Bumper docking between offshore drilling vessels and compliant platforms
First Claim
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1. A bumper system for docking an auxiliary vessel with a compliant platform comprising:
- a first pad presenting a vertically extending outboard face from the auxiliary vessel;
a second pad presenting a vertically extending complementary outboard face from the compliant platform configured to engage the outboard face of the first pad in vertically slidable abutment; and
a biasing system to push the auxiliary vessel and the compliant platform into abutment across the first and second pads;
whereby the auxiliary vessel docks to the compliant platform in a manner such that vertical loading is not substantially transmitted between the vessel and the compliant platform across the sliding engagement of the abutted first and second pads.
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Abstract
A bumper system is disclosed for docking an auxiliary drilling vessel to a compliant platform through first and second pads having vertically extending, complementary outboard faces presented from the respective structures in vertically slidable abutment. A biasing system pushes the vessel and platform into abutment across the first and second pads and the system allows the vessel to dock to the structure in a manner such that vertical loading is not substantially transmitted between the vessel and the structure across the sliding engagement.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A bumper system for docking an auxiliary vessel with a compliant platform comprising:
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a first pad presenting a vertically extending outboard face from the auxiliary vessel; a second pad presenting a vertically extending complementary outboard face from the compliant platform configured to engage the outboard face of the first pad in vertically slidable abutment; and a biasing system to push the auxiliary vessel and the compliant platform into abutment across the first and second pads; whereby the auxiliary vessel docks to the compliant platform in a manner such that vertical loading is not substantially transmitted between the vessel and the compliant platform across the sliding engagement of the abutted first and second pads. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A bumper system for docking an offshore drilling vessel with a compliant platform, comprising:
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a first pad presenting a vertically extending outboard face; a first mount connecting the first pad to the offshore drilling vessel; a second pad presenting a vertically extending complementary outboard face configured to engage the outboard face of the first pad in vertically slidable abutment; a second mount connecting the second pad to the compliant platform; a biasing system to push the offshore drilling vessel and the compliant platform into abutment across the first and second pads; whereby the offshore drilling vessel docks to the compliant platform in a manner such that vertical loading is not substantially transmitted between the vessel and the compliant platform across the sliding engagement of the abutted first and second pads. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for conducting offshore well operations, comprising:
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restraining an offshore drilling vessel with respect to a compliant platform through a bumper system, comprising; presenting from the offshore drilling vessel a vertically extending outboard face of a first pad; presenting from the compliant platform a vertically extending complementary outboard face of a second pad configured to engage the outboard face of the first pad in vertically slidable abutment; biasing the offshore drilling vessel and the compliant platform into abutment across the first and second pads; positioning the offshore drilling vessel over a selected well site comprising; driving the compliant platform out of substantially vertical alignment with the selected well site; and substantially vertically aligning a drilling derrick of the offshore drilling vessel over the selected well site and securing this position for well operations while continuing to restrain the position of the offshore drilling vessel with respect to the compliant platform; and conducting well operations from the offshore drilling vessel through a substantially vertical riser.
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Specification