Key Ocean Services, Inc.

Friede & Goldman, Ltd.

Joe W Key

Fred E Shumaker

Calvin Vinal Norton

Paul Ray Geiger, Sr

Robert Edward Clague

Samuel P Tharp

Edward H Turner

A semi-submersible floating production vessel which has a ring pontoon. Three main columns extend upwardly from corners of the pontoon and three secondary, minor columns. extend upwardly from centers of the triangle sides. The columns are surrounded with fenders for protecting the columns from impact with floating bodies. The columns support an open frame deck, on which production modules are positioned. The vessel is adapted for semi-permanent mooring with pre-tensioned mooring lines that are attached to swivel padeyes secured on the main columns below the water line. Production and export risers are connected to the vessel below the water line. Compressed air ballast system allows selective emptying of ballast compartments located in the ring pontoon and eliminates the need for a conventional pump room.

Semi-submersible floating production facility

A multi-line or multi-path fluid swivel contains a plurality of stacked modules with each module having an internal core and an external housing. Each core includes one integral flow conduit which extends from the bottom of the core and opens through the side of the core into an annular chamber between the core and the housing. An opening in the housing permits flow of fluid out of or into the annular chamber. Seals between adjacent cores and seals between the cores and housing prevent or reduce leakage. The housings are rotatably mounted on the corresponding core with spaces between adjacent housings to permit axial core growth and deflection. Means between housings transmit rotational forces between housings and yet permit relative movement in the axial direction. Means are provided to fasten the adjacent cores to each other which act both as a dowel for transmitting rotational forces and as a bolt for locking cores together in the axial direction.

Multi-path fluid swivel

The present invention provides a vessel mounted mooring system and a method for its installation. The method involves the construction of a vertical well in the vessel extending from the deck through the bottom plates of the vessel. A lower bearing ring which circumscribes the well is connected to the underside of the bottom plates. A lower turret unit is laterally guided by the lower bearing ring and is restrained against uplift forces by the lower bearing ring. A middle turret unit is placed into the well and connected to the lower turret unit. An upper bearing ring which circumscribes the well is mounted to the deck. The upper turret unit is connected to the middle turret unit whereupon the weight of the assembly of the upper, middle and lower turret units is supported by the upper turret unit and is guided by the upper bearing ring. Chain lockers which include chains and windlasses are mounted to the upper turret unit for selectively paying out or reeling in chain through the upper, middle and lower turret unit to allow the chain to be connected near the subsea floor.

Vessel mooring system and method for its installation

The present invention provides a vessel mounted mooring system and a method for its installation. The method involves the construction of a vertical well in the vessel extending from the deck to the bottom plates. A lower bearing ring which circumscribes the well is connected to the underside of the bottom plates and extends beyond the keel. A lower turret unit is supported substantially within the bearing ring. A middle turret unit is placed into the well and connected to the lower turret unit. An upper bearing ring which circumscribes the well is mounted to the deck. An upper turret unit is connected to the middle turret unit whereupon the assembly of the upper, middle and lower turret units is supported and guided by the upper bearing ring and further guided by the lower bearing ring. Chain lockers which include chains and windlasses are mounted to the upper turret unit for selectively paying out or reeling in chain through the upper, middle and lower turret unit to allow the chain to be connected near the subsea floor.

Growing community of inventors

Magnolia, TX, United States of America

Joe W Key