Abstract: A mooring yoke and method for using same to connect or disconnect a shuttle vessel to a body, such as an LNG liquefaction and storage vessel (LNG/FPSO). The yoke is pivotably connected at one end to the LNG/FPSO. The other or tip end of the yoke includes a buoyant element and a male connector element to be received in a female receiver element carried by the shuttle vessel. A tension element is arranged and designed to run through the male connector element and to be clamped on the shuttle vessel. A yoke windlass, alternatively mounted on the yoke or the LNG/FPSO pulls on the tension element thereby pulling the tip end of the yoke out of the sea and the male connector element into the female receiver element. A locking mechanism selectively locks the male element to the female receiver.

Abstract: A very large diameter turret for mooring a VLCC class FPSO vessel. A large diameter rail and wheel bearing system is disposed between a turret main deck and the hull of the vessel. The turret is designed for a flexibility to allow the turret main deck to conform to the sag or hog of the vessel so that excessive forces on the wheels of the bearing system are avoided. The turret's main deck, in a preferred embodiment, includes a center hub, an outer ring, and spokes between the hub and outer ring. A lower chain deck is preferably connected to the main deck by pillars or columns, or alternatively by riser tubes alone, or other structures that achieve the desired flexibility of the main deck.

Abstract: A method for constructing and installing a very large turret in a vessel without lifting the entire turret from a fabrication yard into the moonpool. According to a first alternative method, both the lower part and the upper part of the turret are constructed inside the moonpool while the vessel is in drydock. Such method obviates providing very large lifting cranes capable of lifting the entire turret including the upper part of the turret and the lower part into the moonpool. According to a second alternative embodiment, the turret has an upper part and a lower part and the lower part is constructed in the moonpool while the vessel is in drydock, like in the first alternative method. In the second embodiment, the lower part is supported by rods and jacks from the moonpool, and the vessel is floated out of drydock into the water and parked at dockside.

Abstract: A disconnectable mooring system for connecting an LNG carrier vessel to a permanently moored LNG liquefaction process vessel in combination with an LNG offloading system. One end of a mooring yoke is suspended from a frame at the stern of the LNG process vessel. A male coupler is mounted to an opposite end of the mooring yoke via a universal joint. A female coupler is mounted on the LNG carrier vessel, with pull-in arrangements for pulling the LNG carrier vessel into position and the male coupler into selective coupling with the female coupler.

Abstract: A mooring yoke and method for using same to connect or disconnect a shuttle vessel to a body, such as an LNG liquefaction and storage vessel (LNG/FPSO). The yoke is pivotably connected at one end to the LNG/FPSO. The other or tip end of the yoke includes a buoyant element and a male connector element to be received in a female receiver element carried by the shuttle vessel. A tension element is arranged and designed to run through the male connector element and to be clamped on the shuttle vessel. A yoke windlass, alternatively mounted on the yoke or the LNG/FPSO pulls on the tension element thereby pulling the tip end of the yoke out of the sea and the male connector element into the female receiver element. A locking mechanism selectively locks the male element to the female receiver.

Abstract: A disconnectable mooring system for connecting an LNG carrier vessel to a permanently moored LNG liquefaction process vessel in combination with an LNG offloading system. One end of a mooring yoke is suspended from a frame at the stern of the LNG process vessel. A male coupler is mounted to an opposite end of the mooring yoke via a universal joint. A female coupler is mounted on the LNG carrier vessel, with pull-in arrangements for pulling the LNG carrier vessel into position and the male coupler into selective coupling with the female coupler.

Abstract: A method for constructing and installing a very large turret in a vessel without lifting the entire turret from a fabrication yard into the moonpool. According to a first alternative method, both the lower part and the upper part of the turret are constructed inside the moonpool while the vessel is in drydock. Such method obviates providing very large lifting cranes capable of lifting the entire turret including the upper part of the turret and the lower part into the moonpool. According to a second alternative embodiment, the turret has an upper part and a lower part and the lower part is constructed in the moonpool while the vessel is in drydock, like in the first alternative method. In the second embodiment, the lower part is supported by rods and jacks from the moonpool, and the vessel is floated out of drydock into the water and parked at dockside.

Abstract: A method for constructing and installing a very large turret in a vessel without lifting the entire turret from a fabrication yard into the moonpool. According to a first alternative method, both the lower part and the upper part of the turret are constructed inside the moonpool while the vessel is in drydock. Such method obviates providing very large lifting cranes capable of lifting the entire turret including the upper part of the turret and the lower part into the moonpool. According to a second alternative embodiment, the turret has an upper part and a lower part and the lower part is constructed in the moonpool while the vessel is in drydock, like in the first alternative method. In the second embodiment, the lower part is supported by rods and jacks from the moonpool, and the vessel is floated out of drydock into the water and parked at dockside.

Abstract: A very large diameter turret for mooring a VLCC class FPSO vessel. A large diameter rail and wheel bearing system is disposed between a turret main deck and the hull of the vessel. The turret is designed for a flexibility to allow the turret main deck to conform to the sag or hog of the vessel so that excessive forces on the wheels of the bearing system are avoided. The turret's main deck, in a preferred embodiment, includes a center hub, an outer ring, and spokes between the hub and outer ring. A lower chain deck is preferably connected to the main deck by pillars or columns, or alternatively by riser tubes alone, or other structures that achieve the desired flexibility of the main deck.

Abstract: In certain offshore locations, for example off the West Coast of Africa, FPSO facilities provide an offloading facility to receive and load produced crude oil onto shuttle tankers. In such arrangements FPSO facilities use spread moored tankers with flowlines suspended in the water column to an offloading buoy or buoys which are located 1,000 to 1,500 meters away from the FPSO. Typically steel pipe flowlines as used with intermediate floatation to provide a suitable configuration that will avoid detrimental loads being imposed resulting from relative motions of the FPSO and the offloading buoy. According to the invention, a Suspended Pipe Line End Manifold (SPLEM) is connected to the end of the flowline assembly for support during towout. The SPLEM is positioned near the buoy and then connected at the sea surface to the bottom of the buoy by flexible leads such as anchor chains. The SPLEM is then flooded by selectively flooding compartments to cause it to sink to an operational position below the buoy.

Abstract: A riser buoy (36) supports a plurality of risers (19) and is releasably docked within a generally cylindrical turret (20) of a floating storage vessel (10) at a location above the sea level (12) to provide dry access to quick disconnect/connect mating couplings (32, 40) on the turret (20) and riser buoy (36). A weight (58) connected by anchor chain (44) to riser buoy (36) is connected at its upper end to a retrieval line (60) which is controlled by a winch (62). Riser buoy (36) upon disconnection from vessel (10) is positioned at a predetermined submerged water depth below tanker traffic and high wave loads. Riser buoy (36) is docked within turret (20) independently of positioning means such as anchor chains (17) between the sea bed and the turret, or a thrusting positioning system including thrusters (16) of the vessel.