Mooring systems and processes for using same

Abstract

Mooring systems for mooring a vessel floating on a surface of a body of water. In some embodiments, the mooring system can include a mooring structure and a mooring let. The mooring structure can be configured to be connected to a seabed. The vessel can be configured to be connected to the mooring structure such that the vessel can be partially rotatable with respect to an axis of the mooring structure. A first end of the mooring leg can be configured to be connected to the vessel. A second end of the mooring leg can be configured to be connected to the seabed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mooring system for mooring a vessel floating on a surface of a body of water, comprising:
 a mooring structure configured to be connected to a seabed; and   a mooring leg, wherein:
 the vessel is configured to be connected to the mooring structure such that the vessel is partially rotatable with respect to an axis of the mooring structure, and 
 a first end of the mooring leg is configured to be connected to the vessel, and 
 a second end of the mooring leg is configured to be connected to the seabed. 
   
     
     
         2 . The mooring system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the mooring structure is a chain table configured to be rotatively connected to the vessel via a bearing, and   the chain table is connected to the seabed via a plurality of anchor legs.   
     
     
         3 . The mooring system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the mooring structure is configured to be connected to the seabed,   the vessel is configured to be connected to the mooring structure via a turntable, a yoke, and a link arm,   the turntable is configured to be connected to the mooring structure such that the turntable is at least partially rotatable with respect to the mooring structure,   a first end of the yoke is configured to be connected to the turntable in a manner permitting the yoke to at least partially rotate about a longitudinal axis of the yoke and to at least partially rotate about a second axis that is substantially orthogonal or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the yoke, and   a first end of the link arm is configured to be connected to a second end of the yoke, and a second end of the link arm is configured to be connected to the vessel.   
     
     
         4 . The mooring system of  claim 3 , wherein the turntable is configured to be disposed above the surface of the body of water. 
     
     
         5 . The mooring system of  claim 3 , wherein the turntable is configured to be disposed below the surface of the body of water. 
     
     
         6 . The mooring system of  claim 3 , further comprising a weight disposed on the yoke toward the second end thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The mooring system of  claim 3 , further comprising a flexible fluid conduit having a first end configured to be connected to a first rigid fluid conduit disposed on the turntable or disposed on an offshore production facility and a second end configured to be connected to a second rigid fluid conduit disposed on the vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The mooring system of  claim 7 , wherein the first end of the flexible fluid conduit is configured to be connected to the rigid fluid conduit disposed on the turntable or disposed on the offshore production facility via a first fluid swivel and/or the second end of the flexible fluid conduit is configured to be connected to the rigid fluid conduit disposed on the vessel via a second fluid swivel. 
     
     
         9 . The mooring system of  claim 8 , wherein a central longitudinal axis of the first fluid swivel and/or a central longitudinal axis of the second fluid swivel is non-colinear with the axis of the mooring structure. 
     
     
         10 . The mooring system of  claims 7 , wherein:
 the mooring structure is configured to be disposed on the seabed,   the first rigid fluid conduit is disposed on the offshore production facility, and   the flexible fluid conduit is configured to be supported by a support structure disposed on the turntable.   
     
     
         11 . The mooring system of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the mooring structure is configured to be disposed on the offshore production facility, and   the first rigid fluid conduit is disposed on the offshore production facility.   
     
     
         12 . The mooring system of  claim 1 , wherein the mooring structure is floating in the body of water above the seabed, and wherein the mooring structure is secured to the seabed via at least one anchor leg. 
     
     
         13 . The mooring system of  claim 1 , wherein the mooring system is configured to permit an angular orientation of the vessel about the axis of the mooring structure that is within a 180 degree sector. 
     
     
         14 . The mooring system of  claim 1 , further comprising a tensioning device configured to be disposed on the vessel, wherein the first end of the mooring leg is configured to be connected to the vessel via the tensioning device, and wherein the tensioning device is configured to adjust a length of the mooring leg. 
     
     
         15 . The mooring system of  claim 14 , wherein the mooring leg is a first mooring leg and the tensioning device is a first tensioning device, the mooring system further comprising a second tensioning device configured to be disposed on the vessel and a second mooring leg having a first end configured to be connected to the vessel via the second tensioning device and a second end configured to be connected to the seabed, wherein the second tensioning device is configured to adjust a length of the second mooring leg. 
     
     
         16 . The mooring system of  claim 14 , wherein the tensioning device is a windlass, a rotary winch, a linear winch, or a chain jack. 
     
     
         17 . The mooring system of  claim 1 , wherein the mooring leg comprises at least one buoy and at least one weight connected thereto. 
     
     
         18 . The mooring system of  claim 1 , wherein the mooring leg comprises at least one buoy and at least two weights or at least two buoys and at least one weight, and wherein the at least one buoy and the at least two weights or the at least two buoys and the at least one weight, respectively, are alternatingly arranged along the mooring leg. 
     
     
         19 . The mooring system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a depth of the body of water is less than 50 meters,   the vessel is connected to the mooring structure toward a first end of the vessel at a connection point,   the first and second mooring legs are attached to the vessel toward a second end of the vessel,   a surge motion of the vessel at the connection point is limited to +/−15 meters from a neutral location,   a sway motion of the vessel at the connection point is limited to +/−15 meters from a neutral position, and   the mooring system is configured to permit an angular orientation of the vessel about the axis of the mooring structure that is within a 120 degree sector.   
     
     
         20 . A mooring system for mooring a vessel floating on a surface of a body of water, comprising:
 a mooring structure configured to be disposed on a seabed;   a turntable configured to be connected to the mooring structure such that the turntable is partially rotatable with respect to the mooring structure about an axis of the mooring structure, and wherein the turntable is disposed above the surface of the body of water;   a yoke comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the yoke is configured to be connected to the turntable in a manner permitting the yoke to at least partially rotate about a longitudinal axis of the yoke and to at least partially rotate about a second axis that is substantially orthogonal or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the yoke;   a ballast tank disposed on the yoke toward or at the second end thereof and configured to contain a ballast medium;   a first link arm and a second link arm each having a first end configured to be connected to the second end of the yoke and a second end configured to be connected to the vessel;   a first mooring leg and a second mooring leg each having a first end configured to be connected to the vessel and a second end configured to be connected to a seabed; and   a plurality of flexible fluid conduits each comprising a fluid swivel at one end thereof; wherein:
 each flexible fluid conduit has a first end configured to be connected to a corresponding rigid fluid conduit disposed on an offshore production facility and a second end configured to be connected to a corresponding rigid fluid conduit disposed on the vessel, 
 the first end or the second end of each flexible fluid conduit independently comprises the fluid swivel, 
 the fluid swivel connected to each flexible fluid conduit is configured to connect the first end of the flexible fluid conduit to the rigid fluid conduit disposed on the offshore production facility or the second end of the flexible fluid conduit to the rigid fluid conduit disposed on the vessel, and 
 the mooring system is configured to permit an angular orientation of the vessel about the axis of the mooring structure that is within a 180 degree sector.