Abstract: A device for installing and handling a module of a subsea processing station, comprises a frame, and a hydraulic system comprising hydraulic cylinders each comprising a cylinder body, and a piston intended to be put into contact with a foot and movable inside the cylinder body between a first mechanical abutment corresponding to a deployed position of the piston and a second mechanical abutment corresponding to a retracted position of the piston. The piston divides the internal volume of the cylinder body into a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber is supplied with hydraulic fluid by two independent hydraulic circuits comprising a shock-absorbing circuit able to move the piston between the deployed and intermediate positions located between the deployed position and the retracted position defined by a hydraulic abutment, and a controlled-lowering circuit able to move the piston between the intermediate position and its retracted position.

Abstract: The offshore jack-up has a hull and a plurality of moveable legs engageable with the seafloor. The offshore jack-up is arranged to move the legs with respect to the hull to position the hull out of the water. The method comprises securing the vessel with respect to the hull of the offshore jack-up when the hull is positioned out of the water and the legs engage the seafloor. A lifting mechanism mounted on the offshore jack-up engages with a cargo carrying platform positioned on the vessel. The platform is lifted with the lifting mechanism between a first position on the vessel and a second position clear of the vessel.

Abstract: The offshore jack-up has a hull and a plurality of moveable legs engageable with the seafloor. The offshore jack-up is arranged to move the legs with respect to the hull to position the hull out of the water. The method comprises securing the vessel with respect to the hull of the offshore jack-up when the hull is positioned out of the water and the legs engage the seafloor. A lifting mechanism mounted on the offshore jack-up engages with a cargo carrying platform positioned on the vessel. The platform is lifted with the lifting mechanism between a first position on the vessel and a second position clear of the vessel.

Abstract: An offshore foundation structure includes a jacket portion having a plurality of struts interconnected in a framework-like manner, and a receiving means for a tower shaft of a wind power installation. The platform is arranged at least partially in the interior of the jacket portion. The offshore foundation structure also has a gangway and a lift.

Abstract: In a method of installing a pile in the sea bottom by means of a pile guide which has a frame and at least an upper and a lower pair of cooperating guide members, wherein the upper pair and the lower pair are located at a distance from each other in vertical direction. Each pair of guide members comprises a passive guide member and an active guide member. The passive guide members are moved to respective fixed initial guiding positions with respect to the frame and the active guide members are moved to the pile until the passive and the active guide members engage the pile, after which the pile is hold between the upper pair of guide members and between the lower pair of guide members during driving the pile into the sea bottom, during which the actual forces between the pile and the respective guide members are determined.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling a jacket with a foundation pile, comprising mounting a first flange with the jacket, contacting a second flange with the foundation pile such that the second flange is supported by the foundation pile, mutually positioning the first flange and the second flange such that the jacket may be supported by the pile through the first flange and the second flange, arranging an inflatable spacing member between the first flange and second flange such that the spacing member contacts both the first flange and second flange for supporting the jacket through the spacing member and inflating the spacing member for increasing a spacing between the first flange and second flange.

Abstract: A structure for mounting offshore installations such as wind turbines or oil and gas platforms. The structure comprises a base, a top piece, and a lattice structure connecting the base to the top piece. The sub-components of the structure can be pre-assembled prior to installation to facilitate ease of construction, or they may be transported to a pre-determined location and assembled on site.

Abstract: The present relates to a suction foundation in which is penetrated into the seabed by a vacuum pressure of a suction pump, thereby providing a desired foundation support force. The suction foundation includes a hollow caisson having an opening at a lower end thereof, where the suction pump is connected to the hollow caisson and the suction pump allows the hollow caisson to penetrate into the seabed while discharging a fluid in the hollow caisson to an outside thereof by using the vacuum pressure of the suction pump, a lower skirt provided along a circumference of the opening of the hollow caisson and formed into a wave shape having a series of teeth, and having wedge-shaped cross-sections, and a stiffener increasing rigidity of the lower skirt by increasing thickness of a predetermined portion of the lower skirt.

