Patent ID: 6719495
Filing Date: 2004-04-13
Classification: B63B

Abstract:
A method of installing an offshore oil platform in deep water, comprising the steps of:a) providing a vessel for floating a platform; b) placing a platform on the vessel; c) attaching a plurality of buoys to the platform, at an initial shallow water location that has a water depth that is less than the length of the longest of the buoys; each buoy being an elongated structure having upper and lower end portions, wherein the upper end portion of each buoy attaches to the platform with an articulating connection, wherein each buoy has a ballast member that can be moved relative to the buoy for changing the center of gravity of the buoy and wherein the buoys are not vertically positioned; d) moving the assembly of vessel, platform and buoys to a deep water location that has a water depth that is greater than the length of the longest of the buoys; e) ballasting the buoys from an essentially horizontal position to an essentially vertical position until they support the platform, wherein the ballast member is in a higher position relative to the buoy during transport and then in a lower position relative to the buoy when supporting the platform.