Abstract: A system for establishing a fluid communication between a floating-body and a wellhead is provided. The system comprises a means for fluidly connecting the floating-body and the wellhead that defines a major axis essentially extending from about the floating-body to about the wellhead. The system further comprises a means for absorbing and releasing energy in response to the heave and surge of the floating-body that flexes in a direction essentially parallel to the major axis. An apparatus is also provided for establishing a fluid connection between a floating-body and a wellhead that is fixed to the seafloor. The apparatus comprises a riser pipe and a series of pre-formed curves in the riser pipe that defines a substantially linear axis between the floating-body and the wellhead.

Abstract: An offshore construction system comprises a work module support vessel having a ballast-down mode, in which a deck of the vessel is submerged below the water surface, and a ballast-up mode, in which the deck is disposed above the water surface. The system further comprises an independently floatable, pontoon-supported work module carried on the deck of the support vessel. The system also includes a draw connected between the work module and the work module support vessel. The draw has a draw-over mode, in which the work module is drawn over the deck of the support vessel, and a remove mode, in which the work module is removed from the deck.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention an offshore construction system is provided. The offshore construction system comprises a work module support vessel having a ballast-down mode, in which a deck of the work module support vessel is submerged, and a ballast-up mode, in which the deck is above water. The system further comprises a pontoon supported work module carried on the deck of the support vessel. The system further comprises a draw connected between the work module and the work module support vessel having a draw-over mode, in which the work module is drawn over the deck, and a remove mode, in which the work module is removed from the deck.

Abstract: A floating hull for a spar-type offshore oil and gas drilling and production platform comprises a plurality of parallel tubular cells that are subdivided into compartments having a buoyancy controlled by one or both of fixed and variable ballast. The cells may be fabricated in a variety of ways and shapes and include side wall openings for admitting and discharging seawater and petroleum ballast with pumps. Fixed and/or variable ballast may be disposed on or in the cells to adjust buoyancy, trim, and stability. Lower and upper portions of the cells may extend above or below the others for trim or stability. Longitudinal recesses may be formed in an exterior peripheral surface for routing of mooring lines and piping. Stepped helical strakes can be disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the platform or some of the cells to reduce vortex-induced vibrations of the platform. Methods are described for efficient construction of the floating hull in water.

Abstract: According to various aspects of the invention, a buoyancy apparatus, a buoyancy system and a buoyancy method are provided. In one example embodiment of the present invention, a buoyancy apparatus for drilling and production caisson is provided for use in deep water offshore well operations. The buoyancy apparatus comprises a central cell, and a plurality of secondary cells essentially surrounding the central cell and secured to the central cell; wherein the perimeter surface of the buoyancy apparatus is essentially continuous along the length of at least the secondary cells. In one example embodiment, rigidly connecting the central cell and the secondary cells creates void chambers. The tops, bottoms, and sides, of the void chambers are sealed for buoyancy or production fluid storage. In another example embodiment, the void chambers have open bottoms. Another example embodiment comprises a mixture of sealed and open bottomed void chambers.

Abstract: A method of testing a semiconductor device having a memory is disclosed. The method includes selecting a portion of the memory; testing the selected portion of the memory; designating the selected portion of the memory as a designated memory in response to an acceptable testing result; and storing data in the designated portion of the memory for retrieval at a later time. Provision for soft repair of the selected memory is made. Test data can be compressed before being stored in the designated memory.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the installation of a deck on an offshore substructure. The invention is particularly useful with a floating substructure. Two independent pontoons each have two columns spaced apart from each other that extend upwardly from the pontoons. On each pontoon, a support beam attached to the columns spans the space between the columns. In another embodiment, there is no support beam across the space between the columns. Each pontoon is provided with ballast tanks that allow the pontoons to be selectively ballasted or de-ballasted to control pontoon depth for receiving a deck or installing a deck on an offshore substructure. The pontoons may be ballasted down during transit of the deck such that the main body portion of the pontoons is below significant wave action and the columns present a relatively small water plane area. The pontoons allow the deck to be placed directly above the offshore substructure.

