Abstract: A trigger weight camera device that is retrofittable to existing equipment to image underwater objects and underwater processes, and method of using the device to image the underwater objects and the underwater processes, and operate as a trigger weight for the existing equipment.

Abstract: An offshore structure includes an adjustably buoyant hull including a plurality of vertical columns and a plurality of horizontal pontoons. Each pontoon extends between a pair of the columns. The adjustably buoyant hull is configured to receive a topside. Each column has a central axis, an upper end, and a lower end. Each pontoon has a longitudinal axis, a first end coupled to one of the columns, and a second end coupled to another one of the columns. The offshore structure also includes a foundation assembly attached to a lower end of the hull. The foundation assembly includes a column skirt extending downward from the lower end of each column and a pontoon skirt extending downward from a bottom surface of each pontoon.

Abstract: A system for placing a wind turbine assembly on a support surface of a support structure being supported on a seabed with a lifting crane provided on a floating vessel, said system can be changed from a first operation mode into a second operation mode to compensate a vertical reciprocal crane movement of the crane relative to the support structure.

Abstract: A wellhead foundation is for one or more subsea wells. The wellhead foundation has a suction foundation provided with a housing with an open bottom and a top which is closable with a top cover, and one or more pipes being attached to the housing and extending from the top of the housing and at least over a substantial part of the vertical extent of the housing towards or beyond the open bottom of the housing inside or outside of the periphery of the housing, and a straight upper portion of each pipe projecting up above the top of the housing and forming an upper well-pipe portion which forms part of a high-pressure barrier in the well. The straight upper pipe portion of each pipe is arranged parallel to the center axis of the housing. A method of establishing a subsea wellhead foundation is described as well.

Abstract: A bearing surface of a subsea foundation has a low-resistance coating such as an aerogel, an aero-clay or a polymeric film. When the foundation is installed, the bearing surface is embedded in the seabed soil using the low-resistance coating to reduce resistance movement of the bearing surface relative to the seabed soil. The coating may then dissolve or fragment away from the bearing surface or transform into a higher-resistance state while remaining on the bearing surface. These mechanisms degrade a resistance-reducing property of the coating to increase resistance to movement of the embedded bearing surface relative to the seabed soil. Suction may be applied to the foundation before or after the resistance-reducing property of the coating has substantially degraded.

Abstract: A pipe (14) extending between a surface end (20) and a bottom end (22) thereof, and defining an internal passage (24) ending at the bottom end (22) and at the surface end (20). A dynamic closing member (30) at the bottom end (22), which opens above a threshold pressure applied from the exterior towards the interior of the pipe (14), and closing below the threshold pressure. The threshold pressure is defined as a function of at least one parameter representing the heaving of the pipe under the effect of variation in height of the water in which the pipe extends.

Abstract: A support structure floating in the open sea and connected to anchors by bracing elements. The support structure has a first component arranged under water and a second component cutting through the surface of the water. Furthermore, the first component has first buoyant bodies arranged at corner points of a polygon and serving as carriers of the second component and second buoyant bodies connecting them with one another and having a tube shape. A nodal structure connecting at least two second buoyant bodies with one another and at least one U-shaped junction plate are arranged in the first buoyant body. The nodal structure is simultaneously the carrier for a tube-shaped support element and is therefore a node of the underwater support structure that absorbs and channels off forces in connection with the junction plate. The second component has the tube-shaped support elements cutting through the surface of the water.

Abstract: This application discloses a new type of suction leg, an offshore caisson, a sit-on-bottom supporting platform. The suction leg includes a sealing long pile, this sealing long pile including a tubular pipe and a top head connected tightly to the tubular pipe to form cylindrical integral structure with sealing top and opening bottom. The top head has at least one opening to be able to open or close. The sealing long pile can be penetrated into the seabed by a gravity penetration method or/and a suction pile penetration method, or pulled out from the seabed by a buoyancy uplift method or/and a suction pile uplift method.

