Abstract: A mooring yoke and method for using same to connect or disconnect a shuttle vessel to a body, such as an LNG liquefaction and storage vessel (LNG/FPSO). The yoke is pivotably connected at one end to the LNG/FPSO. The other or tip end of the yoke includes a buoyant element and a male connector element to be received in a female receiver element carried by the shuttle vessel. A tension element is arranged and designed to run through the male connector element and to be clamped on the shuttle vessel. A yoke windlass, alternatively mounted on the yoke or the LNG/FPSO pulls on the tension element thereby pulling the tip end of the yoke out of the sea and the male connector element into the female receiver element. A locking mechanism selectively locks the male element to the female receiver.

Abstract: A very large diameter turret for mooring a VLCC class FPSO vessel. A large diameter rail and wheel bearing system is disposed between a turret main deck and the hull of the vessel. The turret is designed for a flexibility to allow the turret main deck to conform to the sag or hog of the vessel so that excessive forces on the wheels of the bearing system are avoided. The turret's main deck, in a preferred embodiment, includes a center hub, an outer ring, and spokes between the hub and outer ring. A lower chain deck is preferably connected to the main deck by pillars or columns, or alternatively by riser tubes alone, or other structures that achieve the desired flexibility of the main deck.

Abstract: A method for constructing and installing a very large turret in a vessel without lifting the entire turret from a fabrication yard into the moonpool. According to a first alternative method, both the lower part and the upper part of the turret are constructed inside the moonpool while the vessel is in drydock. Such method obviates providing very large lifting cranes capable of lifting the entire turret including the upper part of the turret and the lower part into the moonpool. According to a second alternative embodiment, the turret has an upper part and a lower part and the lower part is constructed in the moonpool while the vessel is in drydock, like in the first alternative method. In the second embodiment, the lower part is supported by rods and jacks from the moonpool, and the vessel is floated out of drydock into the water and parked at dockside.

Abstract: A disconnectable mooring system for connecting an LNG carrier vessel to a permanently moored LNG liquefaction process vessel in combination with an LNG offloading system. One end of a mooring yoke is suspended from a frame at the stern of the LNG process vessel. A male coupler is mounted to an opposite end of the mooring yoke via a universal joint. A female coupler is mounted on the LNG carrier vessel, with pull-in arrangements for pulling the LNG carrier vessel into position and the male coupler into selective coupling with the female coupler.

Abstract: A mooring yoke and method for using same to connect or disconnect a shuttle vessel to a body, such as an LNG liquefaction and storage vessel (LNG/FPSO). The yoke is pivotably connected at one end to the LNG/FPSO. The other or tip end of the yoke includes a buoyant element and a male connector element to be received in a female receiver element carried by the shuttle vessel. A tension element is arranged and designed to run through the male connector element and to be clamped on the shuttle vessel. A yoke windlass, alternatively mounted on the yoke or the LNG/FPSO pulls on the tension element thereby pulling the tip end of the yoke out of the sea and the male connector element into the female receiver element. A locking mechanism selectively locks the male element to the female receiver.

Abstract: A radial bearing assembly for a turret mooring system. The radial bearing has a radial clearance sufficient to allow the turret to have minor deflection without bearing contact against the turret's sliding surface. As a result, sliding wear on the lower bearing is reduced, and the upper bearing is allowed to rotate without incurring unnecessary bending moments caused by unavoidable structural tolerances in misalignment of the lower bearing with respect to the upper bearing's axis of rotation. In a storm environment, the lower bearing is capable of radially supporting the turret while allowing relative rotation of the vessel around the geostationary turret when larger mooring loads occur on the turret. A mounting arrangement for pads on radial bearing assemblies and the radial clearance allow replacement of the bearing elements while the vessel is moored by the turret in offshore waters.

