Abstract: A Cargo Torpedo comprises a floating semi-submerged vessel attached to a prime mover vessel by a stud installed in the center of the stern of a cargo vessel to match into an opening in the center into the bow of a prime mover vessel; the opening consists of a bushing to rotate with the motion of the cargo torpedo introduced by a plurality of mobile fins installed around the outer circumference of the cargo vessel whereby remote-controlled fins put in different angle positions synchronized in motion so the pitch of the fins will determine rotation or when put in neutral position stabilize the cargo torpedo, therefore, rotation of the cargo torpedo is transferred through the stud to a bushing of the prime mover vessel, whereby the bushing penetrates into the interior of the prime mover vessel to activate one or a series of generators or alternators to produce electricity needed to assist propulsion of the prime mover vessel.

Abstract: A floating container for receiving and transporting collected oil pollutants has an elongate, hose-shaped body with towing attachments and buoyancy bodies disposed on the outside thereof and serving as rubbing strakes or fenders, and a large filling and discharge opening surrounded by an inflatable buoyancy collar. The discharge opening is sealable by means of a cover and is sufficiently large to allow the introduction of an immersible pump intended for discharging of the contents of the container. The discharge opening is either triangular and has its one apex directed towards the towing attachments, or is oval and has its major axis directed in the longitudinal direction of the hose-shaped body.

Abstract: The specification discloses a single point mooring for vessels comprising a base member adapted to rest on the ocean bottom, a cross member joined to the base member at one end thereof and a mooring post member joined to the base member at the opposite end and perpendicular to a plane intersecting the base member and cross member. Placing the single point mooring by floating, towing and sequential flooding is also disclosed.

Abstract: A floating flexible structure which can be filled with liquid is defined by pieces fixed by side seams. The seams are rendered buoyant by trapped balls. A vent in the upper part of the container has under it a net bag filled with balls to maintain gas passage. A transverse tube of netting rendered buoyant by balls maintains liquid flow for discharge through a hose.

Abstract: An offshore oil storage facility on a sea bed which can withstand the effects of waves, tides and oil transfer even though it is of lightweight steel construction. The oil in the tank floats on a layer of water and standpipes extend up from the water layer to a location under the sea surface. Oil containment casings in the form of tubular shells surround the upper ends of the standpipes and extend above the sea surface. Differential pressure sensors arranged to sense differential pressure across the tank walls are used to control the pumping of fluids into and out from the tank to minimize such pressure differentials.

Abstract: The present system includes arrangements for the low-cost storage of rain water runoff, and arrangements for distributing this runoff water during arid seasons. The system may be located at the sea coast where a water runoff channel enters the ocean, and where there is available protected ocean water which is of reasonably substantial depth. Heavy duty plastic containers are provided for receiving the fresh water runoff from a point just before the water would normally enter the ocean. Pumping station arrangements are also provided for distributing the water inland where it is required during arid seasons. The flexible plastic water containers may be many tens of feet in their dimensions, both horizontally and vertically. The upper edges of the containers may be secured to large floats, and suitable lightweight rigid covers may be provided to extend across the tops of the water containers.

Abstract: A method and system for dispersing oil in the event of an oil leak into a body of water from an oil tanker or an oil drilling platform. There is provided structure for detecting the existence of a leak from a container of oil generally surrounded by a body of water into which the oil is leaking; structure for storing an oil dispersant at the site of the leak; and structure responsive to the occurrence of the leak, for automatically causing the dispersant to be released from the containment structure into the leaking oil. In an oil tanker, the system and method may be implemented by providing structure for detecting a leak in the oil tank wall, suspending a container of dispersant inside the oil tank, and providing structure for rupturing the dispersant container in response to the detection of a leak so that dispersant is caused to mix with the oil in the tank before the oil leaks therefrom.

Abstract: A method of delivering oil from an off-shore well to the shore is provided which comprises the steps of (a) supplying oil from the well to a floating storage vessel stationed close to the well; and (b) transferring oil by means of a flexible pipeline from the floating storage vessel to a service tanker which plies between the shore and the floating storage vessel. An oil storage vessel is also provided which has (a) a flexible hose for delivery of oil, one end of said hose being adapted for connection to the oil storage capacity of the vessel; and (b) a support system over which a hose selected from said flexible hose and a further hose connected to said flexible hose may be carried so as to extend from the stern of the oil storage vessel towards another vessel. Apparatus for and methods of mooring such a vessel are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fish cage having a body portion and floats or weights attached thereto at one of a plurality of different positions so that the cage will float in water with a first part exposed and a second part submerged. Changing the position of attachment of the floats or weights results in different first and second parts being respectively exposed and submerged allowing successive cleaning of different first parts of the cage body.

