Abstract:
A system for lashing a tender assist drilling unit (TADU) to a floating production platform includes a plurality of winches on the forward end of the TADU, a plurality of sheaves on the upper portion of the hull of the platform, a plurality of connection devices on the lower portion of the hull of the platform, and a set of lashing lines, each of which extends from one of the winches, through a corresponding one of the sheaves, and vertically down alongside the platform hull to a corresponding one of the connection devices to which it is attached. The winches are operable to reel in and to pay out the lashing lines to control the separation distance so as to maintain an optimal operational separation distance during normal environmental conditions, while allowing the separation distance to be increased in severe conditions.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), of co-pending provisional application No. 60/740,748, filed Nov. 30, 2005, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not Applicable  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention relates to the field of floating offshore structures for the drilling and production of offshore deposits of petroleum and natural gas. In particular, it relates to a system for securing two floating structures together, one of which is a floating production facility kept in position by its own mooring/station-keeping system, and the other being a tender-assist drilling unit (TADU) partly moored to the seabed by at least four aft mooring lines, with the forward part thereof being coupled to the production unit by a set of lashing lines. The result is a coupled station-keeping system for the two floating structures.  
         [0004]     In many deepwater drilling and production installations, a floating tender assist drilling unit (TADU) is tied to an adjacent offshore production facility or platform to assist in the drilling and production operations. The TADU can be any type of semi-submersible or barge hull form. Both the TADU and the platform are typically moored to the seabed, and they are lashed to each other so as to restrict relative movement between the two structures, thereby to facilitate the transfer of drilling consumables and personnel from one structure to the other and hook-up of control and fluid lines between the two structures. In the current state of the art, a semi-submersible TADU is moored with a minimum of eight mooring lines in addition to the mooring/station-keeping system of the production facility, which may be a Spar or tensions-leg platform (TLP). Current lashing systems are based on connecting the two floating structures with a pair of lashing lines to control the separation distance and the low and average frequency motions. In a typical coupling system, a number of mooring lines will cross, complicating the seabed layout. Furthermore, meeting critical performance criteria, as explained below, has proven difficult in practice.  
         [0005]     In a practical TADU-to-production facility coupling or lashing system, the lashing mechanism must be capable of maintaining the relative movement within predefined limits that allow normal operation throughout environmental conditions that can be expected during the course of a normal year (a “one-year environment”), and that allow limited operations, including the maintenance of drilling circulation and control, throughout worst-case conditions to be expected during a typical ten-year period (a “ten-year environment”). In a 100-year extreme weather condition, the system must be capable of increasing the separation between the structures to a storm-safe distance, and at the same time function as 100-year storm-safe coupled mooring system.  
         [0006]     The lashing system must also be capable of maintaining an optimum distance between the two structures during normal operations, while relative motions between them are absorbed. When necessary, the lashing system must allow distance between the two structures to be controllably increased, while maintaining the linkage between them. Thus, it is important, that the lashing system have a relatively low stiffness, so that there is relatively little coupling of the motions between TADU and the platform. Optimally, the lashing system will act as a pre-tensioned spring between the two structures, wherein the spring constant is such that the combination of maximum tension load and restriction in relative motion can assure drilling operability for a one-year environment, and at least a limited operability for a ten-year environment. Furthermore, the lashing system should minimize yaw.  
         [0007]     To date, there is an unfulfilled need for a system for lashing together two floating structures that satisfactorily meets criteria set forth above.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     Broadly, the present invention is a system for lashing a first floating structure, such as a TADU, to a second floating structure, such as a production platform, comprising a set of lashing lines, each of which extends from a winch on the first structure, through a sheave on the upper portion of the second structure, then vertically down the hull of the second structure to a connection device, such as a padeye connection, on the lower portion of the hull of the second structure. In the context of an application in which the first structure is a TADU and the second structure is a platform, the set of lashing lines preferably comprises a set of four lashing lines, each of which extends from a winch on the forward part of the TADU, through an idler sheave on the upper portion of the hull of the platform, then vertically down the side of the platform hull to a connection device on the lower portion of the hull. If the platform is a truss-spar type of platform, the upper portion of the hull is a buoyant “hard” tank, on top of which is supported one or more decks. The lower portion of the hull is a truss structure, comprising vertical truss members and diagonal cross-braces. A variable buoyancy “soft” tank is attached to the bottom of the truss structure. In the truss-spar application, each of the idler sheaves is fixed to the hard tank, while the lashing lines extend vertically down the truss structure to the connection devices, each of which is located on a vertical truss member above the soft tank.  
         [0009]     In a preferred embodiment, each of the lashing lines comprises a flexible hawser connected at a first or upper end to a free end of a winch cable that is wound on a winch on the first structure or TADU. The flexible hawser is preferably of nylon or a suitable equivalent polymer, while the winch cable is preferable a wire rope cable. The hawser has a lower eyelet fixed to an associated padeye connection, and an upper eyelet attached to a shackle on the free end of the winch cable. The winch cable may comprise first and second sections, connected by suitable connection means, with the first section terminating in the free end to which the hawser is connected, and the second section being wound on, and paid out from, a winch on the TADU.  
