Brown & Root, Inc.

Graham J Blight

Phillip Andrew Abbott

Demir I Karsan

Heinz K Rohde

David P Tuturea

Robert F Stager

Hien T Djie

Larry E Farmer

Frank S Chou

System for maintaining a preselected constant torque on a loaded reel of a winding mechanism. The system includes a d.c. motor wherein both the armature and field windings are adapted for independent rotation about a common axis. The field winding is coupled to the reel so that the reel rotates at a velocity proportional to that of the field winding. A drive motor establishes a constant speed rotation of the armature winding. A torque control drives constant currents through the armature and field windings of the motor. The amplitudes of the armature and field currents are preselected so that a constant torque is maintained at the reel irrespective of variations of the load.

Adjustable torque control winch system

Methods and apparatus for offshore operations including individually significant aspects comprising:

Method and apparatus for installing deck structures entailing composite

Method and apparatus for installing integrated deck structure and

Method and apparatus for forming integrated deck sub-structure assembly

The invention relates to apparatus for reducing the relative motion of a vessel and for reducing the intensity of waves reflected from the vessel. According to the invention, the vessel is provided with at least two specially designed tanks or cavities, one on the starboard side of the vessel and one on the port side of the vessel. The tanks extend above and below the mean water line of the vessel. In one embodiment of the invention, each tank has (a) a bottom plate which extends substantially laterally outward from at least a portion of the bottom of the vessel and which is freely accessible to the surrounding water; (b) vertically aligned, transversely extending, outwardly directed, perforate plates which are spaced apart along a longitudinal length of the tank, and (c) a vertically aligned, longitudinally extending perforate plate or bulkhead which is spaced apart from the vessel along a longitudinal length of the tank. In other embodiments, more than one perforate longitudinally extending bulkhead or baffle is provided between the bottom plate and a laterally extending upper member to further reduce the intensity of waves reflected from the vessel. In another aspect of the invention, buoyancy chambers may be provided to counterbalance the weight added by the perforate plates, bulkheads, and the bottom plate. In yet another aspect of the invention, only longitudinal bulkheads are used in combination with the buoyancy chambers to reduce the relative motion of the vessel.

Apparatus to reduce vessel motions

Method for transporting an offshore tower to a desired deepwater site and for erecting the tower to an upright position on the submarine floor at that site. Initially, the intended base end of the tower is supported on a first barge, and the intended top end is supported on a second barge. The barges are then towed to the deepwater site. At the site, the tower is launched by first mutually separating the barges through the application of substantially horizontal and oppositely directed forces, while maintaining one tower end substantially stationary with respect to its supporting barge, and permitting the other tower end to slide off of the other barge. Therefor, the other tower end is moved off of the other barge.

Method for transporting and erecting offshore towers

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Graham J Blight