Abstract: A three part foundation system for supporting a building is described. Three part foundation systems can include a containment vessel, which constrains a buffer medium to an area above the containment vessel, and a construction platform. A building can be built on the construction platform. In a particular embodiment, during operation, the construction platform and structures built on the construction platform can float on the buffer medium. In an earthquake, a construction platform floating on a buffer medium may experience greatly reduced shear forces. In a flood, a construction platform floating on a buffer medium can be configured to rise as water levels rise to limit flood damage.

Abstract: A subsea platform transporter includes a plurality of pontoon members, a plurality of column members interconnecting select adjacent ones of the plurality of pontoon members forming a support frame having an inner platform receiving area, a plurality of buoyancy members mechanically linked to at least one of the plurality of pontoon members and the plurality of column members, and a plurality of platform retaining members mounted to one or more of the plurality of pontoon members and the plurality of column members about the inner platform receiving area. The plurality of platform retaining members is configured and disposed to selectively retain and release a platform supported by the subsea platform transporter.

Abstract: A system and method of drilling oil and gas wells in arctic or other environments having adverse conditions. A marine hydrocarbon operations structure may comprise a caisson body having a top surface which defines an opening and a shaft positioned within the opening. The shaft has an engagement member positioned on the external surface of the shaft. A lower jack house system is constructed and arranged to change the vertical position of the shaft through interaction with the engagement member. An operations platform supported by the shaft.

Abstract: A releasable guidepost for use on the seabed together with a fixed subsea structure is shown. The guidepost assists during lowering of a component from the surface of the water to the subsea structure to obtain a focused landing of said component at a predetermined location. The guidepost includes an upward (in the position of use) projecting end designed for engagement with the lowered component. The guidepost is of a light weight shell construction, in order to increase buoyancy during lowering thereof through the sea by use of an ROV. The light weight shell construction defines a cavity filled with a non-collapsible buoyancy material in at least part of the guidepost.

Abstract: Method for construction, deployment, and installation of a wind turbine generator on a floating slip formed concrete tension leg platform/spar (WTG foundation) using gravity anchors. A concrete WTG foundation is built with the ‘slip form’ method, a combination construction/deployment dry dock barge (barge) utilizing wing walls for stability allowing the WTG and WTG foundation to be delivered to the installation site as a complete unit. A split hull hydraulic dump scow facilitates the slip form construction and deployment of the slip-formed gravity anchor(s). The barge is sunk as a dry dock to a draft that permits the WTG/WTG foundation to be floated off. The free floating WTG foundation is ballasted with sea water to its operating draft with 5 feet of freeboard. The tension legs from the gravity anchors are attached to the WTG foundation and snugged with equal tension. The sea water is then removed from the WTG foundation. This process tightens the tension legs to their design loads.

Abstract: A method for installation of an offshore wind turbine. The method includes prefabrication of a foundation that provides buoyant force and uprighting force to the foundation so as to keep it upright without external forces. The method further includes installation on a dock that includes assembling the offshore wind turbine into a complete set, and finishing testing in a state of the complete set. The method further includes transporting the complete set to an offshore site in a way of floating on the water, and then offshore installation that includes sinking the complete set onto a sea bed by gravity on the offshore site, and fixing the foundation to finish the installation. The present invention also provides a method for recovery of an offshore wind turbine, which is performed generally in steps reversed to the method for installation.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for lowering and/or raising a load or structure to or from the bed of a body of water. The apparatus comprises a buoyancy apparatus configured to be coupled to a load, and having positive buoyancy sufficient to lift the load. At least one receptacle is provided on the apparatus for receiving a control weight lowered from a vessel to lower or raise the assembly. The lowering method includes forming an assembly from a buoyancy apparatus and a load and submerging the assembly to a position at a first height above the bed. In a preferred embodiment the assembly is submerged by a clump weight tow system. A control weight is deployed from a vessel to the assembly to overcome the positive buoyancy of the assembly and thereby lower the load from the first height to the bed. The raising method reverses the steps of the lowering method.

Abstract: A new jacket installation method is disclosed, especially for shallow water heavy jacket installation applications. The method utilizes a special type of air bags, called launching air bags, to provide low cost net buoyancy in order to make a shallow water jacket self afloat with a sufficient bottom clearance with seabed. At a floating state a minimum size installation crane vessel could be used to perform all needed jacket installation operations such as lowering, setting-down to seabed, driving foundation piles, grouting and the welding between foundation piles and jacket leg tops. For a shallow water heavy jacket installation, a crane vessel cost usually represents a majority cost of a jacket installation. Therefore, a significant savings could be achieved if a minimum size crane vessel could be used, instead of a large size crane vessel.

