Abstract: A support assembly for a mooring line of a floating vessel comprises a trunnion block which is pivotally supported on the vessel and a stopper block to which the mooring line is releasably secured. One of the trunnion block and the stopper block comprises a convex surface and the other of the trunnion block and the stopper block comprises a concave surface. In operation, the convex surface engages the concave surface to thereby pivotally support the stopper block on the trunnion block.

Abstract: A floating terminal for offloading an LNG carrier vessel in the sea. The floating terminal of open frame construction is moored toward its front end with a rotatable mooring arrangement so that the terminal may weathervane in response to environmental forces. Marine thrusters are provided at the aft end of the terminal for swinging the terminal away from and back toward a line defined by the path toward the terminal of an approaching LNG carrier. Offloading equipment and heat exchangers are provided on a deck of the floating structure. When an LNG carrier vessel approaches the terminal, the thrusters swing the floating terminal away from the carrier vessel approach line while a hawser at the front end of the terminal pulls the vessel close to the terminal. The floating terminal swings back toward the carrier vessel in response to operating the marine thrusters in an opposite direction until the carrier vessel and floating terminal are side-by-side.

Abstract: A turret mooring system for a vessel which includes a concrete hull and a moonpool which extends generally vertically through the hull comprises a turret which is positioned in the moonpool, an upper bearing substructure which is mounted to the hull proximate an upper end of the moonpool, and an upper bearing which includes a non-rotatable part that is connected to an upper end portion of the turret and a rotatable part that is connected to the upper bearing substructure. Thus, the turret is rotatably connected to the hull via the upper bearing and the upper bearing substructure.

Abstract: An improved detachable mooring system (1) is disclosed of the kind including a rotatable turret (10) mounted on the vessel (5) and a buoyant spider buoy (20), secured by chains (22) to the sea floor, which may be selectively connected by means of a hydraulic connector (209) to the bottom of the turret (10). One improvement relates to providing a roller bearing (598) between an upper part of the turret and an interior ring (56) of a well (50) of the vessel (50) at a level higher than sea water can reach under fully loaded conditions of the vessel. Such improvement provides an elastomeric pad (584) between the bearing (598) and a support ring (56) to reduce moment loads and to compensate for manufacturing tolerances of interface surfaces of the bearing (580, 586) and the support ring (56). Alternatively one or more spring stacks (791, 793) may be used rather than an elastomeric pad.

Abstract: An improved detachable mooring system (1) is disclosed of the kind including a rotatable turret (10) mounted on the vessel (5) and a buoyant spider buoy (20), secured by chains (22)to the sea floor, which may be selectively connected by means of a hydraulic connector (209) to the bottom of the turret (10). One improvement relates to providing a roller bearing (598) between an upper part of the turret and an interior ring (56) of a well (50) of the vessel (50) at a level higher than sea water can reach under fully loaded conditions of the vessel. Such improvement provides an elastomeric pad (584) between the bearing (598) and a support ring (56) to reduce moment loads and to compensate for manufacturing tolerances of interface surfaces of the bearing (580, 586) and the support ring (56). Alternatively one or more spring stacks (791, 793) may be used rather than an elastomeric pad.

Abstract: An improved detachable mooring system is disclosed of the kind including a rotatable turret mounted on the vessel and a buoyant spider buoy, secured by mooring legs to the sea floor, which may be selectively connected by means of a hydraulic connector to the bottom of the turret. One improvement relates to apparatus for establishing pre-load tension between a collet flange hub of the spider buoy and a hydraulic powered connector at the bottom of the turret. Another improvement relates to apparatus for remotely sensing the level of pre-load tension in the connector. Another improvement relates to a self-aligning support arrangement for supporting the collet connector to the bottom of the turret. Another improvement relates to an axial load bearing arrangement for supporting the turret with respect to the vessel.

Abstract: An improved detachable mooring system (1) is disclosed of the kind including a rotatable turret (10) mounted on the vessel (5) and a buoyant spider buoy (20), secured by chains (22) to the sea floor, which may be selectively connected by means of a hydraulic connector (209) to the bottom of the turret (10). The improvement includes a radial support assembly (54) of the turret (10) within the well at a lower position of the well approximately opposite a connection between the turret and the mooring element. Such lower radial support (54) is self aligning with the turret when the turret's axis is not precisely parallel with the axis of the radial support and when the turret outside surface is not precisely round.

