US3572041A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spar-type floating production facility
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
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Filing: 1968-09-18
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Granted: 1971-03-23
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Expires: 1988-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A production facility for underwater oil and gas wells including an onbottom platform to which flow and trunk lines are connected, a marine riser supporting the weight of the vertical portions of the flow and trunk lines, a spar section, and a superstructure which contains all of the fluid handling and processing equipment, controls, personnel requirements etc. When the production system according to the present invention is in assembled condition, the marine riser is vertically disposed on the platform and extends upwardly with the body of water in a substantially self-supporting manner. The spar section and superstructure, after having been separately floated into position over the marine riser, are connected thereto so that a portion of the spar section and all of the super structure component are disposed abode the surface of the water.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerardus Graaf
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 05:03
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/01; B; B63; B63B; B63B1/00; B63B1/02; B63B1/04; B63B2001/044; B63B35/00; B63B35/44; B63B2035/442; B63B77/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
Production facility apparatus for receiving production fluid from a plurality of underwater wells, said apparatus comprising: platform means positioned in the water a predetermined distance above the ocean floor and in the vicinity of said plurality of underwater wells upon an upstanding pile member which is fixedly secured to the ocean floor; said platform means including a central cylindrical portion having a skirt portion affixed thereto and radiating outwardly and downwardly therefrom, said central cylindrical portion including a plurality of inner chambers and being adapted to matingly engage the pile member so that the platform means is supported thereby; marine riser means end mounted with respect to said platform means and extending upwardly thErefrom; an open-framework spar section releasably engaged to the upper end of said marine riser means and extending upwardly therefrom so that at least the upper portion of the spar section is above the surface of the water; and a superstructure component positioned on said spar section whereby said spar section maintains said superstructure component above said water surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
Production facility apparatus for receiving production fluid from a plurality of underwater wells, said apparatus comprising: platform means positioned in the water a predetermined distance above the ocean floor and in the vicinity of said plurality of underwater wells upon an upstanding pile member which is fixedly secured to the ocean floor; said platform means including a central cylindrical portion having a skirt portion affixed thereto and radiating outwardly and downwardly therefrom, said central cylindrical portion including a plurality of inner chambers and being adapted to matingly engage the pile member so that the platform means is supported thereby; marine riser means end mounted with respect to said platform means and extending upwardly thErefrom; an open-framework spar section releasably engaged to the upper end of said marine riser means and extending upwardly therefrom so that at least the upper portion of the spar section is above the surface of the water; and a superstructure component positioned on said spar section whereby said spar section maintains said superstructure component above said water surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said platform includes trunkline conduit means extending therethrough and wherein fluid flow path means is formed in said pile member, said platform and said pile member including cooperating orienting means whereby said platform conduit means and said pile member fluid flow path means are in communication when said pile member and said platform are matingly engaged.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said marine riser means includes buoyancy providing means positioned such that the center of buoyancy of the riser is located above the center of gravity of the riser whereby said riser is substantially free-standing as it extends upwardly from said platform.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said marine riser means comprises a cylindrical member and wherein said buoyancy providing means comprises a plurality of buoyancy vessels mounted within said cylindrical member near one end thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein fluid flow passage means is provided both internally and externally of said cylindrical member and running substantially the full length thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the open-framework spar section includes a plurality of large-diameter columns maintained in spaced parallel relationship by means of interconnecting grid means, structural members extending from said large-diameter columns, bracing members disposed between said structural members, and buoyancy compartments affixed to said structural members at the end thereof remote from said large-diameter columns, said open-framework spar sections being of watertight construction and selectively floodable so that it may assume a variety of attitudes in the water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said central cylindrical portion includes an inner cylindrical wall and an outer cylindrical wall, cross plates extending between said walls to define said inner chambers, said cross plates defining throughbore means whereby said inner chambers are in fluid-flow communication.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
171 words
Production facility apparatus for receiving production fluid from a plurality of underwater wells said apparatus comprising: an upstanding pile member; means fixedly positioning said pile member relative to the ocean floor in the vicinity of said plurality of underwater wells; pipe support platform means positioned upon said pile member above the ocean floor, said platform means being adapted to support a substantially laterally extending pipe adjacent a point on said pile member above the ocean floor and at least along a portion of the distance between said point on said pile member and the ocean floor; marine riser means end mounted with respect to said platform means and extending upwardly therefrom; a buoyant open framework spar section releasably engaging the upper end of said marine riser means and extending upwardly therefrom so that at least the upper portion of the spar section is above the surface of the water; and a superstructure component positioned on said spar section whereby said buoyant spar section maintains said superstructure component above said water surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
171 words
Production facility apparatus for receiving production fluid from a plurality of underwater wells said apparatus comprising: an upstanding pile member; means fixedly positioning said pile member relative to the ocean floor in the vicinity of said plurality of underwater wells; pipe support platform means positioned upon said pile member above the ocean floor, said platform means being adapted to support a substantially laterally extending pipe adjacent a point on said pile member above the ocean floor and at least along a portion of the distance between said point on said pile member and the ocean floor; marine riser means end mounted with respect to said platform means and extending upwardly therefrom; a buoyant open framework spar section releasably engaging the upper end of said marine riser means and extending upwardly therefrom so that at least the upper portion of the spar section is above the surface of the water; and a superstructure component positioned on said spar section whereby said buoyant spar section maintains said superstructure component above said water surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-22 | 1974-09-21 | 1975-03-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-22 | 1978-09-21 | 1979-03-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-22 | 1982-09-21 | 1983-03-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |