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:
Apr. 30, 2002
Filed:
Dec. 21, 2000
Applicant:
Inventors:
Stephen B. Wetch, Sugar Land, TX (US);
Andrew Hunter, Houston, TX (US);
Assignee:
Union Oil Company California, El Segundo, CA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B63B 3/544 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B63B 3/544 ;
Abstract
A simplified ballast system designed for a tension leg platform from which drilling and/or production activities are to be performed in a body of water provides for rapid deballasting via large capacity dump valve(s) and for ballasting for trim operations by use of an eductor at the bottom of a drain well fluidly connected by drain lines to ballast compartments.