Abstract: A semi-submersible vessel comprises pontoons having a generally five-sided transverse cross section. In the case of a 4-sided semi-submersible, the columns may be arranged in a generally rectangular form with a column at each corner of the rectangular form, each column having with four sides disposed at a right angle to at least one adjacent side and a fifth side on the exterior of the generally rectangular form disposed at 45 degrees to each adjacent side.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydraulic energy store (1) having a first (2) and a second fluid reservoir (6), the fluid levels (4, 12) of which extend at different heights, which are connected to one another via a turbine/pump arrangement (10) and during the operation of which a fluid (3) can be moved to and fro between the first (2) and second fluid reservoir (6) and energy can be converted in the process. The second fluid reservoir (6) is configured as a container which is arranged within the fluid (3) in the first fluid reservoir (2), wherein, during operation, the fluid level (12) in the second fluid reservoir (6) can be changed in such a way that, as a result, the immersion depth (ht) of said second fluid reservoir (6) in the first fluid reservoir (2) can be changed owing to buoyancy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for anchoring a structure in a bed of a body of water comprising the method steps of introducing at least one screw anchor into the bed of the body of water, arranging and fastening a base element on the fastening section of the screw anchor, wherein the base element has a holder for the structure, and arranging and fastening the structure on the holder of the base element. Furthermore, the invention relates to an underwater foundation produced by this method.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an asymmetric heaving floating body that resists influence from viscosity effects. The asymmetric heaving floating body is coupled to a Permanent Magnet Linear Generator (“PMLG”) that serves as a power take off (“PTO”) system. A support structure for the apparatus is designed so as to restrain lateral force and pitching moment. Similarly, the asymmetric floating body is designed to minimize viscosity effects when in motion to transfer incident wave energy to the PTO.

Abstract: A floating vessel configured to support at least one of: drilling of wells, workover of wells, production, and storage of hydrocarbons, and personnel accommodation, having a hull. The hull has a bottom surface, a top deck surface, and at least two connected sections engaging between the bottom surface and the top deck surface. The at least two connected sections are joined in a series and symmetrical about a vertical axis. The connected sections extend downwardly from the top deck surface toward the bottom surface. The connected sections can have an upper cylindrical portion, a neck section, and a lower conical section. At least one fin is secured to the hull and the lower conical section provides added mass improved hydrodynamic performance through linear and quadratic damping to the hull.

Abstract: A system for anchoring to the ground, via chains, a floating platform, whose operating station includes: activatable/deactivatable stopper elements for each of the anchor chains, for locking in position the associated chain that ends by an upstream free strand including an end connection chain link, wherein the stopper elements are arranged side by side, along a same line, and are each associated with one housing-reservoir for storing the upstream free strand of the associated chain; and tensioning elements common to the different chains, and including a single tensioning winch, movably mounted above the stopper elements, wherein the tensioning winch includes a master chain strand, whose downstream end includes a downstream chain link adapted to be removably attached to the connection chain link of the upstream free strand of the anchor chains, and whose upstream end is stored in a container-reservoir.

Abstract: A mooring system for a floating vessel such as a drilling unit is provided. The floating vessel has a platform for providing drilling, production or other operations in a marine environment, and a tower for providing ballast and stability below a water line in the marine environment. The mooring system generally includes a plurality of anchors disposed radially around the tower along a seabed, and a plurality of mooring lines. Each mooring line has a first end operatively connected to the tower, and a second end operatively connected to a respective anchor. Each mooring line further comprises at least two substantially rigid links joined together using linkages. Each joint is at least five meters in length. The mooring system is capable of maintaining station-keeping for the vessel greater than about 100 Mega-Newtons such that operations may be conducted when the marine environment is substantially iced over.

Abstract: A semi-submersible offshore platform comprises a main structure comprising two longitudinal lower side beam structures, two transverse lower side beam structures and four columns, the longitudinal and transverse lower side beam structures are located between the four columns connecting the four columns with each other such that the semi-submersible offshore platform exhibits a frame shaped submersible pontoon having a lower central opening the four columns extends upwards from the frame shaped submersible pontoon. The main structure of the semi-submersible offshore platform comprises two longitudinal upper side beam structures and two transverse upper side beam structures, the longitudinal and transverse upper side beam structures are located between the four columns connecting the four columns with each other such that the semi-submersible offshore platform exhibits a frame shaped deck box structure having an upper central opening for receiving at least one structural module.

