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Haney t a l . 4 3 ) P u b . D a t e : Jun. 1 4 , 2012( 5 4 ) SPARHULL LO DOUTMETHOD ( 5 2 ) US l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 414/803( 7 6 ) I n v e n t o r s : James l l a n H a n e y , H o u s t o n , TX ( 5 7 ) ABSTRACT

Bee Lay Leow K a t y TX A o a d o u t and ? o a t o f f method f o r a s p a r t y p e s t r u c t u r e o ranother s t r u c t u r e such a s a d e c k . The i n v e n t i o n e n a b l e s t h e

( 2 1 ) APPL NO, 1 3 / 3 1 3 , 1 8 5 l o a d o u t a n d ? o a t o f f o f a l a r g e d i a m e t e r s p a r u s i n g e x i s t i n gH e a v y L i f t V e s s e l s ( H L V s ) . A - s h a p e d t a n k ( U - t a n k ) i s( 2 2 ) F i l e d ; D e c _ 7 , 2 0 1 1 u t i l i Z e d t o a r t i ? c i a l l y e x t e n d t h e l e n g t h o f t h e HLV n d p r o

v i d e s u p p l e m e n t a l b u o y a n c y t o h e l p l i f t t h e s p a r o f f t h e l a n dR e l a t e d US, p p l i c a t i o n Data W a y s . The - t a n k p r o v i d e s s u p p l e m e n t a l b u o y a n c y a n d W a t e r

_ _ _ _ plane area to ?oat the spar off the HLV fter HLV eparture( 6 0 ) P r o v 1 s 1 o n a l a p p l i c a t l o n No. 6 1 / 4 2 2 , 7 1 2 , ? l e d on e c . t h e U _ t a n k i s moved and l a c e d b e n e a t h a n a d a p t e r f r a m e on

1 4 2 0 1 0 t h e s p a r s h a r d t a n k . The - t a n k s b a l l a s t e d upWard o r e d u c e_ _ _ _ the hard tank d r a f t and have the strake t i p s clear the channelPubhcatlon C l a s s l ? c a t l o n b o t t o m . The s p a r c a n t h e n b e b r o u g h t a l o n g s i d e t h e f a b r i c a

( 5 1 ) I n t , C l , t i o n y a r d q u a y f o r a d d i t i o n a l Work a n d t h e n toWed doWn h e365G 7 / 6 0 (200601) c h a n n e l t o t h e open s e a .

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SPARHULL LOAD OUT METHODPRIORITY CLAIM

[ 0 0 0 1 ] T h i s a p p l i c a t i o n c l a i m s p r i o r i t y f r o m P r o v i s i o n a lA p p l i c a t i o n N o . 6 1 / 4 2 2 , 7 1 2 ? l e d D e c . 1 4 , 2 0 1 0 .

