EP2252500B1 - Support including a reel having a docking buoy for detachable bottom/surface linking duct - Google Patents

Support including a reel having a docking buoy for detachable bottom/surface linking duct Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2252500B1
EP2252500B1 EP09727235A EP09727235A EP2252500B1 EP 2252500 B1 EP2252500 B1 EP 2252500B1 EP 09727235 A EP09727235 A EP 09727235A EP 09727235 A EP09727235 A EP 09727235A EP 2252500 B1 EP2252500 B1 EP 2252500B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
turret
buoy
floating support
wall
bottom wall
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EP09727235A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP2252500A1 (en
Inventor
Michel Baylot
Jean-Paul Denise
Thomas Marty
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Saipem SA
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Saipem SA
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Publication of EP2252500A1 publication Critical patent/EP2252500A1/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B21/00—Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring
    • B63B21/50—Anchoring arrangements or methods for special vessels, e.g. for floating drilling platforms or dredgers
    • B63B21/507—Anchoring arrangements or methods for special vessels, e.g. for floating drilling platforms or dredgers with mooring turrets
    • B63B21/508—Anchoring arrangements or methods for special vessels, e.g. for floating drilling platforms or dredgers with mooring turrets connected to submerged buoy

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a floating support anchored on a disconnectable drum.
  • the technical sector of the invention is more particularly the field of underwater oil production in extreme weather-ocean weather zone and more particularly in the Arctic and Antarctic, from floating supports.
  • a floating support for oil production generally includes anchoring means to remain in position despite the effects of currents, winds and waves. It also generally comprises means for drilling, storage and treatment of oil and means of unloading to removing tankers, the latter occurring at regular intervals to perform the removal of production.
  • the usual name for these floating supports or vessels is the Anglo-Saxon term “Floating Production Storage Offloading” (meaning “floating medium of storage, production and unloading") which we use the abbreviated term "FPSO” as a whole of the following description, or "FDPU” or “Floating Drilling & Production Unit” (meaning “buoyant means of drilling and production”), when the floating support is also used to perform drilling operations with well deviated in height of the slice of water.
  • the FPSO When the ocean-weather conditions, ie swell, wind and current are important, even extreme, in the case of storms, it is preferable to anchor the FPSO at a reel, usually located at known manner in the forward third of the ship and in the axis, the vessel being free to turn around said drum in the wind, the current and the swell.
  • wind, current and waves exert specific forces on the hull and superstructures, the FPSO because of its degree of freedom of rotation around the vertical axis ZZ, coming from naturally put in the position of least resistance.
  • the pipes connecting the wellheads are generally connected on the underside of the drum and connected to the FPSO via a rotary joint integrated in the axis of said drum.
  • weather conditions can become extreme, such as in the North Sea, in the Gulf of Mexico or in the Arctic or Antarctic zone, the FPSO is generally disconnectable so that it can be sheltered waiting for acceptable operational conditions.
  • the present invention relates more particularly to a floating support for submarine oil production in the Arctic or Antarctic zone equipped below its hull with a disconnectable drum from which anchor lines extend to the seabed and pipes. connecting bottom / surface, said shell having in its longitudinal direction substantially flat lateral edges and vertical, and optionally, with, known manner of the proues (front part of the ship) and, preferably stern (rear part of the ship), inclined relative to the horizontal and preferably profiled to form a reinforced pointed bow, capable of breaking the pack ice by simple bending when said pack ice engages force under said reinforced bow.
  • the floating supports advantageously have a hull with longitudinal edges substantially vertical to give them optimum oil storage capacity, and better behavior in case of high sea. But a hull with vertical edges is particularly disadvantageous in terms of behavior. facing the pack ice.
  • floating supports which, among other means, have curved or angled curved planks to promote ice breakage, as is the case with the known bow ship profiles with bow inclined relative to the horizontal.
  • the rolling bearing is either located at the level of the floating support bridge or located in the lower part in a wet zone, that is to say that the bearing is immersed, or else in combination of the two previous configurations.
  • Embodiments in which the rolling bearing is located exclusively at the level of the bridge are valid only for floating supports of relatively low height, especially less than 15 m. Beyond this, for floating supports, particularly 20 to 25 m high, the horizontal force on the drum resulting from the rotation of the floating support creates a bending on the structure of the drum in its length, which solicits the mechanical strength of the upper bearing bearing and therefore affects the mechanical reliability of operation. On the other hand, when the rolling bearing is immersed in the lower part of the drum, this immersion affects the reliability of operation and the durability of said rolling bearing and in addition creates difficulties in carrying out maintenance operations.
  • a connection and quick disconnection system for a mooring buoy in which the mooring buoy comprises an upper part connected to the bottom of the hull of the floating support, more precisely at a mooring cavity. extending annularly at the lower end of a cavity passing through the hull of the floating support over its entire height and through which the bottom / surface connection lines rise.
  • the mooring buoy also includes a lower portion to which are moored bottom portions of bottom / surface connection lines extending to the bottom of the sea, this lower portion of the mooring buoy is rotatable through a completely immersed rolling bearing, allowing the rotation of this lower part relative to the upper part of the mooring buoy secured to the hull.
  • This type of system with a fully submerged rotating part and fully immersed rolling bearings is not suitable for mooring a large number of bottom / surface connection lines, for which it is desirable to provide a system in which at least a portion of the rolling bearings is located in an out-of-water zone, so as to be able to be easier to maintain and operate under less stringent operating conditions.
  • WO 94/15828 at the bottom of the shell, there are provided internal tanks having a large surface in horizontal section in which the atmospheric pressure or preferably the vacuum is established, said internal tanks having a large contact surface in horizontal section with the upper part.
  • the mooring buoy against which the latter is intended to be fixed.
  • an annular interstitial zone is created between the mooring buoy and the atmospheric pressure vessel at the bottom of the hull of the vessel, delimited by two concentric O-rings, an annular zone of reduced volume which is brought into contact with the atmospheric pressure chamber at the bottom of the hull of the ship to create a positive buoyancy of the entire mooring buoy and anchor lines and bottom / surface connection lines which are pressed against said contact surface.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a connection system / disconnection of the mooring buoy faster and simpler to implement based on the principle of creating a positive buoyancy of the mooring buoy and pipes of the bottom / surface connection which are moored to it by pumping means, in the case where said mooring buoy is fixed on a rotating drum within a cavity extending over the entire height of the hull of the ship, no part of the mooring buoy is therefore secured and fixed relative to the hull of the ship and said mooring buoy comprising at least one rolling bearing which is not likely to be immersed in operation.
  • the chamber is filled with water valves, the said vent pipe (s) maintaining the chamber of the valves substantially at atmospheric pressure during filling, until the level of the water in the said tubes at a height greater than H 1 .
  • the floating support comprises a plurality of hoisting ropes, extending from winches preferably arranged on the deck of the vessel or at the top of said reel, above the waterline, said cables extending the case. within said guide tubes, hereinafter also referred to as “guide tubes” or “guide tubes”, extending vertically to the inside of the drum, from a level above the waterline to the bottom of the drum which they cross in a sealed manner.
  • the floating support according to the invention comprises at least three said cables and at least three said guide tubes, preferably arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the circular bottom of said drum and, preferably, along and near the the inner surface of said tubular structure of said drum, the lower ends of said cables being fixed at the upper edge of said upper tubular wall of said buoy.
  • This arrangement of said cables makes it possible to progress, in a controlled and stable manner, the approach of said mooring buoy against the underside of the bottom of the drum, by synchronizing the operation of the winding winches of said hoisting ropes.
  • the diameter of said guide tubes and the immersion depth (H 0 -H 2 ) of the bottom wall of the drum on which said guide tubes rest are such that the internal volume of the guide tubes is less than 15 m 3 , preferably less than 5 m 3 , for a reel height immersed within said cavity (H 0 -H 2 ) of at least 20 m, more preferably 20 to 50 m.
  • said upper tubular wall of the buoy comprises, at its lower end, a bottom wall to which it is sealingly assembled, forming the bottom wall of the valve chamber supporting said valves and / or connector parts.
  • the buoy has, in the lower part, an annular box forming a float on the underside of the bottom wall of the valve chamber.
  • the upper tubular wall of the buoy has a necessary height and sufficient to install said valves and connectors automatic connection of the first and second pipes.
  • the floating support comprises a pump situated at the bottom inside said sealed tubular structure constituting the drum, said pump cooperating with a suction pipe sealingly passing through said bottom wall of the drum, said pipe suction approaching the bottom wall of said valve chamber when the latter is in position against said bottom wall of the drum, and said pump cooperating with a discharge pipe passing through the tubular side wall of said tubular waterproof structure constituting the drum, preferably in the lower part of said drum, and opening into said cavity.
  • the floating support comprises centering means applied on the outer surface of the tubular wall of the drum and extending below said bottom wall of the drum, preferably arranged uniformly and regularly around said bottom.
  • centering means make it possible to facilitate the centering of the upper tubular wall of said mooring buoy relative to said reel in approaching movement against the underside of said bottom of the reel and facilitate the connection of the male and female parts.
  • the floating support comprises reversible mechanical retaining means of said mooring buoy against the underside of the bottom of said reel.
  • said upper tubular wall of said buoy comprises, on its upper edge, an O-ring and, on its inner face, stops or protective cleats limiting the crushing of said seal and ensuring the vertical load transfer between said buoy ring and the drum when said mooring buoy is applied against the bottom wall of said drum, said O-ring being compressed between the underside of the bottom wall of said drum and the upper edge of the upper tubular wall of said mooring buoy, said protective catch being able to cooperate with an articulated movable safety latch secured to the underside of the bottom wall of said drum, so that said mooring buoy is secured to said drum when said safety lock is engaged below said protective catch.
  • said upper tubular wall of the buoy and / or the tubular side wall of the tubular sealed structure of said drum comprises (s) a filling valve cooperating with filling pipes placing in communication seawater and the interior said valve chamber, and, preferably, said tubular wall of said valve chamber comprising a large-sized watertight trapdoor, adapted to allow an almost instantaneous filling of said valve chamber with seawater when opening said hatch.
  • the bottom wall of the drum comprises a inspection hatch of said valve chamber.
  • valve chamber Since it is possible to empty the valve chamber, this allows the personnel to intervene dry in said chamber for maintenance and, if necessary, the implementation of the valves and automatic connectors ensuring the connection between said first and second conduits.
  • H 2 represents the height with respect to the seabed of the upper edge of the upper tubular wall of the buoy and that of the underside of the bottom wall of the drum when in contact and S is the cross-sectional area of the upper tubular wall of the drum or the surface of the bottom wall of the drum delimited by the upper edge of the upper tubular wall of the drum when in contact.
  • step a- said guide tubes serve as vents by maintaining the valve chamber substantially at atmospheric pressure during filling.
  • This two-stage disconnection mode is advantageous because, at the end of step a- and up to step d-included, the mooring buoy is held in position by the hydrostatic thrust and the fueling process.
  • mooring buoy is always reversible by simply emptying the chamber, which allows to provide a phase of intermediate disconnection or waiting phase, in case we are not sure of wanting to disconnect the buoy mooring but that, if necessary, we want to be ready to make this disconnection as quickly as possible, by simply filling the guide tubes in accordance with step e- above.
  • the preparatory phase which is still reversible is calmly carried out, this phase possibly taking several hours in the case of burning of the iceberg. depressurization gas by the edge flare.
  • the second phase (step e-), the latter being irreversible, lasts only a few tens of seconds, or even a few minutes, to obtain the release of the buoy, and thus the almost instantaneous release of the FPSO from its anchorage.
  • an FPSO type floating vessel or support 10 anchored on a 1,2,3 disconnectable mooring system drum anchored by anchor lines 13 and connected to wellheads under -marines, not shown, by flexible pipes 14 in a plunging chain configuration 14a to a subsurface float 15 supporting said hose, said float being held by a cable 15a connected to a dead body 15b at the bottom of the sea, then said flexible pipe 14a is extended in chain configuration 14b to the bottom of the sea 40, then to said wellheads.
  • the FPSO is in cold waters in which icebergs or large, large ice sheets floating on the surface of the sea can move. 32 In extreme situations, such as storms or in the case of sea ice.
  • the lower part 1 of the mooring system commonly called “spider buoy”, that is to say “spider buoy” is in fact an annular mooring buoy 1 which can be disconnected, so known to those skilled in the art, generally at the bottom of the FPSO, which allows to release said FPSO so that it can get away.
  • the mooring buoy 1 and the submerged pipe sections 14 are connected to the bottom 2c of the drum on the underside of said bottom by automatic connectors 7.
  • the internal buoyancy of the annular mooring buoy 1 being adjusted in such a way that said buoy stabilizes at a depth H above the seabed, corresponding, for example, to a distance of 100 m from the sea surface 32, thereby putting all the lines of anchorage and hoses under cover, as shown on the same figure 1 .
  • the rotary joint connection 3 is articulated freely in rotation, so as to allow the rotation of said floating support without causing the rotation of said coupling and the pipes which are connected to it at the level of the floating support.
  • the cross-section of the FPSO is shown in section and in side view according to the plane AA of the figure 1 .
  • the drum 2 is installed in a cavity 4, preferably circular, vertically traversing the FPSO 10 over its entire height, from the deck 1 to the bottom of its hull.
  • the upper part of the cavity 4 has a redan 10a at the upper part 2 1 of the drum.
  • the seawater is present inside said cavity 4 of the FPSO and outside the drum.
  • the drum 2 consists of a tubular structure sealed at its lower end by a bottom wall 2c and comprising at its upper end an upper platform 2 1 , of larger diameter than the lateral tubular wall 2, said platform being supported , in its peripheral parts protruding from the lateral tubular wall 2, against the redan la at the upper end of the cavity 4.
  • the level of said bearings at least said tubular structure 2 and said inner wall 4 of cavity 1 have a circular section.
  • the rollers or rollers of the lower and upper lateral guide bearings 5 2 and 5 3 are more particularly arranged with their axes of rotation in a vertical position.
  • said rollers or rollers are arranged with their axes of rotation in a horizontal position bearing on the step 1a, the platform 2 1 resting on the edge of said rollers 5 1 .
  • the diameter outside said tubular structure of the drum 2 may exceed 25 m, more particularly from 10 to 20 m and its wet height is generally greater than 20 m, can reach 25 m, or more in the case where the hull of the floating support extends on a height of 50 m as in some cases.
  • annular mooring buoy 1 When the ship is under heavy stress, either by ice, wave, wind or current, its anchoring system connected to annular mooring buoy 1 keeps it in position. Given the large dimensions of the FPSO, the anchor reaction forces create considerable variations in the horizontal tension F at the level of the drum base, which can reach 5000 to 7500 tonnes in the case of a pack ice progressing perpendicular to the bordered by the FPSO, and 1500 to 3000 tons in extreme conditions of swell, wind and current. These horizontal forces are directly transmitted by the annular mooring buoy to said base of the drum.
  • Cables 20b are connected to winches 20a, secured to the drum and installed in the upper part, largely above the waterline 32, preferably on the platform 2 1 .
  • Said cables 20b pass through a vertical pipe or guide tube 20c, the latter exceeding by several meters, for example 5m, the maximum level of the maximum swell striking the side of the ship, said maximum level being well above the level of the sea at rest 32 as represented on said figure 4 .
  • Said guide duct 20c extends vertically downwards and passes in a sealed manner to the bottom 2c of the drum 2.
  • the level of the seawater inside the guiding ducts 20c remains substantially the same as in level of the side of the ship, that is to say at the corresponding H 0 level, in said figure, at sea level 32: in case of heavy swell or storm, the water level in said pipe 20c can not reach the top of the pipe, and the seawater is not likely to invade the interior of the drum 2.
  • the ring buoy being in the rest position at an altitude H above the sea floor, as represented on the figure 1 , the FPSO is positioned substantially vertically to said annular buoy and a ROV (automatic submarine intervention driven from the surface) is connected to said buoy, the end of the cables 20b down to the desired depth by unscrewing the winches 20a.
  • the buoy is then raised towards the bottom of the drum by synchronized winding of all the winches, until the upper part of the ring buoy comes into contact with the lower part of the drum.
  • guide means 21 represented on the figure 8 , integral with said drum, perform the centering of the annular buoy 1 with respect to the drum, thus facilitating the connection of the male parts 7a and female 7b of the automatic connectors 7.
  • a circular elastomer seal 100, integral with the annular buoy is compressed between the under the face of the drum and the upper part of the annular buoy, a tab 101 integral with said annular buoy, limits the crushing of said seal and ensures the vertical load transfer between said ring buoy and the drum.
  • cleats 101 are applied against the outer surface of the tubular waterproof structure 2 and extend below it, that is to say below the level of the bottom 2c of the tubular structure 2, so as to allow the recovery of horizontal forces experienced by the mooring buoy 2.
  • the upper part of the mooring buoy 1 is constituted by an upper tubular wall 1a, preferably of circular section, delimiting a chamber 30 enclosing the upper ends of the first conduits 14 passing through the bottom 30a of the chamber 30.
  • Said upper ends of the first ducts 14 and lower ends of the second ducts 14c are equipped with valves 8 and 8b respectively and 7a male part and female 7b respectively of automatic connectors 7.
  • the O-ring 100 is applied to the upper edge 1b constituting the edge of the tubular wall upper 1a of the mooring buoy 1.
  • valves 8 and male parts 7a of automatic connectors 7 at the upper end of the first conduits 14 are supported by the bottom 30a of the valve chamber 30.
  • valves 8b and female portions 7b of automatic connectors 7 at the lower end of the second conduits 14c are supported by the bottom wall 2c of the drum.
  • the mooring buoy 1 comprises a lower portion 1c forming an annular box constituting a float on the underside of the bottom wall 30a of the chamber 30 of the valves.
  • a pump 22 draws water through a suction pipe 22a sealingly through the bottom 2c of the drum and discharging the water at sea through the discharge pipe 22b sealingly through the drum 2.
  • the water inside the guide pipes 20c is at the level H 0 , corresponding substantially at sea level, but as soon as the pump has evacuated a few hundred liters, the water will reach the level H 2 , because the diameter required for the pipes is related to the diameter of the lifting cables 20b and is advantageously reduced to a minimum .
  • a guiding pipe of 300 mm internal diameter and a height H 0 -H 2 of 20m, inside which is installed a lifting cable of 150mm in diameter corresponds to a volume of water d about 1m3, i.e., an overall volume of about 4m3 for a four-strand lifting system.
  • a deballasting pump of 500m3 / h will thus empty the entire height of the said guide pipes in approximately 30 seconds, and then begin to empty the valve chamber whose volume is approximately 2,000 m3 for a 5m chamber. height and 22.5 m in diameter.
  • the valve chamber 30 When the valve chamber 30 is empty, it is at atmospheric pressure and is made accessible by a manhole 24 provided with a sealed hatch 24a in the closed position when the ring buoy is disconnected, or that the valve chamber is being purged or refilled.
  • a safety lock device represented on the figure 8 consisting, for example in an articulated movable portion 102 secured to said underside of the drum, cooperating with a tab 101 integral with the annular buoy, said tab being for example common with the stop limiting the crushing of the elastomer seal 100.
  • the ring buoy is found with a hydrostatic level corresponding to the sea level, that is to say at the level H0, and said ring buoy is precipitated down with a considerable force corresponding to its own weight, c that is to say, 500-1500 tons, thus freeing the FPSO from its anchorage on a drum, almost instantaneously.
  • a gasket with a thickness of 25 mm will require, in the above-mentioned example of a chamber with valves of 22.5 m in diameter, a complementary supply of seawater of approximately 10 m 3, which does not dramatically increase the disconnection time.
  • valve chamber 30 It is also possible to fill the valve chamber 30 with valves 26 and lateral filling lines 26a-26b passing through said upper tubular wall 1a of the mooring buoy 1, as shown in FIG. figure 8 .
  • said tubular upper wall 1a of the mooring buoy has been described as being defined by a cylindrical surface of vertical axis ZZ ', preferably with section circular.
  • said upper tubular wall la can be defined by a surface of revolution of vertical axis ZZ 'whose right generator is inclined relative to the axis ZZ', said upper tubular wall then having a frustoconical shape, or said generator may be curved, the essential point being to define a side wall whose upper edge 1b is adapted to come into contact with the underside of the bottom wall 2c of the drum 2, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, the lower end of which is sealingly connected to the periphery of the bottom wall 30a of the chamber 30 so as to define a chamber of the sealed valves when the upper edge of the side wall of said valve chamber comes into contact with the bottom wall 2c of the drum 2.
  • the winches 20a are installed at the level of the FPSO bridge and the corresponding lifting cables 20b pass through the guide ducts 20c, the latter also acting as a vent, but it remains in the spirit of the invention if we integrate the winches in the structure of the drum at its bottom.
  • the winches are then directly into the water and the cables connected directly to the buoy: then there is at least one pipe 20c which then has a role of vent.

