Floating offshore drilling/producing structure
US6206614A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 27, 1998 |
| Grant date | Mar 27, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 27, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB63B2039/067
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A floating offshore drilling/producing structure. The structure is formed from a plurality of closely spaced vertically oriented buoyant columns on which one or more modules or decks may be placed to support process equipment, a drilling rig, utilities, and accommodations for personnel. The columns are held in the spaced relationship by a plurality of horizontal plates spaced along the length of the columns and vertical plates located near the bottom of the columns and near the top of the columns. Drilling and/or producing is accomplished through risers located approximately in the center of the structure. The structure includes fixed ballast, an oil storage area, and voids and variable ballast for offsetting the lighter weight of the stored oil. The columns have a smaller water plane area than the horizontal plates.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.