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[ 0 0 0 2 ] The i n v e n t i o n i s g e n e r a l l y r e l a t e d t o ? o a t i n g o f fs h o r e s t r u c t u r e s and more p a r t i c u l a r l y t o t h e l o a d o u t , ? o a to f f , and h a n n e l toW o f a s p a r t y p e h u l l .[ 0 0 0 3 ] There r e a number f s p a r h u l l d e s i g n s a v a i l a b l e i nth e o f f s h o r e d r i l l i n g a n d p r o d u c t i o n i n d u s t r y . T h e s e i n c l u d et h e t r u s s s p a r , c l a s s i c s p a r , and e l l s p a r . The term s p a r h u l ls t r u c t u r e d e s c r i b e d h e r e i n r e f e r s t o any ? o a t i n g s t r u c t u r ep l a t f o r m , W h i c h t h o s e o f o r d i n a r y s k i l l i n t h e o f f s h o r e i n d u st r y W i l l u n d e r s t a n d a s a n y ? o a t i n g p r o d u c t i o n a n d / o r d r i l l i n gp l a t f o r m o r v e s s e l h a v i n g a n open e n t e r W e l l c o n ? g u r a t i o n .[ 0 0 0 4 ] The p a r s u p p o r t s a t o p s i d e s t r u c t u r e a n d c o m p r i s e sa hard t a n k , t r u s s s e c t i o n , and a s o f t t a n k . I n t h e c a s e of h ec l a s s i c s p a r , t h e hard t a n k and s o f t t a n k a r e connected by ac y l i n d e r i n s t e a d o f r u s s . The a r d t a n k s u p p l i e s t h e m a j o r i t yo f t h e b u o y a n c y t o s u p p o r t t h e h u l l s t r u c t u r e , r i s e r s , a n dt o p s i d e s . The a r d t a n k i s d i v i d e d i n t o a number f chambersamong Which t h e b a l l a s t Water can be s h i f t e d t o c o n t r o l t h es p a r s b u o y a n c y a n d t a b i l i t y .[ 0 0 0 5 ] When h e s p a r i s p l a c e d i n i t s o p e r a t i n g c o n ? g u r at i o n o f f s h o r e , t h e s p a r c y l i n d e r i s e x p o s e d to c u r r e n t s in t h eo c e a n . The u r r e n t a c t i n g on h e s p a r c y l i n d e r p r o d u c e s VIV( v o r t e x i n d u c e d v i b r a t i o n . B e c a u s e t h e VIV c a n p r o d u c eu n a c c e p t a b l e motions of h e s p a r , h e l i c a l s t r a k e s a r e added ot h e c y l i n d r i c a l p o r t i o n of h e s p a r a s a means of l i m i n a t i n g o rr e d u c i n g t h e V I V . The t r a k e s e x t e n d o u t W a r d l y f r o m t h e h a r dt a n k and r e a t t a c h e d i n a h e l i c a l p a t t e r n around h e h a r d t a n k .The a c t t h a t h e l i c a l s t r a k e s r e d u c e VIV s W e l l knoWn n t h eo f f s h o r e i n d u s t r y .[ 0 0 0 6 ] The hard a n k s ofa s p a r can be a s much s 150 e e ti n d i a m e t e r . To be e f f e c t i v e t h e s t r a k e s must e x t e n d outWardfrom h e h u l l a d i s t a n c e of 12-15 of h e h u l l d i a m e t e r . Thes t r a k e s add s i g n i ? c a n t l y t o t h e o u t s i d e d i a m e t e r o f t h e h a r dt a n k W i t h o u t a d d i n g much u o y a n c y . S p a r s a r e b u i l t l y i n g ont h e i r s i d e s , l o a d e d o u t o n t o HLVs (Heavy i f t V e s s e l s ) ont h e i r s i d e s , and o a t e d o f f i n t o t h e W a t e r on h e i r s i d e s . Theref o r e , on h e l a r g e r d i a m e t e r s p a r s t h e r e i s n o t s u f ? c i e n t W a t e rd e p t h n e a r t h e f a b r i c a t i o n y a r d t o p r o v i d e b o t t o m c l e a r a n c ef o r t h e s t r a k e t i p s . S i n c e t h e ? o a t o f f o p e r a t i o n i s v e r y s e n s it i v e t o s e a s t a t e s , t h e s p a r s must be ?oated o f f t h e HLV np r o t e c t e d W a t e r n e a r t h e f a b r i c a t i o n y a r d .[ 0 0 0 7 ] W he n h e HLV s b a l l a s t e d doWnWard o ? o a t o f f t h es p a r , t h e HLV ith h e s p a r on board o e s through minimals t a b i l i t y When h e deck o f t h e HLV o e s a W a s h . T h i s o c c u r sbecause t h e HLV o s e s most of t s W a t e r p l a n e a r e a When t sd e c k g o e s a W a s h , and t h e s p a r i s n o t y e t p i c k i n g u p muchW a t e r p l a n e a r e a . T r a d i t i o n a l l y , t h e p r o b l e m h a s b e e n s o l v e dW i t h tWo m e t h o d s . F i r s t , t h e HLV s trimmed by t h e s t e r n s ot h a t t h e s o f t t a n k o f t h e s p a r p i c k s up some a t e r p l a n e a r e a ,b e f o r e t h e HLV e c k g o e s a W a s h. S e c o n d , s u p p l e m e n t a r ys t a b i l i t y modules a r e added t o t h e HLV deck t o improves t a b i l i t y .[ 0 0 0 8 ] F r e q u e n t l y , a f t e r t h e s p a r i s ? o a t e d o f f t h e HLV np r o t e c t e d W a t e r t h e s p a r must b e moved l o n g s i d e t h e f a b r ic a t i o n y a r d q u a y o p e r f o r m a d d i t i o n a l W o r k . Once h e s p a r scompleted t must be toWed doWn h e c h a n n e l t o t h e open e a .H o W e v e r , t h e r e i s i n s u ? i c i e n t W a t e r d e p t h a t q u a y s i d e to

