DISCONNECTABLE YOKE MOORING SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES FOR USING SAME
Yoke mooring systems and processes for using same. The system can include a turntable connected to and rotatable with respect to a base. A yoke can be connected to the turntable such that the yoke can at least partially rotate about a longitudinal axis of the yoke and at least partially rotate about a second axis that can be orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. A first and second link arm can be connected to the yoke and to a first component of a first and a second releasable connector, respectively. A first and second lifting line can be connected to the second end of the first and second link arms, respectively. A first and second lifting device can be disposed on a vessel and configured to be connected to a second end of the first and second lifting lines, respectively, to lift and lower the link arms and the yoke.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . A disconnectable submerged yoke mooring system for mooring a vessel floating on a surface of a body of water, comprising:
a base structure configured to be disposed on a seabed;
a turntable configured to be connected to the base structure such that the turntable is rotatable with respect to the base structure;
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 or weight disposed on the yoke toward or at the second end thereof;
a first rotary winch and a second rotary winch each configured to be disposed on the vessel;
a first link arm and a second link arm each having a first end connected to the second end of the yoke or, optionally if present, to the ballast tank or, optionally if present, to the weight;
a first releasable connector and a second releasable connector each comprising a first component coupled to a second end of the first link arm and a second end of the second link arm, respectively, and a second component configured to be coupled to the vessel;
a first lifting line having a first end configured to be connected to the first component of the first releasable connector and a second lifting line having a first end configured to be connected to the first component of the second releasable connector, wherein:
the yoke is configured to be disposed below the surface of the body of water,
the first lifting line and the second lifting line are configured to be connected to the first rotary winch and the second rotary winch, respectively, and
when the first and second rotary winches are disposed on the vessel and the first and second lifting lines are connected to the first and second rotary winches, respectively, and the first end of the first and second lifting lines are connected to the first component of the first and second releasable connectors, respectively, the first and second rotary winches are configured to lift and lower the first and second link arms, at least a portion of the yoke, and at least a portion of the ballast tank or the weight.
22 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the first and second rotary winches are configured to lift and lower the first and second link arms, the second end of the yoke, and the ballast tank or the weight.
23 . The system of claim 22 , further comprising:
a fluid swivel comprising a fixed part disposed on the base structure and a rotatable part disposed on the turntable; and
a fluid transfer conduit configured to be in fluid communication with the rotatable part of the fluid swivel and one or more storage structures disposed on and/or within the vessel, wherein:
the fixed part of the fluid swivel is configured to be in fluid communication with a subsea pipeline, and
the fluid transfer conduit is configured to transfer a fluid from the rotating part of the swivel to the one or more storage structures or from the one or more storage structures to the rotating part of the swivel.
24 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the fluid transfer conduit is a flexible pipe or a flexible hose configured in a catenary or a wave configuration.
25 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the first link arm comprises one or more chains and the second link arm comprises one or more chains.
26 . The system of claim 25 , wherein the first link arm is coupled to the yoke or, optionally if present to the ballast tank or, optionally if present, to the weight via a first coupler and the second link arm is coupled to the yoke or, optionally if present, to the ballast tank or, optionally if present, to the weight via a second coupler, and wherein the first and second couplers are configured to provide rotational articulation about two non-parallel axes.
27 . The system of claim 26 , wherein:
the first component of the first releasable connector is coupled to the second end of the first link arm via a third coupler,
the first component of the second releasable connector is coupled to the second end of the second link arm via a fourth coupler,
the second components of the first and second releasable connectors are configured to be rigidly coupled to the vessel, and
the third coupler and the fourth coupler are configured to provide rotational articulation about two non-parallel axes.
28 . The system of claim 27 , wherein:
the first component of the first releasable connector is a first stinger and the second component of the first releasable connector is a first sleeve,
the first component of the second releasable connector is a second stinger and the second component of the second releasable connector is a second sleeve,
the first stinger is configured to be secured within the first sleeve via a first latching mechanism, and
the second stinger is configured to be secured within the second sleeve via a second latching mechanism.
29 . The system of claim 28 , wherein the first and second rotary winches are configured to lift and lower the first and second link arms, the ballast tank or the weight, and the second end of the yoke at a speed that is independent from a motion of the vessel.
30 . The system of claim 28 , wherein the first and second rotary winches are configured to lift and lower the first and second link arms, the ballast tank or the weight, and the second end of the yoke at a speed that is correlated to a motion of the vessel.
31 . The system of claim 26 , wherein:
the second component of the first releasable connector is configured to be coupled to the vessel via a third coupler,
the second component of the second releasable connector is configured to be coupled to the vessel via a fourth coupler, and
the third coupler and the fourth coupler are each configured to provide rotational articulation about two non-parallel axes.
32 . The system of claim 31 , wherein:
the first component of the first releasable connector is a first stinger and the second component of the first releasable connector is a first sleeve,
the first component of the second releasable connector is a second stinger and the second component of the second releasable connector is a second sleeve,
the first stinger is configured to be secured within the first sleeve via a first latching mechanism, and
the second stinger is configured to be secured within the second sleeve via a second latching mechanism.
33 . The system of claim 32 , wherein the first and second rotary winches are configured to lift and lower the first and second link arms, the ballast tank or the weight, and the second end of the yoke at a speed that is independent from a motion of the vessel.