Abstract: An improved detachable mooring system (1) is disclosed of the kind including a rotatable turret (10) mounted on the vessel (5) and a buoyant spider buoy (20), secured by chains (22) to the sea floor, which may be selectively connected by means of a hydraulic connector (209) to the bottom of the turret (10). The improvement relates to manufacturing the turret in three sections (10A, 10B, 10C), with top and bottom sections joined ultimately by a middle section. The top section (10C) includes a machined surface (102) for connection of the bearing retainer ring to the upper roller bearing (598). The bottom section (10A) includes a machined cylindrical journal surface (110) for connection to the radial support bearing. Another improvement relates to testing during manufacture of the mating and connection between the top of the spider buoy (20) and the bottom of the turret (10) prior to deployment of the vessel and spider buoy (20) in the sea.

Abstract: An improved detachable mooring system (1) is disclosed of the kind including a rotatable turret (10) mounted on the vessel (5) and a buoyant spider buoy (20), secured by chains (22) to the sea floor, which may be selectively connected by means of a hydraulic connector (209) to the bottom of the turret (10). One improvement relates to providing a roller bearing (598) between an upper part of the turret and an interior ring (56) of a well (50) of the vessel (50) at a level higher than sea water can reach under fully loaded conditions of the vessel. Such improvement provides an elastomeric pad (584) between the bearing (598) and a support ring (56) to reduce moment loads and to compensate for manufacturing tolerances of interface surfaces of the bearing (580, 586) and the support ring (56). Alternatively one or more spring stacks (791, 793) may be used rather than an elastomeric pad.

Abstract: A mooring system and method of anchoring a buoyant module (16) in a submerged location in the sea for supporting an underwater structure such as a plurality of acoustical arrays (18) for receiving and transmitting acoustical signals is disclosed. The buoyant module (16) is held in a submerged position by at least one anchor leg or line (46) anchored to the sea floor and of a variable length to permit controlled movement of the module (16) to the sea surface (10) for servicing. The single anchor line (46) is a stretchable line and includes an upper segment (56) formed of a Kevlar material and a lower segment (58) formed of a nylon material. Line 46 may stretch easily for a length of 400 feet, a preferred submerged depth of the module (16). Module (16) includes a constant buoyant material (36) and a source of compressed gas (32) controlled by a remotely actuated valve (40) to provide a variable buoyancy.

Abstract: A structure for mooring a vessel floating on the surface of a body of water is disclosed including a tower structure and an improved structure for pivotably connecting the vessel to the tower structure while providing a restoring force to the vessel. The tower has a slewing boom rotatably mounted about its vertical axis. The longitudinal axis of the slewing boom is substantially aligned with that of the vessel. Pendant members are connected along the longitudinal axis of the slewing boom and support lateral members of a counterweight frame. Longitudinal members of the frame hold counterweight blocks. A unitary yoke is pivotably removably hinged at its tower end to one of the lateral members of the frame and is hinged at its vessel end to bow hinge brackets fixed to the vessel.

Abstract: A subsea system for the storage of petroleum products or other liquids with densities lighter than water is disclosed. The system includes at least one storage tank disposed alongside a bowl-like structure. A flexible membrane sealed to a top peripheral surface of the bowl structure or a hollow bladder supported by the bowl is provided. Pipes run from the bottom of the tank to the space between the membrane and the bowl or to the interior of the bladder. Water stored in the tank is displaced to the bowl/membrane volume space or to the hollow bladder. When discharge of the petroleum products is desired, a supply/discharge valve at the top of the tank is opened and sea pressure acting on the flexible membrane forces water from the membrane/bowl space or bladder back into the bottom of the tank causing the petroleum products to be discharged via the supply/discharge pipe.

Abstract: A rotatable swivel comprising a swivel body, a ball bearing assembly, and a primary upper seal axially offset from a primary lower seal for sealing a conduit chamber is disclosed. Pressurization of the conduit chamber of the swivel in cooperation with the differential axial offset of the primary seals creates axial pre-loading of the swivel operably aiding in the sealing of the conduit chamber and maintaining the concentricity of the bearing assembly between a rotatable outer ring and a stationary inner ring and providing wear compensation for the swivel. Secondary upper and lower seals are disclosed whereby if the primary seals fail to retain pressure in the conduit chamber, the respective secondary seal maintains the initial axial loading of the failed primary seal.

