Abstract: Rotatable flange adaptor or rotatable flange is provided, such that bolt holes may be aligned for joining of flanges. A sealing device may be added to the hub of the adaptor, such that the sealing surfaces are not rotated. Keys are placed in races to provide for transmittal of force along the axis of the device while allowing rotary motion of a flange or flange adaptor.

Abstract: A blowout preventer handling apparatus including a frame structure, a carriage slidably supported on the frame structure, a raising frame pivotally supported on the carriage, and a positioner mechanism cooperatively connected to the raising frame for receiving the blowout preventer therein and for moving the blowout preventer upwardly-and-downwardly, rotationally, and side-to-side. A tray is slidably supported on the carriage so as to be movable between a first position away from the positioning mechanism to a position directly below the positioning mechanism. An outrigger assembly is selectively movable outwardly of an end of the frame structure.

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: A turret is supported on a vessel with bearing assemblies that permit the vessel to weathervane about the turret. The turret includes an upper turret structure, a lower turret structure, and a flex joint arrangement. The upper turret structure connects to the vessel with an upper turret bearing assembly and conical couplings. The conical couplings not only allow a smaller diameter bearing to be used on the upper turret, but also isolate the upper turret bearing assembly from ovaling of the vessel. A lower radial bearing assembly provides radial rotation support to a lower turret structure. A flex joint arrangement connects the upper and lower turret structures with a flex joint to minimize moments transferred from the lower turret structure to the upper bearing assembly.

Abstract: A single hoisting mechanism is positioned on a turret of either an external or an internal turret mooring system for a FSO or FPSO vessel and is releasably securable to each of a plurality of anchor leg chains. The mechanism is mounted for angular rotation about the center-line of the turret in order that the hoist can be angularly aligned and selectively engaged with each of the anchor leg chains or riser/umbilicals spaced around the turret.

Abstract: A riser connected by a trunnion mounted/pivoting riser support to a disconnectable body or to a riser table of a permanently connected turret. The trunnion includes a trunnion housing and trunnion pivot. The trunnion housing is arranged to allow a riser to pass through it and up to a vessel turret where the disconnectable body is connected to the turret. The trunnion pivot allows the trunnion housing and riser to pivot about a horizontal axis, allowing a disconnectable body to submerge to the sea floor.

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: A lower bearing arrangement between a turret of an FPU and a moonpool. The outer housing of the bearing is mounted about the turret instead of the FPU's hull structure. Bearing segments are captured between an outer ring of the turret and an inner ring of the outer housing. The outer housing of the bearing assembly is coupled to a reaction ring of the moonpool so that rotation forces of the vessel are transferred to the outer housing of the bearing. The coupling also includes an arrangement by which the outer housing contacts said reaction ring in the nature of a spherical joint.

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: A lower bearing arrangement between a turret of an FPU and a moonpool. The outer housing of the bearing is mounted about the turret instead of the FPU's hull structure. Bearing segments are captured between an outer ring of the turret and an inner ring of the outer housing. The outer housing of the bearing assembly is coupled to a reaction ring of the moonpool so that rotation forces of the vessel are transferred to the outer housing of the bearing. The coupling also includes an arrangement by which the outer housing contacts said reaction ring in the nature of a spherical joint.

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 uplift spring assembly to compensate for hull deflection at a main bearing of a mooring turret is disclosed. Elastomeric pads are used to react turret uplift because of their properties of large deflections and resistance to cold weather. Tie rods are provided to transmit the uplift loads into the elastomeric pads. The elastomeric pads react the uplift loads in compression. The assembly arrangement prevents the elastomeric pads from reacting tension loads.

Abstract: Elastomeric pads are arranged radially around the main bearing which rotatably supports a mooring turret with respect to a vessel. The elastomeric pads act as radial springs to react the radial turret loads in the vessel and to compensate for ovaling of the vessel in response to sea environmental forces on the vessel. A radial spring assembly is provided which applies compressive load to the elastomeric pads when the vessel and turret move radially toward each other, but prevent tension from being applied to the pads when the vessel and turret move radially away from each other.

Abstract: A radial bearing structure for radially supporting a turret (14) rotatably carried by a vessel (10) including a plurality of arcuately spaced radial bearing assemblies (74) for radially supporting a rail (38) about the circumference of the turret (14). Each radial bearing assembly (74) has a roller (104) and a follower (94). A pair of concentric spring assemblies (92, 98) continuously urge follower (94) and roller (104) toward rail (38) so that roller (104) remains in contact with the rail (38) at all times. As shown in FIG. 7, inner springs (92) have reached maximum radial travel toward rail (38) and do not exert a radial force against follower (94) and roller (104). During maximum lateral movements of the turret (14), outer coil spring (98) forces follower (94) and roller (104) a distance (D) relative to and beyond inner springs (92) to maintain a spring loading against roller (104) for maintaining contact of roller (104) against rail (38). As shown in FIG.

Abstract: A storage vessel (10) in a mooring system has a moon pool (14) and a turret (12) rotatively mounted thereon, with the turret anchored to the sea floor. A swivel stack (16) has an inner male core (18) mounted on bearings (80) which are supported on turret (12). Vertically spaced swivels (110) each has an outer female housing (112) mounted on inner male core which define a stacked inner male core (18). The stacked inner male core (18) weathervanes with vessel (10) about turret (12) and outer female housings (112). Inlet product lines (26, 120) in fluid communication with risers (24) are coupled to outer female housings (112); outlet product lines (28) are coupled to the stacked inner male core (18). Outlet products lines (28) extend via the upper end of central bore (79) in inner male core (18) to storage areas of vessel (10). A plurality of manifold platforms (66, 68, 70, 72) are positioned alongside the swivel stack (16) and are secured to the turret (12).