Lightweight transfer referencing and mooring system
US4802431A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 27, 1987 |
| Grant date | Feb 7, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 27, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B17/015
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An offshore fluid transfer system is described for transferring fluid between an underwater pipe and a dynamically positioned vessel at the sea surface, which is relatively lightweight and economical. The system includes a riser having an upper end attached to the vessel and a lower end having a chain table held by chains extending in catenary curves to the sea floor and weighted by a weight hanging by the chain table. The riser supplied substantially the only mooring force most of the time, while thruster equipment on the vessel supplies sufficient additional force a small amount of the time to limit vessel drift in violent storms. The upper several meters of the riser is a rigid pipe, and an instrument that measures tilt of the pipe indicates the amount and direction of drift of the vessel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.