Abstract: An offshore bulk fluid transfer system and method for its deployment in both shallow and deep water is disclosed. The system is adapted for transfer of fluids between a tanker and another location. Deep water embodiments of the invention provide for a three and four stair step method for deploying the base on the sea floor. Additionally, a method of retrieving the system from the sea floor is disclosed. The offshore bulk fluid transfer system comprises a base and buoyancy tanks attached to the base flotation for the system during its transportion to a mooring location. Buoyancy tanks are adapted for flooding to allow the system to be deployed on the sea floor.

Abstract: An offshore bulk liquid discharge system and method for its deployment are disclosed. The system is adapted for rapid deployment and facilitates rapid unloading of liquids from an ocean tanker to a shore location. The system includes a base, a mooring buoy tethered to the base and floodable buoyancy tanks which may be flooded causing the base to land on the sea floor. A product swivel mounted on the base provides fluid communication between a tanker hose and a flexible pipeline.

Abstract: A rotatable swivel adapted for assuring the passage of a scraper pig or a separator pig through a conveyance system of which and the swivel is a part is disclosed. The swivel includes a guide vane pivotally mounted in an inner ring of a swivel body to enable movement between a retracted position for assembling the inner ring with an outer ring and an operating position for insuring the passage of the pig from an inlet to an outlet communicating with a toroidally shaped conduit chamber of the rotatable swivel. A removable locking pin secures the guide vane in the operating position to assure the passage of the pig. A retracted position port and an operating position port are disposed in an outer ring of the swivel body to enable movement of the guide vane between the retracted and operating positions.

Abstract: A single point mooring apparatus for tanker loading and discharging is disclosed having a submerged base and a submerged rigid yoke connected directly to the base by a triaxial articulation joint for allowing the yoke to move while connected to a vessel in yaw, pitch and roll with respect to the submerged mooring base. The submerged yoke is connected to the vessel with weighted pendants on port and starboard sides of the bow of the vessel, providing a resilient position restoring force to the vessel as the vessel moves in response to wind, wave and currents.

Abstract: A single point mooring apparatus for tanker loading and discharging is disclosed having a fixed mooring tower and a yoke connected to the fixed tower by a triaxial articulation element for allowing the yoke to move while connected to a vessel in yaw, pitch and roll with respect to the mooring base. The yoke is shaped to straddle the bow of the moored vessel and is suspended above the water line with weighted pendants on port and starboard sides of the vessel, providing a resilient position restoring force to the vessel. Fluid transfer swivels and flexible hose connections in the cargo transfer conduits are all located above the water line.

Abstract: A single point mooring apparatus especially adapted for securing large marine tanker vessels or subsea hydrocarbon well collection and storage barges in relatively shallow water is disclosed. The floating mooring buoy structure is connected to a mooring base secured to the ocean floor by a plurality of tension leg attachment members of predetermined length. The buoyancy of the floating buoy structure is controlled to produce sufficient tension in the attachment member to provide a position restoring force to the moored marine vessel. The floating buoy structure is formed by an open frame work having a conical shape to minimize impact with ice floes on the floating buoy structure and have fully submerged buoyancy tanks to minimize the effect of wave forces and tied level variations on the position restoring force.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling hose underwater and specifically for hose connection to an underwater pipe including a saddle adapted to receive a hose, a clamp for retaining the hose in the saddle, said saddle being movable, means for pulling a hose underwater into said saddle, and means for pulling the hose, after it has been brought into alignment with the underwater pipe, into sufficiently close proximity to the end of the underwater pipe for completing the connection. The method of making an underwater hose connection including the steps of pulling a hose down in the water, orienting a saddle to a position in which its axis is parallel to the axis of the hose, pulling the hose into the saddle, clamping the hose in the saddle, orienting the saddle to position the hose in axial alignment with the pipe to which the hose is to be connected and moving the hose into sufficiently close proximity for its connection to the underwater pipe.