Articulated multiple buoy marine platform apparatus

• US 6,435,774 B1
• Filed: 11/29/2000
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Versabar, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jon Khachaturian
• Inventors: Khachaturian, Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADDIE, RAYMOND W
• Application Number:
  US09/727,343
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 405/195.1, 405/205, 405/223.1, 405/224, 405/196, 405/202, 114/65.R
• US Class Current: 405/202
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 1/048 with hull extending principally vertically
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 1/105 comprising a cockpit surrounded and pivotally supported by at least three floats
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 1/107 Semi-submersibles; Small waterline area multiple hull vessels and the like, e.g. SWATH
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 1/14 the hulls being interconnected resiliently or having means for actively varying hull shape or configuration collapsible, foldable, inflatable or like vessels B63B7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2021/505 Methods for installation or mooring of floating offshore platforms on site
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2035/442 Spar-type semi-submersible structures, i.e. shaped as single slender, e.g. substantially cylindrical or trussed vertical bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/4413 Floating drilling platforms, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices

Abstract

A marine platform provides a plurality of buoys, a platform having a peripheral portion that includes a plurality of attachment positions, one attachment position for each buoy, and a connection that connects each buoy to the platform at a respective attachment position, the connection allowing for sea state induced buoy motions while minimizing effect on the platform. Each connection can provide first and second portions (or devices) and a load transfer mechanism that transfers load from the first portion to the second portion so that one of the portions (or devices) can be serviced.

Claims

1. A marine platform, comprising:

a) a plurality of individual buoys;

b) a platform having an oil and gas well producing facility and a peripheral portion that includes plurality of connecting positions, one connecting position for each buoy; and

c) a plurality of connections that connect the buoys to the platform at respective connecting positions, each connection allowing for buoy motion induced by sea movement while reducing sea movement effect on the platform; and

d) the connection including first and second connection devices that enable removal of one of the connection devices for servicing, the other device connecting the buoy to the platform during such servicing.

2. The marine platform of claim 1 further comprising a mooring extending from a plurality of the buoys for holding the platform and buoys to a desired location.

3. The marine platform of claim 1 wherein the connections include universal joints.

4. The marine platform of claim 1 wherein each of the devices is a universal joint.

5. The marine platform of claim 1 wherein the devices include an internal device and an external device.

6. The marine platform of claim 1 wherein the devices include an internal universal joint and an external universal joint.

7. The marine platform of claim 1 wherein each buoy has a height and a diameter, the height being greater than the diameter.

8. The marine platform of claim 1 wherein there are at least three buoys and at least three connecting positions.

9. The marine platform of claim 1 wherein there are at least four buoys and at least four connecting positions.

10. The marine platform of claim 1 wherein there are between 3 and 8 connecting positions.

11. The marine platform of claim 1 wherein the platform is comprised of a trussed deck.

12. The marine platform of claim 1 wherein the trussed deck has lower horizontal members, upper horizontal members, and a plurality of inclined members spanning between the upper and lower horizontal members.

13. The marine platform of claim 1 wherein each buoy is between 100 and 500 feet in height.

14. The marine platform of claim 1 wherein each buoy is between about 25 and 100 feet in diameter.

15. The marine platform of claim 1 wherein each buoy has a generally uniform diameter over a majority of its length.

16. The marine platform of claim 1 wherein each buoy has an upper end portion that is generally cylindrically shaped.

17. The marine platform of claim 1 further comprising a device load transfer mechanism, wherein one of the devices can be loaded with the load transfer mechanism so that the other device is unloaded.

18. The marine platform of claim 1 wherein the buoys support a platform that weighs between 500 and 100,000 tons.

19. marine platform, comprising:

a) a plurality of buoys;

b) a platform having an oil and gas well producing facility weighing between 500 tons and 100,000 tons and a peripheral portion that includes a plurality of connecting positions, one connecting position for each buoy; and

c) a plurality of connections that connect the buoys to the platform at respective connecting positions, each connection allowing for buoy motion induced by sea movement while reducing sea movement effect on the platform;

d) the connection between each buoy and the platform including first and second articulating devices and a load transfer mechanism that enables at least some of the platform load to be transferred from one device to the other device, enabling one of the devices to be serviced.