Abstract: The present invention provides an the ice resistant Jackup leg that comprises a plurality of chords, a plurality of plate structures, wherein the chords and plate structures are alternatively positioned so that the plate structures connect the chords to form the peripheral structure of the ice resistant Jackup leg, a plurality of longitudinal stiffeners, wherein the longitudinal stiffeners are disposed onto the inner surface of the plate structures for stiffening the plate structures, and a plurality of traverse web frames or girders, wherein the traverse web frames or girders are disposed onto the inner surface of the plate structures for supporting the plurality of longitudinal stiffeners. The present invention also provides an ice resistant Jackup platform employing the ice resistant Jackup leg.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of buoyant bodies, and more particularly to an annular buoyant body (1) including a central moonpool (2), configured such that, in water, with swell of a period substantially equal to a natural period of the buoyant body (1) while it is moving with heave motion, vertical forces exerted on the buoyant body (1) by a mass of water oscillating in the central moonpool (2) in phase opposition relative to the swell, compensate at least partially for the vertical excitation forces exerted on the buoyant body (1) by the swell. The invention also relates to a method of at least partially extinguishing heave motion of the buoyant body (1) at a natural period of the buoyant body (1).

Abstract: A subsea anchoring assembly with a locking head for connection of a mooring line to an anchor is disclosed. A socket is provided on the anchor. The socket has a seat adapted to receive and seat the locking head within it. The socket has a neck provided with a guide device to direct the locking head into alignment with the socket. By this arrangement, the locking head and the socket can move between a first configuration in which the locking head and the socket are separate, and a second configuration in which the locking head and the socket are locked together. An associated method is also described.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a device and method for controlling a floating structure of a solar power generating device, which can generate electricity from solar power of incident light while tracking the position of the sun in a state in which it floats on the water.

Abstract: An offshore structure comprises: an original structure comprising a main platform supported via a foundation on a seabed; and an extension structure comprising a platform extension positioned laterally of the main platform and a platform extension support, depending downwardly from the platform extension, into contact with the foundation, so as to support the extension structure directly on the foundation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for maintaining or replacing a tether line (22) anchoring a buoyancy unit to an underwater or seabed anchoring installation, characterized in that a pull down line (12,12a, 12b?) is connected to the buoyancy unit and the line is guided through a block (21) fixed to the lower anchoring installation, and then the buoyancy unit is pulled down to slacken the tether line (22), and the sufficient maintenance or replacement is performed. A device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A mooring leg connector for use with a mooring leg (3) that has an upper portion with an axis, where the mooring leg (3) extends up from the sea floor, to connect a floating body (1) to the seabed. The mooring leg connector includes one part (20) fixed with regard to the floating body (1) and another part (30) which is movable with regard to the fixed part (20) from a first position to a second position. An offshore construction including such a mooring leg connector and a method to retract such a mooring leg connector when disconnected, are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is supporting structure for an offshore wind power generator. The supporting structure includes lower support part and main body part. The lower support part includes lower concrete part which is provided on a base installed on the sea floor and is reduced in width from the bottom thereto to the top, at least one lower hollow space which is formed in the lower concrete part, and a lower inner-pipe which is attached to the inner surface of the lower hollow space. The main body part is coupled to an upper end of the lower support part. The main body part includes a main-body concrete part, at least one main-body hollow space which is formed in the main-body concrete part and communicates with the lower hollow space, and a main-body inner-pipe which is attached to a circumferential inner surface of the main-body hollow space.

Abstract: A remotely operable drilling apparatus (6) comprises a body such as frame (10) and drive means arranged to drill annular pile (8), which is loaded in the drilling apparatus (6) into the floor of a body of water. The annular pile comprises a cutting shoe (24). The drive means comprises a power swivel (12) which attaches to the top of the annular pile (8) by means of a drive head. Delivery means is also provided which comprises at least one nozzle to enable flushing fluid and grout to be injected around annular pile (8). The power swivel (12) is raised and lowered by rack and pinion means 14 disposed on either side of the power swivel (12).

Abstract: A semi-submersible offshore structure, including a deck supported by a plurality of support columns, a submersible pontoon structure having the plurality of support columns extending to the deck therefrom, and a support spacer disposed between a sea bed and the pontoon structure.