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Abstract

The present invention relates to an oil production floating support having a releasable mooring system of anchor lines to the sea bottom and of bottom-surface connection pipes, the support comprising: a mooring buoy for said anchor lines and first bottom-to-surface connection pipes; and a turret extending within a cavity passing through the entire height of the floating support, said mooring buoy being fastened under the hull of the floating support to said turret; and said floating support being characterized in that it includes a connection/disconnection system for connecting/disconnecting said mooring buoy relative to said bottom wall of the turret, which system comprises: a plurality of hoist cables; and pump means for pumping water out from said valve chamber.

Description

La présente invention concerne un support flottant ancré sur touret déconnectable.The present invention relates to a floating support anchored on a disconnectable drum.

Le secteur technique de l'invention est plus particulièrement le domaine de la production pétrolière sous-marine en zone de conditions océano-météo extrêmes et plus particulièrement en zone arctique et antarctique, à partir de supports flottants.The technical sector of the invention is more particularly the field of underwater oil production in extreme weather-ocean weather zone and more particularly in the Arctic and Antarctic, from floating supports.

Un support flottant de production pétrolière comporte en général des moyens d'ancrage pour rester en position malgré les effets des courants, des vents et de la houle. Il comporte aussi en général des moyens de forage, de stockage et de traitement du pétrole ainsi que des moyens de déchargement vers des pétroliers enleveurs, ces derniers se présentant à intervalle régulier pour effectuer l'enlèvement de la production. L'appellation usuelle de ces supports flottants ou navires est le terme anglo-saxon "Floating Production Storage Offloading" (signifiant "moyen flottant de stockage, de production et de déchargement") dont on utilisera le terme abrégé "FPSO" dans l'ensemble de la description suivante, ou encore "FDPU" ou "Floating Drilling & Production Unit" (signifiant "moyen flottant de forage et de production"), lorsque le support flottant est aussi utilisé pour effectuer les opérations de forage avec puits dévié dans la hauteur de la tranche d'eau.A floating support for oil production generally includes anchoring means to remain in position despite the effects of currents, winds and waves. It also generally comprises means for drilling, storage and treatment of oil and means of unloading to removing tankers, the latter occurring at regular intervals to perform the removal of production. The usual name for these floating supports or vessels is the Anglo-Saxon term "Floating Production Storage Offloading" (meaning "floating medium of storage, production and unloading") which we use the abbreviated term "FPSO" as a whole of the following description, or "FDPU" or "Floating Drilling & Production Unit" (meaning "buoyant means of drilling and production"), when the floating support is also used to perform drilling operations with well deviated in height of the slice of water.

Lorsque les conditions océano-météo, c'est-à-dire la houle, le vent et le courant sont importants, voire extrêmes, dans le cas de tempêtes, on préfère ancrer le FPSO au niveau d'un touret, en général situé de manière connue dans le tiers avant du navire et dans l'axe, le navire étant libre de tourner autour dudit touret au gré du vent, du courant et de la houle. Ainsi, vent, courant et houle exercent des efforts spécifiques sur la coque et les superstructures, le FPSO du fait de son degré de liberté de rotation autour de l'axe vertical ZZ, venant se mettre naturellement dans la position de moindre résistance. Les conduites assurant la liaison avec les têtes de puits sont connectées en générale en sous-face du touret et reliées au FPSO par l'intermédiaire d'un joint tournant intégré dans l'axe dudit touret. Lorsque les conditions météo peuvent devenir extrêmes, comme en Mer de Nord, dans le Golfe du Mexique ou dans la zone arctique ou antarctique, le FPSO est en général déconnectable de manière à pouvoir se mettre à l'abri en attente de conditions opérationnelles acceptables.When the ocean-weather conditions, ie swell, wind and current are important, even extreme, in the case of storms, it is preferable to anchor the FPSO at a reel, usually located at known manner in the forward third of the ship and in the axis, the vessel being free to turn around said drum in the wind, the current and the swell. Thus, wind, current and waves exert specific forces on the hull and superstructures, the FPSO because of its degree of freedom of rotation around the vertical axis ZZ, coming from naturally put in the position of least resistance. The pipes connecting the wellheads are generally connected on the underside of the drum and connected to the FPSO via a rotary joint integrated in the axis of said drum. When weather conditions can become extreme, such as in the North Sea, in the Gulf of Mexico or in the Arctic or Antarctic zone, the FPSO is generally disconnectable so that it can be sheltered waiting for acceptable operational conditions.

La présente invention concerne plus particulièrement un support flottant pour la production pétrolière sous marine en zone arctique ou antarctique équipé en dessous de sa coque d'un touret déconnectable à partir duquel s'étendent des lignes d'ancrages au fond de la mer et des conduites de liaison fond/surface, ladite coque comportant dans sa direction longitudinale des bordés latéraux sensiblement plans et verticaux, et éventuellement, avec, de façon connue des proues (partie avant du navire) et, de préférence poupe (partie arrière du navire), inclinées par rapport à l'horizontale et de préférence profilées pour former une étrave en pointe renforcée, capable de briser la banquise par simple flexion lorsque ladite banquise s'engage en force sous ladite étrave renforcée.The present invention relates more particularly to a floating support for submarine oil production in the Arctic or Antarctic zone equipped below its hull with a disconnectable drum from which anchor lines extend to the seabed and pipes. connecting bottom / surface, said shell having in its longitudinal direction substantially flat lateral edges and vertical, and optionally, with, known manner of the proues (front part of the ship) and, preferably stern (rear part of the ship), inclined relative to the horizontal and preferably profiled to form a reinforced pointed bow, capable of breaking the pack ice by simple bending when said pack ice engages force under said reinforced bow.

Les supports flottants présentent avantageusement une carène avec des bordés longitudinaux sensiblement verticaux afin de leur conférer des capacités de stockage de pétrole optimales, ainsi qu'un meilleur comportement en cas de forte mer. Mais une coque à bordés verticaux est particulièrement désavantageuse au regard du comportement face à la banquise. Ainsi dans US 4,102,288 et US 4,571,125 , il est proposé des supports flottants présentant entre autres moyens des bordés à profils incurvés ou inclinés pour favoriser le bris de glace comme c'est le cas pour les profils connus de proue de navire avec étrave inclinée par rapport à l'horizontale.The floating supports advantageously have a hull with longitudinal edges substantially vertical to give them optimum oil storage capacity, and better behavior in case of high sea. But a hull with vertical edges is particularly disadvantageous in terms of behavior. facing the pack ice. So in US 4,102,288 and US 4,571,125 floating supports are proposed which, among other means, have curved or angled curved planks to promote ice breakage, as is the case with the known bow ship profiles with bow inclined relative to the horizontal.

Un support flottant de production pétrolière comportant un système d'amarrage déconnectable de lignes d'ancrage au fond de la mer et de conduites de liaison fond/surface comporte de façon connue :

  • une bouée d'amarrage desdites lignes et conduites de liaison fond/surface de préférence ladite bouée étant une bouée annulaire, et
  • ladite bouée d'amarrage étant fixée dessous la coque du support flottant, à un dispositif rotatif comportant une structure en forme de tour appelé « touret », ledit touret étant fixé à la coque au sein d'une cavité traversant la coque du support flottant sur toute sa hauteur, ledit touret étant articulé en rotation par rapport à ladite coque par l'intermédiaire d'au moins un palier de roulement ou de frottement, de préférence un palier de roulement de manière à autoriser la rotation dudit support flottant autour d'un axe sensiblement vertical ZZ' dudit touret et de ladite cavité, sans entraîner la rotation de ladite bouée d'amarrage par rapport au même axe vertical ZZ', et
  • lesdites conduites de liaison fond/surface remontant au sein de la cavité jusqu'à un raccord d'une pluralité de dites conduites, ledit raccord étant solidaire du support flottant au niveau du pont du support flottant, ledit raccord étant articulé en rotation de manière à autoriser la rotation dudit support flottant sans entraîner la rotation dudit raccord dénommé raccord à joint tournant.
A floating oil production support comprising a disconnectable mooring system of anchoring lines at the bottom of the sea and bottom / surface connection pipes comprises in known manner:
  • a mooring buoy of said lines and connecting lines bottom / surface preferably said buoy being an annular buoy, and
  • said mooring buoy being fixed below the hull of the floating support, to a rotary device comprising a tower-shaped structure called "reel", said reel being fixed to the hull within a cavity passing through the hull of the floating support on its entire height, said drum being articulated in rotation with respect to said shell by means of at least one rolling or friction bearing, preferably a rolling bearing so as to allow the rotation of said floating support around a substantially vertical axis ZZ 'of said drum and of said cavity, without causing rotation of said mooring buoy with respect to the same vertical axis ZZ', and
  • said bottom / surface connection pipes going up within the cavity to a connection of a plurality of said pipes, said connection being integral with the floating support at the level of the floating support bridge, said connection being articulated in rotation so as to allow rotation of said floating support without causing rotation of said fitting referred to as a rotating joint connection.