34 . The system of claim 32 , wherein the first and second rotary winches are configured to lift and lower the first and second link arms, the ballast tank or the weight, and the second end of the yoke at a speed that is correlated to a motion of the vessel.
35 . A disconnectable submerged yoke mooring system for mooring a vessel floating on a surface of a body of water, comprising:
a base structure configured to be disposed on a seabed;
a turntable configured to be connected to the base structure such that the turntable is rotatable with respect to the base structure about a vertical axis;
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 configured to contain a ballast material;
a first rotary winch and a second rotary winch each configured to be disposed on the vessel;
a first link arm and a second link arm each having a first end connected to the second end of the yoke or to the ballast tank;
a first releasable connector and a second releasable connector each comprising a first component coupled to a second end of the first link arm and a second end of the second link arm, respectively, and a second component configured to be coupled to the vessel;
a first lifting line having a first end configured to be connected to the first component of the first releasable connector and a second lifting line having a first end configured to be connected to the first component of the second releasable connector, wherein:
the yoke is configured to be disposed below the surface of the body of water,
the first lifting line and the second lifting line are configured to be connected to the first rotary winch and the second rotary winch, respectively, and
when the first and second rotary winches are disposed on the vessel and the first and second lifting lines are connected to the first and second rotary winches, respectively, and the first end of the first and second lifting lines are connected to the first component of the first and second releasable connectors, respectively, the first and second rotary winches are configured to lift and lower the first and second link arms, at least a portion of the yoke, and at least a portion of the ballast tank.
36 . The system of claim 35 , further comprising:
a fluid swivel comprising a fixed part disposed on the base structure and a rotatable part disposed on the turntable; and
a fluid transfer conduit configured to be in fluid communication with the rotatable part of the fluid swivel and one or more storage structures disposed on and/or within the vessel, wherein:
the first and second rotary winches are configured to lift and lower the first and second link arms, the second end of the yoke, and the ballast tank,
the fixed part of the fluid swivel is configured to be in fluid communication with a subsea pipeline,
the fluid transfer conduit is configured to transfer a fluid from the rotating part of the swivel to the one or more storage structures or from the one or more storage structures to the rotating part of the swivel,
the first link arm comprises one or more chains,
the second link arm comprises one or more chains,
the first link arm is coupled to the yoke or the ballast tank via a first coupler and the second link arm is coupled to the yoke or the ballast tank via a second coupler,
the first and second couplers are configured to provide rotational articulation about two non-parallel axes,
the first component of the first releasable connector is coupled to the second end of the first link arm via a third coupler,
the first component of the second releasable connector is coupled to the second end of the second link arm via a fourth coupler,
the third coupler and the fourth coupler are configured to provide rotational articulation about two non-parallel axes, and
the second components of the first and second releasable connectors are configured to be rigidly coupled to the vessel.
37 . The system of claim 36 , wherein:
the first component of the first releasable connector is a first stinger and the second component of the first releasable connector is a first sleeve,
the first component of the second releasable connector is a second stinger and the second component of the second releasable connector is a second sleeve,
the first stinger is configured to be secured within the first sleeve via a first latching mechanism,
the second stinger is configured to be secured within the second sleeve via a second latching mechanism,
the first and second rotary winches are configured to lift and lower the first and second link arms, the second end of the yoke, and the ballast tank at a speed that is independent from a motion of the vessel.
38 . A disconnectable submerged yoke mooring system for mooring a vessel floating on a surface of a body of water, comprising:
a base structure configured to be disposed on a seabed;
a turntable configured to be connected to the base structure such that the turntable is rotatable with respect to the base structure about a vertical axis;
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 or weight disposed on the yoke toward or at the second end thereof;
a lifting device configured to be disposed on the vessel;
a link arm comprising two arms each having a first end connected to the second end of the yoke, the ballast tank, or the weight, wherein a second end of each of the two arms converge with one another;
a releasable connector comprising a first component coupled to the link arm where the two arms converge with one another, and a second component configured to be coupled to the vessel;
a lifting line having a first end configured to be connected to the first component of the releasable connector, wherein:
the yoke is configured to be disposed below the surface of the water,
the lifting line is configured to be connected to the lifting device, and
when the lifting device is disposed on the vessel and the lifting line is connected to the lifting device, and the first end of the lifting line is connected to the first component of the releasable connector, the lifting device is configured to lift and lower the link arm, at least a portion of the yoke, and at least a portion of the ballast tank or the weight.
39 . The system of claim 38 , wherein:
the lifting device comprises a rotary winch and a chain jack,
the lifting line comprises a first chain segment having a first end connected to the second end of the first link arm and a second end connected to a first end of a retrieval line,
the rotary winch is configured to be connected to a second end of the retrieval line,
the rotary winch is configured to lift and lower the first link arm via the retrieval line,
the chain jack is configured to lift and lower the link arm, the at least a portion of the yoke, and the at least a portion of the ballast tank or the weight.
40 . The system of claim 38 , wherein:
the lifting device comprises a rotary winch and a strand jack or a linear winch,
the rotary winch is configured to lift and lower the link arm via the lifting line, and
the strand jack or the linear winch is configured to lift and lower the link arm, at least a portion of the yoke, and the at least a portion of the ballast tank or the weight.