Abstract: An electricity generator having variable capacitors that each includes a repeatedly stretched and relaxed sheet (20, FIG. 3) of SM (stretchable material) and electrodes (22, 24) lying against opposite faces of the sheet, which includes a power extraction unit (110, FIG. 9) coupled to the electrodes of at least a pair of capacitors that are activated out of phase with each other. The unit directs an electrical charge (current) from a first pair of electrodes that have a higher voltage, to one or more second pairs of electrodes that have a lower voltage, to recharge the second pairs of electrodes. During the current flow electrical power is extracted by the drop in voltage of current passing through the unit. The power extraction unit can be provided with a control unit that has voltage detectors (54) and that selectively connect capacitors, based on their voltages, for maximum efficiency in generating power output.

Abstract: A pipeline includes a pair of pipe sections with ends (20, 22), connected together by threads. the pipe ends having axial and radial abutments lying beyond the ends of the thread. The abutments are located to stabilize a nib sealing arrangement and to enhance the capacity to resist bending while using a shorter thread length. The shorter threads (24, 26) enable pipe ends of smaller wall thicknesses to be used. At the abutments, each pipe end has a nib (40A, 40B) that is deflected to enter a groove as the pipe ends mate.

Abstract: A vessel has a hull, a contact area at the hull near keel level for attaching to a structure, a lifting device and a lifting cable attached thereto and extending along a heave compensating member. The lifting cable extends along a substantially vertical lifting trajectory to a connect position below keel level. The heave compensating member includes a guide element for guiding the lifting cable and which is connected to a displacement device. The heave compensating member includes a compensator arm with a pivot end pivotally connected to a pivot point on the vessel at a predetermined transverse distance from the lifting trajectory, the cable guide element being attached to a free end of the compensator arm at or near the lifting trajectory, guiding the lifting cable in the direction of the pivot point, the arm being at or near the free end connected to the displacement device.

Abstract: An electromechanical energy conversion system includes a variable capacitor, an electronic charging/discharging unit and a power source/sink; the power source/sink being coupled to the electronic charging/discharging unit which is coupled to the variable capacitor; the variable capacitor including first and second electrodes that are separated by an intermediate medium providing a gap distance therebetween; the gap distance being adjustable between a minimal distance and a maximal distance as a function of an externally applied mechanical force; the electronic charging/discharging unit being arranged for charging the variable capacitor from the power source/sink at substantially a state of the variable capacitor when the gap distance is minimal and the area of the elastically deformed body maximal, and for discharging the variable capacitor to the power source/sink at substantially a state of the variable capacitor when the gap distance is maximal and the area of the elastically deformed body minimal.

Abstract: A disconnectable turret mooring system includes a mooring buoy, a turret structure, and a buoy locking system for locking the mooring buoy to the turret structure, whereby the turret structure includes an intermediate connection member, which includes the buoy locking system, wherein the intermediate connection member is rotatably supported by the turret structure. A method of mooring a vessel includes a turret structure to a mooring buoy, whereby the turret structure is arranged to receive the mooring buoy. The turret mooring system includes a turret structure that is rotatably supported by the vessel and an intermediate connection member that is rotatably supported by the turret structure. The method includes: receiving the mooring buoy into the turret structure, locking the mooring buoy to the intermediate connection member, and rotating the intermediate connection member and the turret structure with respect to each other.

Abstract: A vessel includes a hull with a turret, a cavity in the turret and a mooring buoy releasably attached in the cavity, the buoy including a buoyant body and carrying a number of risers, extending to a subsea hydrocarbon well and a number of anchor lines connected to the sea bed, wherein upon connection of the buoy to the cavity, the buoy is attached to a pulling member connected to a winch on the vessel for lifting of the buoy. Each anchor line and/or riser at its upper end is connected to a stopper member, the stopper member being attached to the pulling member, wherein during lifting, each anchor line and/or riser and the stopper member are movable relative to the buoyant body in a length direction of the anchor lines and/or risers, and wherein after connection of the buoyant body to the cavity, the stopper member is engaged with an abutment member on the buoyant body to support the anchor line and/or riser weight off the body.