Dans la technique antérieure décrite ci-dessus, le palier de roulement est, soit localisé au niveau du pont du support flottant, soit localisé en partie inférieure en zone mouillée, c'est-à-dire que le palier est immergé, soit encore en combinaison des deux configurations précédentes.In the prior art described above, the rolling bearing is either located at the level of the floating support bridge or located in the lower part in a wet zone, that is to say that the bearing is immersed, or else in combination of the two previous configurations.

Les modes de réalisation dans lesquels le palier de roulement est localisé exclusivement au niveau du pont ne sont valables que pour les supports flottants de relativement faible hauteur, notamment inférieure à 15 m. Au-delà, pour les supports flottants notamment de 20 à 25 m de hauteur, l'effort horizontal sur le touret résultant de la rotation du support flottant crée une flexion sur la structure du touret dans sa longueur, laquelle sollicite la résistance mécanique du palier supérieur de roulement et donc en affecte la fiabilité mécanique de fonctionnement. D'autre part, lorsque le palier de roulement est immergé dans la partie inférieure du touret, cette immersion affecte la fiabilité de fonctionnement et la durabilité dudit palier de roulement et de surcroît crée des difficultés de réalisation des opérations de maintenance. En effet, les interventions sur site nécessitent l'emploi de plongeurs et de moyens techniques considérables, et l'on est en général conduit à effectuer ces opérations en zone protégée, tel un fjord, ou de préférence une cale sèche, après déconnexion du FPSO. Ainsi, lorsque le FPSO est destiné à rester en position pendant plusieurs décennies sans déconnexion programmée pour maintenance en cale sèche ou en site protégé, ce type de touret n'est pas adapté.Embodiments in which the rolling bearing is located exclusively at the level of the bridge are valid only for floating supports of relatively low height, especially less than 15 m. Beyond this, for floating supports, particularly 20 to 25 m high, the horizontal force on the drum resulting from the rotation of the floating support creates a bending on the structure of the drum in its length, which solicits the mechanical strength of the upper bearing bearing and therefore affects the mechanical reliability of operation. On the other hand, when the rolling bearing is immersed in the lower part of the drum, this immersion affects the reliability of operation and the durability of said rolling bearing and in addition creates difficulties in carrying out maintenance operations. Indeed, on-site operations require the use of divers and considerable technical resources, and it is generally necessary to perform these operations in a protected area, such as a fjord, or preferably a dry dock, after disconnection of the FPSO . Thus, when the FPSO is intended to remain in position for several decades without scheduled disconnection for maintenance in dry dock or protected site, this type of drum is not suitable.

On connaît des supports du type défini ci-dessus dans GB 2291389 et EP 259072 .Media of the type defined above are known in GB 2291389 and EP 259072 .

Dans WO 94/15828 , on décrit un système de connexion et déconnexion rapide d'une bouée d'amarrage, dans lequel la bouée d'amarrage comprend une partie supérieure connectée au fond de la coque du support flottant, plus précisément au niveau d'une cavité d'amarrage s'étendant annulairement à l'extrémité inférieure d'une cavité traversant la coque du support flottant sur toute sa hauteur et à travers laquelle remontent les conduites de liaison fond/surface. La bouée d'amarrage comprend également une partie inférieure à laquelle sont amarrées les parties inférieures de conduites de liaison fond/surface s'étendant jusqu'au fond de la mer, cette partie inférieure de la bouée d'amarrage est rotative par l'intermédiaire d'un palier de roulement complètement immergé, autorisant la rotation de cette partie inférieure par rapport à la partie supérieure de la bouée d'amarrage solidaire de la coque.In WO 94/15828 a connection and quick disconnection system for a mooring buoy is described, in which the mooring buoy comprises an upper part connected to the bottom of the hull of the floating support, more precisely at a mooring cavity. extending annularly at the lower end of a cavity passing through the hull of the floating support over its entire height and through which the bottom / surface connection lines rise. The mooring buoy also includes a lower portion to which are moored bottom portions of bottom / surface connection lines extending to the bottom of the sea, this lower portion of the mooring buoy is rotatable through a completely immersed rolling bearing, allowing the rotation of this lower part relative to the upper part of the mooring buoy secured to the hull.

Ce type de système avec une partie rotative entièrement immergée et des paliers de roulement entièrement immergés n'est pas approprié pour l'amarrage d'un grand nombre de conduites de liaison fond/surface, pour lesquelles il est souhaitable de proposer un système dans lequel au moins une partie des paliers de roulement est située en zone hors d'eau, de façon à pouvoir faire l'objet d'une maintenance plus aisée et de les mettre en oeuvre dans des conditions de fonctionnement moins contraignantes.This type of system with a fully submerged rotating part and fully immersed rolling bearings is not suitable for mooring a large number of bottom / surface connection lines, for which it is desirable to provide a system in which at least a portion of the rolling bearings is located in an out-of-water zone, so as to be able to be easier to maintain and operate under less stringent operating conditions.

Dans WO 94/15828 , on prévoit, au fond de la coque, des cuves internes présentant une grande surface en section horizontale dans lesquelles on établit la pression atmosphérique ou de préférence le vide, ces dites cuves internes présentant une grande surface de contact en section horizontale avec la partie supérieure de la bouée d'amarrage, contre lesquelles cette dernière est destinée à être fixée. Pour ce faire, on crée une zone annulaire interstitielle entre la bouée d'amarrage et la cuve à pression atmosphérique au fond de la coque du navire, délimitée par deux joints toriques concentriques, zone annulaire de volume réduit que l'on met en contact avec la chambre à pression atmosphérique au fond de la coque du navire pour créer une flottabilité positive de l'ensemble de la bouée d'amarrage et des lignes d'ancrage et conduites de liaison fond/surface qui se trouvent plaquées contre ladite surface de contact.In WO 94/15828 at the bottom of the shell, there are provided internal tanks having a large surface in horizontal section in which the atmospheric pressure or preferably the vacuum is established, said internal tanks having a large contact surface in horizontal section with the upper part. the mooring buoy, against which the latter is intended to be fixed. To do this, an annular interstitial zone is created between the mooring buoy and the atmospheric pressure vessel at the bottom of the hull of the vessel, delimited by two concentric O-rings, an annular zone of reduced volume which is brought into contact with the atmospheric pressure chamber at the bottom of the hull of the ship to create a positive buoyancy of the entire mooring buoy and anchor lines and bottom / surface connection lines which are pressed against said contact surface.

Le but de la présente invention est de fournir un système de connexion/déconnexion de la bouée d'amarrage plus rapide et plus simple à mettre en oeuvre basé sur le principe de création d'une flottabilité positive de la bouée d'amarrage et des conduites de liaison fond/surface qui lui sont amarrées par des moyens de pompage, dans le cas où ladite bouée d'amarrage est fixée sur un touret rotatif au sein d'une cavité s'étendant sur toute la hauteur de la coque du navire, aucune partie de la bouée d'amarrage n'étant donc solidaire et fixe par rapport à la coque du navire et ladite bouée d'amarrage comportant au moins un palier de roulement qui ne soit pas susceptible d'être immergé en fonctionnement.The object of the present invention is to provide a connection system / disconnection of the mooring buoy faster and simpler to implement based on the principle of creating a positive buoyancy of the mooring buoy and pipes of the bottom / surface connection which are moored to it by pumping means, in the case where said mooring buoy is fixed on a rotating drum within a cavity extending over the entire height of the hull of the ship, no part of the mooring buoy is therefore secured and fixed relative to the hull of the ship and said mooring buoy comprising at least one rolling bearing which is not likely to be immersed in operation.

Pour ce faire, la présente invention fournit un support flottant de production pétrolière comportant un système d'amarrage déconnectable de lignes d'ancrage au fond de la mer et de conduites de liaison fond/surface comportant :

  • une bouée d'amarrage desdites lignes d'ancrage et de premières conduites de liaison fond/surface s'étendant depuis ladite bouée où elles sont amarrées jusqu'au fond de la mer de préférence ladite bouée étant une bouée annulaire, et
  • un touret s'étendant au sein d'une cavité traversant la coque du support flottant sur toute sa hauteur, ladite bouée d'amarrage étant fixée dessous la coque du support flottant audit touret, ledit touret coopérant avec la coque au sein de ladite cavité traversant la coque du support flottant sur toute sa hauteur, ledit touret étant articulé en rotation par rapport à ladite coque par l'intermédiaire d'au moins un palier de roulement ou de frottement situé au-dessus de la ligne de flottaison et/ou hors d'eau, de préférence un palier de roulement, de manière à autoriser la rotation dudit support flottant autour d'un axe sensiblement vertical ZZ' dudit touret et de ladite cavité, sans entraîner la rotation de ladite bouée d'amarrage par rapport au même axe vertical ZZ', et
  • ledit touret comprenant au moins une structure tubulaire étanche, de préférence à section circulaire, selon ledit axe vertical ZZ', comportant une paroi de fond assemblé de manière étanche à l'extrémité inférieure de la paroi tubulaire latérale de ladite structure tubulaire,
  • des secondes conduites de liaison entre l'extrémité supérieure desdites premières conduites de liaison fond/surface et le pont du support flottant, traversant de manière étanche la paroi de fond du touret et remontant au sein de la cavité jusqu'à un raccord d'une pluralité de dites secondes conduites, ledit raccord du type raccord à joint tournant étant solidaire du support flottant de préférence au niveau du pont du support flottant, ledit raccord étant articulé en rotation de manière à autoriser la rotation dudit support flottant sans entraîner la rotation dudit raccord, caractérisé en ce que :
  • ladite bouée d'amarrage comprend une paroi tubulaire supérieure, à l'intérieur de laquelle sont situées lesdites vannes et, de préférence, connecteurs, ladite paroi supérieure tubulaire de la bouée délimitant avec la paroi de fond dudit touret une chambre étanche, dite chambre des vannes, lorsque le bord supérieur de ladite paroi supérieur tubulaire de la bouée est appliqué contre la paroi de fond dudit touret, en sous-face de celui-ci, et
  • ledit support flottant comprend un système de connexion/déconnexion de ladite bouée d'amarrage par rapport à ladite paroi de fond du touret, comprenant :
    • une pluralité de liens, tels que des câbles de levage fixés à la dite bouée d'amarrage, de préférence au bord supérieur de la dite paroi supérieure tubulaire de la bouée d'amarrage, lesdits liens s'étendant de préférence à l'intérieur du touret en traversant de manière étanche la paroi de fond du touret, et
    • au moins un tube d'évent s'étendant verticalement à l'intérieur du touret, depuis un niveau au-dessus de la ligne de flottaison jusqu'à la paroi de fond du touret qu'il traverse de manière étanche, et
    • des moyens de pompage d'eau dans ladite chambre des vannes, lorsque ladite paroi tubulaire supérieure de la bouée est appliquée contre ledit fond du touret, et
    • le poids propre de ladite bouée d'amarrage et desdites premières conduites de liaison fond/surface et lignes d'ancrage étant inférieur au poids du volume d'eau correspondant au volume V=Sx(H0-H2), dans laquelle
  • H0 étant la hauteur d'eau du niveau de flottaison,
  • H2 étant la hauteur du bord supérieur de ladite paroi tubulaire supérieure de bouée en contact avec la paroi de fond du touret, et
  • S étant la surface de la section transversale de ladite paroi tubulaire supérieure.
To do this, the present invention provides a floating oil production support comprising a disconnectable mooring system anchor lines at the bottom of the sea and bottom / surface connection lines comprising:
  • a mooring buoy of said anchor lines and first bottom / surface connection lines extending from said buoy where they are moored to the bottom of the sea, preferably said buoy being an annular buoy, and
  • a drum extending into a cavity passing through the hull of the floating support over its entire height, said mooring buoy being fixed below the hull of the floating support to said drum, said drum cooperating with the hull within said through cavity the hull of the support floating over its entire height, said drum being articulated in rotation with respect to said hull by means of at least one rolling or friction bearing situated above the waterline and / or out of water, preferably a rolling bearing, so as to allow the rotation of said floating support about a substantially vertical axis ZZ 'of said drum and of said cavity, without causing rotation of said mooring buoy with respect to the same axis vertical ZZ ', and
  • said drum comprising at least one sealed tubular structure, preferably of circular section, along said vertical axis ZZ ', comprising a bottom wall sealingly assembled at the lower end of the lateral tubular wall of said tubular structure,
  • second connecting lines between the upper end of said first bottom / surface connection pipes and the floating support deck, sealingly passing through the bottom wall of the drum and back into the cavity to a connection of a a plurality of said second pipes, said connection of the type with rotary joint being secured to the floating support preferably at the level of the floating support bridge, said connection being hinged in rotation so as to allow the rotation of said floating support without causing said coupling to rotate, characterized in that:
  • said mooring buoy comprises an upper tubular wall, inside which are located said valves and, preferably, connectors, said tubular upper wall of the buoy delimiting with the bottom wall of said drum a sealed chamber, said chamber of valves, when the upper edge of said tubular upper wall of the buoy is applied against the bottom wall of said drum, on the underside thereof, and
  • said floating support comprises a connection / disconnection system of said mooring buoy with respect to said bottom wall of the drum, comprising:
    • a plurality of links, such as hoisting ropes attached to said mooring buoy, preferably to the upper edge of said tubular upper wall of the mooring buoy, said links preferably extending within the drum while sealingly crossing the bottom wall of the drum, and
    • at least one vent pipe extending vertically inside the drum, from a level above the waterline to the bottom wall of the drum which it passes through in a sealed manner, and
    • means for pumping water into said valve chamber, when said upper tubular wall of the buoy is applied against said bottom of the drum, and
    • the dead weight of said mooring buoy and said first bottom / surface connection lines and anchor lines being less than the weight of the volume of water corresponding to the volume V = S x (H 0 -H 2 ), in which
  • Where H 0 is the water level of the water level,
  • H 2 being the height of the upper edge of said upper tubular buoy wall in contact with the bottom wall of the drum, and
  • S being the cross-sectional area of said upper tubular wall.

