Sea vessel docking station

Abstract

A system and method in which a buoyant central docking station captures, lifts and couples one or more other sea vessels is disclosed, wherein a flexible, modularized production system is quickly realized on a cost effective basis. The capabilities of a number of older, less expensive, readily available vessels are combined to achieve an effective FPSO substitute that allows lower producing fields to be explored and produced in a profitable manner. The time horizon between initiation and consummation of field operations is reduced, and older vessels that might otherwise be scrapped or retired are again made useful and seaworthy in a safe and profitable exploration and production environment.

1 . A wet docking station for exploring and producing offshore energy sites, the wet docking station comprising: 
 a buoyant central docking station;    an adjustable buoyancy chamber for adjusting the buoyancy of said buoyant central docking station; and    at least one subordinate docking station for capturing and lifting at least one sea vessel.    
   
   
       2 . The wet docking station of  claim 1 , wherein said adjustable buoyancy chamber further comprises a chamber that is externally disposed relative to said central docking station.  
   
   
       3 . The wet docking station of  claim 1 , wherein said adjustable buoyancy chamber further comprises a chamber that is internally disposed relative to said central docking station.  
   
   
       4 . The wet docking station of  claim 1 , wherein said adjustable buoyancy chamber further comprises a plurality of discrete inner chambers.  
   
   
       5 . The wet docking station of  claim 1 , wherein said adjustable buoyancy chamber further comprises at least one fluid intake port and at least one fluid evacuation port.  
   
   
       6 . The wet docking station of  claim 1 , further comprising a coupling member used to couple said at least one sea vessel to said central docking station.  
   
   
       7 . The wet docking station of  claim 1 , further comprising a coupling member used to couple a plurality of captured sea vessels to one another.  
   
   
       8 . The wet docking station of  claim 7 , wherein said coupling member further comprises an intermediate deck surface.  
   
   
       9 . The wet docking station of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sea vessel further comprises an offshore energy exploration equipment package.  
   
   
       10 . The wet docking station of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sea vessel further comprises an offshore energy production equipment package.  
   
   
       11 . The wet docking station of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sea vessel further comprises at least one of a helicopter pad; a crew quarters; a ship control room; an oil separating unit; a gas separating unit; a water separating unit; a sand separating unit; a gas treatment unit; a gas injection unit; a power generating unit; and energy exploration and production equipment.  
   
   
       12 . A method of exploring and producing offshore energy sites using a wet docking station, the method comprising: 
 disposing a buoyant central docking station in communication with an adjustable buoyancy chamber, wherein said adjustable buoyancy chamber is used to adjust the buoyancy of said buoyant central docking station; and    disposing said buoyant central docking station in communication with at least one subordinate docking station, wherein said at least one subordinate docking station is used to capture and lift at least one sea vessel.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising disposing an adjustable buoyancy chamber that is externally disposed relative to said central docking station.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising disposing an adjustable buoyancy chamber that is internally disposed relative to said central docking station.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising disposing an adjustable buoyancy chamber having a plurality of discrete inner chambers.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising disposing an adjustable buoyancy chamber having at least one fluid intake port and at least one fluid evacuation port.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising disposing an adjustably buoyant central docking station having a coupling member used to couple said at least one sea vessel to said central docking station.  
   
   
       18 . The wet docking station of  claim 12 , further comprising disposing a buoyant central docking station having a coupling member used to couple a plurality of captured sea vessels to one another.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising disposing a buoyant central docking station having an intermediate deck surface.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising equipping said at least one sea vessel with an offshore energy exploration equipment package.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising equipping said at least one sea vessel with an offshore energy production equipment package.