Abstract: A method of temporarily anchoring a mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) at an offshore drilling site includes laying out anchoring assemblies at a sea floor. Each anchoring assembly has a connection unit adjacent to the drilling site, an anchor line extending away therefrom, and a sea floor anchor. The MODU is brought to the drilling site. Successively, for each connection unit, a dynamic positioning system at the MODU is operated to move the MODU to a position substantially vertically above the connection unit, a drilling unit anchor line having a connection member is lowered from the MODU to engage the connection unit, and the drilling unit anchor line is connected with the respective anchoring assembly via the connection unit and the connection member. Each drilling unit anchor line is tensioned from the MODU to anchor the MODU at the drilling site via the plurality of anchoring assemblies.

Abstract: A method of temporarily anchoring a mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) at an offshore drilling site includes laying out anchoring assemblies at a sea floor. Each anchoring assembly has a connection unit adjacent to the drilling site, an anchor line extending away therefrom, and a sea floor anchor. The MODU is brought to the drilling site. Successively, for each connection unit, a dynamic positioning system at the MODU is operated to move the MODU to a position substantially vertically above the connection unit, a drilling unit anchor line having a connection member is lowered from the MODU to engage the connection unit, and the drilling unit anchor line is connected with the respective anchoring assembly via the connection unit and the connection member. Each drilling unit anchor line is tensioned from the MODU to anchor the MODU at the drilling site via the plurality of anchoring assemblies.