Abstract: A floating structure includes a hull and a work structure for supporting, lifting or lowering elongate objects. The work structure includes an elevating platform having an opening for receiving an object to be supported, lifted or lowered. The elevating platform is supported on the hull and is connected to a movable force element. The work structure includes a compensator platform pivotably supported on the hull around a pivot axis via a bracket or curved track. The compensator platform has an opening for receiving the object to be handled while the elevating platform is supported on the compensator platform via at least one elastomeric support. The force element is on one side attached to the hull and on the other side to the compensator platform for transmitting a driving force or a damping force to the platform when the platform is pivoted about a pin or displaced over the curved track.

Abstract: A floating construction having a base, a tensioning member extending from the sea bed in the direction of the base, a connector at an upper end of the tensioning member and attachment elements on the base for attaching to the connector, characterized in that, the attachment elements include a guide member for lowering a tensioning member section by a predetermined distance, which tensioning member section at a free end is provided with a complementary connector for attaching to the connector on the upper end of the tensioning member, the tensioning member section including at an upper end a stopper for engaging with the base and for fixing and/or adjusting the upper end in a vertical direction, the floating construction including a pulling device attached to the tensioning member section, for lowering the tensioning member section along the guide member towards the tensioning member.

Abstract: High voltage swivel (4) comprising a static (8) and a rotating body (7), the static and the rotating body being rotatable coaxial around a longitudinal axis, wherein the static and the rotating body are in electrical contact one with the other in order to allow transmission of power and/or data between the static and the rotating body, the static and the rotating body each having a contact surface (14, 16) for allowing the electrical contact between the static and the rotating body, wherein the electrical contact between the contact surfaces of the static and the rotating body is obtained by using an electrical conductive fluid (15).

Abstract: A system is provided for the production of heavy crude oil from an undersea reservoir, and for the treatment of the crude oil to facilitate its transport. A floating body (12) which produces the heavy crude oil, carries a hydrocarbon cracking station (32) that cracks the heavy crude into light liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons, and that uses heat resulting from the cracking to produce pressured steam. The pressured steam is used to drive a steam-powered engine (72) (with pistons or a turbine) that drives an electrical generator (74) whose electricity powers the system.

Abstract: A mooring system for a floating structure (1) in which a floating structure or fixed tower is provided with a turntable (80). A floating structure is moored to the turntable via at least one rigid arm (51,51?) and two tension members (41, 41?). The rigid arm is provided on one end with a ballast weight (61, 61?) and includes a damping system formed of least two separated liquid tanks (70, 70?) that are partly filled with liquids and placed at the same distance from the horizontal center line (100). The tanks (70, 70?) are fluidly connected with each other so that liquid can be exchanged between the tanks damps a swinging yaw motion of the rigid arm (51, 51?) around the vertical axis of the turntable (80).

Abstract: A vessel for producing hydrocarbons, the vessel being adapted to be connected to at least one riser for transport of the hydrocarbons from a well on the seabed towards the vessel, wherein the vessel includes a separation station for separation of the hydrocarbons into gaseous hydrocarbons and non-gaseous hydrocarbons, storing elements for storing the hydrocarbons and processing elements for processing at least part of the hydrocarbons. The vessel further includes a positioning system for controlling the position and orientation of the vessel with respect to the seabed, wherein the positioning system includes a Dynamic Positioning (DP) system allowing the control of the position and the orientation of the vessel with respect to the seabed without the use of mooring lines, wherein the DP system is adapted to be driven by at least a portion of the gaseous part of the hydrocarbons separated in the separation station.

Abstract: A mooring leg connector for use with a mooring leg (3) that has an upper portion with an axis, where the mooring leg (3) extends up from the sea floor, to connect a floating body (1) to the seabed. The mooring leg connector includes one part (20) fixed with regard to the floating body (1) and another part (30) which is movable with regard to the fixed part (20) from a first position to a second position. An offshore construction including such a mooring leg connector and a method to retract such a mooring leg connector when disconnected, are also described.

Abstract: Electronic device (1) for charging and discharging a capacitor (10) from and to a power source (30). The electronic device is connectable to the capacitor and to the power source, and includes a first circuit (SI, D, R1, LI) for charging the capacitor and at least one second circuit (S2, D, R2, L2) for discharging the capacitor. The capacitor is connected to the first circuit in a charge line (31) and is connected to the second circuit in a discharge line (32). Both the charge line and discharge line are connectable to the power source. The first circuit is arranged as a first buck converter circuit and the at least one second circuit is arranged as a second buck converter circuit.