J u n . 1 4 , 2 0 1 2

p r o v i d e s t r a k e t i p c l e a r a n c e , a n d h e r e i s i n s u f ? c i e n t s t r a k e t i pb o t t o m c l e a r a n c e i n t h e c h a n n e l l e a d i n g f r o m t h e f a b r i c a t i o nyard o t h e open s e a .[ 0 0 0 9 ] One method f s o l v i n g t h e c l e a r a n c e p r o b l e m i s t oi n s t a l l a p o r t i o n o f t h e s t r a k e s a t s e a . That Way, t h e s t r a k e s don o t p r o j e c t b e l o W t h e b e l l y o f t h e h a r d t a n k d u r i n g t h emovement f t h e s p a r to q u a y s i d e , o r d u r i n g t h e c h a n n e l t o W .This method has been t r i e d o n c e , and Was found t o be mo r ed i ? i c u l t a n d e x p e n s i v e t h a n e x p e c t e d .[ 0 0 1 0 ] The e i g h t a n d v e r t i c a l c e n t e r o f g r a v i t y o f a l a r g ed i a m e t e r s p a r a r e t o o g r e a t f o r l o a d o u t and ? o a t o f f bye x i s t i n g HLVs. The o l u t i o n h a s been o b u i l d t h e s p a r i n tWop i e c e s , t h e n l o a d o u t a n d t r a n s p o r t e a c h p i e c e s e p a r a t e l y , ? o a to f f t h e i n d i v i d u a l p i e c e s , and h e n j o i n them s t h e y ? o a t ont h e i r s i d e s i n p r o t e c t e d W a t e r . H o W e v e r , h i s a d d s e x p e n s e a n dd i ? i c u l t y to t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of h e s p a r and s n o t a f a v o r e ds o l u t i o n .[ 0 0 1 1 ] Thus, i t can be seen t h a t t h e r e i s a need f o r animproved method o r l o a d o u t and r a n s p o r t t o t h e open e a ofa s p a r type s t r u c t u r e .