On comprend que, lorsque l'on applique le bord supérieur de la paroi tubulaire de ladite paroi tubulaire supérieure de la bouée en contact contre le fond du touret, ladite chambre des vannes étant remplie d'eau, on crée une flottabilité positive de l'ensemble de la bouée et des conduites de liaison fond/surface, lorsque l'on pompe l'eau à l'intérieur de ladite chambre de vannes de manière à ce que le niveau de l'eau dans lesdits tubes est compris entre H1 et H2, H1 correspondant à la hauteur à laquelle le volume d'eau V1=sx(H0-H1) est égal au poids propre de ladite bouée et desdites premières conduites de fond liaison et lignes d'ancrage. Lorsque le poids propre de l'ensemble constitué de la bouée déjaugée et desdites premières conduites de liaison et des lignes d'ancrage, dépasse la valeur du poids du volume d'eau V1=Sx(H0-H1), la bouée commence à se libérer naturellement du touret et commence à descendre vers le bas. En effet, dès que la bouée annulaire se détache du fond du touret, elle se retrouve avec un niveau de pression hydrostatique correspondant au niveau de profondeur de la mer, ladite bouée annulaire se trouvant alors précipitée vers le bas avec une force considérable correspondant à son propre poids, c'est-à-dire 500 à 1 500 tonnes, libérant ainsi le support flottant de son ancrage sur touret de manière quasi instantanée.It is understood that, when applying the upper edge of the tubular wall of said upper tubular wall of the buoy in contact against the bottom of the drum, said valve chamber being filled with water, a positive buoyancy is created. together the buoy and bottom / surface connection lines, when the water is pumped inside said valve chamber so that the level of water in said tubes is between H 1 and H 2 , H 1 corresponding to the height at which the volume of water V 1 = sx (H 0 -H 1 ) is equal to the self weight of said buoy and said first connecting bottom lines and anchor lines. When the self-weight of the assembly consisting of the buoy and said first connecting pipes and anchor lines, exceeds the weight value of the volume of water V1 = Sx (H 0 -H 1 ), the buoy begins to release naturally from the drum and begins to descend down. Indeed, as soon as the ring buoy is detached from the bottom of the drum, it is found with a level of hydrostatic pressure corresponding to the level of depth of the sea, said ring buoy then being precipitated down with a considerable force corresponding to its own weight, that is to say 500 to 1500 tons, thus freeing the floating support from its anchorage on reel almost instantaneously.

Pour ce faire, on remplit la chambre des vannes d'eau, le ou les dits tubes d'évent maintenant la chambre des vannes sensiblement à la pression atmosphérique pendant le remplissage, jusqu'à ce que le niveau de l'eau dans lesdits tubes soit à une hauteur supérieure à H1.To do this, the chamber is filled with water valves, the said vent pipe (s) maintaining the chamber of the valves substantially at atmospheric pressure during filling, until the level of the water in the said tubes at a height greater than H 1 .

De préférence, le support flottant comprend une pluralité de câbles de levage, s'étendant depuis des treuils disposés de préférence sur le pont du navire ou au sommet dudit touret, au-dessus de la ligne de flottaison, lesdits câbles s'étendant le cas échéant à l'intérieur de dits tubes d'évents servant de guidage, ci-après aussi dénommés « tubes de guidage » ou « tubes guide », s'étendant verticalement à l'intérieur du touret, depuis un niveau au-dessus de la ligne de flottaison jusqu'au fond du touret qu'ils traversent de manière étanche.Preferably, the floating support comprises a plurality of hoisting ropes, extending from winches preferably arranged on the deck of the vessel or at the top of said reel, above the waterline, said cables extending the case. within said guide tubes, hereinafter also referred to as "guide tubes" or "guide tubes", extending vertically to the inside of the drum, from a level above the waterline to the bottom of the drum which they cross in a sealed manner.

De préférence encore, le support flottant selon l'invention comporte au moins trois dits câbles et au moins trois dits tubes de guidage, disposés de préférence symétriquement par rapport au centre du fond circulaire dudit touret et, de préférence, le long et à proximité de la surface interne de ladite structure tubulaire dudit touret, les extrémités inférieures desdits câbles étant fixées au niveau du bord supérieur de ladite paroi tubulaire supérieure de ladite bouée.More preferably, the floating support according to the invention comprises at least three said cables and at least three said guide tubes, preferably arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the circular bottom of said drum and, preferably, along and near the the inner surface of said tubular structure of said drum, the lower ends of said cables being fixed at the upper edge of said upper tubular wall of said buoy.

Cette disposition desdits câbles permet de faire progresser, de manière contrôlée et stable, l'approche de ladite bouée d'amarrage contre la sous-face du fond du touret, en synchronisant l'actionnement des treuils d'enroulement desdits câbles de levage.This arrangement of said cables makes it possible to progress, in a controlled and stable manner, the approach of said mooring buoy against the underside of the bottom of the drum, by synchronizing the operation of the winding winches of said hoisting ropes.

Plus particulièrement, le diamètre desdits tubes de guidage et la profondeur (H0-H2) d'immersion de la paroi de fond du touret sur lequel reposent lesdits tubes de guidage, sont tels que le volume interne des tubes de guidage est inférieur à 15 m3, de préférence inférieur à 5 m3, pour une hauteur de touret immergé au sein de ladite cavité (H0-H2) d'au moins 20 m, plus particulièrement de préférence de 20 à 50 m.More particularly, the diameter of said guide tubes and the immersion depth (H 0 -H 2 ) of the bottom wall of the drum on which said guide tubes rest, are such that the internal volume of the guide tubes is less than 15 m 3 , preferably less than 5 m 3 , for a reel height immersed within said cavity (H 0 -H 2 ) of at least 20 m, more preferably 20 to 50 m.

Plus particulièrement encore, ladite paroi tubulaire supérieure de la bouée comprend, à son extrémité inférieure, une paroi de fond à laquelle elle est assemblée de manière étanche, formant la paroi de fond de la chambre des vannes supportant lesdites vannes et/ou parties de connecteurs automatiques, et la bouée comporte, en partie inférieure, un caisson annulaire constituant un flotteur en sous-face de la paroi de fond de la chambre des vannes.More particularly, said upper tubular wall of the buoy comprises, at its lower end, a bottom wall to which it is sealingly assembled, forming the bottom wall of the valve chamber supporting said valves and / or connector parts. automatic, and the buoy has, in the lower part, an annular box forming a float on the underside of the bottom wall of the valve chamber.

On comprend que la paroi tubulaire supérieure de la bouée présente une hauteur nécessaire et suffisante pour installer lesdites vannes et connecteurs automatiques de liaison des premières et secondes conduites.It is understood that the upper tubular wall of the buoy has a necessary height and sufficient to install said valves and connectors automatic connection of the first and second pipes.

Plus particulièrement encore, le support flottant comprend une pompe située en partie basse à l'intérieur de ladite structure tubulaire étanche constituant le touret, ladite pompe coopérant avec une conduite d'aspiration traversant de manière étanche ladite paroi de fond du touret, ladite conduite d'aspiration arrivant à proximité de la paroi de fond de ladite chambre des vannes lorsque celle-ci est en position appliquée contre ladite paroi de fond du touret, et ladite pompe coopérant avec une canalisation de refoulement traversant la paroi latérale tubulaire de ladite structure tubulaire étanche constituant le touret, de préférence en partie basse dudit touret, et débouchant au sein de ladite cavité.More particularly still, the floating support comprises a pump situated at the bottom inside said sealed tubular structure constituting the drum, said pump cooperating with a suction pipe sealingly passing through said bottom wall of the drum, said pipe suction approaching the bottom wall of said valve chamber when the latter is in position against said bottom wall of the drum, and said pump cooperating with a discharge pipe passing through the tubular side wall of said tubular waterproof structure constituting the drum, preferably in the lower part of said drum, and opening into said cavity.

Avantageusement, le support flottant comporte des moyens de centrage, appliqués sur la surface externe de la paroi tubulaire du touret et s'étendant dessous de ladite paroi de fond du touret, disposés de préférence uniformément et régulièrement autour dudit fond.Advantageously, the floating support comprises centering means applied on the outer surface of the tubular wall of the drum and extending below said bottom wall of the drum, preferably arranged uniformly and regularly around said bottom.

On comprend que ces dits moyens de centrage permettent de faciliter le centrage de la paroi tubulaire supérieure de ladite bouée d'amarrage par rapport audit touret en mouvement d'approche contre la sous-face dudit fond du touret et facilitent la connexion des parties mâle et femelle de connecteurs automatiques aux extrémités supérieures desdites conduites de liaison fond/surface arrivant au-dessus du fond de ladite chambre de vannes et aux extrémités inférieures desdites secondes conduites de liaisons.It will be understood that said centering means make it possible to facilitate the centering of the upper tubular wall of said mooring buoy relative to said reel in approaching movement against the underside of said bottom of the reel and facilitate the connection of the male and female parts. female automatic connectors at the upper ends of said bottom / surface connection pipes arriving above the bottom of said valve chamber and at the lower ends of said second connecting lines.

Avantageusement encore, le support flottant comporte des moyens de retenue mécaniques réversibles de ladite bouée d'amarrage contre la sous-face du fond dudit touret.Advantageously, the floating support comprises reversible mechanical retaining means of said mooring buoy against the underside of the bottom of said reel.

Plus particulièrement encore, ladite paroi tubulaire supérieure de ladite bouée comprend, sur son bord supérieur, un joint torique et, sur sa face interne, des butées ou taquets de protection limitant l'écrasement dudit joint et assurant le transfert de charge vertical entre ladite bouée annulaire et le touret lorsque ladite bouée d'amarrage est appliquée contre la paroi de fond dudit touret, ledit joint torique étant comprimé entre la sous-face de la paroi de fond dudit touret et le bord supérieur de la paroi tubulaire supérieure de ladite bouée d'amarrage, ledit taquet de protection étant apte à coopérer avec un verrou de sûreté mobile articulé solidaire de la sous-face de la paroi de fond dudit touret, de telle sorte que ladite bouée d'amarrage soit rendue solidaire dudit touret lorsque ledit verrou de sûreté est enclenché dessous ledit taquet de protection.More particularly, said upper tubular wall of said buoy comprises, on its upper edge, an O-ring and, on its inner face, stops or protective cleats limiting the crushing of said seal and ensuring the vertical load transfer between said buoy ring and the drum when said mooring buoy is applied against the bottom wall of said drum, said O-ring being compressed between the underside of the bottom wall of said drum and the upper edge of the upper tubular wall of said mooring buoy, said protective catch being able to cooperate with an articulated movable safety latch secured to the underside of the bottom wall of said drum, so that said mooring buoy is secured to said drum when said safety lock is engaged below said protective catch.

Ainsi, en cas d'envahissement de la chambre des vannes par l'eau de mer, en cas de fuite, la perte totale de flottabilité de la bouée d'amarrage sera compensée par la fixation réalisée à l'aide desdits verrous de sûreté et il n'y aura pas de risque de largage intempestif et destructeur de ladite bouée d'amarrage.Thus, in case of invasion of the valve chamber by seawater, in the event of a leak, the total loss of buoyancy of the mooring buoy will be compensated by the fixing made with the aid of said safety locks and there will be no risk of inadvertent and destructive release of said mooring buoy.

De préférence, ladite paroi tubulaire supérieure de la bouée et/ou la paroi latérale tubulaire de la structure tubulaire étanche dudit touret comporte(nt) une vanne de remplissage coopérant avec des canalisations de remplissage mettant en communication l'eau de mer et l'intérieur de ladite chambre des vannes, et, de préférence, ladite paroi tubulaire de ladite chambre des vannes comportant une trappe étanche de grande dimension, apte à permettre un remplissage quasi instantané de ladite chambre des vannes par l'eau de mer lorsque l'on ouvre ladite trappe.Preferably, said upper tubular wall of the buoy and / or the tubular side wall of the tubular sealed structure of said drum comprises (s) a filling valve cooperating with filling pipes placing in communication seawater and the interior said valve chamber, and, preferably, said tubular wall of said valve chamber comprising a large-sized watertight trapdoor, adapted to allow an almost instantaneous filling of said valve chamber with seawater when opening said hatch.

Plus particulièrement, la paroi de fond du touret comporte une trappe de visite de ladite chambre des vannes.More particularly, the bottom wall of the drum comprises a inspection hatch of said valve chamber.

Du fait qu'il est possible de vidanger la chambre des vannes, cela permet au personnel d'intervenir à sec dans ladite chambre pour la maintenance et, le cas échéant, la mise en oeuvre des vannes et connecteurs automatiques assurant la connexion entre lesdites premières et deuxièmes conduites.Since it is possible to empty the valve chamber, this allows the personnel to intervene dry in said chamber for maintenance and, if necessary, the implementation of the valves and automatic connectors ensuring the connection between said first and second conduits.

La présente invention fournit également un procédé de mise en oeuvre d'un support flottant selon l'invention, dans lequel on réalise la connexion d'une dite bouée d'amarrage en sous-face et contre la paroi de fond d'un dit touret, et on réalise les étapes suivantes :

  • a- on immerge une dite bouée d'amarrage, à laquelle sont amarrées desdites premières conduites de liaison fond/surface et lignes d'ancrage, et
  • b- on accroche l'extrémité inférieure des câbles de levage à ladite bouée d'amarrage, ledit support flottant étant positionné de telle sorte que ladite bouée d'amarrage soit sensiblement axé dans l'axe vertical ZZ' de ladite cavité, et
  • c- on actionne lesdits treuils pour relever ladite bouée d'amarrage jusqu'à ce que le bord supérieur de ladite paroi tubulaire supérieure de la bouée d'amarrage soit appliqué contre et en sous-face de la paroi de fond dudit touret, formant ainsi une dite chambre des vannes remplie d'eau de mer, lesdits tubes de guidage étant également remplis d'eau de mer sur une hauteur H0 correspondant sensiblement au niveau de la surface de l'eau de la ligne de flottaison, et
  • d- on pompe l'eau à l'intérieur de ladite chambre de vannes à l'aide de dits moyens de pompage jusqu'à ce que le niveau de l'eau dans lesdits tubes de guidage soit inférieur à la hauteur H1, de préférence inférieur ou égal à la hauteur H2, la hauteur H1 étant telle que le poids du volume d'eau V1=Sx(H0-H1) est au moins égal au poids de l'ensemble de ladite bouée d'amarrage et desdites conduites de liaison et lignes d'ancrage, et
  • e- de préférence on vide complètement ladite chambre des vannes que l'on rend ensuite étanche.
The present invention also provides a method for implementing a floating support according to the invention, in which the connecting a said mooring buoy on the underside and against the bottom wall of a said turret, and the following steps are carried out:
  • a mooring buoy is immersed, to which are moored said first bottom / surface connection lines and anchor lines, and
  • b) attaching the lower end of the hoisting ropes to said mooring buoy, said floating support being positioned in such a way that said mooring buoy is substantially centered in the vertical axis ZZ 'of said cavity, and
  • said winches are actuated to raise said mooring buoy until the upper edge of said upper tubular wall of the mooring buoy is applied against and on the underside of the bottom wall of said reel, thus forming a said valve chamber filled with seawater, said guide tubes being also filled with seawater over a height H 0 substantially corresponding to the water surface of the waterline, and
  • d) the water is pumped inside said valve chamber by means of said pumping means until the level of water in said guide tubes is less than the height H 1 , of preferably less than or equal to the height H 2 , the height H 1 being such that the weight of the volume of water V1 = Sx (H 0 -H 1 ) is at least equal to the weight of all of said mooring buoy and said connecting lines and anchor lines, and
  • e- preferably completely empty said chamber valves which is then sealed.