Abstract: A tank vessel for the transportation of liquid cargo having a specific gravity which is less than that of water. The vessel includes a hull comprising a bottom and sides, a top deck, and at least one transverse bulkhead disposed within the hull forming a plurality of watertight cargo compartments between the top deck and the hull bottom. The improvement of the invention comprises a watertight horizontal bulkhead disposed within the hull between the top deck and the hull bottom above the waterline of the tank vessel and at a distance above the hull bottom which is less than or equal to H(S.sub.w /S.sub.c), where H represents the vertical height of the waterline of the vessel above the hull bottom, S.sub.w represents the specific gravity of water, and S.sub.c represents the specific gravity of the liquid cargo.

Abstract: An underwater system for confining large volumes of liquids comprising an elongated sock-like closed container immersed in a body of water. The container has thin flexible sidewalls and is provided with an opening located adjacent the water surface. It is contemplated that the system will be used for liquids having a specific gravity about that of water so that no substantial pressure differential will exist across the container sidewalls.

Abstract: Heavy hydrocarbon oil having a pour point higher at least than the environmental temperature is loaded into a storage vessel in a state heated up to a temperature above its pour point and is cooled down to a temperature below the pour point to be stored in a solidified form in the vessel. In unloading the heavy hydrocarbon oil stored in the solidified form in the vessel, the upper portion of the oil in the vessel is heated up to a temperature above its pour point, and the successively fluidized oil portions are pumped out of the vessel.

Abstract: A living apparatus comprises a first reservoir within the ground surface of circular form and having a quantity of water therein. A building having a roof and a peripheral side wall of circular form is concentrically nested and spaced within said reservoir. A convex hull is peripherally connected and sealed to the bottom of said building wall and immersed within the water and floatingly projected into said reservoir, a substantial portion of said building wall extending above said ground surface. A second reservoir within the ground surface is spaced from and below said first reservoir. A drain outlet is spaced above the bottom of said first reservoir; and a conduit interconnects said outlet and said second reservoir.

Abstract: An air or surface deployable, inflatable, flexible wall, fluid holding, towable container having a hollow, generally tubular, flexible wall container, at least one closeable inlet and outlet for directing fluids into and out of the container, gas inflatable barriers extending at least along the longitudinal side walls of the container in the zone of the water line of the container when it is filled with a liquid.

Abstract: An air or surface deployable inflatable, flexible wall, fluid holding barge is provided with a plurality of internal compartments and is provided about at least a portion of its outer skin with a gas inflatable barrier which improves the floatability of the barge and materially reduces the danger of skin rupture during the filling, towing and off-loading operations.

Abstract: Semi-submersible vessels are described comprising one or more modules each comprising a sealed chamber of annular cross-section, a partially immersable support structure secured to the chamber and a platform or deck carried by the support structure. The support structure is preferably comprised by a network of tubular members and preferably the sealed chamber comprises a plurality of toroidal storage reservoirs and ballast tanks. The support structure and chamber can together be in the form of a truncated ovoid narrow end uppermost. In an alternative embodiment the chamber is in the form of an inverted bowl and receives a dome like storage reservoir therein.

Abstract: A liquefied gas storage tank having insulated vertical walls and an insulated top, said tank being located in and surrounded by a body of water with the exterior water level below the top of the tank walls, the tank interior space containing a layer of water in communication with the body of water so that water can be supplied to and be removed from the tank, an insulating layer floating on the water layer in the tank, and a liquefied gas floating on the insulating layer.The insulating layer can include a float which extends over the water layer except for a rim space between the periphery of the float and the tank walls, and an insulating liquid in the rim space which has a specific gravity less than water and higher than the liquefied gas, and with the insulating liquid being essentially immiscible with water and remaining liquid at the liquefied gas storage temperature.

Abstract: A floating plant for offshore liquefaction, temporary storage and loading of LNG, made as a semi-submersible platform with storage tanks for LNG arranged in the submerged section of the platform. The storage tanks are independent spherical tanks which are supported inside the submerged section of the platform and completely surrounded thereby.

Abstract: Containers for storing crude oil or other liquids at offshore locations are formed preferably of reinforced concrete, though prestressed concrete can be used. The containers can be floated into position and sunk onto the ocean floor. Each container is bottle-shaped and consists of a lower storage section and an upper or neck section. The lower section is located below water and the neck section extends upwardly to a point above the water level. The maximum diameter of the lower section is considerably greater than the maximum diameter of the upper section. A platform or platform section can be provided on the upper end of the upper section. A number of containers can be grouped together and interconnected at their upper ends by a platform.

