Seabed connection hub

1 . A seabed connection hub (SCH) for guiding a drilling assembly to drill a bore hole and subsequently guiding a deep set tensile anchor configured for deep installation into the borehole, the seabed connection hub (SCH) comprising a body member configured to act as a sea bed anchor, in which the body member comprises a lower surface configured in use to rest upon, and for at least a portion of the lower surface of the body member to penetrate, a sea bed, in which the body member comprises:

a guide channel extending therethrough to a first opening provided in the lower surface of the body member, in which the guide channel is configured to receive and guide a drilling assembly to produce a bore hole, and in which the guide channel is configured to receive and guide a deep set tensile anchor therethrough into the opening of the bore hole; and

at least one connector for engaging one or more mooring line termination for an offshore installation,

a hollow tubular portion in communication with the first opening provided on the lower surface thereof and extends outwardly therefrom to define a portion of the guide channel extending through the hollow tubular portion;

the lower surface of the body member is profiled to extend at an angle to a reference plane defined by the sea bed adjacent the bore hole, in which the lower surface of the body member comprises a tapered, conical portion, and

the seabed connection hub (SCH) further comprises at least one resistance member extending outwardly from the body member and configured such that a portion of the at least one resistance member is received within the sea bed.

2 . The seabed connection hub (SCH) according to claim 1 , further comprising a locking and tensioning mechanism located within the guide channel to engage an elongate tensile member attached to an upper end of the deep set anchor, optionally in which the locking and tensioning mechanism comprises a slip type lock mechanism.

3 . The seabed connection hub (SCH) according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow tubular portion defines a portion of the guide channel having a longitudinal axis which is configured to extend, in use, substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bore hole.

4 . The seabed connection hub (SCH) according to claim 1 , wherein the body member is composed of concrete.

5 . The seabed connection hub (SCH) according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow tubular portion is composed of steel.

6 . The seabed connection hub (SCH) according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow tubular portion is releasably engaged to the lower surface of the body member.

7 . The seabed connection hub (SCH) according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow tubular portion comprises a tapered, conical portion adjacent the lower surface of the body member.

8 . The seabed connection hub (SCH) according to claim 1 , wherein the body member comprises an upper surface defining a second opening for receiving a deep set tensile anchor therethrough, and in which the guide channel extends between the first and second openings of the body member, optionally in which the first and second openings are axially aligned along an axis which in use is configured to extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bore hole.

9 . The seabed connection hub (SCH) according to claim 8 , wherein the second opening has greater dimensions than the first opening.

10 . The seabed connection hub (SCH) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one connector are configured for releasable engagement to one or more mooring line termination for offshore installations.

11 . The seabed connection hub (SCH) according to claim 1 , in which the at least one connector is of fixed orientation relative to the base member and/or in which the at least one connector is a hinged or pivotally connected connector and/or in which the at least one connector is spaced apart from the lower surface of the base member and/or in which the at least one connector is located at or adjacent an upper surface of the base member.

12 . The seabed connection hub (SCH) according to claim 1 , wherein the body member comprises at least one connector located on a first side thereof for engaging one or more mooring line termination for offshore installations, and in which the body member further comprises at least one resistance member located at or adjacent a second opposed side of the body member.

13 . The seabed connection hub (SCH) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one resistance member is a plate member, optionally, in which the resistance member comprises a upper end located adjacent an upper end of the base member, and an opposed lower end which is angular in shape to aid penetration into the sea bed.

14 . A method of installing a deep set anchor using a seabed connection hub (SCH) according to claim 1 , the method comprising:

positioning an seabed connection hub (SCH) as claimed in claim 1 such that the lower surface of the base member rests upon, and at least a portion of the lower surface of the base member penetrates, the sea bed, in which the first opening provided by the lower surface is aligned with an opening for a bore hole;

inserting the hollow tubular portion into the opening for a bore hole;

embedding at least a portion of at least one resistance member into the sea bed;

guiding a drilling assembly through the guide channel and first opening of the base member into the opening for a bore hole;

operating the drilling assembly to drill the bore hole;

inserting deep set tensile anchor on a elongate tensile member through the guide channel and first opening of the body member into the bore hole; and

connecting one or more mooring line to the at least one connector, and subsequently tensioning to the one or more mooring line.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising operating a locking and tensioning mechanism located within the guide channel to engage the elongate tensile member attached to the deep set tensile anchor.