Abstract: A buoyant structure having a hull, a main deck, an upper cylindrical side section extending downwardly from the main deck, an upper frustoconical side section, a cylindrical neck, a lower ellipsoidal section that extends from the cylindrical neck, an ellipsoidal keel and a fin-shaped appendage secured to a lower and an outer portion of the exterior of the ellipsoid keel. The upper frustoconical side section located below the upper cylindrical side section and maintained to be above a water line for a transport depth and partially below the water line for an operational depth of the buoyant structure.

Abstract: A floating driller having a hull, a main deck, an upper cylindrical side section extending downwardly from the main deck, an upper frustoconical side section, a cylindrical neck section, a lower ellipsoidal section that extends from the cylindrical neck section, and a fin-shaped appendage secured to a lower and an outer portion of the exterior of a bottom surface. The upper frustoconical side section located below the upper cylindrical side section and maintained to be above the water line for a transport depth and partially below the water line for an operational depth of the floating driller.

Abstract: A petroleum drilling, production, storage and offloading vessel having a hull, a main deck, an upper cylindrical side section extending downwardly from the main deck, an upper frustoconical side section, a cylindrical neck section, a lower ellipsoidal section that extends from the cylindrical neck section, and a fin-shaped appendage secured to a lower and an outer portion of the exterior of a bottom surface. The upper frustoconical side section located below the upper cylindrical side section and maintained to be above a water line for a transport depth and partially below the water line for an operational depth of the petroleum drilling, production, storage and offloading vessel.

Abstract: A continuous vertical tubular handling and hoisting buoyant structure has a hull, a main deck, an upper neck extending downwardly from the main deck, an upper frustoconical side section, an intermediate neck, a lower neck that extends from the intermediate neck, an ellipsoidal keel and a fin-shaped appendage secured to a lower and an outer portion of the exterior of the ellipsoid keel. The upper frustoconical side section is located below the upper neck and maintained to be above a water line for a transport depth and partially below the water line for an operational depth of the buoyant structure. An automated stand building system mounted to the hull is in communication with a controller and configured to make up the marine risers, make up casing, and make up drill pipe.

Abstract: A buoyant structure having a hull, a main deck, an upper cylindrical side section extending downwardly from the main deck, an upper frustoconical side section, a cylindrical neck, a lower ellipsoidal section that extends from the cylindrical neck, an ellipsoidal keel and a fin-shaped appendage secured to a lower and an outer portion of the exterior of the ellipsoid keel. The upper frustoconical side section located below the upper cylindrical side section and maintained to be above a water line for a transport depth and partially below the water line for an operational depth of the buoyant structure.

Abstract: A method for offshore floating petroleum production, storage and offloading comprising receiving hydrocarbons from at least one of an FPSO, production risers, or wellhead on the seabed by a floating hull; processing received hydrocarbons forming hydrocarbon product in the floating hull; storing the hydrocarbon product in the floating hull; and offloading the stored hydrocarbon product. The floating hull contains a hull plan view that is circular and wherein the floating hull has a bottom surface, a top deck surface, at least three connected sections, joined in series and symmetrically configured about a vertical axis with the connected sections extending downwardly from the top deck surface toward the bottom surface. The at least three connected sections contain an upper cylindrical portion, a lower conical section, a cylindrical neck section, and a set of fins secured to the hull configured to provide hydrodynamic performance through linear and quadratic damping.

Abstract: A method for operating floating vessel wherein the floating vessel comprises a hull having: a bottom surface, a top deck surface, at least two connected sections engaging between the bottom surface and the top deck surface, and at least one fin extending from the hull with an upper fin surface sloping towards the bottom surface and secured to and extending from the hull, the at least one fin configured to provide hydrodynamic performance. The at least two connected sections extend downwardly from the top deck surface toward the bottom surface. The at least two connected sections contain at least two of: an upper portion in section view with a sloping side extending from the top deck section, a cylindrical neck section in profile view, and a lower conical section in profile view with a sloping side extending from the cylindrical neck section.