Abstract: Semi-submersible vessels are described comprising a sealed chamber with curved surfaces, a partially immersable support structure secured to the chamber and a platform or deck carried by the support structure. Preferably the sealed chamber comprises a plurality of toroidal storage reservoirs and ballast tanks. The lower portion of the vessel formed by the closed chamber opens at its upper portion toward the support structure and at its lower portion through an opening for communication with the liquid of the environment. The vessel additionally comprises a plurality of openings in the proximity of the larger perimeter of the chamber. According to another embodiment, the concavity of the chamber is directed downwardly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a floating structure, e.g. an offshore platform adapted for use in exploitation of submerged oil fields and the like purposes at offshore areas. The structure has a platform from which extended downwardly are columns carried by footings having buoyancy large enough to keep the platform afloat. Tension wires are extended through the footings for connection to the sea bottom in a diverging manner. Sinkers are provided at intermediate portions of respective tension wires so that the portions of the laters between the sea bottom and the points at which the sinkers are provided may exhibit sags. The sagged portions of the tension wires are expected to present a buffering effect to diminish the extraordinary large tension in the tension wires attributable to the movement of the platform. The up and downward movement of the platform is prevented by a riser pipe extended from the center of the platform.

Abstract: A floating wall container for holding liquids having a specific gravity less than that of water, the container being suitable for inland storage or liquids such as oil in lowland or march areas, or wherever there is a constant supply of water, the container being held in position by pilings, and buoyed by floating barges in a cavity dredged for this purpose.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for mooring a tension leg platform at an offshore location wherein the tensioned cables of the platform legs are laterally supported by a plurality of rigid, fixed-dimensioned support members which interconnect the legs and are vertically spaced at predetermined positions along the cables to reduce the unsupported length thereof and to thereby increase the fundamental frequency of the cables to a value higher than the flutter frequencies likely to be encountered. Resonant fluttering of the cables due to vortex shedding is thereby prohibited and the useful life of the cables is extended. The support members can be variably buoyant and/or can be adapted to provide storage for fluids produced at the offshore location.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tensioning anchor lines connecting a marine structure to the ocean floor. The apparatus includes a platform movable in relation to the structure, and suspended from the structure by a pulley system with a cable having a free end connected to a vessel. The cable is pulled either by moving the vessel along a rectilinear path passing essentially through the center of the structure, or by a pulling system on the vessel. Diametrically opposed pairs of anchor lines are hooked under the said movable platform, each line passing through the groove of a pulley and then through a stopper device fixed to the marine structure. The method and apparatus are particularly adapted for anchoring an emerging structure built on a jointed column.

Abstract: A sea terminal having compartments for storage of fluids and adapted for the transfer of the fluids between the compartments and a ship. The sea terminal is constructed to eliminate the need for swivel hose connections as the ship swings in relation to the terminal. In another embodiment, the sea terminal may be sufficiently large to include drilling apparatus thereby providing a self-contained terminal which can drill into a sea bed, pump sub-sea oil into the compartments in the terminal and transfer the oil to a cargo ship. Alternatively, the sea terminal may be transported to a discharge point for discharging the oil.

Abstract: A marine oil storage installation includes at least one floating type oil storage tank having a double bottom and double walls and is provided with shore connection means. Protector means composed of at least one line of floating members surrounds each oil storage tank for protecting each oil storage tank from damage as the result of waves and contacting moving objects and for preventing oil from flowing out. Mooring means for drawing each oil storage tank and, loading arm means carried on the mooring means adapted for connection and disconnection with the shore connection means on each tank are also provided. A shore based facility is installed on the shore or on an artificial land and communicates with the loading arm means, and a platform is installed in the sea for moorage of tankers and is provided with means communicating with the shore based facility for feeding oil between the tankers and the shore based facility.

Abstract: Improvements in buoyancy structures independently comprising each ofA radiating, circumferentially extending buoyancy cell network encircling an offshore jacket leg, andA double-walled buoyancy chamber wall fabricated from a shell and overlapping pipe segments bonded thereto.An offshore platform jacket assembly is disclosed in which a plurality of jacket legs are anchored by piling members to the bed of a body of water. A buoyancy unit is disposed at a lower portion of the jacket in association with at least one of the jaket legs. Each buoyancy unit comprises a chamber disposed around its respective leg. Each chamber is divided into a plurality of circumferentially displaced, radiating cells and these cells are disposed inwardly of a periphery defined by a series of piling guides spaced around the leg. A plurality of generally upright divider fins extend radially outwardly from the leg to divide the chamber into the radiating cells which are arranged about the leg for the reception of a buoyant medium.

