Modular topsides system and method having dual installation capabilities for offshore structures

• US 8,070,389 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2009
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Technip France (Technip)
• Original Assignee: Technip France (Technip)
• Inventors: Eilertsen, Terje W., Ayers, Thomas Ray, Percle, Jon, Balakrishnan, Viswanathan
• Primary Examiner(s): LAGMAN, FREDERICK LYNDON
• Application Number:
  US12/483,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20100316449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 405/195.1, 405/203, 405/204, 405/205, 405/206, 405/209
• US Class Current: 405/204
• 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 75/00 Building or assembling floating offshore structures, e.g. semi-submersible platforms, SPAR platforms or wind turbine platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 77/00 Transporting or installing offshore structures on site using buoyancy forces, e.g. using semi-submersible barges, ballasting the structure or transporting of oil-and-gas platforms
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0039 Methods for placing the offshore structure

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an improved method and system for loading a topsides onto an offshore structure by functional modules. A module support frame forms a supporting structure to which production modules can be assembled. The production modules are adapted to extract or process hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon well in an offshore location. One production module is a well bay production module to which other production modules can be coupled, including a drilling support production module, separation production module, export module, and utility module. The module support frame can be loaded onto floating barges and other modules assembled thereto to allow the barges to provide incremental and controlled support during the loading process and for the floatover installation. The barges can be floated out to the offshore structure and loaded onto the offshore structure by methods including a floatover method or with a heavy-lift crane vessel.

Claims

1. A modular topsides for an offshore structure, comprising:

a module support frame constructed separately from the offshore structure, comprising;

a plurality of frame members extending laterally and adapted to receive a plurality of production modules that can be loaded thereon;

a plurality of frame members extending uprightly and configured to form an upright framework to laterally restrain one or more of the production modules loaded therein;

at least one angular brace coupled between the frame members extending laterally and the frame members extending uprightly; and

a plurality of support interfaces coupled to the frame members and adapted to be coupled to the offshore structure after the offshore structure is installed at an installation site;

at least one production module coupled with the module support frame, the at least one production module being adapted to extract or process hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon well in an offshore location; and

wherein the at least one production module includes a pocket formed in the module and is configured to be coupled to the module support frame with the at least one angular brace at least partially disposed within the pocket.

2. The modular topsides of claim 1, wherein the production module comprises a centrally disposed well bay production module.

3. The modular topsides of claim 1, wherein the frame members extend laterally outward from the production module and are adapted to be removably coupled to at least one transportation barge for a floatover installation on the offshore structure.

4. The modular topsides of claim 1, wherein the production module comprises a centrally disposed well bay production module and wherein the frame members extend laterally outward from the well bay production module and are adapted to allow one or more other production modules to be coupled to the well bay production module.

5. The modular topsides of claim 1, wherein

the production module comprises a centrally disposed well bay production module;

the frame members extend laterally outward in a first direction from the production module and are adapted to be removably coupled to at least one transportation barge for a floatover installation on the offshore structure; and

the frame members extend laterally outward in a second direction from the well bay production module, the second direction being different to the frame members in the first direction, the frame members being adapted to allow one or more other production modules to be coupled to the well bay production module.

6. The modular topsides of claim 1, wherein the support interfaces form vertical columns that are adapted to be coupled to a deck of the offshore structure and extend to an upper deck elevation of the topsides.

7. The modular topsides of claim 1, wherein the at least one production module comprise a well bay production module, a drilling support production module, a separation production module, an export module, and a utility module.

8. A system comprising:

the modular topsides of claim 1; and

at least one transportation barge adapted to support the modular topsides.

9. A method of installing a topsides to an offshore structure, comprising:

constructing a module support frame of a plurality of frame members extending laterally to receive a plurality of production modules loaded thereon and extending uprightly and configured to form an upright framework to laterally restrain one or more of the production modules loaded therein;

bracing at least one of the frame members extending laterally with at least one of the frame members extending uprightly with an angular brace;

loading the module support frame onto a transportation barge;

coupling a first production module adapted to extract or process hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon well in an offshore location to the module support frame to form a topsides, thereby installing a module with a pocket formed in the module and configured to be coupled to the module support frame with the angular brace at least partially disposed within the pocket;

transporting the module support frame and the first production module to the offshore structure;

installing the module support frame onto the offshore structure; and

installing a second production module to the module support frame.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein installing the second production module to the module support frame occurs prior to installing the topside onto the offshore structure.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first production module comprises a centrally disposed well bay production module.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising extending the frame members laterally outward from the first production module and removably coupling the module support frame to at least one transportation barge for a floatover installation on the offshore structure.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the first production module comprises a centrally disposed well bay production module and further comprising extending the frame members laterally outward from the well bay production module and coupling the second production module to be the well bay production module.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the first production module comprises a centrally disposed well bay production module and further comprising:

extending the frame members laterally outward in a first direction from the first production module;

removably coupling the frame members to at least one transportation barge for a floatover installation on the offshore structure;

extending the frame members laterally outward in a second direction from the well bay production module, the second direction being different to the frame members in the first direction; and

coupling the second production module to the well bay production module.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising supporting the module support frame with vertical columns to the offshore structure and extending the vertical columns to an upper deck elevation of the topsides.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising installing the module support frame to the offshore structure by floating the module support frame over the offshore structure with at least one transportation barge, lifting the module support frame by a heavy-lift crane vessel from a barge to the offshore structure, or a combination thereof.