Abstract: An electromechanical energy conversion system includes a variable capacitor, an electronic charging/discharging unit and a power source/sink; the power source/sink being coupled to the electronic charging/discharging unit which is coupled to the variable capacitor; the variable capacitor including first and second electrodes that are separated by an intermediate medium providing a gap distance therebetween; the gap distance being adjustable between a minimal distance and a maximal distance as a function of an externally applied mechanical force; the electronic charging/discharging unit being arranged for charging the variable capacitor from the power source/sink at substantially a state of the variable capacitor when the gap distance is minimal and the area of the elastically deformed body maximal, and for discharging the variable capacitor to the power source/sink at substantially a state of the variable capacitor when the gap distance is maximal and the area of the elastically deformed body minimal.

Abstract: Method for harvesting energy using an EAP based deformable body. The EAP based deformable body is an elastically deformable body including an arrangement of stretchable synthetic material and electrodes being arranged as a variable capacitor with a capacitance that varies as the deformable body stretches and relaxes. The method includes: looping through an energy harvesting cycle with a) stretching the deformable body from a minimal relaxed size L1 to a maximal stretched size L2; b) at the maximal stretched size electrically charging of the variable capacitor to create an electric field over the capacitor with an upper electric field level value; and subsequently c) a relaxation step from maximal stretched size to the minimal relaxed size; d) at the minimal relaxed size of the deformable body, electrically discharging the capacitor to a minimal charge level and a minimal electric field level value.

Abstract: A mooring leg connector (4) is configured for use with a mooring chain part (3) of a mooring leg extending up from the sea floor to moor a floating structure (1) to the seabed. The connector has an elongate tubular element (5) extending in the mooring leg direction and a latch mechanism (6) for fixation of the mooring chain part to the floating structure to be moored and preventing movement along the mooring leg in the direction of the seabed. The elongate tubular element has a passage for the mooring chain to pass through and includes at the top a double articulation axis including a roll articulation (7) and a pitch articulation (8). The roll and pitch articulations are coplanar.

Abstract: Power swivel for transmitting electrical power from a first terminal to a second terminal, includes a central part with a huh and an outer ring of a magnetic material, coaxial with and surrounding the hub, the outer ring and central part being rotatable relative to one another around a vertical axis, at least two radial arms of a magnetic material projecting from the hub or from the outer ring, adjacent arms being spaced-apart, each arm carrying a conductor wound around the arm to form a coil for generating a magnetic flux along a radial flux path through the arm, the conductors being connected to the first terminal, wherein the outer ring or the hub has a cylindrical surface at close proximity to free ends of the arms, a plurality of axially extending conductors being distributed along the circumference of the outer ring or hub at or near the cylindrical surface.

Abstract: Turret mooring system for receiving a mooring buoy, includes a turret mooring structure, and a buoy locking system for locking the mooring buoy, whereby the turret mooring system includes an intermediate connection member, which includes the buoy locking system. The intermediate connection member is rotatably suspended from the turret mooring structure. A method of mooring a vessel, including a turret mooring system, is described whereby the turret mooring system is arranged to receive the mooring buoy. The turret mooring system includes a turret mooring structure that is rotatably suspended from the vessel and an intermediate connection member that is rotatably suspended from the turret mooring structure. The method includes the steps of receiving the mooring buoy into the turret mooring system, locking the mooring buoy to the intermediate connection member, and rotating the intermediate connection member and the turret mooring structure with respect to each other.

Abstract: Offshore deployment device for an installation vessel (4) with a deck (5) to deploy a hydrocarbon transfer pipe (2) composed of several pipe segments (3), the device including a trolley hoist lifting element (10), installed in a tower (6) to lift a pipe segment from an horizontal position into a vertical position, an assembly platform (8), where a segment is connected to a previously launched transfer pipe string, the assembly platform being provided with a clamping device that is supported on the installation vessel and adapted to support the weight of the previously launched pipe string during assembling, wherein the hydrocarbon transfer pipe is a flexible hose string composed of several flexible hose segments, the flexible hose string being guided from a vertical position into an inclined or a horizontal position via a hose string guide element (15) which is placed under the assembly platform.