Comme mentionné précédemment, H2 représente la hauteur par rapport au fond de la mer du bord supérieur de la paroi tubulaire supérieure de la bouée et celui de la sous-face de la paroi de fond du touret lorsqu'ils sont en contact et S est la surface de la section transversale de la paroi tubulaire supérieure du touret ou la surface de la paroi de fond du touret délimitée par le bord supérieur de la paroi tubulaire supérieure du touret lorsqu'ils sont en contact.As mentioned above, H 2 represents the height with respect to the seabed of the upper edge of the upper tubular wall of the buoy and that of the underside of the bottom wall of the drum when in contact and S is the cross-sectional area of the upper tubular wall of the drum or the surface of the bottom wall of the drum delimited by the upper edge of the upper tubular wall of the drum when in contact.

Plus particulièrement, après vidage de ladite chambre des vannes, on détache les extrémités inférieures desdits câbles de levage de ladite bouée d'amarrage et, de préférence, on enclenche des moyens de retenue mécaniques de ladite bouée d'amarrage, rendant celle-ci solidaire de la paroi de fond dudit touret, de préférence à l'aide d'un verrou de sûreté mobile articulé apte à coopérer avec des taquets de protection empêchant l'écrasement d'un joint torique comprimé entre le bord supérieur de la paroi tubulaire supérieure de la bouée d'amarrage et la sous-face de la paroi de fond du touret.More particularly, after emptying said valve chamber, detaching the lower ends of said hoisting ropes from said mooring buoy and, preferably, engaging mechanical retaining means of said mooring buoy, making it integral with said mooring buoy. of the bottom wall of said drum, preferably with the aid of an articulated movable safety latch adapted to cooperate with protective cleats preventing the crushing of a compressed O-ring between the upper edge of the upper tubular wall of the mooring buoy and the underside of the bottom wall of the drum.

La présente invention fournit également un procédé de mise en oeuvre d'un support flottant selon l'invention, dans lequel on réalise la déconnexion d'une dite bouée d'amarrage connectée à un dit touret, dans lequel les extrémités inférieures desdits câbles de levage ont été détachées de ladite bouée d'amarrage, comprenant les étapes suivantes :

  1. a- on fait rentrer de l'eau dans ladite chambre de vannes, de manière à ce que le niveau de l'eau dans lesdits tubes de guidage arrive au-dessus dudit niveau H1, et
  2. b- le cas échéant, on déverrouille les connecteurs automatiques entre lesdites première et deuxième des conduites et on libère lesdits moyens de retenue mécaniques pour désolidariser mécaniquement ladite bouée d'amarrage et ladite paroi de fond du touret.
The present invention also provides a method of implementing a floating support according to the invention, in which the disconnection of a said mooring buoy connected to a said reel, in which the lower ends of said hoisting ropes have been detached from said mooring buoy, comprising the following steps:
  1. water is introduced into said chamber of valves, so that the level of water in said guide tubes reaches above said level H 1 , and
  2. b- if necessary, the automatic connectors are unlocked between said first and second pipes and releases said mechanical retaining means to mechanically separate said mooring buoy and said bottom wall of the drum.

De préférence, on réalise les étapes suivantes :

  1. a- de préférence, le cas échéant, on dépressurise les première et secondes conduites de liaison fond/surface, notamment jusqu'a leurs points de liaison au fond de la mer, notamment au niveau de tête de puits de manière à éviter toute décompression intempestive et dangereuse de gaz dans la zone de la chambre des vannes, et
  2. b- on remplit ladite chambre de vannes jusqu'à ladite hauteur H2 de la sous-face de la paroi de fond du touret, et on arrête le remplissage dès que ladite chambre des vannes est intégralement remplie d'eau, et
  3. c- on déverrouille les connecteurs automatiques entre lesdites première et deuxième des conduites,
  4. d- on déverrouille, le cas échéant, lesdits verrous de sûreté mécaniques, et
  5. e- on continue le remplissage de ladite chambre de vannes, de manière à réaliser le remplissage des tubes de guidage jusqu'à ladite hauteur H1, voire H0.
Preferably, the following steps are carried out:
  1. preferably, if necessary, the first and second bottom / surface connection lines are depressurized, in particular up to their connection points to the seabed, in particular at the wellhead level so as to avoid any untimely decompression and dangerous gas in the area of the valve chamber, and
  2. b- filling said valve chamber to said height H 2 of the underside of the bottom wall of the drum, and stopping the filling as soon as said valve chamber is completely filled with water, and
  3. c- the automatic connectors are unlocked between said first and second pipes,
  4. d-unlocking, if necessary, said mechanical safety locks, and
  5. e-it continues filling of said valve chamber, so as to fill the guide tubes to said height H 1 or H 0 .

A l'étape a-, lesdits tubes de guidage servent d'évents en maintenant la chambre des vannes sensiblement à la pression atmosphérique pendant le remplissage.In step a-, said guide tubes serve as vents by maintaining the valve chamber substantially at atmospheric pressure during filling.

Ce mode de déconnexion en deux temps est avantageux car, à l'issue de l'étape a- et jusqu'à l'étape d- incluse, la bouée d'amarrage se trouve maintenue en position par la poussée hydrostatique et le processus de largage de la bouée d'amarrage est toujours réversible par simple vidange de la chambre, ce qui permet de fournir une phase de déconnexion intermédiaire ou phase d'attente, dans le cas où l'on n'est pas sûr de vouloir déconnecter la bouée d'amarrage mais que, le cas échéant, on veut être prêt à pouvoir faire cette déconnexion le plus rapidement possible, par le simple remplissage des tubes de guidage conformément à l'étape e- ci-dessus. Ainsi, en cas de danger imminent mais pas certain, tel la dérive d'une banquise ou d'un iceberg, on effectue calmement la phase préparatoire qui reste réversible (étapes ad), cette phase pouvant prendre plusieurs heures dans le cas de brûlage du gaz de dépressurisation par la torchère de bord. Dès confirmation de la déconnexion, la deuxième phase (étape e-), cette dernière étant irréversible, ne dure que quelques dizaines de secondes, voire quelques minutes, pour obtenir le largage de la bouée, et donc la libération quasi-instantanée du FPSO de son ancrage.This two-stage disconnection mode is advantageous because, at the end of step a- and up to step d-included, the mooring buoy is held in position by the hydrostatic thrust and the fueling process. mooring buoy is always reversible by simply emptying the chamber, which allows to provide a phase of intermediate disconnection or waiting phase, in case we are not sure of wanting to disconnect the buoy mooring but that, if necessary, we want to be ready to make this disconnection as quickly as possible, by simply filling the guide tubes in accordance with step e- above. Thus, in case of imminent but not certain danger, such as the drift of an ice floe or an iceberg, the preparatory phase which is still reversible (stages ad) is calmly carried out, this phase possibly taking several hours in the case of burning of the iceberg. depressurization gas by the edge flare. Upon confirmation of the disconnection, the second phase (step e-), the latter being irreversible, lasts only a few tens of seconds, or even a few minutes, to obtain the release of the buoy, and thus the almost instantaneous release of the FPSO from its anchorage.

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention ressortiront mieux à la lumière de la description détaillée qui va suivre, faite de manière illustrative et non limitative, en référence aux dessins sur lesquels :

  • la figure 1 représente en coupe et en vue de côté d'un FPSO ancré sur touret au sein d'une banquise,
  • la figure 2 représente en coupe selon le plan AA de la figure 1 la section du FPSO, du touret selon l'invention, avec le système d'amarrage comprenant le touret selon l'invention, la bouée d'amarrage supportant les lignes d'ancrage ainsi que les conduites de liaison fond/surface, ladite bouée étant connectée à l'embase du touret, et avec le raccord à joint tournant (3) au niveau du pont du support flottant,
  • la figure 2A illustre le largage de la bouée d'amarrage en vue de mettre le FPSO à l'abri,
  • la figure 3 représente une vue en coupe selon III-III de la figure 2A au niveau d'un palier de roulement supérieur,
  • la figure 4 représente en coupe et en vue de côté la connexion de la bouée sur le touret au moyen de treuils et de câbles,
  • la figure 5 représente en coupe et en vue de côté le touret et le déballastage au moyen d'une pompe de cale, de la partie supérieure de la bouée correspondant à la chambre des vannes,
  • la figure 6 représente en coupe et en vue de côté le touret et la chambre des vannes en opération continue et rendue accessible aux personnels 102 car elle se trouve alors à la pression atmosphérique,
  • la figure 7 représente en coupe et en vue de côté l'étape initiale de déconnexion de la bouée par rapport au touret par envahissement de la chambre des vannes par de l'eau de mer, en cours de procédure de largage,
  • la figure 8 représente en coupe et en vue de côté les liaisons entre la sous-face du touret et la partie supérieure de la bouée, ainsi que des moyens pour inonder la chambre des vannes par l'eau de mer.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in the light of the detailed description which follows, given in an illustrative and nonlimiting manner, with reference to the drawings in which:
  • the figure 1 represents in section and in side view of a FPSO anchored on a reel within an ice floe,
  • the figure 2 represents in section according to the plan AA of the figure 1 the section of the FPSO, the drum according to the invention, with the mooring system comprising the drum according to the invention, the mooring buoy supporting the anchor lines and the bottom / surface connection pipes, said buoy being connected to the base of the drum, and with the rotary joint connection (3) at the level of the floating support bridge,
  • the Figure 2A illustrates the dropping of the mooring buoy to protect the FPSO,
  • the figure 3 represents a sectional view along III-III of the Figure 2A at the level of an upper rolling bearing,
  • the figure 4 represents in section and in side view the connection of the buoy on the drum by means of winches and cables,
  • the figure 5 represents in section and in side view the drum and deballasting by means of a bilge pump, the upper part of the buoy corresponding to the valve chamber,
  • the figure 6 represents in section and in side view the drum and the valve chamber in continuous operation and made accessible to personnel 10 2 because it is then at atmospheric pressure,
  • the figure 7 represents in section and in side view the initial step of disconnection of the buoy with respect to the reel by invasion of the valve chamber by sea water, during the drop procedure,
  • the figure 8 represents in section and in side view the connections between the underside of the drum and the upper part of the buoy, and means for flooding the valve chamber with seawater.

Sur la figure 1 on a représenté en coupe et en vue de côté, un navire ou support flottant de type FPSO 10 ancré sur un touret système d'amarrage déconnectable 1,2,3 ancré par des lignes d'ancre 13 et relié à des têtes de puits sous-marines, non représentées, par des conduites flexibles 14 en configuration de chaînette plongeante 14à jusqu'à un flotteur 15 en subsurface supportant ledit flexible, ledit flotteur étant maintenu par un câble 15a relié à un corps mort 15b au fond de la mer, puis la dite conduite flexible 14a se prolonge en configuration de chaînette 14b jusqu'au fond de la mer 40, puis jusqu'aux dites têtes de puits. Le FPSO se trouve dans des eaux froides dans lesquelles peuvent se déplacer des icebergs ou une banquise 31 de grande surface et de forte épaisseur flottant à la surface de la mer 32. Dans certaines situations extrêmes, telles des tempêtes ou dans le cas de banquise de forte épaisseur que la proue du navire en forme de brise-glace n'est pas capable de casser lors de sa progression, il est alors nécessaire de déconnecter le FPSO pour le mettre à l'abri en attendant un retour à une situation normale. A cet effet, la partie inférieure 1 du système d'amarrage, appelée communément « spider buoy », c'est-à-dire « bouée araignée », est en fait une bouée annulaire d'amarrage 1 qui peut être déconnectée, de manière connue de l'homme de l'art, en général au niveau du fond du FPSO, ce qui permet de libérer ledit FPSO pour qu'il puisse se mettre à l'abri. Plus particulièrement, la bouée d'amarrage 1 et les sections de conduite 14 immergées sont reliées au fond 2c du touret en sous-face dudit fond par des connecteurs automatiques 7. La flottabilité interne de la bouée annulaire d'amarrage 1 étant ajustée de telle manière que ladite bouée se stabilise à une profondeur H au dessus du fond de la mer, correspondant par exemple à une distance de 100m par rapport à la surface de la mer 32, mettant ainsi l'ensemble des lignes d'ancrage et des flexibles à l'abri, comme représenté sur la même figure 1.On the figure 1 is shown in section and in side view, an FPSO type floating vessel or support 10 anchored on a 1,2,3 disconnectable mooring system drum anchored by anchor lines 13 and connected to wellheads under -marines, not shown, by flexible pipes 14 in a plunging chain configuration 14a to a subsurface float 15 supporting said hose, said float being held by a cable 15a connected to a dead body 15b at the bottom of the sea, then said flexible pipe 14a is extended in chain configuration 14b to the bottom of the sea 40, then to said wellheads. The FPSO is in cold waters in which icebergs or large, large ice sheets floating on the surface of the sea can move. 32 In extreme situations, such as storms or in the case of sea ice. thick that the bow of the ship in the form of icebreaker is not able to break during its progression, it is then necessary to disconnect the FPSO to protect it while waiting for a return to a normal situation. For this purpose, the lower part 1 of the mooring system, commonly called "spider buoy", that is to say "spider buoy" is in fact an annular mooring buoy 1 which can be disconnected, so known to those skilled in the art, generally at the bottom of the FPSO, which allows to release said FPSO so that it can get away. More particularly, the mooring buoy 1 and the submerged pipe sections 14 are connected to the bottom 2c of the drum on the underside of said bottom by automatic connectors 7. The internal buoyancy of the annular mooring buoy 1 being adjusted in such a way that said buoy stabilizes at a depth H above the seabed, corresponding, for example, to a distance of 100 m from the sea surface 32, thereby putting all the lines of anchorage and hoses under cover, as shown on the same figure 1 .