Abstract: A leg mating unit for installation of offshore structures. A housing has a ram movably mounted in the housing. Elastomeric material is received in the housing immediately below the ram. An open space below the elastomeric material is filled with a disposable, granular material such as sand. A drain valve for selectively releasing the disposable material is provided on the housing. A load absorbing ring is engaged with the ram. A stop ring is rigidly mounted on the leg of the topside structure and engages the load absorbing ring during installation of the topside structure onto its lower supporting structure. The housing is removably mounted on the lower support structure such that the leg mating unit is removable and reusable.

Abstract: A jack-up rig for offshore operations comprises a hull. In addition, the rig comprises a support leg moveably coupled to the hull. The support leg has a central axis, an upper end, and a lower end opposite the upper end. Further, the support leg is adapted to be axially raised and lowered relative to the hull. The rig also comprises a ballast tank movably coupled to the support leg. The ballast tank is adapted to be axially raised and lowered relative to the support leg and the hull.

Abstract: According to one or more embodiments disclosed herein is a method of transporting equipment between sea-surface and seafloor by providing a structure with equipment mounted thereon. The equipment may be liquid storage tanks, pumps, compressors, separators, metering systems, energy sources, communication systems, buoyancy tanks, and the like. The structure is used for disposal and installation in a subsea environment by changing the volume of buoyancy material within at least one buoyancy tank.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for sealing a borehole from which oil discharges uncontrolled. Thereby, a hull is filled with cement and the cement mass is lowered around a cone-shaped pipe so that the cone-shaped pipe is simultaneously fixated and also sealed.

Abstract: There is provided a method for the installation of a tidal power plant having a water turbine, which is mounted so it is rotatable on a nacelle, the nacelle being assigned to a coupling device for placement of the tidal power plant on a coupling counterpart on a tower, which carries the tidal power plant during operation.

Abstract: A mobile drilling system comprising a top member with a drilling rig positioned thereon. The top member is removably engaged with a foundation member. The foundation member comprises a tower. The top member is moveable and adapted to be elevated out of the water for placement on top of the tower. The tower is preferably of concrete and extends out of the water and above any ice. A method is also described by which the top member is elevated out of the water either by jacking down legs or lifting by interaction with the tower.

Abstract: Method for installation of a wind turbine generator on a tension leg platform/spar (WTG foundation) using gravity anchors or suction anchors. A concrete WTG foundation is built with the ‘slip form’ method, a combination construction/deployment barge (barge) allows the WTG and WTG foundation to be delivered to the installation site as a complete unit and a split hull hydraulic dump scow facilitates the slip form construction and deployment of the gravity anchors. The barge is sunk as a dry dock to a draft that permits the WTG/WTG foundation to be floated off. The free floating WTG foundation is ballasted with sea water to its operating draft with 5 feet of freeboard. The tension legs from the gravity anchors are attached to the WTG foundation and snugged with equal tension. The sea water is then removed from the WTG foundation. This process tightens the tension legs to their design loads. The WTG/WTG foundation maintains a relatively large water plane and a 5 foot freeboard.

Abstract: A catamaran-type boat suitable for handling, assembling, and/or transporting off-shore wind turbines, the boat having two side floats constituting a U-shaped floating structure, the open space between the two branches of the U-shape constituted by the two side floats being suitable for receiving a base, the floats being fitted with grippers suitable for gripping the base between the two side floats, and the grippers being suitable for gripping the base and at least two grip levels of different heights.

Abstract: A method for mounting at last one tidal turbine and its associated support structures in a river or sea bed. The turbine and associated support structures are joined to a base of such weight as to involve gravitational forces of such magnitude as to be sufficient to withstand forces acting to tend to displace the turbine and its associated support structures. The base structure can be pre-assembled and transported to a required location of installation by lowering to the sea or river bed. Conveniently, the transportation is by means of an installation vessel incorporating a facility for lowering the entire assembly including at least one turbine, a support column, and the base structure in a controlled manner to rest at a desired position on the river or sea bed.

