Abstract: A vehicle for use in arctic environments, the vehicle comprising a hull for accommodating people, and a pair of rotatable propulsion screws connected to the hull for propelling the vehicle on water, ice, snow and land. Each propulsion screw comprises a shaft having at least one blade helically disposed therearound.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ice worthy jack-up rig that may extend the drilling season in shallow water off shore Arctic or ice prone locations. The inventive rig would work like a conventional jack-up rig while in open water with the hull jacked up out of the water. However, in the event of ice conditions, the hull is lowered into the water into an ice defensive configuration. The hull is specifically shaped with a lower portion that is an ice-bending surface to bend and break up ice that comes in contact with the hull while in the ice defensive configuration. Furthermore, the ice worthy jack-up rig that comprises at least two derricks so as to double the exploration efficiency and lower the relating costs.

Abstract: A racking assembly for receiving and storing at least one pipe. The racking assembly comprises a set back assembly including a selectively rotatable member having a plurality of radial slots sized for receiving a portion of the pipe(s) in sliding engagement, and a base for supporting the pipe(s). The base is coupled to the selectively rotatable member so as to permit mutual rotation. A barrier is located about a peripheral edge of the base, such that the setback assembly rotates relative to the barrier. The barrier is arranged to prevent the pipe(s) from moving radially from the base. The barrier has a gap sized to permit selective lateral movement of the pipe(s). Mutual rotation of the selectively rotatable member and the base permit alignment of the gap and a selected slot of the selectively rotatable member, and thus permits the pipe stands to be moved laterally into the setback assembly.

Abstract: A mooring system may comprise a station keeping apparatus having a turntable rotatably mounted thereon. The station keeping apparatus is operable to movably couple to a first vessel and to a second vessel in a side-by-side configuration. The turntable is operable to freely rotate both the first and the second vessel about the station keeping apparatus. The station keeping apparatus is securable to the second vessel using a head mooring line having a length which is adjustable for aligning a heading of both the first and the second vessel with a prevailing weather direction. Further, the mooring system may comprise a rigid yoke or a soft yoke movably coupling the turntable to the first vessel for angular adjustment between the station keeping apparatus and a longitudinal center line of the first vessel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a skirted foundation that can be used in a jack-up rig for providing enhanced bearing capacity. The skirted foundation comprises a spudcan footing having an upper part and a base, wherein the upper part and the base are coupled at their peripherals to form an outer edge, wherein both the upper part and the base have a flat or conical configuration, and wherein the upper part supports one leg of a jack-up rig, and the base has a flat bottom or downward slope, and a skirt having an upper end being integrally coupled to the spudcan footing and downwardly projected to encircle the base and a lower end for penetrating seabed, wherein the skirt comprises a plurality of circumferential openings adjacent to the base of the spudcan footing and located within the top half of the skirt height.

Abstract: An installation vessel for installing an offshore structure, the installation vessel comprising a hull and a plurality of legs, each leg comprising vertical chords and cross braces, the hull having a plurality of leg openings each configured for passage of a leg therethrough, each leg opening having a number of jack-cases for supporting pinions thereon, each pinion being configured for rotatably engaging a rack disposed on a chord of the leg to move the leg relative to the hull, each jack-case comprising a number of guides for guiding passage of the leg through the leg opening, each guide comprising a plurality of angled surfaces configured for sliding engagement with a corresponding plurality of surfaces of a rack, each of the plurality of angled surfaces comprising a wear plate.

Abstract: A natural gas liquefaction process suited for offshore liquefaction of natural gas produced in association with oil production is described.

Abstract: A turbine assembly and a system for extracting tidal energy are disclosed. The turbine assembly may include identical sections disposed in a stacked arrangement. Each section may be shaftless, energizable by a fluid flow to produce lift and is appropriately oriented at a phase shift to an adjacent section such that a relatively constant resultant torque output with small amplitude fluctuation is generated by rotation of the turbine assembly. The turbine assembly may be employed in conjunction with a velocity enhancing device having a housing with variable profile openings to enhance the torque output. The turbine assembly may further be employed in a floating barrage arrangement which is transportable.

