Complaint platform with parasite mooring through auxiliary vessel

• US 5,651,640 A
• Filed: 03/01/1993
• Issued: 07/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Johnson, Paul Richard, Huete, David Armstrong
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Dennis L.
• Application Number:
  US08/024,582
• Time in Patent Office: 1,611 Days
• Field of Search: 405/223.1, 405/224, 405/195.1, 175/7, 166/353, 166/354, 166/366, 166/367, 166/350, 166/359, 114/264, 114/266, 114/258, 114/230
• US Class Current: 405/223.1
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 21/50 Anchoring arrangements or methods for special vessels, e.g. for floating drilling platforms or dredgers

Abstract

A parasite mooring system is disclosed for restraining a compliant platform with respect to an auxiliary vessel. The parasite mooring system includes a parasite mooring line, a platform termination securing the parasite mooring line to the compliant platform; and a grip securing the parasite mooring line to a mooring line of the auxiliary vessel passing beyond the compliant platform. Another aspect of the present invention is a method for conducting offshore well operations in which a semisubmersible vessel is brought adjacent a compliant platform such that at least one mooring line of the semisubmersible vessel extends past the compliant platform and a parasite mooring line from the compliant platform is connected to the mooring line of the semisubmersible vessel. The parasite mooring line can then be tensioned to displace and restrain the compliant platform out of its normal position substantially over a well pattern and position the semisubmersible vessel over a selected well site within the well pattern at a location at the surface of the water which is not accessible to the semisubmersible vessel with the compliant platform in its normal position.

Claims

1. A parasite meeting system for restraining a compliant platform with respect to an auxiliary vessel, comprising:

a donor mooring line which is played out from the auxiliary vessel and anchored to an ocean floor at a location beyond the compliant platform;

an operable connection securing the donor mooring line of the auxiliary vessel to the compliant platform, said operable connection permitting tensioning upon the donor mooring line to shift the position of the compliant platform; and

whereby the compliant platform is temporarily restrained out of its normal alignment with respect to the ocean floor through the donor mooring line.

2. A parasite mooring line in accordance with claim 1 wherein the operable connection comprises:

a parasite mooring line;

a platform termination securing the parasite mooring line to the compliant platform in a manner that permits playing in and playing out the parasite mooring line; and

an intermediate connection securing the parasite mooring line to the donor mooring line of the auxiliary vessel.

3. A parasite mooring line in accordance with claim 1 wherein the operable connection comprises:

a trough mounted to the compliant platform; and

a friction-set grip mounted within the trough to receive the donor mooring line.

4. A parasite mooring system for restraining a compliant platform with respect to an auxiliary vessel having a mooring line which is anchored to an ocean floor at a location beyond the compliant platform, said parasite mooring system comprising:

a parasite mooring line;

a platform termination securing the parasite mooring line to the compliant platform in a manner that permits playing in and playing out the parasite mooring line; and

a connection securing the parasite mooring line to the mooring line of the auxiliary vessel.

5. A parasite mooring system in accordance with claim 4 wherein a plurality of mooring lines are provided by the auxiliary vessel as donor mooring lines which are slack between the auxiliary vessel and the compliant platform, further comprising:

a plurality of the parasite mooring lines connected to the compliant platform;

a plurality of the connections, each connecting one of the parasite mooring lines to a donor mooring line provided by the auxiliary vessel; and

a plurality of primary positioning mooring lines deployed by the auxiliary vessel to secure the position thereof relative to the ocean floor.

6. A parasite mooring system in accordance with claim 4 wherein the platform termination further comprises a winch for taking in and playing out the parasite mooring line.

7. A parasite mooring system in accordance with claim 6 wherein the platform termination comprises a closed chock mounted on the platform through which the parasite mooring line is threaded.

