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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8087849 | Battered column tension leg platform A tension leg platform includes a deck supported on the upper ends of three or more columns interconnected at the lower ends thereof by horizontally disposed connecting members. The columns are battered inwardly and upwardly from the platform base to the deck. Tendo... | 01/03/2012 |
| 8021081 | Pull-style tensioner system for a top-tensioned riser A tensioner system for a top-tensioned riser in a floating platform includes a hydro-pneumatic tensioner assembly resiliently mounted to the floating platform, and a riser support conductor surrounding the riser coaxially, wherein the support conductor conveys a pul... | 09/20/2011 |
| 7854570 | Pontoonless tension leg platform A pontoonless tension leg platform (TLP) has a plurality of buoyant columns connected by an above-water deck support structure. The design eliminates the need for subsea pontoons extending between the surface-piercing columns. In certain embodiments, the buoyancy of... | 12/21/2010 |
| 7621698 | Rotating lock ring bottom tendon connector A tendon bottom connector assembly has a receptacle with a bore having an annular locking profile divided into segments by axially extending slots. The connector has a housing that inserts into and locks in the receptacle. The housing and receptacle have mating an a... | 11/24/2009 |
| 7462000 | Battered column tension leg platform A tension leg platform includes a deck supported on the upper ends of three or more columns interconnected at the lower ends thereof by horizontally disposed pontoons. The columns are battered inwardly and upwardly from the pontoons to the deck. Tendons connected at... | 12/09/2008 |
| 7452162 | Method of installation of a tension leg platform and tendons therefor A method and system for attaching a TLP to its tendons using pull-down lines to rapidly submerge the hull to installation draft while compensating for inherent hull instability during submergence and to provide motion arrest and aid in station keeping. The system in... | 11/18/2008 |
| 7438504 | Arrangement for anchoring a floating structure An arrangement for anchoring a floating structure comprising a mooring boom 120a, b; 650a, b pivotally arranged at either end, wherein each mooring boom at its free end has a bushing 124a, b: 654a, b through wh... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7422394 | Tendon for tension leg platform A tendon for mooring a tension leg platform having an uppermost pipe segment with a reduced diameter compared to at least one of the lower pipe segments. The tendon is watertight and sealed from the ocean environment, preferably filled with air at one atmosphere of ... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7413384 | Floating offshore drilling/producing structure A deep draft semi submersible structure wherein the semi-submersible has a center of gravity below its center of buoyancy and the structure is a floating vessel with at least three vertically oriented buoyant columns. Each of the vertically oriented buoyant columns ... | 08/19/2008 |
| 7347103 | Pile testing reaction anchor apparatus and method Pile testing apparatus and method apply static compressive forces on a pile to be tested for load bearing capacity. Retractable and reusable reaction anchor assemblies are installed into the ground for pile testing and then are retrieved from the ground after comple... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7338517 | Tissue scaffold having aligned fibrils and artificial tissue comprising the same A tubular tissue scaffold is described which comprises a tube having a wall, wherein the wall includes biopolymer fibrils that are aligned in a helical pattern around the longitudinal axis of the tube where the pitch of the helical pattern changes with the radial po... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7329070 | Ram-type tensioner assembly with accumulators A tensioner assembly having a fully extended position, a fully retracted position and a plurality of extended positions there between, for supporting a riser extending downwardly from a platform to a subsea wellhead. The tensioner assembly can have a riser conductor... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7287935 | Tendon assembly for mooring offshore structure An offshore system for petroleum production has a buoyant platform. A tendon assembly secures to the platform and extends down to a counterweight located near the lower end. A piling is embedded in the sea floor. A socket at the counterweight telescopingly slides ov... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7287484 | Berthing method and system 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 ar... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7278801 | Method for deploying floating platform A method for deploying a floating platform at an offshore wellsite uses pull-down lines to provide stability to the platform while ballasting. The platform is equipped with a number of tension devices and towed to a staging site while at a first draft, At the stagin... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7191836 | Dry tree subsea well communications apparatus and method using variable tension large offset risers Disclosed are compliant variable tension risers (106) to connect deep-water subsea wellheads (102) to a single floating platform (104). The variable tension risers (106) allow several subsea well-heads (102), in water depths from 4... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7191837 | Motion compensator A motion compensator is used on a floating vessel servicing a subsea well. The motion compensator includes a first frame assembly adapted to be connected to a cable extending from a lifting structure. When connected to the cable, the first frame assembly extends lon... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7168889 | Floating platform having a spoolable tether installed thereon and method for tethering the platform using same The present invention discloses a process for installing a floating platform to the ocean floor using a spoolable (preferably composite) tether, comprising installing the spooled tether onto the floating platform; towing the floating platform to a site for installat... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7163356 | Stepped tendon with sealed bulkheads for offshore platform A tension leg platform is secured to the sea floor with a plurality of tendons, each of the tendons being in tension due to buoyancy of the platform. The tendons are made up of joints of pipe secured together to define a hollow interior sealed from entry of sea wate... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7156586 | Wind turbine with floating foundation A floating foundation for wind turbines is disclosed, where the foundation essentially comprises at least three submerged buoyancy bodies connected to the lower end of the tower of the wind turbine at a common node member situated well above the surface of the sea. ... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7140807 | Hybrid composite steel tendon for offshore platform A tendon for an offshore floating platform has a tubular section formed of joints of steel pipe secured together. The tubular section has an interior sealed from sea water to provide buoyancy. A composite fiber section is secured to a lower end of the tubular sectio... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7104730 | Achieving hydrostatic stability of a floating structure A floating platform includes a hull and a deck mounted on the uppermost end of the hull. The platform is anchored to the seabed by a plurality of tendons connected to the hull at the upper ends thereof and secured to the seabed at the lower ends thereof. The platfor... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7101117 | Minimized wave-zone buoyancy platform Minimized Wave-zone Buoyancy is a new approach to oil and gas platform design with superior construction and performance characteristics compared to state-of-art off-shore drilling and production platforms. Minimized Wave-zone Buoyancy platforms capitalize on low cr... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7086810 | Floating structure The present invention relates to a floating structure to receive maritime production or drilling installations that is provided with means to reduce movement caused by the action of environmental forces on it. These means confer a more stable behavior on the structu... | 08/08/2006 |
| 7073978 | Lightweight catenary system A lightweight catenary system for deepsea operations in which a lightweight flexible pipe such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,779 is suspended in seawater from a vessel or platform, and having a positive or nearly positive buoyancy, and which is stabilized by d... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7044685 | Method of installation of a tension leg platform A method and system for attaching a TLP to its tendons using pull-down lines to rapidly submerge the hull to installation draft while compensating for inherent hull instability during submergence and to provide motion arrest and aid in station keeping. The system in... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7037044 | Deck-to-column connection for extendable draft platform An extendable draft platform, having a deck and buoyancy columns installed in leg wells in the deck for vertical movement from a raised position to a submerged position, includes a connection arrangement for securing the columns to the deck when the columns are in t... | 05/02/2006 |
| 7033115 | Temporary floatation stabilization device and method A temporary stability module and method for marine structures during construction, transportation and installation is taught. The device and method permit the structure, including platforms, deck and equipment to be constructed in an upright position, towed to an oc... | 04/25/2006 |
| 7008140 | Buoyant leg structure with added tubular members for supporting a deep water platform A deep water support platform, suitable for use as a hydrocarbon exploration or production facility in very deep waters of 10,000 ft or more is presented. The platform is attached to the floor of the ocean with a buoyant pile that includes buoyant members attached a... | 03/07/2006 |
| 7008141 | Collapsible buoyancy device for risers on offshore structures Expandable and contractible buoyancy modules are assembled to the risers of a deepwater exploration spar or other offshore structure to provide an upwardly directed buoyancy force to offset at least a portion of the weight of the riser. The buoyancy modules have a f... | 03/07/2006 |
| 6966106 | Method and apparatus for transporting and running tubulars The invention is a transporting apparatus for holding lengths of tubulars and transporting tubulars to a drill floor of a drill rig, wherein the transport container for tubulars has a bottom side, a two sides connected to the bottom side, and two ends connected to t... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6953308 | Offshore platform stabilizing strakes An elongated, annular hull of a floating offshore platform includes one or more segmented, helical strakes disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the hull to reduce vortex-induced vibrations resulting from water currents. The hull may comprise a single annular h... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6932542 | Tension leg platform having a lateral mooring system and methods for using and installing same A lateral mooring system for tendon-based platforms is disclosed, which provides reduced installation and/or operational cost associated with the installation and operation of an extended-base tension leg platform. The lateral mooring system includes a plurality of ... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6932553 | Multipurpose unit for drilling and well intervention The invention is a multipurpose system for a drilling and well intervention made of a pivotable, slidable cantilever on a platform adapted to pivot and to slide along an x-y axis; a tower disposed on the cantilever with a mast, a hoist winch, a splittable block conn... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6929071 | Motion compensation system and method A system for providing motion compensation of a platform attached to an ocean floor. The platform is operatively associated with a riser extending from a subterranean well. The system comprises a frame member positioned on the platform and a deck slidably attached t... | 08/16/2005 |
| 6901998 | Method for using a multipurpose system The invention is a method for drilling a well and for well intervention using a multipurpose system on a pivoting, slidable cantilever on a platform to drill a well and to perform well intervention operations, wherein the method involves pulling a completion tubing ... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6884003 | Multi-cellular floating platform with central riser buoy A semi-submersible floating platform for offshore drilling and/or production of petroleum product from the seabed includes a base having a first moon pool; a plurality of vertical outer buoyancy columns extending upwardly from the base; a deck structure supported by... | 04/26/2005 |
| 6854933 | Vertically restrained centerwell SPAR In one example embodiment, a floating deep draft caisson vessel for drilling and production is provided. The vessel comprises an outer hull, wherein the outer hull has a hollow centerwell. The vessel further comprises a centerwell buoy guided within the centerwell. ... | 02/15/2005 |
| 6851894 | Deep water TLP tether system A tether system include tethers each having an upper section (1) attached to a tension leg platform (TLP) (4), and each upper section has a large diameter so that the upper section (1) is positively bouyant. This buoyancy can be designed to comp... | 02/08/2005 |
| 6789981 | Riser tensioning construction A vessel includes a riser and/or tendon tensioning construction. A connector, such as an arm or deck structure, is suspended from cables movable relative to cable guides. The connector carries two or more risers and/or tendons extending from a subsea structure to ab... | 09/14/2004 |