SUMMARY OF INVENTION[ 0 0 1 2 ] The r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n a d d r e s s e s t h e s h o r t c o m i n g s nt h e knoWn r t and s draWn t o a method and a p p a r a t u s t h a ty i e l d s s u ? i c i e n t b o t t o m c l e a r a n c e f o r t h e s t r a k e t i p s o f a l a r g ed i a m e t e r s p a r . I n a d d i t i o n , t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n makes i tp o s s i b l e t o l o a d o u t and o a t o f f a l a r g e d i a m e t e r s p a r i n onep i e c e u s i n g e x i s t i n g H L V s . T h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n a l s oa p p l i e s t o t h e l o a d o u t of t h e r s t r u c t u r e s such a s a d e c k .[ 0 0 1 3 ] A - t a n k s p l a c e d betWeen h e s t e r n o f h e HLV n dt h e f a b r i c a t i o n y a r d q u a y . The U - t a n k i s e q u i p p e d W i t h l o a do u t W a y s . D u r i n g l o a d o u t t h e s p a r s k i d s a l o n g t h e U - t a n kWays o n t o t h e HLV. The s p a r e n d s up a r t l y on h e HLV ndp a r t l y on t h e U - t a n k . The U - t a n k a r t i ? c i a l l y e x t e n d s t h el e n g t h o f h e HLV n d p r o v i d e s s u p p l e m e n t a l b u o y a n c y a n dW a t e r p l a n e a r e a t h a t e n a b l e s e x i s t i n g HLVs o i f t t h e s p a r o f ft h e f a b r i c a t i o n y a r d Ways d u r i n g l o a d o u t .[ 0 0 1 4 ] A f t e r l o a d o u t o n t o t h e HLV nd U - t a n k , t h e s p a ra s s e m b l y i s moved to a ? o a t o f f s i t e n e a r b y . The s i t e musthave s u ? i c i e n t W a t e r d e p t h f o r a ? o a t o f f . Most ? o a t o f f i t e sn e a r a f a b r i c a t i o n y a r d i n p r o t e c t e d W a t e r Would e q u i r e t h a ta i t b e d r e d g e d o p r o v i d e t h e r e q u i r e d W a t e r d e p t h . The HLVW i l l be a l l a s t e d doWnWard o ? o a t t h e s p a r o f f t h e HLV. TheU - t a n k p r o v i d e s e n o u g h s u p p l e m e n t a l b u o y a n c y a n d W a t e rp l a n e a r e a t o e n a b l e t h e ? o a t o f f .[ 0 0 1 5 ] A f t e r t h e d e p a r t u r e o f t h e HLV n d W h i l e t h e s p a r ss t i l l a t t h e ? o a t o f f s i t e , t h e U - t a n k i s r e l o c a t e d a n d p l a c e db e n e a t h a f r a m e t h a t c a n t i l e v e r s from h e t o p end f t h e h a r dt a n k . The - t a n k i s b a l l a s t e d upWard o l i f t t h e s p a r . L i f t i n gt h e s p a r r e d u c e s i t s d r a f t a n d p r o v i d e s t h e s t r a k e t i p b o t t o mc l e a r a n c e r e q u i r e d to move h e s p a r a l o n g s i d e t h e f a b r i c a t i o ny a r d q u a y , a n d s u b s e q u e n t l y , f o r t h e c h a n n e l t o W .[ 0 0 1 6 ] The a r i o u s f e a t u r e s o f n o v e l t y W h i c h c h a r a c t e r i Z et h e i n v e n t i o n a r e p o i n t e d o u t W i t h p a r t i c u l a r i t y i n t h e c l a i m sannexed t o and f o r m i n g p a r t o f h i s d i s c l o s u r e . F o r a b e t t e ru n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n , a n d t h e o p e r a t i n ga d v a n t a g e s a t t a i n e d by i t s u s e , r e f e r e n c e i s made to t h ea c c o m p a n y i n g d r a W i n g s a n d d e s c r i p t i v e m a t t e r , f o r m i n g ap a r t o f h i s d i s c l o s u r e , i n Which a p r e f e r r e d embodiment o ft h e i n v e n t i o n i s i l l u s t r a t e d .

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE DRAWINGS[ 0 0 1 7 ] I n th e a c c o m p a n y i n g d r a W i n g s , f o r m i n g a p a r t o ft h i s s p e c i ? c a t i o n , a n d i n Which e f e r e n c e n u m e r a l s shoWn nt h e d r a W i n g s d e s i g n a t e l i k e o r c o r r e s p o n d i n g p a r t s t h r o u g hout the same:


