Abstract: The invention relates to a rotating joint for transferring a first fluid, comprising a male member and a female member which are mounted movably in relation to each other and concentric, and one or more annular seals accommodated inside cavities arranged in the female member and optionally pressurized by means of an insulation fluid. The invention also relates to a fluid transfer system comprising one or more rotating joints according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotating joint for transferring a first fluid, comprising a male member and a female member which are mounted movably in relation to each other and concentric, and one or more annular seals accommodated inside cavities arranged in the female member and optionally pressurized by means of an insulation fluid. The invention also relates to a fluid transfer system comprising one or more rotating joints according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention concerns a seal, comprising two flexible lips cooperating with a heel and having, in a resting configuration, a U section, wherein the heel and the lips consist mainly of a chemically neutral and mechanically resistant thermoplastic polymer or of one of the derivatives thereof, and wherein the lips are arranged so as to be elastic. Preferably, polyetheretherketone is used.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon transfer system includes a first structure carrying an articulated arm, having at a free end a first connector part, and a vessel having a second connector part, each connector part including a coupling member. The coupling member of the first connector part supporting at least one fluid duct on its exterior, which duct can be placed into sealing engagement with a fluid duct on the vessel along respective sealing faces, and a locking member for locking the coupling members together. The fluid duct on the vessel has a substantially horizontally directed first and second duct section. The first duct section is connected to piping on the vessel. The second duct section is connected to the fluid duct on the coupling member of the first connector part, the first and second duct sections being mutually connected.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon transfer system includes a first structure carrying an articulated arm, having at a free end a first connector part, and a vessel having a second connector part, each connector part including a coupling member. The coupling member of the first connector part supporting at least one fluid duct on its exterior, which duct can be placed into sealing engagement with a fluid duct on the vessel along respective sealing faces, and a locking member for locking the coupling members together. The fluid duct on the vessel has a substantially horizontally directed first and second duct section. The first duct section is connected to piping on the vessel. The second duct section is connected to the fluid duct on the coupling member of the first connector part, the first and second duct sections being mutually connected.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon transfer system includes a first structure carrying an articulated arm. The system has at a free end a first connector part, and a vessel comprising a second connector part, wherein each connector part comprises a housing with at least two fluid ducts within the housing. The ducts can be placed into sealing engagement along respective sealing faces, and a locking member for locking the housings of the connector parts together, wherein the fluid ducts in either the first or second connector are connected to a respective fluid swivel or flexible duct section to allow at least partial rotation of the ducts along their longitudinal axis, and are connected to a drive member for jointly rotating the ducts along a centreline of the connector parts.

Abstract: A high voltage swivel, includes an annular outer element defining a cylindrical chamber around a longitudinal axis and an inner cylindrical element coaxial with the outer element and rotatable relative thereto around the axis. The inner and outer elements each include at least two axially spaced conductors rotatable with the inner and outer elements, the conductors forming at least two pairs placed with contact surfaces in mutual electrical contact. One conductor in each pair is provided at the inner element, the other at the outer element and being connected to a respective voltage line which extends to an input terminal and to an output terminal respectively, the conductors being surrounded by an insulating material. The conductors of the outer element are provided in a recess in an annular solid outer insulating ring, the conductors of the inner element are provided in a recess in an annular solid inner insulating ring.

Abstract: A vessel (1) comprises a rotatable turret (14) and a supporting structure (3) over or on the turret for supporting a swivel (5). The swivel comprising an inner and an outer ring (21, 21?; 22, 22?) which can rotate with respect to each other and which define at least one fluid distribution path from a geostationary fluid riser (19) connected to one ring (22, 22?) to a product outflow pipe (18) connected to the other ring (21, 21?). A rig (2) is mounted over the turret area above or below the swivel (5), and a substantially rigid pipe extends from the rig, through a moonpool of the turret towards the sea bed, the rigid pipe being in line with the swivel.

