Production/platform mooring configuration

Abstract

A mooring system provides a bridle having a star-like shape that is useful for mooring a single vessel or for mooring two or more vessels relative to one another. In general, the mooring system provides a mooring bridle formed of a plurality of anchor connections spaced about a central mooring position. Each anchor connection includes an anchor having a passageway therethrough and an anchor line threaded through the passageway. An anchor buoy is connected to each end of the anchor line; and a bridle line connects the anchor buoys. Adjacent anchor connections share a common anchor buoy and are, thus, interconnected. The length of the bridle lines are less than the distance between the anchors so that the diameter of the circle formed by the bridle lines is less than that formed by the anchors. Vessel lines attached to the anchor buoys extend to the central mooring position for attachment of a tender vessel thereto. An additional vessel, such as a TLP, may be attached to the mooring bridle at a position offset from the central mooring position even while the tender vessel is attached thereto. The system includes connecting lines attached to non-adjacent anchor buoys and attachable to the additional vessel and includes mooring lines attachable to the additional vessel holding the vessel to the mooring bridle. The mooring lines each include an anchor (of the adjacent anchor connection), an anchor line, an anchor buoy, and a vessel line. An alternative system includes interconnecting two mooring bridles to provide for close, effective mooring of two vessels relative to one another.