Fmc Technologies, Inc.

Fmc/sofec Floating Systems, Inc.

Charles L Garnero

L Terry Boatman

Jerry L McCollum

Stephen P Lindblade

William Louis Fontenot

Brent A Salyer

Richard M Corder

A very large diameter turret for mooring a VLCC class FPSO vessel. A large diameter rail and wheel bearing system is disposed between a turret main deck and the hull of the vessel. The turret is designed for a flexibility to allow the turret main deck to conform to the sag or hog of the vessel so that excessive forces on the wheels of the bearing system are avoided. The turret's main deck, in a preferred embodiment, includes a center hub, an outer ring, and spokes between the hub and outer ring. A lower chain deck is preferably connected to the main deck by pillars or columns, or alternatively by riser tubes alone, or other structures that achieve the desired flexibility of the main deck.

Large diameter mooring turret with compliant deck and frame

A method for constructing and installing a very large turret in a vessel without lifting the entire turret from a fabrication yard into the moonpool. According to a first alternative method, both the lower part and the upper part of the turret are constructed inside the moonpool while the vessel is in drydock. Such method obviates providing very large lifting cranes capable of lifting the entire turret including the upper part of the turret and the lower part into the moonpool. According to a second alternative embodiment, the turret has an upper part and a lower part and the lower part is constructed in the moonpool while the vessel is in drydock, like in the first alternative method. In the second embodiment, the lower part is supported by rods and jacks from the moonpool, and the vessel is floated out of drydock into the water and parked at dockside. The upper part of the turret is then lifted in place with a crane of moderate size and connected to the lower turret part with bearings installed between the upper part and the moonpool.

Method for constructing a very large turret mooring arrangement

An arrangement and pull-in method for fluidly coupling a steel riser to a flowline of a turret on a FSO/FPSO. The riser is pulled into a connector by a pull-in line inside the flowline. A pull-in head is releasable secured inside the upper end of the riser. The pull-in head is released from the riser after the riser is locked into the connector. A flex joint is placed above the connector to provide alignment of the connector to the riser during installation.

Riser pull-in method and apparatus

Growing community of inventors

Cypress, TX, United States of America

Charles L Garnero