Semi-submersible maritime structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018065713-A1
Application number	US-201615559382-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 16, 2016
Priority date	Mar 19, 2015
Publication date	Mar 8, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A semi-submersible marine structure is described. The structure includes a hull including a pontoon, a deck disposed above the pontoon, and a plurality of columns supporting the deck from the pontoon. The structure also includes a plurality of tendons supporting the hull from a seabed. The pontoon has the shape of a circular ring, and the plurality of tendons are arranged at regular intervals along an external circumferential surface of the pontoon.

First claim

1 . A semi-submersible marine structure, comprising:
a hull comprising a pontoon, a deck disposed above the deck, and a plurality of columns supporting the deck from the pontoon; and a plurality of tendons supporting the hull from a seabed, wherein the plurality of tendons are arranged at regular intervals along an external circumferential surface of the pontoon.

2 . The semi-submersible marine structure of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of extension members are formed on the hull, the extension members extending in a lateral direction and arranged symmetrically with one another, and
wherein the plurality of tendons are supported by the plurality of extension members, respectively, in such a way that the plurality of tendons are symmetrical with one another.

3 . The semi-submersible marine structure of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor part configured to measure a fail of each of the plurality of tendons; a fail part configured to fail each of the plurality of tendons; and a control part configured to control an operation of the fail part based on a result of measuring by the sensor part.

4 . The semi-submersible marine structure of claim 3 , wherein, when the control part determines that any one of the plurality of tendons has failed based on the result of measuring by the sensor part, the control part instructs another tendon positioned opposite to the failed tendon to fail.

5 . The semi-submersible marine structure of claim 4 , wherein the sensor part comprises a plurality of tension sensors configured to measure a tension of the plurality of tendons, respectively, and
wherein, when a value measured by one of the plurality of tension sensors is smaller than a threshold, the control part deteiniines that the tendon corresponding to the tension sensor has failed.

6 . The semi-submersible marine structure of claim 5 , wherein the sensor part further comprises a tilt sensor configured to measure a trim angle or a heel angle of the hull, and
wherein, when a value measured by the tilt sensor is greater than a threshold and a value measured by one of the plurality of tension sensors is smaller than a threshold, the control part determines that the tendon corresponding to the tension sensor has failed.

7 . The semi-submersible marine structure of claim 3 , wherein the fail part comprises a plurality of clamping devices configured to clamp the plurality of tendons, respectively, to the hull, and
wherein the control part is configured to control clamping of the plurality of clamping devices based on the result of measuring by the sensor part.

8 . The semi-submersible marine structure of claim 7 , wherein, when the control part determines that one of the plurality of tendons has failed based on the result of measuring by the sensor part, the control part is configured to release clamping of the clamping device corresponding to another tendon positioned opposite to the failed tendon.

9 . The semi-submersible marine structure of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of clamping devices comprises a plurality of clamping units, and
wherein the control part is configured to sequentially release clamping of the plurality of clamping units.

10 . The semi-submersible marine structure of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of tendons has a stopper formed thereon, the stopper being configured to prevent each of the plurality of tendons from being detached from a porch formed on the hull when clamping is released by the clamping device corresponding to the tendon.

Assignees

• Samsung Heavy Ind

Inventors

• Yuck Rae Hyoung
• Kim Hyun Jo
• Hong Sam Kwon
• Kim Seung Jun

Classifications

• B63B35/4413

  Floating drilling platforms, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices · CPC title

• B63B2241/08

  polygonal · CPC title

• B63B21/502 Primary

  by means of tension legs · CPC title

• B63B2241/06

  circular · CPC title

• B63B2001/044

  with a small waterline area compared to total displacement, e.g. of semi-submersible type · CPC title