Other

Bennett and Associates, LLC

Mindoc, LLC

William Thomas Bennett, Jr

David Charles Landry

Eugene E Begnaud

Jacob Alford

Richard Roper

Alden J Laborde

Jose H Vazquez Gonzalez

William T Bennett, Iii

A method and a system are provided for the safe berthing of marine vessels in the high seas and other unprotected open waters. The invention allows a large vessel to be berthed alongside in close enough proximity to a marine structure so that conventional loading arm equipment may be used to load and unload the vessel under most environmental conditions. One or more floating dolphins moored to the bottom of the sea and provided with fendering means are used for berthing the vessel alongside to the marine structure. The preferred type of floating dolphin is a triangular semi-submersible moored buoyant structure comprising three buoyant column members, or 'caissons', arranged invertical fashion, three buoyant hull segments, or 'pontoons', that support and separate the column members and provide heave damping to the moored buoyant structure, and three horizontal bracing members that retain the tops of the column members in place.

Berthing method and system

A self-elevating offshore structure supports a deck for production operations at sea in the absence of an elevating hull. A non-buoyant deck is supported by braces and truss legs above wave action. The legs move in relation to the legs and the braces, elevating the deck and the braces supporting the deck. The offshore structure is transported to a deployment site by a buoyant vessel and then released from the vessel once the legs are embedded into the sea bottom.

Self-elevating offshore structure

A cantilever beam of a jack-up unit is provided with constant force restraining members mounted on a deck of a jack-up unit forward from conventional hold-down cantilever beam clamp. A modified cantilever beam end plate engages a first end of constant force restraining member, which may be a hydraulic cylinder, with the second end of the hydraulic cylinder secured to movable padeye, which is releasably secured to the deck of the jack-up unit. If desired a fixed foundation may be secured to the deck to reinforce the area of attachment of a padeye to the deck. To allow extension of the cantilever beam even farther to a drill well, an extension member may be attached to the end plate between a free end of the end plate and the hydraulic cylinders.

Active hold down system for jack-up drilling unit

A self-elevating drilling unit has dual cantilever assemblies that move longitudinally and transversely in relation to the jack-up platform to allow drilling operation to be performed from two drilling floors. The twin cantilever assemblies permit simultaneous drilling on an 8 feet&times;8 feet spacing. The cantilever assemblies are retained attached to the platform by a hold down beam that extends over and across the cantilever assemblies. The hold down beam is positioned in a stationary manner on the platform deck. A movable strut that engages the underside of the hold down beam moves along the beam to counteract upward bending forces acting on the beam when the cantilever assemblies are extended from the platform. The cantilever assemblies are made of tubular truss work and can be moved to an infinite number of horizontal positions.

Self-elevating drilling unit

A deep draft semi-submersible offshore structure suitable for conducting mineral exploration and production operations in deep waters of the oceans. The structure uses three or more caissons or columns equidistantly spaced from adjacent columns. The weight distribution and provision of liquid or solid permanent balance in the lower ends of each column make the structure stable without reliance upon water line displacement or tendons, as compared to conventional vessels. The center of gravity of the structure is maintained below its center of buoyancy, thus imparting an inherent absolute stability to the structure. The columns are retained in spaced relationship to each other by a plurality of horizontal braces or a combination of horizontal braces and diagonal braces. The major part of the structure is positioned below the water surface at sufficient depth to minimize the reaction to surface changes, thereby greatly reducing heave and angular response to surface wave action.

Growing community of inventors

Metairie, LA, United States of America

William Thomas Bennett, Jr