Mooring Disconnect Arrangement

Abstract

A mooring disconnect arrangement for a floating offshore structure and a mooring buoy. At least one high pressure water jet is positioned to direct water between the floating offshore structure and the mooring buoy. The floating offshore structure and mooring buoy are also provided with specially shaped complementary surfaces to assist in disconnection and separation. One or more mechanical restraining devices may be used to retain the floating offshore structure and mooring buoy connected together during normal drilling or production operations.

1 . A mooring disconnect arrangement for a floating offshore structure and a mooring buoy, comprising:
 a. at least one high pressure water jet for directing water between the floating offshore structure and mooring buoy during the disconnection operation; and   b. complementary low profile interface surfaces on the floating offshore structure and mooring buoy that aid in separation.   
     
     
         2 . The mooring disconnect arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the interface surface on the floating offshore structure is a cone shape. 
     
     
         3 . The mooring disconnect arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the interface surface on the floating offshore structure is an inverted cone shape. 
     
     
         4 . A mooring disconnect arrangement for a floating offshore structure and a mooring buoy, comprising:
 a. at least one high pressure water jet for directing water between the floating offshore structure and mooring buoy during the disconnection operation;   b. complementary low profile interface surfaces on the floating offshore structure and mooring buoy that aid in separation; and   c. releasable mechanical restraining means that lock the floating offshore structure and mooring buoy together during normal drilling and production operations.   
     
     
         5 . The mooring disconnect arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein the interface surface on the floating offshore structure is a cone shape. 
     
     
         6 . The mooring disconnect arrangement of  claim 5 , wherein the interface surface on the floating surface is an inverted cone shape. 
     
     
         7 . A mooring disconnect arrangement for a floating offshore structure and a mooring buoy, comprising:
 a. at least one high pressure water jet for directing water between the floating offshore structure and mooring buoy during the disconnection operation;   b, complementary low profile interface surfaces on the floating offshore structure and mooring buoy that aid in separation, with the interface surface on the floating offshore structure being an inverted cone shape; and   c. releasable mechanical restraining means that lock the floating offshore structure and mooring buoy together during normal drilling and production operations.