Abstract: A buoyant structure having a hull, a main deck, an upper cylindrical side section extending downwardly from the main deck, an upper frustoconical side section, a cylindrical neck, a lower ellipsoidal section that extends from the cylindrical neck, an ellipsoidal keel and a fin-shaped appendage secured to a lower and an outer portion of the exterior of the ellipsoid keel. The upper frustoconical side section located below the upper cylindrical side section and maintained to be above a water line for a transport depth and partially below the water line for an operational depth of the buoyant structure.

Abstract: A semisubmersible with a plurality of surface piercing columns, a plurality of pontoons attached to and extending between pairs of adjacent surface piercing columns, a tunnel side formed between a first pair of surface piercing columns, an additional tunnel side formed between a second pair of surface piercing columns, a tunnel floor formed between the tunnel sides. A tunnel opening formed between the tunnel sides for receiving a floating vessel into the tunnel structure, and a main deck secured to the plurality of surface piercing columns. The semisubmersible can be ballasted to an operational depth and deballested to a transit depth.

Abstract: A buoyant structure or floating driller having a hull, a planar keel, a lower frustoconical portion disposed above the planar keel with an inwardly sloping wall and an upper frustoconical portion connected to the lower frustoconical portion with an outwardly sloping wall forming a hull neck. The buoyant structure has a main deck and a moon pool, at least one external tank and a plurality of ballast compartments. The buoyant structure defines a low center of gravity, wherein the combination of the upper frustoconical portion and the lower frustoconical portion provide an inherent stability to the buoyant structure.

Abstract: A method for drilling with a buoyant structure having a hull, a planar keel defining a lower hull diameter, a lower cylindrical portion connected to the planar keel, a lower frustoconical portion disposed above the lower cylindrical portion with inwardly-sloping wall at a first angle, an upper frustoconical portion directly connected to the lower frustoconical portion. The method uses a ballasted chambered buoyant storage ring which is either dockside and connected to the buoyant structure for drilling at a subsea location, or the ballasted chambered buoyant storage ring is preinstalled at a subsea location and then the buoyant structure is mounted to the ballasted chambered buoyant storage ring at sea.

Abstract: A floating vessel configured to support at least one of: drilling of wells, workover of wells, production, and storage of hydrocarbons, and personnel accommodation, having a hull. The hull has a bottom surface, a top deck surface, and at least two connected sections engaging between the bottom surface and the top deck surface. The at least two connected sections are joined in a series and symmetrical about a vertical axis. The connected sections extend downwardly from the top deck surface toward the bottom surface. The connected sections can have an upper cylindrical portion, a neck section, and a lower conical section. At least one fin is secured to the hull and the lower conical section provides added mass improved hydrodynamic performance through linear and quadratic damping to the hull.

Abstract: A buoyant structure having a hull, a planar keel defining a lower hull diameter, a lower cylindrical portion connected to the planar keel, a lower frustoconical portion disposed above the lower cylindrical portion with inwardly sloping wall at a first angle, an upper frustoconical portion directly connected to the lower frustoconical portion, and the upper frustoconical portion with outwardly sloping wall, the inwardly sloping wall abutting the outwardly sloping wall forming a hull neck with a hull neck diameter. The buoyant structure having a main deck, a moon pool, and propellers attached to the planar keel, which are operated by a motor or a generator. The buoyant structure connects over a chambered buoyant storage ring.

Abstract: A method using a floatable offshore depot to provide sheltered area using a tunnel for safe and easy launching or docking of watercraft and embarkation or debarkation of personnel. The method can be used to transfer equipment between the watercraft and the floatable offshore depot using an internal dock side of the tunnel. The floatable offshore depot can have a buoyant hull, a keel, a main deck, and at least two connected sections between the keel and the main deck. The connected sections can extend downwardly from the main deck toward the keel and can have an upper cylindrical side section, a transition section, and a lower cylindrical section. The method uses the tunnel at an operational depth, with a tunnel opening to an exterior of the buoyant hull to receive the watercraft.