Fmc Technologies, Inc.

Sofec, Inc.

Caspar Heyl

Richard H Gunderson

Stephen P Lindblade

William Louis Fontenot

Arun Sanjay Duggal

Brent A Salyer

Roy H Cottrell

Martin J Krafft

Rick A Hall

A radial bearing arrangement () including a turret () carried by a vessel (), the turret () having an outer annular rail () secured about its outer circumference. The radial bearing arrangement () also includes a plurality of rollers () attached to the vessel () via bearing assemblies (). The bearing assemblies () are arranged and designed to urge the rollers () into contact with the annular rail (), and to limit radial movement of the vessel () relative to the turret (). A plurality of bearing pads () are attached to the vessel () and positioned circumferentially between the bearing assemblies (). The bearing pads () are arranged and designed to contact the rail () under peak loading to limit radial movement of the vessel () relative to the turret ().

Turret bearing structure for vessels

A mooring arrangement between a floating storage body spread moored in deep water and a shuttle tanker, the arrangement including a single point buoyant member that is adapted for mooring a shuttle tanker in offloading position relative to a floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) with a link between the floating storage body and the single point buoyant member. One embodiment () of the invention employs a submerged yoke (), having one end () rotatably coupled to a FPSO () and a second end (), supported by a buoy. A mooring hawser () extends from the buoy to the shuttle tanker and product hoses connect the shuttle tanker with the FPSO and extend along the submerged yoke. In another embodiment, the mooring buoy is stationed by a hold-back mooring system () and the FPSO or the tanker or both is provide with traction device () to move the tanker into loading position with respect to the FPSO. Other embodiments of the invention establish mooring of a shuttle tanker so that it can weathervane 360 degrees during offloading activity. In another embodiment, the mooring buoy () is provided with a dynamic positioning system () for controlling shuttle tanker positioning with respect to conditions of the environment or for moving the tanker to a desired position during loading.

Offloading arrangements and method for spread moored FPSOs

An arrangement for providing fluid communication between an offshore hydrocarbon production and/or storage facility and an offshore loading system such as a CALM buoy is disclosed. A pipeline from a FPSO or production platform runs to a submerged flowline termination buoy which is positioned beneath and separated a short distance from a CALM buoy. The flowline termination buoy is separately anchored to the sea bed from the CALM buoy, and is at a depth below the turbulent zone of the sea. The end of the pipeline is suspended from the flowline termination buoy, and a marine hose fluidly connects the end of the pipeline to a stationary part of a fluid swivel on the CALM buoy. The arrangement isolates the end of the pipeline from fatigue inducing motions of the CALM buoy.

Dual buoy single point mooring and fluid transfer system

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Caspar Heyl