Abstract: A method of installing marine equipment, the method including providing a marine apparatus comprising the marine equipment and a buoyancy device including at least a first and a second tank. The first tank containing air and the second tank containing a buoyant liquid having a specific gravity of less than 0.8 g/cm3. The method including providing a template on the seabed and guiding the marine apparatus down onto the template. Also a buoyancy device comprising at least a first and a second tank, the first tank containing a first fluid and the second tank containing a second fluid.

Abstract: Multi-cylinder buoyant island structures, such as may be used for staging and storage related to offshore oil and gas production activities, and methods of use and manufacture.

Abstract: The present invention provides an offshore wind turbine complete set, comprising a foundation, a tower column and a wind turbine set. The foundation utilizes a steel-concrete structure and comprises a plurality of tanks which are respectively provided with an opening; a lower end of the tower column is installed on the foundation; and the wind turbine set is installed on an upper end of the tower column. When the offshore wind turbine complete set floats on water, the openings of the plurality of tanks are under the water, and the tank is injected with air or water, and the buoyancy and uprighting force are provided by the plurality of tanks, so as to keep the entire structure in a vertical floating state consistent with the state of installation on the offshore site, but without external force on the water.

Abstract: An offshore unit includes a hull and/or a deck frame, a mat attached to at least one connecting leg or a spud can attached to each of at least one connecting leg or lower hull attached to at least one connecting means. A wellhead deck is removably attached to the hull and/or deck frame and a sub-sea clamp in conjunction with a caisson or a sub-sea conductor frame is removably attached to the mat or to the at least one connecting leg, where a spud can is attached to each of the at least one connecting leg, or to the lower hull. The offshore unit is relocatable and is a platform or a rig capable of performing drilling, production, construction, accommodation, hook-up and commissioning or a combination of any of these functions thereof. The offshore unit is a self-elevating mobile platform or submersible platform or semi-submersible platform.

Abstract: Concrete silo for offshore drilling and production operations includes a reinforced concrete foundation secured at the seabed by steel piles and steel anchors embedded into the seabed. An exterior vertical reinforced concrete wall is supported by the foundation. An interior vertical reinforced concrete wall is supported by the foundation and houses a central cell. A series of radial shear walls extend between the exterior concrete wall and the interior concrete wall to form a series of perimeter cells. A roof and series of horizontally extending service platforms are supported off of the outer concrete wall and the interior concrete wall. A series of vertical well casings extend through the concrete foundation and down into the seabed for drilling operations.

Abstract: An underwater oil well blowout spill containment system includes a folded curtain positioned in a magazine around a deep water well head and blowout preventer (BOP). The magazine is positioned around the well-head and BOP and leaves room for required construction and maintenance. In the event of a blowout, the curtain is drawn upward from the magazine and cinched to contain leaking oil. A hose is connected to a port on the magazine to draw the oil to a tanker on the surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of gravity base structures are disclosed that comprise first and second elongated base sections separated by an open region and configured to support the on-bottom weight of the structure and be supported by the floor of the body of water, and an upper section positioned above the open region and configured to extend at least partially above the water surface to support topside structures. Some embodiments further comprise first and second inclined sections coupling the base sections to the upper section.

Abstract: The object of the invention is a method for installing and servicing an apparatus module recovering the kinetic energy of water; and the apparatus module itself. The apparatus module with wave energy recovering units is descended into the sea bottom and is kept steady at the sea bottom by the help of its own mass and the mass of the water filled into a plurality of soft and hard compartments and valve compartments in the body of the apparatus module. Correspondingly the apparatus module is lifted into the surface of the water and made floating by the help of air that is blown to the plurality of soft and hard compartments and the valve compartments in order to replace the water.