Abstract: A floating offshore drilling/producing structure. The structure is formed from a plurality of closely spaced vertically oriented buoyant columns on which one or more modules or decks may be placed to support process equipment, a drilling rig, utilities, and accommodations for personnel. The columns are held in the spaced relationship by a plurality of horizontal plates spaced along the length of the columns and vertical plates located near the bottom of the columns and near the top of the columns. Drilling and/or producing is accomplished through risers located approximately in the center of the structure. The structure includes fixed ballast, an oil storage area, and voids and variable ballast for offsetting the lighter weight of the stored oil. The columns have a smaller water plane area than the horizontal plates.

Abstract: A floating offshore drilling/producing structure. The structure is formed from a plurality of closely spaced vertically oriented buoyant columns on which one or more modules or decks may be placed to support process equipment, a drilling rig, utilities, and accommodations for personnel. The columns are held in the spaced relationship by a plurality of horizontal plates spaced along the length of the columns and vertical plates located near the bottom of the columns and near the top of the columns. Drilling and/or producing is accomplished through risers located approximately in the center of the structure. The structure includes fixed ballast, an oil storage area, and voids and variable ballast for offsetting the lighter weight of the stored oil. The columns have a smaller water plane area than the horizontal plates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapidly deballasting and lifting a substructure in a marine environment to a level where it will engage with a deck so that both act together as one body. Generally, the installation is carried out as follows. The substructure is towed to the mating site and upended (if necessary). The substructure may be connected to a temporary mooring and fixed ballast installed if necessary. Selected compartments in the substructure are filled with sea water until the substructure is submerged below the water line to a desired depth. A predetermined quantity of compressed air is pumped into lower tanks in the substructure. The deck to be joined with the substructure is positioned above and in alignment with the substructure. The proper valves are opened to allow the compressed air in the lower tanks to flow into the upper tanks that contain sea water. The compressed air displaces the sea water from the upper tanks.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the installation of a deck on an offshore substructure. The invention is particularly useful with a floating substructure. Two independent pontoons each have two columns spaced apart from each other that extend upwardly from the pontoons. On each pontoon, a support beam attached to the columns spans the space between the columns. Each pontoon is provided with ballast tanks that allow the pontoons to be selectively ballasted or de-ballasted to control pontoon depth for receiving a deck or installing a deck on an offshore substructure. The pontoons may be ballasted down during transit of the deck such that the main body portion of the pontoons is below significant wave action and the columns present a relatively small water plane area. The pontoons allow the deck to be placed directly above the offshore substructure. For a floating substructure, the pontoons are ballasted while the floating substructure is simultaneously de-ballasted to transfer the deck to the floating substructure.

Abstract: A drilling, production, test, and oil storage caisson for use in deep water offshore well operations. Separate low pressure and high pressure drilling risers are independently supported on buoyancy modules. Multiple drilling and production risers are left in the water and connected to the drilling rig and well(s) as needed to prevent the need for the raising and lowering of different risers during the various steps involved in beginning and completing wells. Surface and lower BOP stacks are utilized. Means for controlling the accelerations and velocity of the drilling riser buoyancy modules in the event of riser failure is provided. A subsea tree with dual master valves allows for production directly through a vertical production riser, flowline, to the production manifold on the caisson. A twisted tubing production riser is formed from three strings of tubing that are used for the flowline, annulus, and conduit for control lines.

Abstract: A drilling, production, test, and oil storage caisson for use in deep water offshore well operations. Separate low pressure and high pressure drilling risers are independently supported on buoyancy modules. Multiple drilling and production risers are left in the water and connected to the drilling rig and well(s) as needed to prevent the need for the raising and lowering of different risers during the various steps involved in beginning and completing wells. Surface and lower BOP stacks are utilized. Means for controlling the accelerations and velocity of the drilling riser buoyancy modules in the event of riser failure is provided. A subsea tree with dual master valves allows for production directly through a vertical production riser, flowline, to the production manifold on the caisson. A twisted tubing production riser is formed from three strings of tubing that are used for the flowline, annulus, and conduit for control lines.

Abstract: A shallow draft floating offshore drilling/producing structure. The structure is formed from a buoyant hull on which one or more modules or decks may be placed to support process equipment, a drilling rig, utilities, and accommodations for personnel. Drilling and/or producing is accomplished through a center well in the hull. The hull includes fixed ballast, an oil storage area, and voids and variable ballast for offsetting the lighter weight of the stored oil. The hull is designed to have a relatively small water plane area. The hull is also designed to have roll and pitch periods that are detuned from waves in the area that the hull is to be installed.