Abstract: An arrangement for suspending a Single Point Mooring Turret from its corresponding vessel, by transmitting a circumferentially uniform axial vertical load without moment through the interface of motion between the vessel and turret, by decoupling mooring system loads, inertial loads and hull deflection induced loads, from transmission across that interface. The arrangement supports the turret through a pendular suspension system which includes bogies, having one or more wheels or rollers per bogie, which roll around the circumference of the moonpool on a rail to allow the bogies to rotate in a horizontal plane which is perpendicular to the center line of the moonpool, and to decouple the bearing loads from radial hull deflection due to ovaling caused by rough seas. Radial flexure is achieved by suspending the turret from the bogie through rocker arms and chains, cables, rods or columns between the bogies and a riser support structure of the turret.

Abstract: An improved turret for a turret mooring arrangement characterized by the turret including an upper section and a lower section which are coupled together by a flex joint. The turret mooring arrangement also includes a turret insert tube with a lower section that is rotatably coupled to the vessel by a radial bearing assembly. The radial bearing assembly includes an outer member having an outer profile arranged and designed to cooperate with a complementary profile in the interior of the turret insert tube so that the outer member is turned by the turret insert tube when the vessel rotates about said turret, without fixed attachment of the outer member to the turret insert tube. Methods of installing a turret and lower bearing assembly within a turret insert tube of a vessel are also disclosed.

Abstract: An offshore offloading system for hydrocarbon products from a storage station such as an LNG/FPSO to a shuttle vessel. The system includes a yoke mooring arrangement having a yoke and a connection assembly. One end of the yoke is selectively disconnectable to the shuttle vessel, while the other end of the yoke is rotatably connected to an end of the connection assembly which has its other end rotatably connected to a frame which extends from an end of the storage station. The yoke and connection assembly are arranged such that a transverse force in the lateral or y-direction moves the end of the yoke less than twice the movement of the yoke in response to an x-direction force. The system also includes arrangements for providing a hydrocarbon fluid flow path from the storage station to the shuttle vessel when the shuttle vessel is disconnectably moored to the storage station.

Abstract: A disconnectable mooring system for connecting an LNG carrier vessel to a permanently moored LNG liquefaction process vessel in combination with an LNG offloading system. One end of a mooring yoke is suspended from a frame at the stern of the LNG process vessel. A male coupler is mounted to an opposite end of the mooring yoke via a universal joint. A female coupler is mounted on the LNG carrier vessel, with pull-in arrangements for pulling the LNG carrier vessel into position and the male coupler into selective coupling with the female coupler.

Abstract: A method for constructing and installing a very large turret in a vessel without lifting the entire turret from a fabrication yard into the moonpool. According to a first alternative method, both the lower part and the upper part of the turret are constructed inside the moonpool while the vessel is in drydock. Such method obviates providing very large lifting cranes capable of lifting the entire turret including the upper part of the turret and the lower part into the moonpool. According to a second alternative embodiment, the turret has an upper part and a lower part and the lower part is constructed in the moonpool while the vessel is in drydock, like in the first alternative method. In the second embodiment, the lower part is supported by rods and jacks from the moonpool, and the vessel is floated out of drydock into the water and parked at dockside.

Abstract: An arrangement and pull-in method for fluidly coupling a steel riser to a flowline of a turret on a FSO/FPSO. The riser is pulled into a connector by a pull-in line inside the flowline. A pull-in head is releasable secured inside the upper end of the riser. The pull-in head is released from the riser after the riser is locked into the connector. A flex joint is placed above the connector to provide alignment of the connector to the riser during installation.

Abstract: A method for constructing and installing a very large turret in a vessel without lifting the entire turret from a fabrication yard into the moonpool. According to a first alternative method, both the lower part and the upper part of the turret are constructed inside the moonpool while the vessel is in drydock. Such method obviates providing very large lifting cranes capable of lifting the entire turret including the upper part of the turret and the lower part into the moonpool. According to a second alternative embodiment, the turret has an upper part and a lower part and the lower part is constructed in the moonpool while the vessel is in drydock, like in the first alternative method. In the second embodiment, the lower part is supported by rods and jacks from the moonpool, and the vessel is floated out of drydock into the water and parked at dockside.

