US3577946A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stable marine construction
Assignee: Fluor Corp
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Filing: 1969-02-06
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Granted: 1971-05-11
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Expires: 1989-02-06
Abstract
Abstract A marine construction and a mooring system therefor for supporting an above surface working platform wherein the marine construction comprises a stable determinate structure held by anchor means and by tension means interconnecting the anchor means and structure for positioning the marine structure a selected distance below the surface of the water. The submerged marine structure includes a plurality of main buoyant members forming a continuous peripheral buoyant means of selected crosssectional configuration whereby cyclic stresses imparted to the structure and tension means by wave action are minimized and reduced. The submerged buoyant means also includes internal buoyant members symmetrically disposed with respect to the main buoyant members and arranged to interconnect corresponding portions of main members for enhancing stability of the construction under different conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward E Horton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 00:29
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B39/00; B63B21/00; B63B21/50; B63B21/502; E; E02; E02B; E02B17/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
In a normally submerged marine construction adapted to support a platform above water surface and adapted to minimize cyclic stresses caused by ocean conditions, comprising in combination: a plurality of anchor members positioned in a selected pattern at sea bottom; buoyant means including a plurality of peripherally continuous main buoyant members located above said anchor members and having an external configuration generally corresponding to and in alignment with the selected anchor pattern; a plurality of negatively buoyant tension means each interconnecting one of said anchor members with a juxtaposed part of one of said buoyant members and forming with said buoyant means a determinate structure; and internal buoyant members arranged about the center of said buoyant means and diagonally interconnecting adjacent portions of contiguous main buoyant members for enhancing stability of said marine construction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
In a normally submerged marine construction adapted to support a platform above water surface and adapted to minimize cyclic stresses caused by ocean conditions, comprising in combination: a plurality of anchor members positioned in a selected pattern at sea bottom; buoyant means including a plurality of peripherally continuous main buoyant members located above said anchor members and having an external configuration generally corresponding to and in alignment with the selected anchor pattern; a plurality of negatively buoyant tension means each interconnecting one of said anchor members with a juxtaposed part of one of said buoyant members and forming with said buoyant means a determinate structure; and internal buoyant members arranged about the center of said buoyant means and diagonally interconnecting adjacent portions of contiguous main buoyant members for enhancing stability of said marine construction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
In a marine construction as stated in claim 1 wherein said anchor pattern is slightly larger than the configuration of said buoyant means whereby said tension members are inclined and nonparallel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A marine construction as stated in claim 1 wherein said internal buoyant members are spaced a distance from the connection of the opposed tension means to the buoyant means and said buoyant means are spaced below the ocean surface such that an internal buoyant member will be positioned on the surface of the ocean upon failure of an adjacent tension means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A marine construction as stated in claim 1 wherein each of the external and internal buoyant members is horizontally positioned and is of oval cross section with its major axis vertical.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a marine construction as stated in claim 1 wherein said internal buoyant members are connected to said external buoyant members at locations approximately one-third the length of the external buoyant member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
In an offshore marine construction adapted to be submerged and to support a platform means above the sea surface, the combination of: a plurality of anchor means arranged in a triangular pattern; buoyant members arranged in a corresponding triangular pattern of less area with vertices of the buoyant triangular pattern generally opposite said anchor means; tension means interconnecting said anchor means and vertices of said buoyant means, said tension means being inclined downwardly and outwardly; and buoyant members interconnecting said first-mentioned buoyant members at locations spaced from said vertices.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
In an offshore marine construction adapted to be submerged and to support a platform means above the sea surface, the combination of: a plurality of anchor means arranged in a triangular pattern; buoyant members arranged in a corresponding triangular pattern of less area with vertices of the buoyant triangular pattern generally opposite said anchor means; tension means interconnecting said anchor means and vertices of said buoyant means, said tension means being inclined downwardly and outwardly; and buoyant members interconnecting said first-mentioned buoyant members at locations spaced from said vertices.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
116 words
A submersible buoyant system for use in offshore well operations comprising: an elongated hollow body buoyant member in submerged position exerting an upwardly directed force and having a longitudinal axis horizontally disposed and provided with an external surface of uniform cross-sectional oval shape throughout its length; said oval cross-sectional shape including a major axis normally disposed in a vertical direction; said major axis varying from about 1.2 to 2.5 times the length of the minor axis; and tension means connected to said buoyant body member restraining said upwardly directed force thereof, whereby vertical components of forces of wave action are virtually cancelled and other force components of wave action relating to drag and inertia are minimized.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
116 words
A submersible buoyant system for use in offshore well operations comprising: an elongated hollow body buoyant member in submerged position exerting an upwardly directed force and having a longitudinal axis horizontally disposed and provided with an external surface of uniform cross-sectional oval shape throughout its length; said oval cross-sectional shape including a major axis normally disposed in a vertical direction; said major axis varying from about 1.2 to 2.5 times the length of the minor axis; and tension means connected to said buoyant body member restraining said upwardly directed force thereof, whereby vertical components of forces of wave action are virtually cancelled and other force components of wave action relating to drag and inertia are minimized.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
In a marine construction as stated in claim 4 wherein the major axis of the oval cross section of said buoyant members is at least from 1.2 to 2.5 times the length of the minor axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
An offshore marine construction as stated in claim 6 wherein each buoyant member is provided with an external surface configuration providing a generally oval cross section having a major axis of said oval cross section vertically disposed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
125 words
A submersible structural system for an offshore platform construction; comprising: an elongated hollow buoyant body member adapted to be horizontally submerged to depths in the vicinity of subsurface wave action; tension means connected to said body member for retaining said body member at a selected depth, and means for reducing drag and inertia forces imposed on said body member by such wave action and comprising an external surface configuration on said body member responsive to said wave action to stabilize said body member, said surface configuration forming in transverse cross section a uniform generally oval shape with the long axis of the oval shape disposed vertically and having a length in the order of 1.2 to 2.5 times the short axis of the oval shape.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
125 words
A submersible structural system for an offshore platform construction; comprising: an elongated hollow buoyant body member adapted to be horizontally submerged to depths in the vicinity of subsurface wave action; tension means connected to said body member for retaining said body member at a selected depth, and means for reducing drag and inertia forces imposed on said body member by such wave action and comprising an external surface configuration on said body member responsive to said wave action to stabilize said body member, said surface configuration forming in transverse cross section a uniform generally oval shape with the long axis of the oval shape disposed vertically and having a length in the order of 1.2 to 2.5 times the short axis of the oval shape.
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) | 1974-05-10 | 1974-11-09 | 1975-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-10 | 1978-11-09 | 1979-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-10 | 1982-11-09 | 1983-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |