Patent ID: 6113315
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: B63B,E02D

Abstract:
A method of mooring mobile offshore drilling units including the steps of:providing a first taut-leg mooring assembly including a plurality of taut mooring legs each having a mooring line and an anchor;installing the first taut-leg mooring assembly at a first drilling venue;subsequently locating a mobile offshore drilling unit at the first drilling venue;mooring the mobile offshore drilling unit at the first drilling venue by securing the mooring lines of the first taut-leg mooring assembly to the mobile offshore drilling unit;subsequently conducting drilling operations from the moored mobile offshore drilling unit at the first drilling venue;providing a second taut-leg mooring assembly comprising a plurality of taut mooring legs each having a mooring line and an anchor;installing the second taut-leg mooring assembly at a second drilling venue while simultaneously conducting drilling operations from the mobile offshore drilling unit at the first drilling venue;terminating drilling operations at the first drilling venue;disconnecting the mooring lines of the first taut-leg mooring assembly from the mobile offshore drilling unit;relocating the mobile offshore drilling unit from the first drilling venue to the second drilling venue;mooring the mobile offshore drilling unit at the second drilling venue by connecting the mooring lines of the installed second taut-leg mooring assembly to the mobile offshore drilling unit;subsequently conducting drilling operations for the moored mobile offshore drilling unit at the second drilling venue;relocating the first taut-leg mooring assembly to a third drilling venue while concurrently conducting drilling operations from the moored drilling assembly at the second drilling venue;subsequently terminating drilling operations at the second drilling venue;disconnecting the mobile offshore drilling unit from the second mooring assembly;relocating the mobile offshore drilling unit from the second drilling venue to the third drilling venue;mooring the offshore drilling unit at the third drilling venue by connecting the mooring lines of the installed first taut-leg mooring assembly to the mobile offshore drilling unit; andsubsequently conducting drilling operations from the moored mobile offshore drilling unit at the third drilling venue.