Abstract: An arrangement for suspending a Single Point Mooring Turret from its corresponding vessel, by transmitting a circumferentially uniform axial vertical load without moment through the interface of motion between the vessel and turret, by decoupling mooring system loads, inertial loads and hull deflection induced loads, from transmission across that interface. The arrangement supports the turret through a pendular suspension system which includes bogies, having one or more wheels or rollers per bogie, which roll around the circumference of the moonpool on a rail to allow the bogies to rotate in a horizontal plane which is perpendicular to the center line of the moonpool, and to decouple the bearing loads from radial hull deflection due to ovaling caused by rough seas. Radial flexure is achieved by suspending the turret from the bogie through rocker arms and chains, cables, rods or columns between the bogies and a riser support structure of the turret.

Abstract: Connection arrangements for a male probe and female receiver for selective connection of a spider buoy with a turret for mooring a vessel in offshore waters. A resilient member is provided in the male probe to absorb forces on the probe as it is being pulled into the receiver. A seal is provided between surfaces of the probe and the receiver to seal seawater from the interior of the turret. Contact rings at the bottom opening of the receiver and at the base of the male probe are machined of hardened strengthened steel and test assembled together prior to bolting of the rings to the receiver and the spider buoy respectively.

Abstract: A very large diameter turret for mooring a VLCC class FPSO vessel. A large diameter rail and wheel bearing system is disposed between a turret main deck and the hull of the vessel. The turret is designed for a flexibility to allow the turret main deck to conform to the sag or hog of the vessel so that excessive forces on the wheels of the bearing system are avoided. The turret's main deck, in a preferred embodiment, includes a center hub, an outer ring, and spokes between the hub and outer ring. A lower chain deck is preferably connected to the main deck by pillars or columns, or alternatively by riser tubes alone, or other structures that achieve the desired flexibility of the main deck.

Abstract: A system for floating hydrocarbon production systems such as a FPSO that requires a remote mooring terminal for transferring fluids to shuttle tankers. The system includes a single point mooring buoy, such as a CALM floating on the sea surface. Mooring legs anchor the CALM buoy to the sea floor. A submerged Flowline Termination Buoy (FTB) is supported by tension members from the CALM, but with no direct support from the sea floor. A submerged weight is suspended by the FTB and the CALM buoy. The submerged flowlines from the FSPO are supported by the FTB. Flexible hoses fluidly connect the flowlines to the CALM buoy.

Abstract: An arrangement and pull-in method for fluidly coupling a steel riser to a flowline of a turret on a FSO/FPSO. The riser is pulled into a connector by a pull-in line inside the flowline. A pull-in head is releasable secured inside the upper end of the riser. The pull-in head is released from the riser after the riser is locked into the connector. A flex joint is placed above the connector to provide alignment of the connector to the riser during installation.

Abstract: A chain table for connecting mooring legs to a turret. The chain table includes downwardly sloping connection flanges with bosses for forming holes for pivoting members of a coupler assembly. The downward slope of the flanges allows forces from connected anchor legs to be better directed to the chain table as compared to connecting flanges which extend perpendicularly from the body of the chain table. As a result, the chain table can be made smaller which allows it to be fabricated by casting techniques. An anchor leg pattern is established by connecting vessel end portions of anchor legs to the chain table while the vessel is in port, installing at a mooring site seabed portions of anchor legs according to an anchor leg pattern, and after the vessel arrives at the mooring site, connecting each vessel end portion to each corresponding seabed anchor leg portion to establish the anchor leg pattern for mooring the vessel.

Abstract: In a fluid swivel with at least an outer housing and an inner housing, the temperature of both inner and outer housings are measured. When the temperature of the inner housing is greater than the temperature of the outer housing, a heating element elevates the temperature of the outer housing.