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[ 0 0 1 8 ] F I G . 1 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e vieW of s p a r l y i n g on t s s i d ei n a f a b r i c a t i o n y a r d .[ 0 0 1 9 ] F I G . 2 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e vieW t h a t shows t h e U - t a n ka l o n g s i d e th e q u a y .[ 0 0 2 0 ] F I G . 3 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e v i e W o f t h e s p a r , U - t a n k , andHLV e a d y f o r l o a d o u t .[ 0 0 2 1 ] F I G . 4 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e v i e W o f t h e s p a r , U - t a n k , andHLV t t h e c o m p l e t i o n o f l o a d o u t .[ 0 0 2 2 ] F I G . 5 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e v i e W o f t h e s p a r , U - t a n k , andHLV t t h e c o m p l e t i o n of l o a d o u t W i t h t h e U-tank i n ap o s i t i o n f u r t h e r a f t .[ 0 0 2 3 ] F I G . 6 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e v i e W o f t h e s p a r , U - t a n k , andHLV s s e m b l y p o s i t i o n e d o v e r a d r e d g e d p i t a t t h e ? o a t o f fs i t e .[ 0 0 2 4 ] F I G . 7 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e vieW o f t h e s p a r and U-tanka s s e m b l y ? o a t e d o f f t h e HLV.[ 0 0 2 5 ] F I G . 8 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e vieW o f t h e s p a r and U-tanko v e r t h e d r e d g e d i t W i t h t h e HLV a l l a s t e d up and n d e r W a y .[ 0 0 2 6 ] F I G . 9 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e vieW f h e s p a r o v e r t h e d e e pp i t .[ 0 0 2 7 ] F I G . 10 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e vieW of h e s p a r o v e r t h ed e e p p i t W i t h t h e U - t a n k on t s Way o t h e t o p o f h e h a r d t a n k .[ 0 0 2 8 ] F I G . 1 1 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e vieW of h e s p a r o v e r t h ed e e p p i t W i t h t h e U - t a n k on t s Way o t h e t o p end f t h e h a r dt a n k .[ 0 0 2 9 ] F I G . 12 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e vieW of h e s p a r o v e r t h ed e e p p i t W i t h th e U - t a n k p l a c e d b e n e a t h th e f r a m e c a n t i l ev e r e d o f f t h e t o p o f t h e h a r d t a n k .[ 0 0 3 0 ] F I G . 1 3 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e v i e W o f t h e s p a r a l o n g s i d et h e q u a y .[ 0 0 3 1 ] F I G . 1 4 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e v i e W o f t h e s p a r u n d e r W a y ,headed do W n h e channel t o t h e open s e a .

DESCRIPTIONOF THE PREFERREDEMBODIMENTS

[ 0 0 3 2 ] The n v e n t i o n i s a s e q u e n c e o f p o s i t i o n s and p e r at i o n s o f t h e U - t a n k a c t i n g i n c o n c e r t W i t h t h e HLV.[ 0 0 3 3 ] A s s e e n i n FIG. , a s p a r 10 s shoWn on h e W a y s 12r e a d y f o r l o a d o u t and e r p e n d i c u l a r to t h e quay 2 . The s p a r10 i s b u i l t on a c r a d l e s t r u c t u r e ( n o t shoWn because i t i so b s c u r e d by h e s p a r 1 0 i n t h i s v i e W ) t h a t e x t e n d s most f t h el e n g t h of h e s p a r 1 0 . TWo p a r a l l e l l o a d o u t r u n n e r s 14 a r eframed i n t o t h e c r a d l e . These u n n e r s 14 r e s t d i r e c t l y on t h el o a d o u t Ways 1 2 . Both t h e s p a r 10 and t s c r a d l e a r e loadedo u t t o g e t h e r , t h e c r a d l e r u n n e r s 1 4 s l i d i n g a l o n g t h e l o a d o u tWays 1 2 .[ 0 0 3 4 ] The t r a k e s 16 r e shoWn s b e i n g i n c o m p l e t e on h ebottom s i d e o f t h e h a r d t a n k 1 8 . I t s h o u l d be n d e r s t o o d t h a t i n c o m p l e t e , i n t h e o f f s h o r e i n d u s t r y , may mean t h a t t h es t r a k e s on h e bottom s i d e of h e h a r d t a n k a r e p a r t i a l s t r a k e st h a t e x t e n d o u t W a r d from t h e h a r d t a n k 1 8 o n l y a p o r t i o n o ft h e s p e c i ? e d d i s t a n c e a s i n d i c a t e d a b o v e and h e r e m a i n d e r o ft h e s t r a k e W i l l be i n s t a l l e d a f t e r t h e s p a r 10 s i n t h e W a t e r . I tcan l s o mean h a t no s t r a k e s a r e attached o t h e bottom of h eh a r d t a n k 1 8 W h i l e i t i s on l a n d and t h a t t h i s p o r t i o n o f t h es t r a k e s W i l l be a t t a c h e d a f t e r t h e s p a r 10 s i n t h e W a t e r .[ 0 0 3 5 ] A s s e e n i n F I G . 2 , a p u r p o s e - b u i l t U-tank 2 0( U - s h a p e d t a n k ) s moored l o n g s i d e t h e q u a y 2 . The - t a n k2 0 h a s s k i d beams 2 4 t h a t a l l o W t h e s k i d d i n g o f t h e s p a r 1 0o v e r t h e U-tank 2 0 . The U-tank s shoWn i t h s t a b i l i t y c o lumns t each end and t mus t be compartmented and u t ? t t e dW i t h a poWer s u p p l y and b a l l a s t s y s t e m . To i v e a n o t i o n ofs c a l e , f o r a l a r g e d i a m e t e r s p a r t h e U-tank Would h a v e t o be

