Patent ID: 7988385

Claim:
A riser tensioning system for applying tension to a riser extending from subsea equipment to a surface platform, comprising: a first member coupleable to the riser to enable a force applied to the first member to be transferred to the riser; a plurality of cylinder assemblies configured to be secured to the surface platform around the riser, each of the plurality of cylinder assemblies comprising a piston partially housed within a cylinder, the cylinder assemblies being coupleable at one end to the first member to enable pressure within the plurality of cylinder assemblies to exert an upward tensile force on the riser to alleviate changes in axial loads on the riser due to movement of the surface platform toward and away from the subsea equipment; a guide member securable to the surface platform to guide movement of the first member relative to the surface platform; and a plurality of rollers securable to the first member to enable the first member to roll along a length of the guide member.