Abstract: A mooring leg connector (4) is configured for use with a mooring chain part (3) of a mooring leg extending up from the sea floor to moor a floating structure (1) to the seabed. The connector has an elongate tubular element (5) extending in the mooring leg direction and a latch mechanism (6) for fixation of the mooring chain part to the floating structure to be moored and preventing movement along the mooring leg in the direction of the seabed. The elongate tubular element has a passage for the mooring chain to pass through and includes at the top a double articulation axis including a roll articulation (7) and a pitch articulation (8). The roll and pitch articulations are coplanar.

Abstract: A power supply system for a marine drilling vessel is provided. The power supply system comprises a first power grid section coupled to a generator configured to generate electric power and further coupled to an electrically powered active heave compensator. The heave compensator is configured to raise and lower a drill string relative to the marine drilling vessel. The power supply system further comprises a second power grid section coupled to a generator configured to generate electric power and further coupled to an electrically powered thruster drive of the marine drilling vessel. The first power grid section is electrically coupled to the second power grid section.

Abstract: A tensioner assembly for applying tension to a tubular member, such as a riser, can include an upper latch connected to the tubular member, a platform with a bore, and a plurality of lower latch segments, each having a base that is pivotally connected to the platform. After applying tension to the tubular member, the segments pivot inward to form an annular lower latch ring having an inner diameter less than an outer diameter of the upper latch. The assembly can include a locking mechanism that prevents axial movement of the upper latch, relative to the lower latch ring, after engagement. The upper latch can self-center on the lower latch as it is moved into the latching position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a seabed foundation (1) for an offshore facility, comprising a primary pressure chamber (7) connected to a primary pump (8) and one or more secondary pressure chambers (9) connected to one or more secondary pumps (10). According to an embodiment of the invention, said primary pump is a suction pump and said secondary pump is a pressure pump. The invention further relates to a method (12) of installing said foundation on the seabed (19), which comprises the steps of activating (14) said primary pump to create negative pressure in the primary pressure chamber (7), so that the foundation sinks into the seabed, and activating (15) said one or more secondary pumps (10) to create positive pressures in the secondary pressure chambers (9), so as to control the alignment of the foundation with respect to a substantially horizontal axis (16) during the sinking into the seabed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for manufacturing a foundation for a mass located at height, such as the jacket of a wind turbine or a jetty, wherein the foundation comprises a quantity of piles driven into an underwater bottom in a geometric pattern. The device comprises a positioning framework of a number of mutually connected guide tubes arranged in a geometric pattern and adapted to receive and guide a pile to be driven into the underwater bottom, wherein the guide tubes comprise a mechanism with which at least an internal wall part of the guide tubes is displaceable in the radial direction of the guide tubes from a radially inward support position for the pile to a radially more outward position in which the internal wall part substantially releases the pile. The invention also relates to a method and an assembly of a jack-up platform and the device.

Abstract: A support installed at sea in grounded or floating manner, the support including both a processor installation on its deck for processing a first liquid that is dangerous and/or corrosive, preferably liquefied natural gas (LNG), and also at least one tank for storing said first liquid, preferably an LNG tank incorporated within the hull of the support under the deck. The support includes at least one container situated outside the support and situated at least in part, and preferably completely, below the deck of the support on which said installation is supported, the container being fastened to the support, preferably in reversible manner, the deck including or supporting a first transfer mechanism suitable for transferring towards the container any leakage liquid flowing from at least a portion of the installation, in particular in the event of a leak.

Abstract: The invention relates to an underwater work assembly and to a method for anchoring the underwater work assembly in a bed of a lake, sea or river. The work assembly comprises a service platform which can be lowered and a plurality of supporting feet which are mounted so that they can be adjusted on the service platform for positioning on the lake, sea or river bed and can be moved in and out relative to the service platform by means of an actuating cylinder. In order to improve anchoring it is provided that at least one supporting foot is mounted rotationally relative to the service platform and that a rotary drive facing the supporting foot is provided, with which the supporting foot is driven in rotation for screwing into the lake, sea or river bed.