J u n . 1 4 , 2 0 1 2

r o u g h l y 3 5 0 e e t l o n g > < 5 0 f e e t W i d e W i t h 6 5 f o o t h i g h s t a b i l i t ycolumns on e a c h e n d , and a n e t buoyancy f o r c e o f 1 0 , 0 0 0s h o r t t o n s .[ 0 0 3 6 ] A s s e e n i n F I G . 3 , t h e HLV 6 i s moored W i t h i t ss t e r n a g a i n s t t h e U - t a n k 2 0 . The HLV 6 by t s e l f d o e s n o th a v e s u ? i c i e n t b u o y a n t f o r c e o r g l o b a l h o g g i n g s t r e n g t h o l i f tt h e s p a r 1 0 o f f t h e f a b r i c a t i o n y a r d Ways 1 2 d u r i n g t h e l o a do u t . The t a b i l i t y columns n o r m a l l y p r e s e n t on t h e HLV 6have been removed t o a l l o W t h e s p a r 10 t o l o a d o u t on t h ec e n t e r l i n e o f t h e HLV 6 .[ 0 0 3 7 ] A s s e e n i n F I G . 4 , t h e s p a r 1 0 h a s been l o a d e d o u to v e r t h e U-tank 20 o n t o t h e HLV 6 . During h e l o a d o u t t h eU-tank 20 and h e HLV 6 r e b a l l a s t e d i n c o n c e r t t o keep h ea s s e m b l y s t a b l e a n d p r e v e n t s t r u c t u r a l o v e r l o a d o f t h e HLV2 6 d u r i n g a l l s t a g e s o f t h e l o a d o u t .[ 0 0 3 8 ] As s e e n i n F I G . 5 , b o t h s t a b i l i t y c o l u m n s 2 8 o f t h eHLV 6 have been p l a c e d on one s i d e of h e HLV 6 . TheU - t a n k 2 0 may e l o c a t e d f u r t h e r f t , a s shoWn e r e , d e p e n di n g on h e r e s u l t s o f e t a i l e d a n a l y s e s f o r a p a r t i c u l a r s p a r andHLV.[ 0 0 3 9 ] As s e e n i n F I G . 6 , t h e U - t a n k 2 0 , s p a r 1 0 , and HLV26 have been o c a t e d o v e r a dredged i t 30 t t h e ? o a t o f f i t e .[ 0 0 4 0 ] A s s e e n i n F I G . 7 , t h e HLV 6 h a s been a l l a s t e ddoWnWard n t i l t h e s p a r 1 0 and U-tank 20 have o a t e d f r e e o ft h e HLV 6 . The HLV 6 i s shoWn p a r t Way t h r o u g h t h el a t e r a l s e p a r a t i o n . D u r i n g b a l l a s t i n g t h e U - t a n k 2 0 s u p p l i e st h e s u p p l e m e n t ar y W a t e r p l a n e a r e a t h a t k e e p s th e a s s e m b l ys t a b l e a s t h e deck f h e HLV 6 o e s a W a s h . Once h e s p a r 1 0? o a t s f r e e , t h e HLV 6 a n d s p a r 1 0 a r e s e p a r a t e d l a t e r a l l y .[ 0 0 4 1 ] A s s e e n i n F I G . 8 , t h e HLV 6 a s been a l l a s t e d upa n d s d e p a r t i n g . The r a d l e 3 2 i s a c o m p l i c a t e d s t r u c t u r e , b u ti s r e p r e s e n t e d h e r e by s t u b s on t h e b o t t o m s i d e o f t h e h a r dt a n k f o r e a s e o f i l l u s t r a t i o n p u r p o s e s . The r a d l e 32 r o v i d e sa s m a l l b u o y a n t f o r c e a g a i n s t t h e s p a r 1 0 t h a t k e e p s t h e c r a d l e3 2 i n p l a c e .