Abstract: Buoyancy force can provide a large lifting force with little energy, but it requires a control system. In the present invention position control system is designed and implemented to keep the body with the load at a reference position or to control speed of ascent of the load, in the present invention the designed combination of buoyancy with ascent tuning control parameters operated repeatedly whereby to generate AC electrical power with aid of buoyancy in pool, lake and ocean continuously, the present invention is a buoyancy and gravity control mechanism which comprised of rigid unit to a fix size or collapsible accordion vinyl skirt bellow capsule chamber, therefore several methods that can be developed to take advantage to overcome the enormous torque at the gearbox to turn the generator to generate AC current for rural villages large business and supply the grid 24/7 continuously.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a more precise control of buoyancy lifting heavy load, not exclusively, for attachment to large structures being lower, lifted, positioned and transported off ocean floor, but also generating AC electrical power. A rigid cylinder with dome shaped top and a sealed piston and shaft in the said cylinder with the bottom open ended is operated to increase or decrease buoyancy while displacing the water in the cylinder with a sealed shaft attached to a sealed piston is operated through the sealed dome in the cylinder. The present invention further relates to generating clean electrical power with aid of buoyancy in swimming pools, lakes and ocean with precise buoyancy control and weight simultaneously and operated uniformly by displacing torque on a lever arms that is reciprocating making buoyancy and gravity variable mechanically and hydraulically to regulate accurate frequency required to generate AC electrical power continuously.

Abstract: Embodiments of gravity base structures are disclosed that comprise first and second elongated base sections separated by an open region and configured to support the on-bottom weight of the structure on a seabed, and an upper section positioned above the open region and configured to extend at least partially above the water surface to support topside structures. Some embodiments further comprise first and second inclined sections coupling the base sections to the upper section. Some embodiments comprise a skirt structure below the base sections for facilitating engagement with the seabed. Some embodiments comprise selectively fillable internal fluid chambers to facilitate raising and lowering the structure in a sea and relocating the structure.

Abstract: An offshore structure comprises a base configured to be secured to the sea floor. In addition, the offshore structure comprises an elongate stem having a longitudinal axis, a first end distal the base and a second end pivotally coupled to the base. Further, the offshore structure comprises an upper module coupled to the first end of the stem. The upper module includes a variable ballast chamber. Still further, the offshore structure comprises a first ballast control conduit in fluid communication with the variable ballast chamber of the upper module. The first ballast control conduit is configured to supply a gas to the variable ballast chamber of the upper module and vent the gas from the variable ballast chamber of the upper module. Moreover, the offshore structure comprises a deck mounted to the upper module.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for containing and recovering undersea oil or gas well leakage by reason of the leaked fluid being lighter than sea water may include a canopy, or a series of interconnected canopies, which, when placed over a leak site, allow leaked fluid to be captured and displace sea water with the canopy or series of canopies having an arrangement, such as one or more conduits, for flow of leaked fluid upward from a respective canopy to the surface. With a system with multiple canopies in a series with exit arrangements for leaked fluid from a lower canopy to a next upper canopy, the series can readily extend from the surface to a great depth and allow transfer of volumes of the leaked fluid that are not limited by the capacity of canopies or conduits at deep locations.

Abstract: An offshore wind power station has a floatable foundation that can be sunk by flooding a hollow chamber, and a superstructure on which functional units of the station are arranged. The foundation includes a base that projects from the water surface in the sunk state of the foundation and on which the superstructure can be mounted. A floodable floating device surrounds the base in the shape of a ring. In a method for building an offshore station a floatable foundation is prefabricated in a harbor zone, is towed to a mounting location and sunk, whereupon the station is completed with a superstructure and functional units at the mounting location.

Abstract: A base frame for an offshore platform comprising a. a self-floating lower building structure having a stable trim, b. at least one tank in the lower building structure which is dimensioned such that the lower building structure sinks when the tank is flooded, c. means for flooding at least one tank, d. means for bearing piles in upright standing arrangement on the lower building structure.

Abstract: An ocean wave energy system for generating power from ocean waves includes a platform supporting an array of hollow columns whose respective lower ends are in fluidic communication with ocean waves and whose respective upper ends are in air communication with a turbine arrangement such that wave motion occurring at the lower ends is operable to cause air movement within the columns for propelling the turbine arrangement to generate power output. The system further includes one or more position-adjustable and/or angle-adjustable submerged structures near the lower ends of the columns for forming ocean waves propagating in operation towards the lower ends of the columns to couple the waves in a controllable manner into the hollow columns.