Sur la figure 2, on a représenté l'ensemble du système d'amarrage déconnectable 1, 2, 3 selon la présente invention comportant une bouée d'annulaire d'amarrage 1,

  • ladite bouée d'amarrage étant fixée en-dessous la coque du support flottant, en sous-face du fond 2c du touret 2, ledit touret s'étendant sur toute la hauteur d'une cavité 4 traversant la coque du support flottant sur toute sa hauteur,
  • ledit touret 2 étant articulé en rotation par rapport à ladite coque par l'intermédiaire de 3 paliers de roulement 51, 52, 53 explicités ci-après, permettant la rotation support flottant autour d'un axe vertical ZZ' dudit touret et de ladite cavité sans entraîner la rotation dudit touret 2 et de ladite bouée d'amarrage 1, et
  • ladite bouée d'amarrage permettant la connexion des extrémités supérieures immergées des premières conduites de liaison fond/surface 14 équipées de parties mâles 7a de connecteurs automatiques avec les extrémités inférieures desdites secondes conduites 14c équipées de parties femelles 7b de connecteurs automatiques en sous-face de la paroi de fond du touret, lesdites secondes conduites remontant au sein de la cavité 4 jusqu'à un raccord à joint tournant 3 reposant au niveau du pont 101 de la coque sur la plateforme 21 à l'extrémité supérieure du touret 2.
On the figure 2 , there is shown the entire disconnectable mooring system 1, 2, 3 according to the present invention comprising a mooring annular buoy 1,
  • said mooring buoy being fixed below the hull of the floating support, on the underside of the bottom 2c of the drum 2, said drum extending over the entire height of a cavity 4 passing through the hull of the floating support over its entire height,
  • said drum 2 being articulated in rotation relative to said shell by means of 3 rolling bearings 5 1 , 5 2 , 5 3 explained below, allowing the floating support rotation about a vertical axis ZZ 'of said drum and said cavity without causing rotation of said reel 2 and said mooring buoy 1, and
  • said mooring buoy for connecting the upper immersed ends of the first bottom / surface connection lines 14 equipped with male parts 7a of automatic connectors with the lower ends of said second lines 14c equipped with female parts 7b of automatic connectors on the underside of the bottom wall of the drum, said second pipes going up within the cavity 4 to a swivel joint connection 3 resting at the deck 10 1 of the shell on the platform 2 1 at the upper end of the drum 2.

De façon connue, le raccord à joint tournant 3 est articulé librement en rotation, de manière à autoriser la rotation dudit support flottant sans entraîner la rotation dudit raccord et des conduites qui lui sont raccordées au niveau du support flottant.In known manner, the rotary joint connection 3 is articulated freely in rotation, so as to allow the rotation of said floating support without causing the rotation of said coupling and the pipes which are connected to it at the level of the floating support.

Sur les figures 2 à 8, on a représenté pour plus de clarté, une seule dite seconde conduite 14c traversant l'intérieur du touret depuis une partie femelle 7b de connecteur automatique 7 en sous-face de la paroi de fond 2c du touret.On the Figures 2 to 8 , there is shown for clarity, a single said second conduit 14c passing through the inside of the drum from a female portion 7b of automatic connector 7 on the underside of the bottom wall 2c of the drum.

Sur la figure 2, on a représenté en coupe et en vue de côté la section transversale du FPSO selon le plan AA de la figure 1. Le touret 2 est installé dans une cavité 4, de préférence circulaire, traversant verticalement le FPSO 10 sur toute sa hauteur, depuis le pont 101 jusqu'au fond de sa coque. La partie supérieure de la cavité 4 présente un redan 10a à la partie supérieure 21 du touret. L'eau de mer est présente à l'intérieur de ladite cavité 4 du FPSO et à l'extérieur du touret.On the figure 2 the cross-section of the FPSO is shown in section and in side view according to the plane AA of the figure 1 . The drum 2 is installed in a cavity 4, preferably circular, vertically traversing the FPSO 10 over its entire height, from the deck 1 to the bottom of its hull. The upper part of the cavity 4 has a redan 10a at the upper part 2 1 of the drum. The seawater is present inside said cavity 4 of the FPSO and outside the drum.

Le touret 2 est constitué d'une structure tubulaire rendue étanche à son extrémité inférieure par une paroi de fond 2c et comprenant à son extrémité supérieure une plateforme supérieure 21, de plus grand diamètre que la paroi tubulaire latérale 2, ladite plateforme venant en appui, dans ses parties périphériques dépassant de la paroi tubulaire latérale 2, contre le redan la à l'extrémité supérieure de la cavité 4.The drum 2 consists of a tubular structure sealed at its lower end by a bottom wall 2c and comprising at its upper end an upper platform 2 1 , of larger diameter than the lateral tubular wall 2, said platform being supported , in its peripheral parts protruding from the lateral tubular wall 2, against the redan la at the upper end of the cavity 4.

Le touret comporte 3 paliers de roulement, à savoir :

  • un palier supérieur de supportage 51, et
  • un palier supérieur de guidage latéral 52, et
  • un palier inférieur de guidage latéral 53.
The reel has 3 rolling bearings, namely:
  • an upper support bearing 5 1 , and
  • an upper lateral guide bearing 5 2 , and
  • a lower lateral guide bearing 5 3 .

Lesdits paliers 51, 52, 53 sont des paliers de frottement ou de roulement, de préférence des paliers de roulement. Il peut s'agir plus particulièrement de'rouleaux ou de roulettes intercalés entre :

  • la paroi interne 41 de la cavité 4 et la surface externe de la paroi tubulaire latérale 2, en ce qui concerne les rouleaux ou les roulettes latéraux de guidage 52 et 53, et
  • le redan 10a et la plateforme supérieure 21 du touret 2, en ce qui concerne le palier de supportage 51.
Said bearings 5 1 , 5 2 , 5 3 are friction or rolling bearings, preferably rolling bearings. It may be more particularly rolls or rollers interposed between:
  • the inner wall 4 1 of the cavity 4 and the outer surface of the lateral tubular wall 2, with regard to the rollers or the lateral guide rollers 5 2 and 5 3 , and
  • the redan 10a and the upper platform 2 1 of the drum 2, with regard to the support bearing 5 1 .

On comprend qu'au niveau desdits paliers au moins, ladite structure tubulaire 2 et ladite paroi interne de cavité 41 présentent une section circulaire. Les rouleaux ou roulettes des paliers inférieur et supérieur de guidage latéral 52 et 53 sont plus particulièrement disposés avec leurs axes de rotation en position verticale. Dans le cas du palier supérieur de supportage 51, lesdits rouleaux ou roulettes sont disposés avec leurs axes de rotation en position horizontale en appui sur le redan 1a, la plateforme 21 reposant sur la tranche desdits rouleaux 51.It is understood that the level of said bearings at least said tubular structure 2 and said inner wall 4 of cavity 1 have a circular section. The rollers or rollers of the lower and upper lateral guide bearings 5 2 and 5 3 are more particularly arranged with their axes of rotation in a vertical position. In the case of the upper support bearing 5 1 , said rollers or rollers are arranged with their axes of rotation in a horizontal position bearing on the step 1a, the platform 2 1 resting on the edge of said rollers 5 1 .

A titre d'exemple, pour installer un grand nombre de conduites, de gaz, de produits bruts, d'ombilicaux hydrauliques et de câbles électriques, par exemple 36 ou 48 conduites 14, avec tous leurs éléments de sécurité et de contrôle, le diamètre extérieur de ladite structure tubulaire du touret 2 peut dépasser 25 m, plus particulièrement de 10 à 20m et sa hauteur mouillée est en général supérieure à 20 m, peut atteindre 25 m, voire plus dans le cas où la coque du support flottant s'étend sur une hauteur de 50 m comme dans certains cas.By way of example, to install a large number of pipes, gases, raw products, hydraulic umbilicals and electrical cables, for example 36 or 48 conduits 14, with all their security and control elements, the diameter outside said tubular structure of the drum 2 may exceed 25 m, more particularly from 10 to 20 m and its wet height is generally greater than 20 m, can reach 25 m, or more in the case where the hull of the floating support extends on a height of 50 m as in some cases.

Lorsque le navire est fortement sollicité, soit par la banquise, soit par la houle, le vent ou le courant son système d'ancrage lié à bouée annulaire d'amarrage 1 le maintient en position. Étant donné les dimensions importantes du FPSO, les efforts de réaction de l'ancrage créent des variations de la tension horizontale F considérables au niveau de l'embase du touret, pouvant atteindre 5000 à 7500 tonnes dans le cas d'une banquise progressant perpendiculairement au bordé du FPSO, et de 1500 à 3000 tonnes en conditions extrêmes de houle, de vent et de courant. Ces efforts horizontaux sont directement transmis par la bouée annulaire d'amarrage à ladite embase du touret.When the ship is under heavy stress, either by ice, wave, wind or current, its anchoring system connected to annular mooring buoy 1 keeps it in position. Given the large dimensions of the FPSO, the anchor reaction forces create considerable variations in the horizontal tension F at the level of the drum base, which can reach 5000 to 7500 tonnes in the case of a pack ice progressing perpendicular to the bordered by the FPSO, and 1500 to 3000 tons in extreme conditions of swell, wind and current. These horizontal forces are directly transmitted by the annular mooring buoy to said base of the drum.

Sur la figure 4, on a représenté en coupe au niveau du plan AA de la figure 1, la phase de connexion de la bouée annulaire sur le touret. Des câbles 20b, au minimum deux câbles, de préférence trois câbles, de préférence régulièrement et uniformément répartis à l'intérieur dudit touret contre la surface cylindrique interne de la paroi de la structure tubulaire 2, sont reliés à des treuils 20a, solidaires du touret et installés en partie haute, largement au dessus de la ligne de flottaison 32, de préférence sur la plateforme 21. Lesdits câbles 20b traversent une conduite verticale ou tube de guidage 20c, cette dernière dépassant de plusieurs mètres, par exemple 5m, le niveau maximal de la houle maximale venant frapper le bordé du navire, ce dit niveau maximal étant largement au dessus du niveau de la mer au repos 32 tel que représenté sur ladite figure 4. Ladite conduite de guidage 20c s'étend verticalement vers le bas et traverse de manière étanche le fond 2c du touret 2. Ainsi, le niveau de l'eau de mer à l'intérieur des conduites de guidage 20c reste sensiblement le même qu'au niveau du bordé du navire, c'est-à-dire au niveau H0 correspondant, sur ladite figure, au niveau de la mer 32 : en cas de houle importante ou de tempête, le niveau de l'eau dans ladite conduite 20c ne peut pas atteindre le sommet de ladite conduite, et l'eau de mer ne risque ainsi pas d'envahir l'intérieur du touret 2. La bouée annulaire étant en position de repos à une altitude H au dessus du fond de la mer, comme représenté sur la figure 1, le FPSO se positionne sensiblement à la verticale de ladite bouée annulaire et un ROV (sous-marin automatique d'intervention piloté depuis la surface) vient connecter sur ladite bouée, l'extrémité des câbles 20b descendu à la profondeur désirée par dévirage des treuils 20a. La bouée est ensuite relevée vers le fond du touret par enroulement synchronisé de tous les treuils, jusqu'à ce que la partie supérieure de la bouée annulaire vienne en contact avec la partie inférieure du touret. A cet effet, des moyens de guidage 21 représentés sur la figure 8, solidaires dudit touret, réalisent le centrage de la bouée annulaire 1 par rapport au touret, facilitant ainsi la connexion des parties mâle 7a et femelle 7b des connecteurs automatiques 7. Un joint circulaire en élastomère 100, solidaire de la bouée annulaire est comprimé entre la sous face du touret et la partie supérieure de la bouée annulaire, un taquet 101 solidaire de ladite bouée annulaire, limite l'écrasement dudit joint et assure le transfert de charge vertical entre ladite bouée annulaire et le touret.On the figure 4 , is shown in section at the level of the plane AA of the figure 1 , the connection phase of the ring buoy on the drum. Cables 20b, at least two cables, preferably three cables, preferably evenly and uniformly distributed inside said drum against the internal cylindrical surface of the wall of the structure tubular 2, are connected to winches 20a, secured to the drum and installed in the upper part, largely above the waterline 32, preferably on the platform 2 1 . Said cables 20b pass through a vertical pipe or guide tube 20c, the latter exceeding by several meters, for example 5m, the maximum level of the maximum swell striking the side of the ship, said maximum level being well above the level of the sea at rest 32 as represented on said figure 4 . Said guide duct 20c extends vertically downwards and passes in a sealed manner to the bottom 2c of the drum 2. Thus, the level of the seawater inside the guiding ducts 20c remains substantially the same as in level of the side of the ship, that is to say at the corresponding H 0 level, in said figure, at sea level 32: in case of heavy swell or storm, the water level in said pipe 20c can not reach the top of the pipe, and the seawater is not likely to invade the interior of the drum 2. The ring buoy being in the rest position at an altitude H above the sea floor, as represented on the figure 1 , the FPSO is positioned substantially vertically to said annular buoy and a ROV (automatic submarine intervention driven from the surface) is connected to said buoy, the end of the cables 20b down to the desired depth by unscrewing the winches 20a. The buoy is then raised towards the bottom of the drum by synchronized winding of all the winches, until the upper part of the ring buoy comes into contact with the lower part of the drum. For this purpose, guide means 21 represented on the figure 8 , integral with said drum, perform the centering of the annular buoy 1 with respect to the drum, thus facilitating the connection of the male parts 7a and female 7b of the automatic connectors 7. A circular elastomer seal 100, integral with the annular buoy is compressed between the under the face of the drum and the upper part of the annular buoy, a tab 101 integral with said annular buoy, limits the crushing of said seal and ensures the vertical load transfer between said ring buoy and the drum.

Ces taquets 101 sont appliqués contre la surface externe de la structure tubulaire étanche 2 et s'étendent dessous celle-ci, c'est-à-dire dessous le niveau du fond 2c de la structure tubulaire 2, de manière à permettre la reprise des efforts horizontaux subis par la bouée d'amarrage 2.These cleats 101 are applied against the outer surface of the tubular waterproof structure 2 and extend below it, that is to say below the level of the bottom 2c of the tubular structure 2, so as to allow the recovery of horizontal forces experienced by the mooring buoy 2.

La partie supérieure de la bouée d'amarrage 1 est constituée par une paroi tubulaire supérieure 1a, de préférence à section circulaire, délimitant une chambre 30 renfermant les extrémités supérieures des premières conduites 14 traversant le fond 30a de la chambre 30. Lesdites extrémités supérieures des premières conduites 14 et extrémités inférieures des secondes conduites 14c sont équipées de vannes 8 et respectivement 8b et partie mâle 7a et respectivement partie femelle 7b de connecteurs automatiques 7. Le joint torique 100 est appliqué sur le bord supérieur 1b constituant la tranche de la paroi tubulaire supérieure 1a de la bouée d'amarrage 1.The upper part of the mooring buoy 1 is constituted by an upper tubular wall 1a, preferably of circular section, delimiting a chamber 30 enclosing the upper ends of the first conduits 14 passing through the bottom 30a of the chamber 30. Said upper ends of the first ducts 14 and lower ends of the second ducts 14c are equipped with valves 8 and 8b respectively and 7a male part and female 7b respectively of automatic connectors 7. The O-ring 100 is applied to the upper edge 1b constituting the edge of the tubular wall upper 1a of the mooring buoy 1.

