Mooring equipment for use in in-line tensioning

Abstract

Systems and methods for tensioning mooring lines are provided. The systems include an in-line tensioner that may include a removable chainwheel, a tail chain disconnecting table configured for disconnection of a tail chain and docking of an ROV, a chain guide having low-friction pads that reduce frictional engagement between the in-line tensioner and mooring chains, and a target link stopper that is configured to stop movement of the mooring line at a predetermined location, such that the mooring line has a predetermined length and such that a predetermined link of the mooring line is positioned within a gripping zone of latches of the in-line tensioner.

1 . An in-line tensioner for tensioning mooring lines, the in-line tensioner comprising:
 a frame, the frame configured to couple with a bottom chain of mooring line;   latches coupled with the frame, the latches positioned to grip a top chain of mooring line; and   a chainwheel, wherein the chainwheel has at least two configurations, the at least two configurations including a first configuration wherein the chainwheel is coupled with the frame and is positioned to guide a top chain of mooring line, and a second configuration wherein the chainwheel is decoupled from the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The in-line tensioner of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a chainwheel dock, the chainwheel dock configured to receive the chainwheel in the first configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The in-line tensioner of  claim 2 , wherein the chainwheel is mounted on a chainwheel frame. 
     
     
         4 . The in-line tensioner of  claim 3 , wherein in the first configuration the chainwheel frame is pinned with the frame. 
     
     
         5 . The in-line tensioner of  claim 3 , wherein the chainwheel frame comprises pins, wherein the chainwheel dock comprises funnels, and wherein, in the first configuration the pins are engaged within the funnels and in the second configuration the pins are disengaged from the funnels. 
     
     
         6 . The in-line tensioner of  claim 3 , further comprising a chainwheel handle coupled with the chainwheel frame, wherein the chainwheel handle is configured to couple with a line for lifting and removing the chainwheel from the frame. 
     
     
         7 . The in-line tensioner of  claim 3 , wherein the chainwheel frame comprises counterweights configured to maintain orientation of the pins. 
     
     
         8 . The in-line tensioner of  claim 1 , wherein, in the second configuration, a center of gravity of the in-line tensioner is below a chain line of the mooring line. 
     
     
         9 . The in-line tensioner of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a chain guide coupled with the frame, the chain guide positioned to guide a top chain of mooring line, wherein the latches are positioned between the chainwheel and the chain guide when the chainwheel is in the first configuration; and   pads on the chain guide positioned to slidingly engage with a top chain of mooring line, wherein the chain guide comprises a first material and the pads comprise a second material, wherein the first material and the second material are different, and wherein the second material exhibits a lower coefficient of friction relative to a top chain sliding along the second material than a coefficient of friction exhibited by the first material.   
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The in-line tensioner of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tail chain disconnecting table integral with or coupled to the frame, wherein the tail chain disconnecting table is configured to receive and secure a tail chain of mooring line.   
     
     
         15 . The in-line tensioner of  claim 14 , wherein the tail chain disconnecting table comprises a tail chain locking pin for securing a tail chain to the tail chain disconnecting table. 
     
     
         16 . The in-line tensioner of  claim 14 , wherein the tail chain disconnecting table is configured to receive and secure a tail chain in a vertical orientation, a flat orientation, or a hanging orientation. 
     
     
         17 . The in-line tensioner of  claim 16 , wherein the tail chain disconnecting table comprises a track configured to receive a tail chain in a flat orientation and a slot configured to receive a tail chain in a vertical orientation. 
     
     
         18 . The in-line tensioner of  claim 14 , wherein the tail chain disconnecting table comprises a remotely operated vehicle dock, the remotely operated vehicle dock configured to receive and secure a remotely operated vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The in-line tensioner of  claim 18 , wherein the remotely operated vehicle dock comprises funnels configured to engage with pins of a remotely operated vehicle. 
     
     
         20 . A mooring system, the mooring system comprising:
 a mooring line comprising a bottom chain and a top chain;   an in-line tensioner comprising a frame and latches coupled with the frame, wherein the bottom chain is coupled with the frame, and wherein the latches are positioned to selectively grip the top chain such that a length of the top chain portion of the mooring line is adjustable;   a chainwheel, wherein the chainwheel has at least two configurations, the at least two configurations including a first configuration wherein the chainwheel is coupled with the frame and is positioned to guide the top chain of mooring line, and a second configuration wherein the chainwheel is decoupled from the frame;   a target link stopper coupled with the top chain, wherein the target link stopper is positioned along the top chain such that when the target link stopper engages the in-line tensioner the mooring line has a target length.   
     
     
         21 . The mooring system of  claim 20 , wherein, at the target length, the target link stopper is positioned on an outboard side of the latches and a removable link of the top chain is positioned on an opposite side of the latches, wherein the removable link is a link that is selectively removable from the top chain. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The mooring system of  claim 20 , wherein, at the target length, the predetermined link of the top chain is positioned to be gripped by the latches. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The mooring system of  claim 20 , wherein, with the top chain moving in a first direction through the in-line tensioner, engagement of the target link stopper with the in-line tensioner prevents further movement of the top chain in the first direction. 
     
     
         26 . The mooring system of  claim 20 , wherein the target link stopper comprises a first body and a second body, wherein the first and second bodies are coupled to each other about a portion of the top chain, and wherein a spring a coupled between the first and second bodies. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method of mooring a floating vessel, the method comprising:
 providing an in-line tensioner comprising a frame, a chainwheel coupled with the frame, and latches coupled with the frame;   providing a mooring line including a bottom chain and a top chain;   coupling the bottom chain between the frame and an anchor;   coupling the top chain with the chainwheel, and coupling a first end of the top chain with the floating vessel;   adjusting a length of the top chain between the floating vessel and the in-line tensioner until the mooring line has a target length, wherein the chainwheel guides movement of the top chain during the adjusting;   gripping the top chain with the latches when the mooring line has the target length; and   removing the chainwheel from the in-line tensioner while the mooring line has the target length.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein removing the chainwheel comprises unpinning a chainwheel frame of the chainwheel from the frame of the in-line tensioner, and lifting the chainwheel from the in-line tensioner. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein lifting the chainwheel from the in-line tensioner is performed using an anchor handling vessel. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 a chain guide coupled with the frame, the chain guide comprising pads positioned thereon;   wherein, during the adjusting of the length of the top chain, the top chain slides along the pads, wherein the chain guide comprises a first material and the pads comprise a second material, wherein the first material and the second material are different, and wherein the second material exhibits a lower coefficient of friction relative to the top chain sliding along the second material than a coefficient of friction exhibited by the first material.   
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 a tail chain disconnecting table integral with or coupled to the frame;   securing a tail chain of the top chain to the tail chain disconnecting table; and   removing at least some of the tail chain from the top chain.   
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 coupling a target link stopper with the top chain, wherein the target link stopper is positioned along the top chain such that when the target link stopper engages the in-line tensioner the mooring line has the target length;   wherein adjusting the length of the top chain between the floating vessel and the in-line tensioner is performed until the target link stopper engages the in-line tensioner;   and wherein gripping the top chain with the latches is performed when the target link stopper is engaged with the in-line tensioner.   
     
     
         45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . (canceled)