Patent US3712068A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3712068A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Offshore installation for producing, storing and loading oil from underwater oil well
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-01-22
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Granted: 1973-01-23
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Expires: 1990-01-22
Abstract
Abstract An offshore installation for the production, storage and loading of oil from an underwater source. Installation includes an immersed storage tank, a vertical column connected at its bottom to the tank by a universal joint and having its top above the water surface. platform is connected to upper end of column. Column is maintained in vertical orientation by circularly arranged distributed buoyancy means connected thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 J Liautaud
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:54
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B3/00; E02B3/04; E02B3/06; E02B3/062; B; B63; B63B; B63B22/00; B63B22/02; B63B22/021; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
An installation for the exploitation of underwater oil fields for the production, storage and loading of oil of underwater origin on to tankers, said installation comprising: at least one underwater tank; a column, the bottom of which is operatively connected to said tank and the upper end of which extends above the surface of the water; a production and loading platform on the upper end of said column; a plurality of hollow tank floats arranged in a circular array about said column and in substantially uniformly spaced apart relation with one another; meaNs for connecting said floats to said column, said connecting means including an immersed ring, a plurality of universal joints, one for each float, for connecting the bottoms of said floats to said ring, and a plurality of stiffening rods for connecting said ring to said column; and hose means carried by said column and connected to said tank for supplying oil to said underwater tank for storage therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
An installation for the exploitation of underwater oil fields for the production, storage and loading of oil of underwater origin on to tankers, said installation comprising: at least one underwater tank; a column, the bottom of which is operatively connected to said tank and the upper end of which extends above the surface of the water; a production and loading platform on the upper end of said column; a plurality of hollow tank floats arranged in a circular array about said column and in substantially uniformly spaced apart relation with one another; meaNs for connecting said floats to said column, said connecting means including an immersed ring, a plurality of universal joints, one for each float, for connecting the bottoms of said floats to said ring, and a plurality of stiffening rods for connecting said ring to said column; and hose means carried by said column and connected to said tank for supplying oil to said underwater tank for storage therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
An installation according to claim 1, wherein said hollow tanks have a conical shape adjacent their tops.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
The installation according to claim 1, further comprising a platform means for maintaining said platform horizontal, said last mentioned means comprising a flared receptacle in the bottom of said platform, said upper end of said column being disposed within said receptacle for pivotally mounting said platform on said column, said platform having a distribution of weight which imparts to it a stable equilibrium within the limits of inclination defined by the shape of said flared receptacle and said column.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An installation according to claim 1, further comprising two anchoring carriages movably mounted on said ring for movably connecting mooring lines from a vessel to said column.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
147 words
An installation for the exploitation of underwater oil fields for the production, storage and loading of oil of underwater origin on to tankers, said installation comprising: at least one underwater tank; a column, the bottom of which is operatively connected to said tank and the upper end of which extends above the surface of the water; a production and loading platform on the upper end of said column; a plurality of buoyancy means arranged along a circle concentric to the column and located at a certain distance from the column, each of said buoyancy means including flexible, floating fibers grouped in a bundle, said fibers being formed of a material which is unaffected by immersion in water, and has a density of less than 1; and hose means carried by said column and connected to said tank for supplying oil to said underwater tank for storage therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
147 words
An installation for the exploitation of underwater oil fields for the production, storage and loading of oil of underwater origin on to tankers, said installation comprising: at least one underwater tank; a column, the bottom of which is operatively connected to said tank and the upper end of which extends above the surface of the water; a production and loading platform on the upper end of said column; a plurality of buoyancy means arranged along a circle concentric to the column and located at a certain distance from the column, each of said buoyancy means including flexible, floating fibers grouped in a bundle, said fibers being formed of a material which is unaffected by immersion in water, and has a density of less than 1; and hose means carried by said column and connected to said tank for supplying oil to said underwater tank for storage therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
An installation according to claim 5, wherein said bundles of fibers are bent over adjacent their centers to form loops, a tie around each of said loops for maintaining same, an eyelet disposed within each of said loops, an immersed circular element, a plurality of anchor ropes, one for each bundle, and extending from said eyelets to said circular element for connecting same, and a plurality of stiffening rods for connecting said circular element to said column.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
The installation according to claim 5, further comprising a platform, means for maintaining said platform horizontal, said last mentioned means comprising a flared receptacle in the bottom of said platform said upper end of said column being disposed within said receptacle for pivotally mounting said platform on said column, said platform having a distribution of weight which imparts to it a stable equilibrium within the limits of inclination defined by the shape of said flared receptacle and said column.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The installation according to claim 6 further comprising two anchoring carriages movably mounted on said ring for movably connecting mooring lines from a vessel to said column.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
123 words
An installation for the exploitation of underwater oil fields for the production, storage and loading of oil of underwater origin onto tankers, the said installation comprising: at least one underwater tank; a vertically extending column, the upper end of which extends above the surface of the water; a production and loading platform on the upper end of said column; an articulated joint for connecting said underwater tank to the bottom of said column; a plurality of buoyancy means arranged along a circle concentric to the column and located at a certain distance from the column; hose means carried by said column and connected to said tank for supplying oil to said underwater tank for storage therein said hose passing through said articulated joint.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
123 words
An installation for the exploitation of underwater oil fields for the production, storage and loading of oil of underwater origin onto tankers, the said installation comprising: at least one underwater tank; a vertically extending column, the upper end of which extends above the surface of the water; a production and loading platform on the upper end of said column; an articulated joint for connecting said underwater tank to the bottom of said column; a plurality of buoyancy means arranged along a circle concentric to the column and located at a certain distance from the column; hose means carried by said column and connected to said tank for supplying oil to said underwater tank for storage therein said hose passing through said articulated joint.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
The installation according to claim 9, further comprising means for maintaining said platform horizontal, said last mentioned means comprising a flared receptacle in the bottom of said platform, said upper end of said column being disposed within said receptacle for pivotally mounting said platform on said column, said platform having a distribution of weight which imparts to it a stable equilibrium within the limits of inclination defined by the shape of said flared receptacle and said column.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
An installation according to claim 9, wherein said operative connection between said column and said tank comprises an articulated joint for connecting the lower end of said column to said underwater tank.
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) | 1976-01-23 | 1976-07-24 | 1977-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-23 | 1980-07-24 | 1981-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-23 | 1984-07-24 | 1985-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |