Patents Assigned to Single Buoy Moorings, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20150034002
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: SINGLE BUOY MOORINGS INC.
    Inventors: Christian Raymond Bauduin, Jean-Yves Silvain Toggiani, Jean Pierre Benoit, Jerome Perrin
  • Patent number: 8894326
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventors: Liva Christian Randrianarivony, Florian Couget, Pieter Liem, Eric Sebellin
  • Patent number: 8870234
    Abstract: A connector for a hydrocarbon system includes a first duct section, a first connector part slidably attached to the first duct section for connecting to a complementary connector part attached to a second duct section and a retraction member for moving the first connector part in an axial direction between an extended position and a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventor: Jean Braud
  • Patent number: 8854168
    Abstract: Power swivel for transmitting electrical power from a first terminal to a second terminal, includes a central part with a hub 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventor: Mauro Bedini
  • Patent number: 8851004
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventors: Philippe Lavagna, Xavier Connaulte, Christoph Vogt
  • Publication number: 20140261131
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: SINGLE BUOY MOORINGS INC.
    Inventors: Philippe LAVAGNA, Xavier CONNAULTE, Christoph VOGT
  • Patent number: 8820258
    Abstract: A chain connector for holding a chain (14) that moors a vessel to the sea floor under perhaps 2000 tons tension, which can be quickly disconnected in an emergency by applying a moderate disconnecting force such as 50 tons. The chain is hold by ratchets (24, 26) that are mounted on arms (34, 36). The arms have upper ends (35) that am pivotally mounted on a housing (38) and have free lower ends (44), with the lower ends being held by cams (50) on locking dogs (52) that have locking dog lower ends (51) pivotally mounted on the housing and free upper ends (60). A hydraulic actuator (70) has pins (58) that engage the upper ends of the locking dogs to prevent the arms and dogs from pivoting apart until the looking dog upper ends (60) are raised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings, Inc
    Inventors: Christian Bauduin, Jean-Pierre Benoit, Jean-Yves Toggiani
  • Patent number: 8814220
    Abstract: A pressure regulation system for a high pressure swivel comprises an annular inner wall and an annular outer wall, mutually rotatable around an axis, defining a toroidal chamber, and a gap extending axially between the walls from the chamber to an outer part. Positioned in the gap are an isolation seal, an isolation gap section, a primary seal, a primary gap section and a secondary seal. A first pressure control unit is connected to the chamber and to a pressurization device coupled to the isolation gap section for supplying fluid to the isolation gap section from the pressurization device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventor: Jack Pollack
  • Publication number: 20140216323
    Abstract: Method for mooring an offshore structure includes: providing a mooring line having one end connected to the sea bed and a connector at a free end; lifting the free end onto a deck of an anchor line handling vessel; connecting on the anchor line handling vessel a chain tensioner with a connection side to the connector; providing a working chain having a short tensioning part and a long installation part into the entry side of the chain tensioner; holding a free end of the installation part while lowering the chain tensioner below water level; picking up a free end of a pendant attached to the offshore structure, and attaching it to the free end of the installation part in an interconnect position on the anchor line handling vessel; placing the interconnect position overboard; connecting a lifting cable on the anchor line handling vessel to the tensioning part below water level; and exerting an upward tensioning force on the tensioning chain part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Macrae
  • Patent number: 8740583
    Abstract: A system wherein cold water from near the sea floor is pumped through a primarily vertical pipe (12) to a body (14) floating at the sea surface so energy can be obtained from water temperature differences. A pump (50) located at the bottom of the pipe, is part of a pump module (46) that can be inserted and removed horizontally through a slot (44) in a bottom structure (22) lying at the bottom of the pipe. The top of the pipe is sealed to a movable pipe connector, by a U-shaped elastomeric seal (110). The pipe can include a short top pipe section (126) and a long bottom pipe section (127) of smaller diameter (D), whose upper portion can be pulled up through the top pipe section when the top pipe section is damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Pollack, Hein Wille
  • Patent number: 8729723
    Abstract: A floating energy generating device includes at least two wind turbines mounted on a floating open structure, the floating open structure being moored to the seabed with a mooring system, each wind turbine featuring in operation mode a blade and rotor part mounted at the top of a tower and being connected via a cable to a central control power electronic unit on the floating open structure, the central control power unit being connected to a submerged high voltage power export cable for exporting the electricity generated by the at least two windmills, characterized in that the floating open structure being connectable to or disconnectable from the mooring system and that when disconnected from the mooring system, the center of gravity of the floating open structure is at or below its center of buoyancy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventors: Sophie Boureau, Hein Wille
  • Patent number: 8708053
    Abstract: A method for installing risers so they extend from a FPU (floating production unit) to multiple subsea hydrocarbon wells of an oil field, which avoids damage to the pipe sections and that is economical. As pipe sections are connected to a near end (56) of a pipe string portion (68B-68D) that lies at the FPU, a tug boat (30) pulls the far end (65) of the pipe string toward a well head. Initially, a long pull line (34) extends from a winch (32) on the tug boat, in a double catenary curve to the far end of the pipe string. The winch is operated to shorten the pull line until the pipe string extends in a double catenary curve (60). Tension in the pipe string is maintained at a proper level during installation by maintaining the near end portion of the pipe string so it extends at a near end angle (70) to the vertical that continually lies within a predetermined range, such as from 3° to 12°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Pollack, David Riggs, Feng Guo
  • Publication number: 20140091576
    Abstract: A combined offshore system for generating electricity includes of an offshore windmill unit with a generator for extracting power from wind and transferring it into electricity, a electricity export cable connected to the windmill for exporting produced electricity to offshore or onshore consumers, and at least one offshore wave power unit for extracting power from waves. This offshore wave power unit is characterized in that electricity produced by the wave power unit is transferred via the same electricity export cable as the electricity generated by the windmill unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: SINGLE BUOY MOORINGS INC.
    Inventors: Hein WILLE, Sophie BOUREAU
  • Publication number: 20140090750
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon transfer arrangement for transfer of fluids between an offshore unit and a carrier which are placed in an offloading configuration, includes at least one transfer hose and a gas return hose, wherein the end of the at least one transfer hose is connected to a floating multi-function unit allowing for the transport of the transfer hose between the offshore unit and the carrier, wherein the floating multi-function unit can be lifted out of the water and can be held in a fixed position above water-level and is provided with connection elements for making a fluid connection between the transfer hose end and a manifold of the carrier and with emergency disconnect elements for the at least one transfer hose, placed at a distance from the connection elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: SINGLE BUOY MOORINGS INC.
    Inventors: Pieter LIEM, Jean-Robert FOURNIER, Jean-Charles RINALDI
  • Patent number: 8683935
    Abstract: A mooring leg connector for use with a mooring leg extending up from the sea floor to connect a floating structure to be moored to the seabed wherein disconnection and connection of the mooring leg is done by pulling in and out a connector elongated body extending in the mooring leg direction. The connector has a latch mechanism for fixation of the mooring leg to the floating structure to be moored and preventing movement in the direction of the seabed, and a flexible part with a double articulation axis located at the bottom of the connector body above the attachment member, the connector body being received in a housing which is fixed to a part of the structure to be moored, wherein the latch mechanism includes guiding elements and followers or orientation pins between the body of the connector and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Raymond Bauduin, Jean Braud, Jean Pierre Benoit
  • Publication number: 20140045394
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus Coenradus Johannes Jozephus WOLDRING, Peter Alan LUNDE
  • Publication number: 20140027008
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon transfer arrangement for transfer of fluids between an offshore unit and a carrier which are placed in an offloading configuration, includes at least one transfer hose and a gas return hose, wherein the end of the at least one transfer hose is connected to a floating multi-function unit allowing for the transport of the transfer hose between the offshore unit and the carrier, wherein the floating multi-function unit can be lifted out of the water and can be held in a fixed position above water-level and is provided with connection elements for making a fluid connection between the transfer hose end and a manifold of the carrier and with emergency disconnect elements for the at least one transfer hose, placed at a distance from the connection elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: SINGLE BUOY MOORINGS INC.
    Inventors: Pieter LIEM, Jean-Robert FOURNIER, Jean-Charles RINALDI
  • Publication number: 20140014017
    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 centre 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).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Single Buoy Mooring Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre Balleraud, Jean-Robert Fournier
  • Publication number: 20140017014
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventor: Jack POLLACK
  • Patent number: 8628274
    Abstract: Floating construction (1) having a base (2), a tensioning member (17, 18) extending from the sea bed in the direction of the base, a connector (27, 28) at an upper end (16,19) of the tensioning member and attachment means on the base for attaching to the connector, characterized in that, the attachment means comprise a guide member (14, 15) for lowering a tensioning member (12, 13) section by a predetermined distance (D2), which tensioning member section at a free end (23, 24) is provided with a complementary connector (25, 26) for attaching to the connector on the upper end of the tensioning member, the tensioning member section comprising at an upper end a stopper (31, 32) for engaging with the base and for fixing and/or adjusting the upper end in a vertical direction, the floating construction comprising a pulling device (36, 37, 38, 39) attached to the tensioning member section, for lowering the tensioning member section along the guide member towards the tensioning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventor: Jack Pollack