface. 
     
     
         88 . The method according to  claim 81 , further comprising the step of fitting a flow controller to the subsea well and wherein the mooring assembly and the flow controller can rotate independently of each other.