Abstract: A method of connecting a first floating structure to the seabed, includes the steps of: providing a second floating structure, anchored to first and second anchoring points respectively on the sea bed via at least two anchor lines, attaching the second floating structure to the first structure via a pulling device, on the side of the first anchor line, displacing the first floating structure away from the second anchoring point towards the first anchoring point, disconnecting the first anchor line from the second floating structure while maintaining a pulling force on the second anchor line via the pulling device, and attaching the first anchor line to the first floating structure. By interconnecting a temporary buoy to the vessel to be anchored via a tension member, the anchor lines of the buoy and the vessel can remain under tension at all times whereby damage to the anchor lines is prevented.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrocarbon transfer system comprising a first structure (8) carrying an articulated arm (4,5,61,62). The system has at a free end (64) a first connector part (13,43,65), and a vessel (7) comprising a second connector part (47,48,70), wherein each connector part comprises a housing (72,73) with at least two fluid ducts (66,67,68,69) within said housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to an anchor line installation method comprising the steps of: connecting the anchor line (2) to the seabed with an anchoring device (4), providing an anchor line part (7) on the floating structure (3), picking up the free end of the anchor line (2) with an installation vessel (1), providing a first connector element (10) on the free end of one of the anchor line (2) and the floating structure anchor line part (7), either prior or after picking up said free end, providing a second connector element (12) on the other of the anchor line (2) and the floating structure anchor line part (7), extending a pulling line (8) between the second connector element (12) and the installation vessel, the pulling line being engaged on the installation vessel (I) with the first connector element (10), lowering the first and second connector elements (10, 12) in the water, from the installation vessel (I), and hauling in the pulling line (8) with a pulling device (13) on the installation vessel (I), thereb

Abstract: A method of mooring a vessel to a subsea anchoring element (1) connected to the seabed, and comprising a chain section (3) which is not longer than half the water depth, and which is at or near its free end provided with a coupling member (4), is characterised by the steps of: lowering a multi-strand anchor line (9) from a vessel (8), the multi-strand anchor line (9) being at its free end attached to a connector (10), and attaching the connector (10) to the coupling member (4). The present disclosure also provides an anchor line repair or exchange method comprising the steps of: disconnecting the first multi-strand anchor line (16) from the chain section, lowering a second multi-strand anchor line (9) from a vessel (8), the second multi-strand line (9) being at its free end attached to connector (10), and attaching the connector (10) of the second multi-strand line (9) to the coupling member (4).

Abstract: The invention relates to floating mooring construction (1) comprising a vessel (2) having a hull (35) with a cavity (9) for receiving a mooring buoy (8) carrying at least one flowline (13), and a pulling device (22, 24) connected to the mooring buoy for pulling the buoy towards the vessel. A flexible element (27) is comprised between a wall of the recess (9) and the buoy. The invention is characterised in that the vessel comprises a turret (5) around which the vessel can weathervane, the recess (9) being provided in the lower part of the turret (5), wherein the buoy (8) comprises near its lower end an annular groove (26) in which the flexible element (27) is seated, the outer surface of the flexible element including a sharp angle (&agr;) with a center line (21) of the buoy. The buoy is attachable to the turret by the pulling device (22, 24) pulling the buoy into the cavity (9) and compressing the flexible element (27) against the wall of the cavity (9).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of connecting a first floating structure (1, 16, 25, 41) to the seabed, comprising the steps of: providing a second floating structure (2, 18, 26, 40), anchored to first and second anchoring points (6, 7; 22, 23; 32, 33; 47) respectively on the sea bed via at least two anchor lines (4, 5; 19, 20; 30, 31; 43, 45), attaching the second floating structure to the first structure via a pulling device (13, 24, 35, 46), on the side of the first anchor line, displacing the first floating structure (1, 16, 25, 41) away from the second anchoring point (7; 22, 33, 47) towards the first anchoring point (6, 23, 32), disconnecting the first anchor line (4, 20, 30, 45) from the second floating structure (2, 18, 26, 40) while maintaining a pulling force on the second anchor line (5, 19, 31, 43) via the pulling device, and attaching the first anchor line (4, 20, 30, 45) to the first floating structure (1, 16, 25, 41).

