Patent ID: 7845998
Filing Date: 2010-12-07
Classification: B63B

Abstract:
1. A method of separating an upper hull structure of an offshore floating platform from a buoyant lower module detachably connected to a lower end of the upper hull structure, wherein the upper hull structure is moored to the seabed by a plurality of mooring line assemblies having a total weight sufficient to sink the lower module, each of the mooring line assemblies including a main mooring line having a first end attached to a seabed anchor and a second end detachably connected to the upper hull structure, the method comprising: (a) providing at least one of the mooring line assemblies with a transverse anchor line connecting the lower module to one of the main mooring lines; (b) detaching the first end of each of the main mooring lines from a first position on the upper hull structure and attaching each of the first ends to a lower second position on the upper hull structure so as to slacken the main mooring lines; (c) disconnecting the main mooring lines from the upper hull structure so as to transfer the weight of the main mooring lines to the transverse anchor lines; and (d) disconnecting the lower module from the upper hull structure so as to allow the lower module to sink under the weight of the mooring line assemblies.