Abstract: A sea terminal having compartments for storage of fluids at sea and piping connected to each compartment so that fluids may be transferred between the compartments and a ship. The compartments can rotate with respect to portions of the sea terminal which are moored to eliminate the need for swivel hose connections as the ship swings in relation to the sea terminal. In another embodiment, the sea terminal may be sufficiently large to include drilling apparatus thereby providing a self-contained terminal which can drill into a sea bed, pump sub-sea oil into compartments in the terminal and transfer the oil to a cargo ship. Alternatively, the sea terminal may be transported to a discharge point for discharging the oil.

Abstract: A semisubmersible, loading, mooring and storage (LMS) facility for handling petroleum products at offshore locations. The LMS facility is comprised of a submerged storage section and a central tower section. The submerged storage section is comprised of a plurality of dual crude/water tanks, each of which has a flexible diaphragm therein to prevent any contact between the crude and the water. The central tower section contains crude only tanks through which the LMS facility is loaded and offloaded with crude and has an offloading and mooring structure on the top thereof. When the LMS facility is in an operable position and the dual tanks are filled with water, the profile of the LMS facility in the water is fixed and will not substantially change during loading or offloading of crude. The LMS facility is loaded by flowing crude into the crude only tanks and then filling the dual tanks from crude only tanks at a rate necessary to compensate for the water being displaced from the dual tanks.

Abstract: An offshore structure, adapted for operation in an ice infested arctic environment, includes a floating caisson that can be actively heaved in the water to break ice. The caisson comprises a radially tapered upper portion, preferably conically shaped. Means for vertically moving the caisson are provided so that the upper portion of the caisson can obliquely contact ice sheets and other ice masses with sufficient dynamic force to pierce and break the ice. A plurality of mooring lines anchored to the sea floor are attached to the caisson to secure its position in the water.

Abstract: A float for the intermediate storage at sea of crude oil, liquefied gas and the like, is formed of a toroidal body of revolution having a vertical axis. The toroidal body consists of a bottom plate in a form of a shallow annular shaped dish closed across its top by a circular cover plate. Partitions divide the interior of the body into individual compartments. Extensions projecting radially outwardly from the circumferential pheriphery of the body form docking surfaces and can house driving engines for propelling or positioning the float.

Abstract: A wave powered pumping system including a floating platform and a plurality of floats hinged about the periphery of the platform. A double acting piston pump is provided on the platform for each float, with the float driving the piston of the pump utilizing both upward and downward movements of the float in a variable stroke operation. Nozzles for water jets may be carried on the platform below the water line to provide positioning and/or propulsion forces for the platform. In one embodiment, the platform is free floating; in another embodiment, the platform moves up and down with the swells and has a telescoping pipe anchor.

Abstract: A riser is tensioned from a floating platform by the use of one or more active hydraulic heave compensator units, each having an in-line backup unit coupled thereto so that the backup unit will automatically take over the load if there is loss of pressure in the active unit.

Abstract: A system for drilling and for producing subsea wells in relatively deep waters normally subjected to severe wave and current conditions. A floating drilling vessel or production unit is maintained in position over the well site. A riser pipe, maintained under constant tension, depends from the drilling or production vessel downwardly to and operably engages a well head. An elongated caisson depends from the drilling or production vessel to form a protective area about the riser pipe upper end. As a result, stresses induced in the riser pipe upper end by wave and current forces acting on the riser are thereby greatly reduced.

Abstract: A fending device for oil containment booms. A floating, open structure with vertical fenders extending above and below the waterline breasts oil boom away from vessels and other structures.

Abstract: The vessel comprises a pair of laterally spaced elongated hulls having a plurality of upstanding columns spaced along outboard portions of the hulls. In the preferred form, a central column supports a working platform in spaced relation above the hulls. The hulls buoyantly support the vessel in a low draft condition with the hulls having freeboard. The hulls and outboard columns have ballast compartments for ballasting and deballasting the vessel to respectively submerge the hulls, outboard columns, and a portion of the central column to provide a high draft condition with the mean waterline located intermediate the height of the central column and between the platform and the upper ends of the outboard columns, and return the vessel to a low draft condition. The outboard columns provide stability to the vessel during the initial portion of its transition from the low draft condition to the high draft condition and in the final portion of its transition from the high to the low draft condition.