Abstract: An offshore unit includes a hull and/or a deck frame, a mat attached to at least one connecting leg or a spud can attached to each of at least one connecting leg or lower hull attached to at least one connecting means. A wellhead deck is removably attached to the hull and/or deck frame and a sub-sea clamp in conjunction with a caisson or a sub-sea conductor frame is removably attached to the mat or to the at least one connecting leg, where a spud can is attached to each of the at least one connecting leg, or to the lower hull. The offshore unit is relocatable and is a platform or a rig capable of performing drilling, production, construction, accommodation, hook-up and commissioning or a combination of any of these functions thereof. The offshore unit is a self-elevating mobile platform or submersible platform or semi-submersible platform.

Abstract: Method for installing a topside module on an offshore support structure that in use comprises at least one support leg that extends a height above the water level. The method comprises the steps of supporting said topside module on a barge in a position adjacent to said at least one support leg and de-ballasting the barge to lift the topside module a height above water level.

Abstract: An improved harbor, which comprises at least one lower level and at least one upper level for loading and unloading goods in a harbor area, the levels being arranged one above the other and so that at least the lower level lies below sea level.

Abstract: The present invention reduces loads and saves steel on topsides and grillage of a catamaran system by creating a lifting force from a barge to the topsides to offset a sagging bending moment of the self-weight on the topsides during transportation. The present invention can reduce the span of the supports on the topsides on the catamaran float-over barges and move the reaction forces toward inner edges of the float-over barges. The lifting force can cause a reduction of stress on the topsides' and grillage's members caused during the topside offloading and transportation. The stress reduction can result in the members withstanding the additional dynamic load caused by a catamaran system without increasing member sizes adequate for an offloading operation. The reduction results in a significant savings, given the size of a typical topsides for a Spar hull or other offshore structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the installation of a tidal power plant having a water turbine, which is mounted so it is rotatable on a nacelle, the nacelle being assigned to a coupling device for placing the tidal power plant on a coupling counterpart on a tower, which carries the tidal power plant during operation, comprising the following method steps: a floating device is coupled to the tidal power plant to form an installation unit, the buoyancy force and the buoyancy point of the floating device being adjustable and being selected so that the installation unit has a positive buoyancy; the installation is connected by means of a traction cable arrangement to the tower, the traction cable arrangement being connected to at least one motorized winch on the floating device and linkage points of the traction cable connection being arranged on the floating device and the tower so that during hauling in of the traction cable arrangement, the coupling device is guided to the coupling counterpart against t

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of creating a building structure to be installed on a basin floor wherein the base for erecting the structure would be an element of such a block and this block would be placed on the basin floor in such a way, and would be fixed in position relative to it in such a manner, that this base could be used as a foundation for stationary, large-sized heavy structures and also to ensure the possibility of using the block elements as members of the structure being erected and thus to increase the economic efficiency of the method.

Abstract: Subsea oilfield equipment (2), such as an oil and/or gas production template, is installed at the water bottom (16) by means of a submerged installation vessel (1) from which hoisting lines (3A, 3B) are deployed to support the equipment during the installation procedure, which lines (3A,3B) are reeled from at least one hoisting line reeling winch (3A,3B) mounted at the submerged installation vessel (1) to lower the equipment (2) at a desired speed and in a substantially horizontal position onto the water bottom (16).

Abstract: An offshore wind power station has a floatable foundation that can be sunk by flooding a hollow chamber, and a superstructure on which functional units of the station are arranged. The foundation includes a base that projects from the water surface in the sunk state of the foundation and on which the superstructure can be mounted. A floodable floating device surrounds the base in the shape of a ring. In a method for building an offshore station a floatable foundation is prefabricated in a harbor zone, is towed to a mounting location and sunk, whereupon the station is completed with a superstructure and functional units at the mounting location.

Abstract: A quick-release system for coupling a topside for a fixed or floating platform and a barge for float-over installation of the topside is disclosed. The quick-release system comprises one or more releasable connections, each releasable connection configured to support at least a fraction of the weight of the barge and to be remotely actuated to allow the barge to decouple from the topside. In some embodiments, the quick-release system comprises two plates, one coupled to the topside and the other coupled to the barge, and a plurality of bolts extending therebetween. A frangible nut is coupled to each bolt. The quick-release system is actuatable by an electric signal that causes the frangible nuts to fracture and the barge to subsequently be released from the topside.