[ 0 0 4 2 ] A s s e e n i n F I G . 9 , t h e U-tank 20 h a s been a l l a s t e ddoWnWard r e l a t i v e t o t h e s p a r 1 0 and h a s been s e p a r a t e dl o n g i t u d i n a l l y f r o m t h e s p a r 1 0 . B e f o r e t h e s e p a r a t i o n o f t h es p a r 1 0 and h e U-tank 2 0 t h e s p a r 1 0 i s b a l l a s t e d doWnWardt o p r o v i d e s u ? i c i e n t s t a b i l i t y t o p r e v e n t u n e x p e c t e d o l l i n g o ft h e s p a r 1 0 .[ 0 0 4 3 ] As s e e n in F I G . 1 0 , t h e U - t a n k 2 0 i s a b o u t halfWayt h r o u g h t s r e l o c a t i o n o t h e t o p o f h e h a r d t a n k 1 8 . The r a d l e3 2 h a s been d e t a c h e d from t h e s p a r 1 0 , ? o o d e d , and s u n k t ot h e b o t t o m o f h e d r e d g e d i t 3 0 . The r a d l e 3 2 i s r e p r e s e n t e dby a n a r r a y o f s t u b s . S u b s e q u e n t l y , t h e c r a d l e 3 2 W i l l b eb a l l a s t e d up and e c o v e r e d .[ 0 0 4 4 ] As s e e n i n F I G . 1 1 , t h e s p a r 1 0 h a s b e e n r o l l e d bys e q u e n t i a l b a l l a s t i n g t o p l a c e th e p o r t i o n o f th e h a r d t a n k 1 8W i t h i n c o m p l e t e s t r a k e s o u t o f h e W a t e r on h e t o p s i d e . S i n c et h e p r e v i o u s l y completed s t r a k e s 1 6 a r e n o W on t h e bottoms i d e , t h i s o p e r a t i o n must e done n t h e W a t e r o v e r t h e d r e d g e dp i t 3 0 t o p r o v i d e s u f ? c i e n t s t r a k e t i p b o t t o m c l e a r a n c e .[ 0 0 4 5 ] As s e e n i n F I G . 1 2 , t h e U - t a n k 2 0 h a s been l a c e dunder frame 34 a n t i l e v e r e d o f f t h e t o p end f t h e h a r d t a n k1 8 . The U-tank 20 s t h e n b a l l a s t e d upWard o l i f t t h e s p a r 1 0and e d u c e t h e d r a f t o f h e s p a r 10.A p a c e r b a r g e 3 6 i s shoWni n t h e b a c k g r o u n d a l o n g s i d e t h e q u a y 2 2 . I t s h o u l d b e u n d e rs t o o d t h a t t h i s i s o n l y o n e p o s s i b i l i t y f o r s u p p o r t i n g t h e h a r dt a n k 1 8 on h e U-tank 20 and h a t o t h e r v a r i a t i o n s o f h e frame3 4 may e u s e d . One e x a m p l e i s t h e f r a m e 3 4 b e i n g i n i t i a l l ya t t a c h e d o t h e U-shaped a n k 2 0 b e f o r e engagement i t h t h eh a r d t a n k 1 8 .