Abstract: A dynamically positioned loading buoy for transferring liquid from an offshore structure to a tanker. The loading buoy is a floating hull. The hull is provided with thrusters that are used to position the loading buoy and tanker in a safe position relative to the offshore structure. The use of thrusters on the loading buoy eliminates the need for anchors and mooring lines for the loading buoy. The transfer hose used to transfer oil between the offshore structure and the loading buoy may be stored on the loading buoy or the offshore structure. The transfer hose used to transfer oil between the loading buoy and the tanker is stored on a reel on the loading buoy.

Abstract: A dual draw works hoisting apparatus. A single derrick structure is provided for two drilling rigs. The crown block platform receives the crown blocks for both drilling operations such that both crown blocks are slidable along the crown block platform. The hoisting lines are reaved in a conventional manner, except for the dead lines. The dead lines from the two crown blocks are connected together by means of a sheave assembly which is locked in position during normal independent operation of the crown blocks and their respective travelling blocks. To provide increased lifting capacity for lifting the drilling riser, the crown blocks are moved closer together on the platform such that the travelling blocks may be attached to a spreader bar to be positioned above a drill slot and attached to the drilling riser. The sheave assembly connecting the two deadlines is unlocked to allow relative movement between the two deadlines during simultaneous use of the draw works for both travelling blocks.

Abstract: A floating caisson for offshore drilling and production that includes means for increasing the natural period of the caisson and reducing heave, pitch, and roll without increasing the overall length of the caisson. The caisson is self buoyant by means of buoyancy tanks and is held in position by mooring lines. The caisson has a center well through which drilling and/or production risers pass. One or more plates extend radially from the caisson below the water surface. The plates provide additional mass and resistance to environmentally induced motions and thus increase the natural period of the caisson beyond the periods of maximum wave energy. This allows the caisson to be designed with a shallower draft than a caisson without the plates that would normally be used in deep water.

Abstract: A drilling, production, test, and oil storage caisson for use in deep water offshore well operations. Separate low pressure and high pressure drilling risers are independently supported on buoyancy modules. Multiple drilling and production risers are left in the water and connected to the drilling rig and well(s) as needed to prevent the need for the raising and lowering of different risers during the various steps involved in beginning and completing wells. Surface and lower BOP stacks are utilized. Means for controlling the accelerations and velocity of the drilling riser buoyancy modules in the event of riser failure is provided. A subsea tree with dual master valves allows for production directly through a vertical production riser, flowline, to the production manifold on the caisson. A twisted tubing production riser is formed from three strings of tubing that are used for the flowline, annulus, and conduit for control lines.

Abstract: A deep water pile and installation and removal method that eliminates the need for underwater hammers or pile drivers. The pile is a hollow tube that is open at the lower end and provided with a fitting at the upper end for attachment to a lowering pipe. The fitting at the upper end also for fluid communication between the lowering pipe and the pile. Injecting air into the lowering pipe draws water from the lowering pipe and pile. This creates a hydrostatic pressure differential whereby the greater pressure on the outside of the pile head forces the pile into the sea floor. Removal of the pile may be accomplished by injecting high pressure water into the pile through the pile head. The high pressure water injection aids in overcoming the hydrostatic pressure on the outside of the pile head.

Abstract: An offshore apparatus and method for oil operations at a deep water well site wherein a lower hull includes a pontoon portion providing a large water plane area and also includes an upwardly facing body opening, an upper hull is fabricated within said body opening in fully telescoped relation therewith, said upper hull and lower hull being vertically relatively movable, and a deck carried by the upper hull. The pontoon portion has suffient displacement to support the apparatus in towing draft mode. The lower hull and upper hull include floodable compartments for selective ballasting and deballasting to raise and lower the hulls relative to each other in order to submerge the apparatus under stable conditions and to change the draft from towing mode to operating mode in which the hulls are in extended nontelescopic relation at a selected draft. Support lines interconnecting the lower hull and deck are selectively tensioned to aid in the transition from towing draft to operating draft.