Abstract: A swivel (40) includes an outer (41) and inner annular wall (42). A toroidal chamber (44) is defined between the outer and inner walls and opposing peripheral faces of the walls define an upper (45) and lower gap (52) extending respectively upwardly and downwardly from the toroidal chamber. The upper and/or lower gap has a first section (46) extending axially, a second section (47) transverse to the first section (46) and a third section (48) extending substantially parallel to the first section (46). A seal (50, 51) is placed in the second (47) or the third (48) section of the upper and/or lower gap (25, 52), the seal having two flexible legs (61, 62) arranged in a generally u-shaped or v-shaped orientation. The gap near the area of the seal is filled with a sealing fluid during use.

Abstract: A method of butt welding two generally rod-shaped structures of a fluorine-containing plastic material includes the steps of placing end faces of the structures in a contacting relationship by supporting each structure in a clamping device, applying heat to the end parts of the structures that project from the clamping device, and pressing the end faces together by moving the clamping devices towards each other to apply a welding pressure of between 0.05 and 0.5 Nmm−2 perpendicular to the end faces. The heating element surrounds the end parts along a substantially closed contour, and may comprise two segments which can be hinged into an open or closed position to be removed from the completed weld.

Abstract: An offshore system is described, of the type that includes a turret (20) anchored to the sea floor and connected by at least an upper bearing assembly (34) to the vessel hull (14) so the hull can weathervane about the turret, wherein the upper bearing assembly is of moderate cost and high reliability, is easily maintained, and accommodates vessel hull deformation. The upper bearing assembly includes a circle of bearing devices(202) wherein each device includes a cylinder (224) and piston (226). A source (260) of pressured fluid is applied to the devices to push apart the cylinder and piston to support an upper bearing part (204) of the turret on a lower bearing part (210) of the hull.

Abstract: A vessel comprising at least one anchor line (15). Disconnect elements are attached to the anchor line for releasing the vessel from the sea bed. A first part of the disconnect element (16) is directly attached to the vessel and a second part is attached to the anchor line (17). Upon detaching the anchor lines from the vessel, no cables will protrude from underneath the vessel after disconnecting. Thereby the risk of interference of the anchor lines with the vessel itself, with other vessels or with objects on the seabed in shallow waters is avoided. Furthermore, the disconnect elements can be directly controlled from the vessel. Inspection and maintenance can be easily performed. Preferably, the vessel comprises two or more anchor lines, each anchor line having a disconnect element which can be independently operated. Thereby a staged release of the anchor lines is possible which may be adapted to weather conditions or approaching objects such as icebergs.

Abstract: An offshore system is described, of the type that includes a turret (20) anchored to the sea floor and connected by at least an upper bearing assembly (34) to the vessel hull (14) so the hull can weathervane about the turret, wherein the upper bearing assembly is of moderate cost and high reliability. In one construction, the upper bearing assembly includes upper and lower slider bearing rings (40, 42) that lie facewise adjacent at an interface (44), with the upper bearing ring fixed to the turret and the lower bearing ring supported on the hull through quantities of elastomeric material (102). The elastomeric material permits slight tilt of the turret upper portion without opening a gap at one side of the interface. The lower bearing ring is divided into segments (112A, 112B), and large turret tilt allows pressured lubricant to escape from only one or a few segments that begins to lift up during turret tilt.

Abstract: A vessel comprising a detachable buoy (3) which is connected to the vessel near keel level. the buoy or the vessel comprise on their contact surfaces an annular sealing element (6) comprising at least one inflatable tube (7,8,9). By placing the inflatable tube on the contact surfaces, the buoy and the vessel can be firmly connected, even when the contact surfaces are not completely flat. A water tight seal is formed by the inflatable tube such that the room in the top part of the buoy can be drained. Hereby a firm connection is achieved and a dry room becomes available for placing structures such as for instance a manifold system.