Patent ID: 9359852
Filing Date: 2016-06-07
CPC Classification: E21B

Claim Text:
1. A system for tethering a subsea blowout preventer (BOP), the system comprising: a plurality of anchors disposed about the subsea BOP and secured to the sea floor; a plurality of pile top assemblies, wherein one pile top assembly is directly secured to an upper end of each anchor, wherein each pile top assembly includes a tensioning system; a plurality of flexible tension members, wherein each tension member has a first end coupled to one of the tensioning systems and extends upwardly from the corresponding tensioning system to a second end pivotally coupled to the subsea BOP; wherein each tensioning system is a winch configured to pay in and pay out the corresponding tension member, and wherein each tensioning system is configured to apply a tensile preload to the corresponding tension member to impart a lateral preload on the subsea BOP.