Offshore Antenna Tower and Instrument Array with Tension Member

Abstract

A system for acquiring data in an offshore environment comprises an elongate composite tension member having a longitudinal axis, an upper end, and a lower end. In addition, the system comprises a buoyancy module coupled to the upper end of the composite tension member and configured to apply a tensile load to the tension member. Further, the system comprises a base coupled to the lower end of the composite tension member. The base is configured to secure the tension member to the sea floor. Still further, the system comprises a plurality of composite stringers coupled to the buoyant module and disposed about the tension member. Moreover, the system comprises a plurality of instrumentation systems configured to measure environmental or geological data. The instrumentation systems are coupled to the stringers.

1 . A system for acquiring data in an offshore environment, the system comprising:
 an elongate composite tension member having a longitudinal axis, an upper end, and a lower end;   a buoyancy module coupled to the upper end of the composite tension member and configured to apply a tensile load to the tension member;   a base coupled to the lower end of the composite tension member, the base configured to secure the tension member to the sea floor;   a plurality of composite stringers coupled to the buoyant module and disposed about the tension member; and   a plurality of instrumentation systems configured to measure environmental or geological data, wherein the instrumentation systems are coupled to the stringers.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a communication antenna coupled to the buoyant module, wherein the antenna is configured to wirelessly communicate the data measured by the instrumentation systems. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein instrumentations systems are disposed at a plurality of different axial positions along the stringers. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the instrumentation systems are configured to measure environmental data at different depths below the sea surface. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the composite tension member comprises a flexible pultruded fiberglass composite tubular member. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the composite tension member comprises a bundle of parallel tubular members. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the bundle of tubular members includes a plurality of flexible pultruded fiberglass composite tubular members and a flexible fluid conduit disposed within an interstitial space between the composite tubular members. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the base is a gravity anchor comprising a housing having an internal chamber in fluid communication with the fluid conduit of the tension member. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the housing includes a port configured to allow fluid communication between the internal chamber and the surrounding environment, wherein the port is positioned proximal an upper end of the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the base is a suction pile comprising a skirt having an enclosed upper end, an open lower end, and an inner chamber in fluid communication with the fluid conduit of the tension member. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the buoyancy module is adjustably buoyant. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the instrumentation systems are configured to wirelessly communicate with each other. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tension member has a length-to-width ratio greater than 500. 
     
     
         14 . A system for acquiring environmental and/or geological data in an offshore environment, the system comprising:
 an elongate tension member having a longitudinal axis, an upper end, and a lower end, wherein the tension member comprises a plurality of parallel flexible composite tubular members;   an adjustably buoyant module coupled to the upper end of the tension member and configured to apply a tensile load to the tension member;   a base coupled to the lower end of the composite tension member, the base configured to secure the tension member to the sea floor;   a plurality of stringers coupled to the adjustably buoyant module and configured to extend subsea; and   a plurality of instrumentation systems for measuring the environmental and/or geological data, wherein the instrumentation systems are coupled to the stringers.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a communication antenna coupled to the buoyant module, wherein the antenna is configured to communicate the data measured by the instrumentation systems to a satellite. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein instrumentations systems are disposed at a plurality of different axial positions along the stringers. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein each composite tubular member comprises a pultruded fiberglass composite. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the stringers is configured to extend to the sea floor. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the tension member includes a flexible fluid conduit disposed between the composite tubular members. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the base is a gravity anchor or a suction pile. 
     
     
         21 . A method for acquiring environmental and/or geological data in an offshore environment, the method comprising:
 (a) coupling a base to a first end of an elongate tension member;   (b) lowering the base to the sea floor with the tension member;   (c) coupling a buoyancy module to a second end of the tension member;   (d) coupling a plurality of instrumentation systems to a plurality of stringers, wherein the instrumentation systems are configured to acquire subsea environmental data and/or geological data;   (e) adjusting the buoyancy of the buoyancy module;   (f) coupling the plurality of stringers to the buoyancy module, wherein each stringer has an upper end coupled to the buoyancy module and a lower end disposed subsea.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein (b) further comprises paying out the tension member from a spool disposed on a surface vessel. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the tension member and the stringers comprises composite tubular members. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the base comprises a gravity anchor or a suction pile. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the tension member includes a fluid conduit extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the fluid conduit is in fluid communication with an internal chamber of the base. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the base is a gravity anchor and wherein (b) further comprises pumping a slurry have a density greater than water from the surface and through the tension member into the internal chamber of the base.