20. The marine platform of claim 19 further comprising a mooring extending from a plurality of the buoys for holding the platform and buoys to a desired location.

21. The marine platform of claim 19 wherein the connection devices are universal joints.

22. The marine platform of claim 19 wherein each of the connections includes an inner device surrounded by an external device.

23. The marine platform of claim 22 wherein the inner device is an articulating portion.

24. The marine platform of claim 19 wherein the outer device is an articulating portion.

25. The marine platform of claim 19 wherein each buoy has a height and a diameter, the height being greater than the diameter.

26. The marine platform of claim 19 wherein there are at least three buoys and at least three connecting positions.

27. The marine platform of claim 19 wherein there are at least four buoys and at least four connecting positions.

28. The marine platform of claim 19 wherein the platform is comprised of a trussed deck.

29. The marine platform of claim 19 wherein the trussed deck has lower horizontal members, upper horizontal members, and a plurality of inclined members spanning between the upper and lower horizontal members.

30. The marine platform of claim 19 wherein each buoy is between 100 and 500 feet in height.

31. The marine platform of claim 19 wherein each buoy is between about 25 and 100 feet in diameter.

32. The marine platform of claim 19 wherein each buoy has a generally uniform diameter over a majority of its length.

33. A marine platform, comprising:

a) a plurality of buoys;

b) a platform having an oil and gas well producing facility and a peripheral portion that includes a plurality of connecting positions, one connecting position for each buoy; and

c) a plurality of connections that connect the buoys to the platform at respective connecting positions, each connection allowing for buoy motion induced by sea movement while reducing sea movement effect on the platform; and

d) each connection having means for enabling a transfer of at least a portion of the platform load from a first portion of the connection to a second portion of the connection so that a first portion of the connection can be serviced.

34. The marine platform of claim 33 wherein the means for enabling includes a first connection device, a second connection device and a mechanism that transfers load between the first and second devices.

35. The marine platform of claim 34 wherein the first connection device is a universal joint.

36. The marine platform of claim 34 wherein the first connection device is an articulating connection device.

37. The marine platform of claim 34 wherein the second connection device is a universal joint.

38. The marine platform of claim 34 wherein the second connection device is an articulating connection device.

39. The marine platform of claim 33 wherein the connections include universal joints.

40. The marine platform of claim 33 wherein each buoy is between 100 and 500 feet in height.

41. The marine platform of claim 33 wherein each buoy is between about 25 and 100 feet in diameter.

42. The marine platform of claim 39 wherein the universal joints each have multiple pins with central longitudinal axes, the central axes of the pins of both universal joints occupying a common plane during use.

43. A marine platform, comprising:

a) a plurality of buoys;

b) a platform superstructure having an oil and gas well producing facility and a plurality of connecting positions, one connecting position for each buoy; and

c) a plurality of connections that connect the buoys to the platform at respective connecting positions, each connection allowing for buoy motion induced by sea movement while reducing sea movement effect on the platform; and

d) each connection including first and second connection devices that enable removal of one of the connection devices for servicing, while the other device is simultaneously connecting the buoy to the platform and effecting load transfer between the buoy and the platform superstructure during such servicing.

44. The marine platform of claim 43 further comprising a mooring extending from a plurality of the buoys for holding the platform and buoys to a desired location.

45. The marine platform of claim 43 wherein the connections include universal joints.

46. The marine platform of claim 43 wherein each of the devices is a universal joint.

47. The marine platform of claim 43 wherein the devices include an internal device and an external device.

48. The marine platform of claim 43 wherein the devices include an internal universal joint and an external universal joint.

49. The marine platform of claim 43 wherein each buoy has a height and a diameter, the height being greater than the diameter.

50. The marine platform of claim 43 wherein there are at least three buoys and at least three connecting positions.

51. The marine platform of claim 43 wherein there are at least four buoys and at least four connecting positions.

52. The marine platform of claim 43 wherein there are between 3 and 8 connecting positions.

53. The marine platform of claim 43 wherein the platform is comprised of a trussed deck.

54. The marine platform of claim 43 wherein the trussed deck has lower horizontal members, upper horizontal members, and a plurality of inclined members spanning between the upper and lower horizontal members.