         [0010]     As will be more fully appreciated from the detailed description that follows, the lashing system of the present invention allows an optimum operating distance to be maintained between the two floating structures, owing to the elasticity of the hawser and the ability to adjust the length of each of the hawser assemblies individually, by means of the winches on the first structure (e.g., the TADU). This adjustability is enhanced by providing the hawsers with a substantial length extending vertically down the hull of the second structure, which provides sufficient length to make significant adjustments. Furthermore, by selecting the stiffness and elasticity of the hawser, the appropriate spring constant can be provided by the hawsers, such that the combination of maximum tension load and restriction in relative motion between the two structures can assure normal drilling operability for a one-year environment, with minimal yaw, and at least a limited operability for a ten-year environment. In addition, the separation distance between the two structures can be increased to a storm-safe distance in 100-year extreme weather conditions, while at the same time the system operates as a 100-year storm-safe coupled mooring system. This result is achieved by having the lashing lines connected to the TADU forward winches for separation control during storm conditions, and for return to the normal operational separation distance during less severe or normal weather conditions. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a tender assist drilling unit (TADU) and a truss spar-type floating platform linked together by a lashing system in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the TADU and platform of  FIG. 1 , linked together by the lashing system of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a detailed elevational view of the TADU and platform of  FIG. 1 , taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a detailed elevational view of the upper portion of one of the hawser assemblies used in the lashing system of the present invention, showing the three major parts of the hawser assembly and a sheave through which the sheave portion of the hawser assembly is run; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a detailed elevational view of the portion of the hawser assemblies enclosed within the dashed outline  5  in  FIG. 1 , showing the connection between the hawsers and the hull by means of a padeye connection.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     Referring now to the drawings, a first floating structure  10  is shown, in  FIGS. 1-3 , linked to a second floating structure  12  by a lashing system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this exemplary embodiment, the first floating structure  10  is a tender assist drilling unit (TADU), and will be referred to as such in the following description. The second floating structure  12  is an offshore drilling and production platform of the truss spar type, and will be referred to as a “platform” in the following description. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to use with the specific types of floating structures described herein. For example, the second floating structure  12  can be a classic spar platform, a cell spar platform, or any other platform or structure having a relatively deep draft hull supporting a deck structure. Similarly, the first floating structure  10  can be any type of floating structure that needs to be linked or lashed to another floating structure, such as a platform.  
         [0017]     As shown, the TADU  10  includes a hull that has a submerged portion  14 , from which extend a plurality of columns  16  that support a deck  18  on which various equipment and structures used in drilling and production operations are located. Also secured to the deck  18  is a gangway  20  having a distal end adapted to be secured to the platform when the structures  10 ,  12  are lashed together by the present invention, as will be described below.  
         [0018]     Assuming for the sake of this description that the platform  12  is a truss spar platform, the platform  12  has a hull comprising a buoyant hard tank  22 , a truss structure  24 , extending from the bottom of the hard tank  22 , and a variable-buoyancy soft tank  26  fixed to the bottom of the truss structure  24 . A deck  28  is secured to the top of the hard tank  22 , supported above the surface of the water, and it is adapted to receive and secure the distal end of the gangway  20  when the structures  10 ,  12  are lashed together by the present invention. The truss structure  24  comprises a plurality of vertical truss members  30  and cross-braces  32 . The truss structure  24  advantageously includes a plurality of horizontal heave plates  34  secured to the vertical members  30 , as is well-known in the art.  
         [0019]     As best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the platform  12  is secured to the seabed (not shown) by a plurality of platform mooring lines  36 . Similarly, the TADU  10  is secured to the seabed, at a location closely adjacent to the platform  12 , by a plurality of TADU mooring lines  38  secured to its aft end, after having been moved to that location, either under its own power (if self-propelled), or by tugboats (not shown).  
         [0020]     A plurality of winches  40  is provided near the forward end of the TADU  10 , preferably on the two forward-most columns  16  of the TADU hull. In a preferred embodiment, each of the two forward-most columns  16  carries two winches  40 , for a total of four winches  40 . Mounted on the forward-most columns  16  below each of the winches  40  is winch sheave  41 . A like plurality of idler sheaves or pulleys  42  is mounted on the upper part of the platform hull, such as on the hard tank  22 , on the side that would be lashed to the TADU  10 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 2 , in the exemplary embodiment disclosed herein, there are four idler sheaves  42 , two at approximately the 4 o&#39;clock position and two at approximately the 8 o&#39;clock position on the hard tank  22  (looking from the TADU  10 ). It may be advantageous to provide idler sheaves at the 2 o&#39;clock and 10 o&#39;clock positions as well, to allow the TADU  10  to be lashed to either side of the platform  12 . For each winch  40  and idler sheave  42 , there is a padeye connection  44  mounted on the lower portion of the platform hull, above the soft tank  26 . In the exemplary embodiment disclosed herein, each of the padeye connections  44  is fixed to a vertical truss member  30  a short distance above its juncture with the soft tank  26 .  