Les vannes 8 et parties mâles 7a de connecteurs automatiques 7 à l'extrémité supérieure des premières conduites 14 sont supportées par le fond 30a de la chambre des vannes 30.The valves 8 and male parts 7a of automatic connectors 7 at the upper end of the first conduits 14 are supported by the bottom 30a of the valve chamber 30.

Les vannes 8b et parties femelles 7b de connecteurs automatiques 7 à l'extrémité inférieure des secondes conduites 14c sont supportées par la paroi de fond 2c du touret.The valves 8b and female portions 7b of automatic connectors 7 at the lower end of the second conduits 14c are supported by the bottom wall 2c of the drum.

La bouée d'amarrage 1 comporte une partie inférieure 1c formant un caisson annulaire constituant un flotteur en sous-face de la paroi de fond 30a de la chambre des vannes 30.The mooring buoy 1 comprises a lower portion 1c forming an annular box constituting a float on the underside of the bottom wall 30a of the chamber 30 of the valves.

Lorsque l'accostage de la bouée annulaire sur le touret est terminé, la tension est maintenue dans les câbles 20b, et l'on effectue le déballastage de la chambre de vannes 30 comme détaillé sur la figure 5.When the docking of the ring buoy on the drum is completed, the tension is maintained in the cables 20b, and the deballasting of the valve chamber 30 is carried out as detailed on the figure 5 .

A cet effet, une pompe 22 aspire l'eau à travers une conduite d'aspiration 22a traversant de manière étanche le fond 2c du touret et rejetant l'eau à la mer par le biais de la conduite de refoulement 22b traversant de manière étanche le touret 2. Au début du pompage, l'eau à l'intérieur des conduites de guidage 20c se trouve au niveau H0, correspondant sensiblement au niveau de la mer, mais dès que la pompe aura évacué quelques centaines de litres, l'eau va atteindre le niveau H2, car le diamètre requis pour les conduites est lié au diamètre des câbles de relevage 20b et est avantageusement réduit au minimum. A titre d'exemple, une conduite de guidage de 300mm de diamètre interne et une hauteur H0-H2 de 20m, à l'intérieur de laquelle est installé un câble de levage de 150mm de diamètre correspond à un volume d'eau d'environ 1m3, c'est-à-dire un volume global de 4m3 environ pour un système de levage à quatre brins. Une pompe de déballastage de 500m3/h vidangera ainsi l'intégralité de la hauteur desdites conduites de guidage en environ 30 secondes, puis commencera ensuite à vidanger la chambre des vannes dont le volume est d'environ 2 000 m3 pour une chambre de 5 m de hauteur et de 22,5 m de diamètre.For this purpose, a pump 22 draws water through a suction pipe 22a sealingly through the bottom 2c of the drum and discharging the water at sea through the discharge pipe 22b sealingly through the drum 2. At the beginning of the pumping, the water inside the guide pipes 20c is at the level H 0 , corresponding substantially at sea level, but as soon as the pump has evacuated a few hundred liters, the water will reach the level H 2 , because the diameter required for the pipes is related to the diameter of the lifting cables 20b and is advantageously reduced to a minimum . For example, a guiding pipe of 300 mm internal diameter and a height H 0 -H 2 of 20m, inside which is installed a lifting cable of 150mm in diameter corresponds to a volume of water d about 1m3, i.e., an overall volume of about 4m3 for a four-strand lifting system. A deballasting pump of 500m3 / h will thus empty the entire height of the said guide pipes in approximately 30 seconds, and then begin to empty the valve chamber whose volume is approximately 2,000 m3 for a 5m chamber. height and 22.5 m in diameter.

Ainsi après évacuation des premiers 4 m3 d'eau, donc après environ 30 secondes, la bouée annulaire se trouve plaquée en sous face du touret avec une force verticale dirigée vers le haut correspondant à la section de la surface intérieure S délimitée par le joint d'étanchéité 100 multiplié par la pression hydrostatique correspondant au niveau H2, c'est-à-dire correspondant au poids du volume d'eau V=Sx(H0-H2). A titre d'exemple, la bouée annulaire précédemment décrite possédant une chambre de vannes de 22,5 m de diamètre au niveau du joint d'étanchéité 100, et située à une profondeur H2=20m, ce qui correspond sensiblement à une pression de 2 bars, se trouve plaquée contre le touret avec une force verticale dirigée vers le haut de 8000 tonnes environ. Lorsque la chambre des vannes 30 est vide, elle se trouve à la pression atmosphérique et est rendue accessible par un trou d'homme 24 muni d'une trappe étanche 24a en position fermée lorsque la bouée annulaire est déconnectée, ou que la chambre des vannes est en cours de purge ou de remplissage.Thus after evacuation of the first 4 m3 of water, so after about 30 seconds, the ring buoy is placed under the face of the drum with a vertical force directed upwards corresponding to the section of the inner surface S delimited by the seal sealing 100 multiplied by the hydrostatic pressure corresponding to the level H 2 , that is to say corresponding to the weight of the water volume V = Sx (H 0 -H 2 ). By way of example, the annular buoy previously described has a chamber of valves 22.5 m in diameter at the level of the seal 100, and located at a depth H 2 = 20 m, which corresponds substantially to a pressure of 2 bars, is pressed against the drum with a vertical force upwards of about 8000 tons. When the valve chamber 30 is empty, it is at atmospheric pressure and is made accessible by a manhole 24 provided with a sealed hatch 24a in the closed position when the ring buoy is disconnected, or that the valve chamber is being purged or refilled.

Lorsque la chambre des vannes 30 est purgée, les câbles de levage ne sont plus nécessaires et sont de préférence déconnectés pour faciliter ultérieurement le largage de la bouée annulaire en cas de nécessité. On dispose avantageusement en sous face du touret un dispositif de verrou de sûreté représenté sur la figure 8 consistant, par exemple en une partie mobile articulée 102 solidaire de ladite sous face du touret, coopérant avec un taquet 101 solidaire de la bouée annulaire, ledit taquet étant par exemple commun avec la butée limitant l'écrasement du joint 100 en élastomère. Ainsi, en cas d'envahissement de la chambre des vannes, la perte de flottabilité de la bouée annulaire sera compensée par les verrous de sûreté et il n'y aura pas de risques de largage inopiné et destructeur de ladite bouée annulaire.When the valve chamber 30 is purged, the hoisting ropes are no longer necessary and are preferably disconnected to further facilitate the release of the ring buoy when necessary. Advantageously, under the face of the drum there is a safety lock device represented on the figure 8 consisting, for example in an articulated movable portion 102 secured to said underside of the drum, cooperating with a tab 101 integral with the annular buoy, said tab being for example common with the stop limiting the crushing of the elastomer seal 100. Thus, in the event of flooding of the valve chamber, the loss of buoyancy of the ring buoy will be compensated by the safety locks and there will be no risk of unintended and destructive release of said ring buoy.

En cas de nécessité de déconnexion du FPSO, par exemple en raison d'une tempête, d'un iceberg ou d'une banquise menaçant l'ensemble des installations, on effectue avantageusement la déconnexion selon la procédure préférée suivante décrite en référence aux figures 7 et 8 :

  • on ferme de manière étanche la trappe d'accès 24b à la chambre des vannes, et
  • les câbles de levage 20b sont déconnectés de la bouée annulaire et le cas échéant sortis intégralement des conduites guides 20c, les verrous de sûreté 102 étant toujours enclenchés, on ouvre la vanne 25 qui met en communication, par le biais des conduites de remplissage 25a-25b traversant respectivement la paroi latérale tubulaire 2 en partie basse du touret et la paroi de fond 2c du touret, la mer et ladite chambre des vannes, et ainsi commence le remplissage de la chambre des vannes, les tubes guides 20c servant d'évent en maintenant la chambre des vannes sensiblement à la pression atmosphérique pendant tout ledit remplissage, et
  • on arrête le remplissage en refermant la vanne 25, lorsque la chambre des vannes est intégralement remplie, ce qui représente un volume d'eau de mer d'environ 2000m3 dans l'exemple précédemment décrit, c'est à dire lorsque la cote H2 du niveau de l'eau à l'intérieur de la chambre des vannes est atteinte.
In case of necessity of disconnection of the FPSO, for example due to a storm, an iceberg or an ice pack threatening all the installations, the disconnection is advantageously carried out according to the following preferred procedure described with reference to the figures 7 and 8 :
  • the access hatch 24b is sealed in the chamber of the valves, and
  • the hoisting ropes 20b are disconnected from the annular buoy and if necessary completely out of the guide ducts 20c, the safety latches 102 always being engaged, the valve 25 is opened which puts in communication, via the filling lines 25a 25b respectively passing through the tubular side wall 2 at the bottom of the drum and the bottom wall 2c of the drum, the sea and said valve chamber, and thus begins the filling of the valve chamber, the guide tubes 20c serving as a vent in maintaining the valve chamber substantially at atmospheric pressure throughout said filling, and
  • the filling is stopped by closing the valve 25, when the valve chamber is completely filled, which represents a volume of sea water of about 2000 m 3 in the example previously described, ie when the H2 level of the water level inside the valve chamber is reached.

Dans cette position, la bouée annulaire se trouve toujours maintenue en position par la poussée hydrostatique (F=poids du volume d'eau V2=Sx(H0-H2)), et le processus de largage est réversible par simple vidange de la chambre comme expliqué précédemment en référence à la figure 3. Durant cette phase de remplissage qui peut durer de 10 à 45 minutes en fonction du nombre de vannes 25 et conduites de remplissage 25a-25b et de leurs diamètres respectifs, on dépressurise avantageusement toutes les conduites flexibles jusqu'aux têtes de puits, et plus particulièrement les conduites de gaz sous très forte pression, dont on envoie le gaz vers la torchère du FPSO pour y être brûlé.In this position, the ring buoy is always held in position by the hydrostatic thrust (F = weight of the volume of water V 2 = Sx (H 0 -H 2 )), and the release process is reversible by simple emptying of the chamber as explained above with reference to the figure 3 . During this filling phase, which can last from 10 to 45 minutes depending on the number of valves 25 and filling lines 25a-25b and their respective diameters, all the flexible pipes are advantageously depressurized up to the wellheads, and more particularly the gas lines under very high pressure, the gas is sent to the flare of the FPSO to be burned.

Lorsque la déconnexion est confirmée de manière définitive :

  • on déverrouille les verrous de sûreté 102 en les faisant pivoter de leur position engagée 102a à leur position rétractée 102b, et
  • on ouvre en grand au moins l'une des vannes 25 de manière à finir le remplissage des tubes guides 20c, ce qui représente un volume faible, de l'ordre quelques m3 dans l'exemple décrit précédemment.
When the disconnection is definitively confirmed:
  • the safety latches 102 are unlocked by pivoting them from their engaged position 102a to their retracted position 102b, and
  • one opens at least one of the valves 25 so as to complete the filling of the guide tubes 20c, which represents a low volume, of the order a few m 3 in the example described above.

Dès que le niveau H1 est atteint, la flottabilité de la bouée annulaire est réduite de la valeur F3=Poids du volume d'eau V3=Sx(H0-H3) à la valeur F1=Poids du volume d'eau V1=Sx(H0-H1). Lorsque le poids propre de l'ensemble constitué de la bouée annulaire déjaugée, des conduites flexibles et des ancrages dépasse la valeur de F1, la bouée annulaire commence à se libérer naturellement du touret et du fait que ladite bouée annulaire commence sa descente vers le bas, le joint 100 n'est plus étanche et laisse alors entre l'eau de mer avec un débit quasi-infini. Instantanément, la bouée annulaire se retrouve avec un niveau hydrostatique correspondant au niveau de la mer, c'est-à-dire au niveau H0, et ladite bouée annulaire se trouve précipité vers le bas avec une force considérable correspondant à son poids propre, c'est-à-dire 500-1500 tonnes, libérant ainsi le FPSO de son ancrage sur touret, de manière quasi-instantanée.As soon as the level H 1 is reached, the buoyancy of the ring buoy is reduced by the value F 3 = Weight of the volume of water V 3 = Sx (H 0 -H 3 ) to the value F 1 = Weight of the volume of the water V 1 = S x (H 0 -H 1 ). When the self-weight of the assembly consisting of the annular buoy, flexible pipes and anchorages exceeds the value of F 1 , the ring buoy begins to naturally release the drum and that the ring buoy begins its descent to the bottom, the seal 100 is no longer waterproof and then leaves between the sea water with a flow almost infinite. Instantly, the ring buoy is found with a hydrostatic level corresponding to the sea level, that is to say at the level H0, and said ring buoy is precipitated down with a considerable force corresponding to its own weight, c that is to say, 500-1500 tons, thus freeing the FPSO from its anchorage on a drum, almost instantaneously.

Cette phase ultime, entre son déclenchement et son résultat, nécessitant le transfert de 3-4m3 dans l'exemple précédemment décrit pour remplir les conduites de guidage 20c jouant le rôle d'évents, ne prend que quelques secondes, voire quelques dizaines de secondes dans le pire des cas. En effet, lorsque le niveau hydrostatique H1 est atteint, la bouée annulaire commence sa descente, mais le joint 100 étant dans un état comprimé est toujours étanche. Pour continuer le processus de largage, il convient de continuer l'entrée d'eau jusqu'à ce que le joint soit décomprimé et commence à laisser passer l'eau de mer, ce qui provoque alors le largage brutal de la bouée annulaire. A titre d'exemple, un joint comprimé sur une épaisseur de 25mm, nécessitera, dans l'exemple précédemment cité d'une chambre des vannes de 22.5 m de diamètre un apport complémentaire d'eau de mer d'environ 10m3, ce qui n'augmente pas radicalement le temps de déconnexion.This ultimate phase, between its trigger and its result, requiring the transfer of 3-4m3 in the previously described example to fill the guide ducts 20c acting as vents, takes only a few seconds, or even a few tens of seconds in the worst of cases. Indeed, when the hydrostatic level H 1 is reached, the ring buoy begins its descent, but the seal 100 being in a compressed state is always sealed. To continue the process of dropping, it is necessary to continue the entry of water until the seal is decompressed and begins to let the sea water, which then causes the sudden release of the ring buoy. By way of example, a gasket with a thickness of 25 mm will require, in the above-mentioned example of a chamber with valves of 22.5 m in diameter, a complementary supply of seawater of approximately 10 m 3, which does not dramatically increase the disconnection time.

On peut également réaliser le remplissage de la chambre de vannes 30 à l'aide de vannes 26 et conduites de remplissage latérales 26a-26b traversant ladite paroi tubulaire supérieure la de la bouée d'amarrage 1, comme représenté sur la figure 8.It is also possible to fill the valve chamber 30 with valves 26 and lateral filling lines 26a-26b passing through said upper tubular wall 1a of the mooring buoy 1, as shown in FIG. figure 8 .