Abstract: A jacket assembly guide for assembling a jacket structure is provided. The jacket structure includes a plurality of legs, a plurality of connecting braces and a plurality of node elements arranged on the legs for connecting the braces to the legs. The assembly guide includes a plurality of supporting towers for supporting the plurality of legs such that a supported leg is held in a position corresponding to the position of that leg in the assembled state of the jacket structure. The assembly guide further includes a plurality of connecting devices for releasably connecting one of the legs to one of the supporting towers.

Abstract: An offshore structure comprises a hull having a longitudinal axis and including a first column and a second column moveably coupled to the first column. Each column has a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. In addition, the offshore structure comprises an anchor coupled to the second end of the second column and configured to secure the hull to the sea floor. The first column includes a variable ballast chamber and a first buoyant chamber positioned between the variable ballast chamber and the first end of the first column. The first buoyant chamber is filled with a gas and sealed from the surrounding environment. The second column includes a variable ballast chamber. Further, the offshore structure comprises a topside mounted to the hull.

Abstract: Provided is an underwater elevating apparatus, wherein the cable is not paid out unexpectedly by self-buoyancy while waiting underwater, excessive paying out of the cable may be prevented by a latch unit having simple mechanisms, and electric power does not be used needlessly.

Abstract: A method for installing a self-supporting tower at a sea bed. An anchoring mechanism (32) is installed on the bed. A float (18) and a tubular pipe (68) are submerged and then driven towards the bed (12) to attach to one of the ends (72) of the anchoring mechanism (32), while the float (18) is fastened to the other (70) of the ends keeping the pipe (68) vertical above the anchoring mechanism (32). The tubular pipe (68) and the float (18) are supplied separately. The float (18) is kept submerged at a distance away from the anchoring mechanism (32). The tubular pipe (68) is suspended from the float via the other (70) of the ends of the pipe.

Abstract: A foundation system for supporting an offshore wind energy convertor is provided and includes a foundation base resting on the seabed and a column supporting the wind energy convertor which is linked to the foundation base. The column and the base are linked by an articulated joint connection, allowing tilt motions of the column in all directions from a vertical axis. A wind power generator facility including such a support, and a method of erecting such a foundation system, are also provided.

Abstract: A method for mounting a tidal turbine and an associated support structure in a river or sea bed includes mounting the tidal turbine to a support structure and mounting the support structure upon a base, the base being of such weight as to involve gravitational forces of such magnitude as to be sufficient to withstand forces acting in such manner as to tend to displace the turbine and the associated support structure. A periphery of an underside of the base is provided with expandable members, the expandable members being selectively expanded to position the base more nearly horizontal when in contact with a sea or river bed. The base is formed as a hollow shell enabling the base to be floated into position, and, when the base is in a desired position, sinking the base to the sea or river bed in a controlled manner.

Abstract: A method of installing a structure on a bed of a sea, estuary or river from a floating installation vessel is described. In such a method a plurality of attachment piles and corresponding installation rigs are attached to the structure prior to deployment of the structure. In addition, respective umbilical control cables are connected to the installation rigs prior to deployment of the structure. The structure is deployed from a floating vessel to a bed of a sea, estuary or river, such that, when the structure is located on the bed, the umbilical control cables do not support the structure or installation rigs. A single installation operation for each attachment pile is performed, in which operation an installation rig is activated so as to install fully the corresponding attachment pile in the bed, without removal of the umbilical control cable or the installation rig therefrom.

Abstract: A system for anchoring to the ground, via chains, a floating platform, whose operating station includes: activatable/deactivatable stopper elements for each of the anchor chains, for locking in position the associated chain that ends by an upstream free strand including an end connection chain link, wherein the stopper elements are arranged side by side, along a same line, and are each associated with one housing-reservoir for storing the upstream free strand of the associated chain; and tensioning elements common to the different chains, and including a single tensioning winch, movably mounted above the stopper elements, wherein the tensioning winch includes a master chain strand, whose downstream end includes a downstream chain link adapted to be removably attached to the connection chain link of the upstream free strand of the anchor chains, and whose upstream end is stored in a container-reservoir.