         [0021]     A plurality of lashing lines  46  are employed to lash the TADU  10  to the platform  12  by means of the winches  40 , idler sheaves  42 , and padeye connections  44 . As best shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , each lashing line  46  comprises a long length of flexible hawser  48  and a winch cable  50 . The hawser  48  is preferably made of nylon or an equivalent polymer that has some degree of elasticity. In an exemplary embodiment, the hawser  48  has a diameter of about 12.7 cm, and it has a first or upper end terminating in a first or upper eyelet  52  that is connected, by means such as a first shackle  54 , to a first socket  56  at the free end of the winch cable  50 . The hawser  48  extends vertically down the side of the platform and that terminates in a second or lower eyelet  58  that is secured, by means such as a subsea mooring connector  60 , to one of the padeye connections  44 .  
         [0022]     The winch cable  50  is preferably a wire rope cable, of about 7.6 cm diameter, and it advantageously comprises a first cable section  50   a  and a second cable section  50   b , connected end-to-end. The first cable section  50   a  includes the free end that terminates in the first socket  56  to which the hawser  48  is attached. The first cable section  50   a  passes through the idler sheave  42  and terminates in a second end that is connected to a first end of the second cable section  50   b  by means such as a second socket  62 , a third shackle  64 , a pear link  66 , and a third socket  68  that terminates a first end of the second cable section  50   b . The second cable section  50   b  extends to one of the winches  40  on the TADU  10 , on which it is wound to be reeled in and paid out as necessary to bring the two structures  10 ,  12  to their desired separation distance, to maintain that distance during operations, and to increase the separation distance in extreme environmental conditions.  
         [0023]     In operation, the TADU  10  is brought to the vicinity of the moored platform  12 , as mentioned above. At least one of the winch cables  50  is assembled by connecting the first cable section  50   a  to the second cable section  50   b  (which is installed on one of the winches  40 ) by a connection mechanism such as that described above. This can be done on an anchor handling tug or “AHT” (not shown). The TADU  10  is brought to the desired separation distance from the platform  12  and moored by means of the TADU mooring lines  38 . Each assembled winch cable  50  is run through its associated idler sheave  42  on the platform  12 , and then has its free end connected to the upper eyelet  52  of the hawser  48 , by a connection means such as the first socket  56  and the first shackle  54  described above. The remaining winch cables  50  may be assembled, run through their respective sheaves  42 , and attached to their respective hawsers  48  at this point as well. Finally, each of the hawsers  48  is secured at its lower end to its associated padeye connection  44  by means such as the lower eyelet  58  and the subsea mooring connector  60 , as described above.  
         [0024]     With the lashing lines  46  thus assembled and secured between the TADU  10  and the platform  12 , the winches  40  can be employed to adjust and control the separation distance between the two floating structures to maintain the optimum separation distance, which would typically be the optimum distance for securing distal end of the gangway  20  to its appropriate attachment fixture or location on the platform  12 . The hawsers  48 , being made of a material, such as nylon, that is somewhat elastic, provide a degree of stretching that absorbs relative motions between the floating structures  10 ,  12  caused by the environment, while keeping the two structures at an optimum desired operating distance, typically a minimum of about 10 meters in ordinary environmental conditions. Due to the limited space between the TADU  10  and the platform  12 , the vertical extension of the hawsers  48  down along the most of the submerged length of the platform  12  provides them with sufficient length to obtain the required “softness” for this lashing application.  
         [0025]     The lashing system of the present invention meets a number of significant design criteria. For example, full drilling and production operations can be conducted through a one-year environment, and limited operations can be conducted through a ten-year environment. Moreover, the connection of the gangway  20  can be maintained through a ten-year environment. In more extreme environmental conditions, such as a 100-year storm, the gangway  20  can be disconnected from the platform  12 , and the lashing lines  46  paid out to increase the separation distance substantially.  
         [0026]     Although an exemplary, preferred embodiment of the invention has been described herein, it will be appreciated that a number of variations and modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the pertinent arts. For example, the particular connection mechanisms for connecting the hawsers  48  to the padeyes  44  and to the winch cable  50 , and for connecting the first winch cable section  50   a  to the second winch cable section  50   b , are exemplary only, and suitable alternatives will suggest themselves as equivalents to those skilled in the pertinent arts. Also, the number of lashing lines  46 , as well as their particular structure, in terms of the materials and dimensions of the hawsers  48  and the winch cables  50 , may be varied considerably for different applications, such as the types of floating structures to be lashed together and the environmental conditions to be endured during their operation. These and other variations and modifications that may suggest themselves should be considered within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the claims that follow.