Pour obtenir une déconnexion quasi-instantanée on peut utiliser avantageusement une trappe étanche de grandes dimensions 103 maintenue en position fermée 103b en opération normale et en phase préliminaire de déconnexion par un dispositif de gâchette, ou par des boulons explosifs, non représentés, puis actionnés à distance de manière connue pour libérer ladite trappe étanche, laquelle en position 103a laisse alors librement passer l'eau de mer. Le largage est alors quasiment instantané.To obtain an almost instantaneous disconnection, it is advantageous to use a large-sized sealed trapdoor 103 held in the closed position 103b in normal operation and in the preliminary disconnection phase by a trigger device, or by explosive bolts, not shown, and then actuated at distance in a known manner to release said sealed door, which in position 103a then let the seawater pass freely. The release is then almost instantaneous.

Dans la description qui précède, on a décrit ladite paroi supérieure tubulaire 1a de la bouée d'amarrage comme étant définie par une surface cylindrique d'axe vertical ZZ', de préférence à section circulaire. Mais on comprend que ladite paroi tubulaire supérieure la peut être définie par une surface de révolution d'axe vertical ZZ' dont la génératrice droite est inclinée par rapport à l'axe ZZ', ladite paroi tubulaire supérieure présentant alors une forme tronconique, ou encore ladite génératrice peut être courbe, l'essentiel étant de définir une paroi latérale dont le bord supérieur 1b est apte à venir en contact avec la sous-face de la paroi de fond 2c du touret 2, d'une part, et, d'autre part, dont l'extrémité inférieure soit assemblée de manière étanche sur la périphérie de la paroi de fond 30a de la chambre 30, de manière à définir une chambre des vannes 30 étanche lorsque le bord supérieur de la paroi latérale de ladite chambre des vannes rentre en contact avec la paroi de fond 2c du touret 2.In the foregoing description, said tubular upper wall 1a of the mooring buoy has been described as being defined by a cylindrical surface of vertical axis ZZ ', preferably with section circular. But it is understood that said upper tubular wall la can be defined by a surface of revolution of vertical axis ZZ 'whose right generator is inclined relative to the axis ZZ', said upper tubular wall then having a frustoconical shape, or said generator may be curved, the essential point being to define a side wall whose upper edge 1b is adapted to come into contact with the underside of the bottom wall 2c of the drum 2, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, the lower end of which is sealingly connected to the periphery of the bottom wall 30a of the chamber 30 so as to define a chamber of the sealed valves when the upper edge of the side wall of said valve chamber comes into contact with the bottom wall 2c of the drum 2.

Dans les descriptions des diverses figures, les treuils 20a sont installés au niveau du pont du FPSO et les câbles de levage 20b correspondants traversent les conduites de guidage 20c, ces derniers jouant aussi le rôle d'évent, mais on reste dans l'esprit de l'invention si l'on intègre les treuils dans la structure du touret au niveau de son fond. Les treuils sont alors directement dans l'eau et les câbles connectés directement à la bouée : on dispose alors au moins une conduite 20c qui alors n'a qu'un rôle d'évent.In the descriptions of the various figures, the winches 20a are installed at the level of the FPSO bridge and the corresponding lifting cables 20b pass through the guide ducts 20c, the latter also acting as a vent, but it remains in the spirit of the invention if we integrate the winches in the structure of the drum at its bottom. The winches are then directly into the water and the cables connected directly to the buoy: then there is at least one pipe 20c which then has a role of vent.

Claims (15)

  1. An oil production floating support (10) including a disconnectable mooring system (1, 2, 3) of anchor lines (13) anchored to the bottom of the sea and of bottom-to-surface connection pipes (14, 14c), the support comprising:
    · a mooring buoy (1) for said anchor lines (13) and first bottom-to-surface connection pipes (14, 14a, 14b) extending from said buoy, to which they are moored, down to the bottom of the sea, said buoy preferably being an annular buoy; and
    · a turret (2) extending in a through cavity (4) passing along the entire height of the hull of the floating support, said mooring buoy being fastened under the hull of the floating support to said turret (2), said turret co-operating with the hull within said through cavity (4) passing along the entire height of the hull of the floating support, said turret being rotatably mounted relative to said hull by means of at least one rolling or friction bearing (51, 52, 53) situated above the water line and/or out of the water, preferably a rolling bearing, so as to allow said floating support to turn about a substantially vertical axis (ZZ') of said turret and of said cavity without causing said mooring buoy to turn relative to the same vertical axis (ZZ'); and
    · said turret including at least one watertight tubular structure (2, 2a), preferably of circular section about said vertical axis (ZZ'), having a bottom wall (2c) assembled in watertight manner to the bottom end of the tubular side wall of said tubular structure; and
    · second connection pipes (14c) between the top ends of said first bottom-to-surface connection pipes (14, 14a, 14b) and the deck (101) of the floating support, passing in watertight manner through the bottom (2c) of the turret (2) and rising within the cavity (4) to a coupling (3) for coupling a plurality of said second pipes (14c), said coupling (3) being secured to the floating support preferably at the level of the deck (101) of the floating support, said coupling being of the rotary joint coupling type and being rotatably mounted so as to allow said floating support to turn without turning said coupling;
    the support being characterized in that:
    · said mooring buoy comprises a top tubular wall (1a) having said valves (8) situated therein preferably together with connectors (7), said tubular top wall (1a) of the buoy co-operating with the bottom wall (2c) of said turret to define a watertight chamber (30) referred to as a "valve" chamber when the top edge (1b) of said tubular top wall of the buoy is pressed against the bottom wall (2c) of said turret, against the underface thereof; and
    · said floating support includes a connection/ disconnection system for connecting/disconnecting said mooring buoy relative to said bottom wall (2c) of the turret, said system comprising:
    · a plurality of links (20b) such as hoist cables fastened to said mooring buoy, preferably to the top edge (1b) of said tubular top wall (1a) of the mooring buoy, said links preferably extending inside the turret and passing through the bottom wall (2c) of the turret in leaktight manner; and
    · at least one vent tube (20c) extending vertically inside the turret from a level above the water line to the bottom wall (2c) of the turret and passing through the bottom wall in watertight manner; and
    · pump means (22) for pumping the water in said valve chamber (30) when said tubular top wall (1a) of the buoy is pressed against said bottom of the turret; and
    · the dead weight of said mooring buoy (1) and of said first bottom-to-surface connection pipes (14a, 14b) and of the anchor lines (13) being less than the weight of the volume of water corresponding to the volume V=S× (H0-H2), in which:
    · H0 is the height of the water at the water line;
    · H2 is the height of the top edge (1b) of said top tubular wall of the buoy in contact with the bottom wall (2c) of the turret; and
    · S is the area of the cross-section of said top tubular wall (1a).
  2. A floating support according to claim 1, characterized in that said plurality of said hoist cables extends from winches (20a) preferably located on the deck of the ship or at the top of said turret, above the water line (32), said cables where appropriate extending inside a plurality of said vent tubes (20c) extending vertically inside the turret from a level above the water line down to the bottom (2c) of the turret through which they pass in watertight manner.
  3. A floating support according to claim 2, characterized in that it includes at least three said cables (20b) and at least three said vent tubes (20c) preferably disposed symmetrically about the center of the circular bottom (2c) of said turret, and preferably along and close to the inside surface of said tubular structure (2, 2b) of said turret, the bottom ends (20d) of said cables (20b) being fastened to the top edge (1b) of said top tubular wall (1a) of said buoy.
  4. A floating support according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the diameter of said vent tubes (20c) and the immersion depth H0-H2 of the bottom wall (2c) of the turret on which said vent tubes rest are such that the inside volume of the vent tubes is less than 15 m3, preferably less than 5 m3, for a turret having an immersed height H0-H2 within said cavity of at least 20 m, and more particularly preferably of 20 m to 50 m.
  5. A floating support according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said top tubular wall (1a) of the buoy includes at its bottom end a bottom wall (30a) to which it is assembled in watertight manner, forming the bottom wall of the valve chamber supporting said valves (8) and/or automatic connector portions (7a), and in its bottom portion the buoy includes an annular buoyancy tank (1c) constituting a float against the underface of the bottom wall (30a) of the valve chamber.
  6. A floating support according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it includes a pump (22) situated in the bottom portion inside said watertight tubular structure constituting the turret (2), said pump co-operating with a suction pipe (22a) passing in watertight manner through said bottom wall (2c) of the turret, said suction pipe coming close to the bottom wall (30a) of said valve chamber (30) when it is in position pressed against said bottom wall (2c) of the turret, and said pump (22) co-operating with a delivery pipe (22b) passing through the tubular side wall of said watertight tubular structure (2) constituting the turret, preferably in the bottom portion of said turret, and opening out into said cavity (4).
  7. A floating support according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it includes centering posts (21) applied against the outside surface of the tubular wall of the turret and extending below said bottom wall (2c) of the turret, preferably being placed uniformly and regularly around said bottom.
  8. A floating support according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it includes reversible mechanical retaining means (101, 102) for retaining said mooring buoy against the underface of the bottom (2c) of said turret.
  9. A floating support according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said tubular top wall (1a) of said buoy has an annular gasket (100) on its top edge (1b), and has protective posts or abutments (101) on its inside face for limiting the flattening of said gasket and for transferring vertical loads between said annular buoy and the turret when said mooring buoy is pressed against the bottom wall (2c) of said turret, said annular gasket (100) being compressed between the underface of the bottom wall (2c) of said turret and the top edge (1b) of the tubular top wall (1a) of said mooring buoy, said protective post (101) being suitable for co-operating with a hinged movable safety latch (102) secured to the underface of the bottom wall (2c) of said turret, whereby said mooring buoy (1) is secured to said turret when said safety latch (102) is engaged under said protective post (101).
  10. A floating support according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said top tubular wall of the buoy and/or the tubular side wall of the watertight tubular structure of said turret include(s) a filler valve (25-26) co-operating with filler pipes (25a-25b and 26a-26b) for putting sea water into communication with the inside of said valve chamber (30), and said tubular wall (1a) of said valve chamber (30) preferably includes a watertight hatch (103) of large dimensions suitable for enabling said valve chamber to be filled almost instantaneously by sea water when said hatch is opened.
  11. A floating support according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the bottom wall (2c) of the turret includes an inspection hatch (24, 24a) for inspecting said valve chamber.
  12. A method of operating a floating support according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a said mooring buoy (1) is connected to the underface against the bottom wall (2c) of a said turret by performing the following steps:
    a) immersing a said mooring buoy, said buoy having said first bottom-to-surface connection pipe (14) and anchor lines (13) moored thereto; and
    b) securing the bottom ends(20d)of hoist cables to said mooring buoy, said floating support being positioned in such a manner that said mooring buoy is substantially on the vertical axis (ZZ') of said cavity; and
    c) actuating said winches to raise said mooring buoy until the top edge (1b) of said tubular top wall (1a) of the mooring buoy is pressed against the underface of the bottom wall (2c) of said turret, thereby forming a said valve chamber (30) that is filled with sea water, said vent tubes (20c) also being filled with sea water up to a height H0 corresponding substantially to the level of the water surface at the water line (32); and
    d) pumping out the water inside said valve chamber (30) using said pump means (22) until the level of water in said vent tubes is less than the height H1, preferably less than or equal to the height H2, where the height H1 is such that the weight of the volume V1 of water, where V1=S×(H0-H1), is equal at least to the weight of the assembly of said mooring buoy (1) and of said connection pipes (14) and said anchor lines (13); and
    e) preferably completely emptying said valve chamber (30) and then making it watertight.
  13. A method according to claim 12, characterized in that after said valve chamber has been emptied, the bottom ends of said hoist cables (20b) are detached from said mooring buoy, and preferably retaining means (101, 102) for mechanically retaining said mooring buoy are engaged, thereby securing the buoy to the bottom wall (2c) of said turret, preferably using a hinged movable safety latch (102) suitable for co-operating with protective posts (101) preventing an annular gasket (100) that is compressed between the top edge (1b) of the tubular top wall (1a) of the mooring buoy and the underface of the bottom wall (2c) of the turret from being flattened.
  14. A method of operating a floating support according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein it is disconnected from a said mooring buoy (1) connected to a said turret (2), wherein after the bottom ends of said hoist cables (20b) have been separated from said mooring buoy (1), the method comprising the following steps:
    a) causing water to enter into the valve chamber (30), so that the water level in said vent tubes (20c) comes to above said level H1; and
    b) where appropriate, releasing the automatic connectors (7) between said first and second pipes and releasing said mechanical retaining means (101, 102) in order to separate said mooring buoy mechanically from said bottom wall (2c) of the turret.
  15. A method according to claim 14, characterized in that the following steps are performed:
    a) preferably, and where appropriate, depressurizing said first and second bottom-to-surface connection pipes; and
    b) filling said valve chamber (30) up to said height H2 of the underface of the bottom wall of the turret, and stopping filling as soon as said valve chamber (30) is completely full of water; and
    c) releasing the automatic connectors (7) between said first and second pipes; and
    d) releasing, where appropriate, said mechanical safety latches (102); and
    e) continuing to fill said valve chamber so as to fill the vent tubes (20c) up to said height H1.
EP09727235A 2008-03-21 2009-03-18 Support including a reel having a docking buoy for detachable bottom/surface linking duct Active EP2252500B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0851833A FR2928898B1 (en) 2008-03-21 2008-03-21 FLOATING SUPPORT COMPRISING A TURRET EQUIPPED WITH A MOORING BUOY FOR DOWNLINK / DECKABLE SURFACE LINK PIPES
PCT/FR2009/050454 WO2009122099A1 (en) 2008-03-21 2009-03-18 Support including a reel having a docking buoy for detachable bottom/surface linking duct

Publications (2)

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EP2252500A1 EP2252500A1 (en) 2010-11-24
EP2252500B1 true EP2252500B1 (en) 2011-11-30

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EP09727235A Active EP2252500B1 (en) 2008-03-21 2009-03-18 Support including a reel having a docking buoy for detachable bottom/surface linking duct

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US (1) US8342777B2 (en)
EP (1) EP2252500B1 (en)
KR (1) KR101348574B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE535439T1 (en)
CA (1) CA2714637C (en)
FR (1) FR2928898B1 (en)
RU (1) RU2492101C2 (en)
WO (1) WO2009122099A1 (en)

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RU2010131829A (en) 2012-04-27
US8342777B2 (en) 2013-01-01
US20110110724A1 (en) 2011-05-12
CA2714637C (en) 2014-01-28
ATE535439T1 (en) 2011-12-15
CA2714637A1 (en) 2009-10-08
WO2009122099A1 (en) 2009-10-08
FR2928898A1 (en) 2009-09-25
EP2252500A1 (en) 2010-11-24
KR101348574B1 (en) 2014-01-07
KR20100124734A (en) 2010-11-29
RU2492101C2 (en) 2013-09-10
FR2928898B1 (en) 2010-04-16

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