Abstract: A method for forming a composite structure. The method comprises providing a first injection port on a first metal plate, spacing the first metal plate from a second metal plate such that the first metal plate and the second metal plate define a core cavity therebetween, casting a core of cementitious material into the core cavity, and injecting a bonding agent through the first injection port into an interfacial space between the core and the first metal plate.

Abstract: A system and method for configuring and supporting mooring lines deployed on offshore structures, e.g. Spar-type platform, are provided with recessed portions that are located around the splash/ice zones for “cutting” through waves. An offshore structure may be provided with a chain tensioning mechanism that applies a desired tension to a hull chain and mooring line during mooring. Upon mooring the offshore structure, a chain lock mechanism maintains the tension in the hull chain and mooring line, while the chain tensioning mechanism releases a portion of the hull chain which is to be stored in a chain housing which is fully submerged underwater. This way, the recessed portions of the offshore structure around the splash/ice zones would be substantially free of the hull chains. Additionally, a disconnect mechanism may be provided to allow quick and safe disconnection of the offshore structure from the mooring position.

Abstract: The present invention describes an offshore foundation system (10,10a,10b) that is operable for preloading after self-weight installation on a seabed without relying on additional or external ballasts. The foundation system (10,10a,10b) is also operable for extraction by reversing the process of preload operation. In one embodiment, the foundation system (10) comprises a reaction base (20) and suction compartment (60). In another, the foundation system (10a,10b) comprises a plurality of units of reaction base (20) and suction compartments (60), with the units being connected by bridging structures (21). In yet another, the foundation system comprises a reaction base (20) and a plurality of suction compartments (60). A closed-top of the suction compartment (60) projects above the reaction base (20) so that, in use, there is a gap h between a top of a soil plug inside a suction compartment (60) and its closed-top.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to hull conversion of existing vessel for tank integration to allow storage of multiple hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon products onboard the existing vessel. In a converted vessel, a first liquefied hydrocarbon fluid may be stored in an added independent tank, while a second hydrocarbon fluid or a non-hydrocarbon fluid may be stored in an un-converted carge tank, which can be any one of a centre cargo tank, a port side tank or a starboard side tank.

Abstract: Methods and systems disclosed provide a cost efficient supply chain for natural gas, thereby enabling monetization of smaller natural gas sources and supply of natural gas to regions with low demand. The method comprises transferring a hydrocarbon fluid to a production location, liquefying the hydrocarbon fluid, storing the hydrocarbon fluid in a plurality of transferable containers, moving the plurality of transferable containers having the hydrocarbon fluid from the production location to a marine vessel, transporting the plurality of transferable containers having the hydrocarbon fluid on the marine vessel, and offloading the hydrocarbon fluid at an import location. At the import location, the transferable containers may be moved from the marine vessel to the import location and distributed at least one vehicle from the import terminal to one or more user locations for vaporizing the liquefied fluid at the user location(s).

Abstract: A cargo transfer system for transferring cargo between two decks which may be subject to relative movements between each other is disclosed. The cargo transfer system includes a transverse member movably coupled to an elevated portion of a first deck (or a tower member on the first deck), and a side member movably coupled to the transverse member. In a deployment position, the side member is releasably coupled with a receiving base on the second deck. The cargo transfer system is actuatable by a relative movement between the first deck and the second deck to self-adjust for accommodating or countering the relative movement.

Abstract: A single heavy lift system is made of modular units, each of which has a pair of supporting legs carrying a transverse beam therebetween. The beam is engaged to the supporting legs through jackup units that allow the transverse beams of several modular units move in unison and thus increase lifting capacity of the system. The modular units can be formed as modular, self-propelled units, transported to the site, where the lifting task is to be performed if necessary. The system can be positioned in a dry dock or offshore.

Abstract: A vehicle for use in arctic environments, the vehicle comprising a hull for accommodating people, and a pair of rotatable propulsion screws connected to the hull for propelling the vehicle on water, ice, snow and land. Each propulsion screw comprises a shaft having at least one blade helically disposed therearound.

Abstract: An apparatus for soil testing for a jack-up rig, the apparatus comprising a soil testing device integrated with a leg of the jack-up rig, the leg of the jack-up rig having a footing, an opening in the footing for allowing passage of an active portion of the soil testing device therethrough to obtain soil data from a seabed beneath the footing, and a retrieval assembly for retrieving the soil testing device.