Abstract: Systems and methods for storing energy in gaseous form in submerged thin-walled tanks are secured to the ocean or lake floor but are open to the water at the tank bottoms and are configured to be filled with gas while submerged. A conduit operatively connected to the tanks provides flow from a surface source of an energy-containing gas to the tank interiors. Surface or subsurface pumping apparatus which may include piston-less pressure cylinders or have leveraged pistons provide a preselected flow rate of the energy-containing gas into the containment structure interior against a back pressure essentially equal to the static pressure of the body of water at the location of the tank to displace an equivalent volume of water through the open bottom. The conduit can be configured to allow heat transfer to vaporize liquefied gas prior to storage. Hydrogen gas can be generated and stored within the tank using Aluminum activated with Galinstan.

Abstract: A device for manufacturing a foundation for a mass located at height, such as the jacket of a wind turbine or a jetty, wherein the foundation comprises a quantity of piles driven into an underwater bottom in a geometric pattern. The device comprises a positioning framework of a number of mutually connected guide tubes arranged in a geometric pattern and adapted to receive and guide a pile to be driven into the underwater bottom, wherein the guide tubes comprise measuring means adapted to determine the height of a pile present in the guide tubes.

Abstract: A catamaran-type boat suitable for handling, assembling, and/or transporting off-shore wind turbines, the boat having two side floats constituting a U-shaped floating structure, the open space between the two branches of the U-shape constituted by the two side floats being suitable for receiving a base, the floats being fitted with grippers suitable for gripping the base between the two side floats, and the grippers being suitable for gripping the base and at least two grip levels of different heights.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tidal power plant, comprising a turbine, which rotates on a carrying element; a foundation structure, on which the carrying element is supported on at least one coupling device, an upper part of the coupling device that is part of the carrying element being detachably operatively connected to a lower part of the coupling device that is part of the foundation structure in the installed state, wherein the invention is characterized in that the carrying element is individually adapted to the orientation of the lower part of the coupling device existing after the foundation structure has been created.

Abstract: A method for producing an underwater foundation element in a bed of a body of water, in which a working platform for guiding a drilling tool is lowered to the bed of a body of water, so that a drill-hole is introduced into the bed of a body of water and a pile-shaped underwater foundation element is arranged in the drill-hole and anchored therein. A precise alignment is achieved in that on the pile-shaped underwater foundation element a measuring unit is fixed, through which positional data of the pile-shaped underwater foundation element are determined and in that depending on the determined positional data the position of the underwater foundation element is set by at least one positioning means on the working platform prior to anchoring. The measuring unit is arranged on an adjustment head.

Abstract: A floating structure comprising floating, modular, parallelepipedic blocks whose vertical edges are provided with lugs in which connecting elements are inserted in order to assemble the blocks. The connecting elements entail a support key, which at its upper part bears stanchion extending above upper surface of the floating structure, the stanchion being provided with an eyelet capable of constituting a point of attachment for net. One or more anchoring points are situated below and to the interior of the floating structure. Also disclosed are applications of the floating structures, including as anti-pollution barriers.

Abstract: A freestanding hybrid riser system (FHRS) and a method of installation which makes it possible to use vessels that are more available on the world market. The invention relates to a top riser assembly (TRA) having multiple, offset connection points such that a first bending moment is applied to the TRA by a buoyant unit, and an opposing bending moment is applied to the TRA by a flexible jumper.

Abstract: A sea floor anchoring apparatus including a first and second tube, the second tube extending through the first tube's hollow bore and forming an annulus between the first and second tubes; rotary bearings interconnecting the first and second tubes for rotation of the second tube within the first tube; sand agitating teeth attached to the second tube's lower end; a turbine pump connected to the first and second tubes for, upon the rotation of the second tube, driving the water downwardly through the annulus; and a motor and motor housing assembly further interconnecting the first and second tubes, the motor turning the second tube, the teeth, and the turbine.

Abstract: Concrete silo for offshore drilling and production operations includes a reinforced concrete foundation secured at the seabed by steel piles and steel anchors embedded into the seabed. An exterior vertical reinforced concrete wall is supported by the foundation. An interior vertical reinforced concrete wall is supported by the foundation and houses a central cell. A series of radial shear walls extend between the exterior concrete wall and the interior concrete wall to form a series of perimeter cells. A roof and series of horizontally extending service platforms are supported off of the outer concrete wall and the interior concrete wall. A series of vertical well casings extend through the concrete foundation and down into the seabed for drilling operations.