Patent ID: 7040841

Claim:
An offshore fluid transfer system which includes a fluid-passing seafloor structure such as one connected to a seafloor well or pipeline, a compliantly anchored floating structure such as a vessel, that floats at the sea surface, at least one mooring line that is anchored to the seafloor and that holds said floating structure in the vicinity of said seafloor structure and at an initial position in a calm environment, and a fluid-carrying conduit structure that extends up from said seafloor structure to said floating structure, wherein: said conduit structure includes a single rigid seafloor riser support that has a lower portion lying at the seafloor and fixed in position and orientation to the sea floor, said riser support also has an upper portion lying at a height of at least 10 meters above the sea floor and at least 20% of the height of the sea above the seafloor but less than the height of the sea so the upper portion of the support lies in the sea to reduce the required length of flexible conduit; said conduit structure also includes a supported pipe that extends along a plurality of meters of the height of said riser support and that is fixed to said riser support at a plurality of locations that are vertically spaced apart by a plurality of meters, and said conduit structure includes a flexible conduit portion that extends from said seafloor riser support to said floating structure.