8. A parasite mooring system in accordance with claim 7 wherein the winch is a linear winch.

9. A parasite mooring system in accordance with claim 4 wherein the grip is a friction-set grip.

10. A parasite mooring system for restraining a tension leg well jacket with respect to a semisubmersible vessel having a mooring line which is anchored to an ocean floor at a location beyond the tension leg well jacket, said parasite mooring system comprising:

a parasite mooring line;

a platform termination securing the parasite mooring line to the tension leg platform in a manner that permits playing in and playing out the parasite mooring line; and

a connection securing the parasite mooring line to the mooring line of the semisubmersible vessel.

11. A parasite mooring system in accordance with claim 10 wherein a plurality of mooring lines are provided by the semisubmersible vessel as donor mooring lines which are slack between the semisubmersible vessel and the tension leg well jacket, further comprising:

a plurality of the parasite mooring lines connected to the tension leg well jacket;

a plurality of the connections, each connecting one of the parasite mooring lines to a donor mooring line provided by the semisubmersible vessel; and

a plurality of primary positioning mooring lines deployed by the semisubmersible vessel to secure the position thereof relative to the ocean floor.

12. A parasite mooring system in accordance with claim 10 wherein the platform termination further comprises a winch for taking in and playing out the parasite mooring line.

13. A parasite mooring system in accordance with claim 12 wherein the platform termination comprises a closed chock mounted on the tension leg well jacket through which the parasite mooring line is threaded.

14. A parasite mooring system in accordance with claim 13 wherein the winch is a linear winch.

15. A parasite mooring system in accordance with claim 10 wherein the connection is a friction-set grip.

16. A method for conducting offshore well operations, comprising:

placing an auxiliary vessel adjacent a compliant platform such that at least one donor mooring line of the auxiliary vessel extends past the compliant platform;

operably connecting the donor mooring line of the auxiliary vessel to the compliant platform;

tensioning the donor mooring line on its anchor end to displace and restrain the compliant platform out of its normal position substantially over a well pattern;

introducing slack in the donor mooring line between the auxiliary vessel and the compliant platform; and

positioning the auxiliary vessel over a selected well site of the pattern at a location at the surface of the water not accessible to the auxiliary vessel with the compliant platform in its normal position.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein operably connecting the donor mooring line comprises connecting a parasite mooring line from the compliant platform to the donor mooring line of the auxiliary vessel.

18. A method for conducting offshore well operations, comprising:

placing an auxiliary vessel adjacent a compliant platform such that at least one mooring line of the auxiliary vessel extends past the compliant platform;

connecting a parasite mooring line from the compliant platform to the mooring line of the auxiliary vessel;

tensioning the parasite mooring line to displace and restrain the compliant platform out of its normal position substantially over a well pattern; and

positioning the auxiliary vessel over a selected well site of the pattern at a location at the surface of the water not accessible to the auxiliary vessel with the compliant platform in its normal position.

19. A method for conducting offshore well operations, comprising:

placing a semisubmersible vessel adjacent a tension leg well jacket such that at a plurality of donor mooring lines of the semisubmersible vessel extend past the tension leg well jacket;

connecting a parasite mooring line from the tension leg well jacket to the mooring line of the semisubmersible vessel;

tensioning the parasite mooring line to displace and restrain the tension leg well jacket out of its normal position substantially over a well pattern; and

positioning the semisubmersible vessel over a selected well site of the pattern at a location at the surface of the water not accessible to the semisubmersible vessel with the tension leg well jacket in its normal position.

20. A method for conducting offshore operations in accordance with claim 19 wherein positioning the semisubmersible vessel over a selected well site comprises adjusting a plurality of primary positioning mooring lines deployed by the semisubmersible vessel and anchored to the ocean floor.

21. A method for conducting offshore well operations in accordance with claim 20, further comprising:

slackening the donor mooring line between the semisubmersible vessel and the tension leg well jacket; and

maintaining a clearance separating the semisubmersible vessel and the tension leg well jacket through the relative position each is anchored to the ocean floor.

22. A method for conducting offshore well operations in accordance with claim 21, wherein tensioning the parasite mooring line comprises drawing in the parasite mooring line with winches on the tension leg well jacket.