The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 13, 2001
Filed:
Sep. 01, 1998
Alan G. Hooper, Singapore, SG;
Abstract
A mooring system for a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO) employs a vessel mounted rotatable turret and a single point mooring arrangement. The mooring arrangement includes a single anchor chain that is removably attached at a top end to the vessel, and is attached at a submerged bottom end to three sealed anchored leg chains. The anchor chain is secured to the vessel by means of a chain stopper that is centrally located in the rotatable turret, and allows the vessel to rotate freely about the anchor chain's vertical axis. One or more submerged fluid carrying risers are detachably connected to a swivel stack positioned above the mooring table in line with the rotational axis of the anchor chain so that the risers and the anchor chain will not become entangled with one another during vessel rotation. In one embodiment, the swivel stack and a pulley sheave for retrieving the anchor chain are mounted on a movable frame that facilitates quick and easy connection/disconnection of the chain and risers. In a second embodiment, the pulley sheave is disposed on a frame that is pivotally mounted to the vessel so that it can be rotated between a first position for retrieving the anchor chain, and a second position that enables free rotation of the mooring table and a swivel stack support attached thereto.