55. The marine platform of claim 43 wherein each buoy is between 100 and 500 feet in height.

56. The marine platform of claim 43 wherein each buoy is between about 25 and 100 feet in diameter.

57. The marine platform of claim 43 wherein each buoy has a generally uniform diameter over a majority of its length.

58. The marine platform of claim 43 wherein each buoy has an upper end portion that is generally cylindrically shaped.

59. The marine platform of claim 43 further comprising a device load transfer mechanism, wherein one of the devices can be loaded with the load transfer mechanism so that the other device is unloaded.

60. The marine platform of claim 43 wherein the buoys support a platform that weighs between 500 and 100,000 tons.

61. A marine platform, comprising:

a) a plurality of buoys;

b) a platform having an oil and gas well producing facility weighing between 500 tons and 100,000 tons and a peripheral portion that includes a plurality of connecting positions, one connecting position for each buoy; and

c) a plurality of connections that connect the buoys to the platform at respective connecting positions, each connection allowing for buoy motion induced by sea movement while reducing sea movement effect on the platform; and

d) said connection between each buoy and the platform including first and second articulating devices and a load transfer mechanism that enables at least some of the platform load to be transferred from one device to the other device so that one of the devices can be serviced.

62. The marine platform of claim 61 further comprising a mooring extending from a plurality of the buoys for holding the platform and buoys to a desired location.

63. The marine platform of claim 61 wherein the connection devices are universal joints.

64. The marine platform of claim 61 wherein each of the connections includes an inner device surrounded by an external device.

65. The marine platform of claim 64 wherein the inner device is an articulating portion.

66. The marine platform of claim 61 wherein the outer device is an articulating portion.

67. The marine platform of claim 61 wherein each buoy has a height and a diameter, the height being greater than the diameter.

68. The marine platform of claim 61 wherein there are at least three buoys and at least three connecting positions.

69. The marine platform of claim 61 wherein there are at least four buoys and at least four connecting positions.

70. The marine platform of claim 61 wherein the platform is comprised of a trussed deck.

71. The marine platform of claim 61 wherein the trussed deck has lower horizontal members, upper horizontal members, and a plurality of inclined members spanning between the upper and lower horizontal members.

72. The marine platform of claim 61 wherein each buoy is between 100 and 500 feet in height.

73. The marine platform of claim 61 wherein each buoy is between about 25 and 100 feet in diameter.

74. The marine platform of claim 61 wherein each buoy has a generally uniform diameter over a majority of its length.

75. A marine platform, comprising:

a) a plurality of buoys;

b) a platform having an oil and gas well producing facility and a peripheral portion that includes a plurality of connecting positions, one connecting position for each buoy; and

c) a plurality of connections that connect the buoys to the platform at respective connecting positions, each of connection of a buoy to the platform being a separate connection allowing for buoy motion induced by sea movement while reducing sea movement effect on the platform; and

d) said connection having means for enabling a transfer of at least a portion of the platform load from a first portion of the connection to a second portion of the connection so that the first portion of the connection can be serviced.

76. The marine platform of claim 75 wherein the means for enabling includes a first connection device, a second connection device and a mechanism that transfers load between the first and second devices.

77. The marine platform of claim 76 wherein the first connection device is a universal joint.

78. The marine platform of claim 76 wherein the first connection device is an articulating connection device.

79. The marine platform of claim 76 wherein the second connection device is a universal joint.

80. The marine platform of claim 76 wherein the second connection device is an articulating connection device.

81. The marine platform of claim 75 wherein the connections include universal joints.

82. The marine platform of claim 75 wherein each buoy is between 100 and 500 feet in height.

83. The marine platform of claim 75 wherein each buoy is between about 25 and 100 feet in diameter.

84. The marine platform of claim 81 wherein the universal joints each have multiple pins with central longitudinal axes, the central axes of the pins of both universal joints occupying a common plane during use.