Methods of assembling floating offshore structures

(19)

(11)

EP 0 908 382 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	11.08.1999 Bulletin 1999/32

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	14.04.1999 Bulletin 1999/15

(21)	Application number: 98307473.3

(22)	Date of filing: 15.09.1998

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁶: B63B 35/44, B63B 9/06

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30)

Priority:

16.09.1997 US 931461

(71)	Applicants:
	Deep Oil Technology, Incorporated Houston, Texas 77079-1709 (US) Spars International, Inc. Houston, Texas 77079-1709 (US)

(72)	Inventors:
	Finn, Lyle David Sugar Land, Texas 77479 (US) Horton III, Edward E. Houston, Texas 77057 (US) Sablok, Anil Kumar Houston, Texas 77042 (US) Chabot, Luc Gaetan Katy, Texas 77450 (US)

(74)	Representative: Pilch, Adam John Michael et al
	D. YOUNG & CO., 21 New Fetter Lane London EC4A 1DA London EC4A 1DA (GB)

(54)	Methods of assembling floating offshore structures

(57) An assembly method involves mating the topsides (26) on a floating offshore structure such as a spar hull (10), joining components of the spar hull (10), and/or a combination or variation of these procedures. Generally, the installation is carried out as follows. Once at the mating site, the spar hull component (12) is upended, outfitted with controls and hardware (20) necessary to effectuate controlled submergence of the spar hull component, and submerged to a predetermined depth below the water surface to have a zero water plane area. The second component (26) to be mated with the top of the spar hull component (12) is positioned to float above the submerged spar hull component (12). The draft of the submerged spar hull component (12) is decreased until the two components (12, 26) are fully engaged.

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