11/12

US 012/0148381A1

[ 0 0 4 6 ] A s e e n i n F I G . 1 3 , t h e s p a r 1 0 W i t h t s r e d u c e d d r a f ti s moved a l o n g s i d e t h e quay 2 2 . The s p a r s o f t t a n k 3 8 i smoored g a i n s t t h e s p a c e r b a r g e 36 t one end and h e U-tank20 s moored g a i n s t t h e quay 2 2 a t t h e t o p end f h e s p a r 1 0 .I n h i s p o s i t i o n t h e i n c o m p l e t e s t r a k e s and n y o t h e r Work r ec o m p l e t e d a n d t h e s p a r 1 0 i s made e a d y t o d e p a r t .[ 0 0 4 7 ] A s s e e n i n F I G . 1 4 , t h e s p a r 1 0 i s t h e n toWed doWnt h e c h a n n e l t o t h e open s e a . The l i f t o f t h e U-tank 20 i sr e q u i r e d f o r t h e c h a n n e l toW o r e d u c e t h e d r a f t o f h e s p a r 1 0 ,Which e s u l t s in s u ? i c i e n t s t r a k e t i p b o t t o m c l e a r a n c e .[ 0 0 4 8 ] A f t e r t h e c h a n n e l toW t h e U - t a n k 2 0 i s s e p a r a t e dfrom h e s p a r 10 i n a good Weather p e r a t i o n a t a n e a r s h o r el o c a t i o n . F i r s t , t h e s p a r 10 s b a l l a s t e d f o r t h e Wet toW o t h ei n s t a l l a t i o n s i t e and h e n t h e U-tank s b a l l a s t e d doWn n t i l t h es p a r 1 0 ? o a t s f r e e . The - t a n k 2 0 i s s e p a r a t e d l o n g i t u d i n a l l yfrom h e s p a r 10 and toWed back o t h e f a b r i c a t i o n s i t e .[ 0 0 4 9 ] I t s h o u l d b e u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h e method m a y l s o b ea c c o m p l i s h e d b y s e p a r a t i n g t h e U - t a n k 2 0 f r o m th e s p a r 1 0and h e HLV 6 at t h e i n i t i a l l o a d o u t s i t e of h e s p a r 1 0 , oncet h e s p a r 10 h a s been l o a d e d o n t o t h e HLV 6 . The HLV 6m a y t h e n be used t o t r a n s p o r t t h e s p a r 10 t o a d i f f e r e n t ,d e s i r e d s i t e f o r s e p a r a t i o n from h e HLV 6 a n d f u r t h e r Workon t h e s t r a k e s 1 6 . Once a t t h e ne W s i t e , t h e U-tank 20 i sr e a t t a c h e d t o t h e s p a r 1 0 and HLV 6 and t h e o p e r a t i o n i sc a r r i e d out a s described above.[ 0 0 5 0 ] I n t h e c o n ? g u r a t i o n a n d o p e r a t i o n a l s e q u e n c e i l l u st r a t e d , t h e U - t a n k e n h a n c e s t h e l i f t i n g c a p a c i t y a n d s t a b i l i t yof x i s t i n g HLVs o t h a t t h e y can be used o l o a d o u t and o a to f f l a r g e d i a m e t e r s p a r s f a b r i c a t e d i n one p i e c e . The sameU-tank s used o l i f t t h e s p a r a f t e r i t i s ?oated f f t h e HLV oreduce i t s d r a f t s o t h a t t h e channel toW t o open s e a can bemade.[ 0 0 5 1 ] T h e m a j o r a d v a n t a g e o f f e r e d b y t h e i n v e n t i v emethod o f u s i n g t h e U - s h a p e d t a n k i s t h a t t h e l a r g e r s p a rs t r u c t u r e s can be loaded o u t and ?oated o f f u s i n g one ofs e v e r a l e x i s t i n g H L V s . Then h e same U-shaped a n k s u s e dt o reduce t h e d r a f t of t h e s p a r s o t h a t t h e s t r a k e s can becompleted and h e channel toW t o open s e a made With comp l e t e d s t r a k e s . T h u s , t h e i n v e n t i v e method p r o v i d e s a c a p ab i l i t y W h i c h d i d n o t p r e v i o u s l y e x i s t .[ 0 0 5 2 ] W h i l e t h e d r a W i n g s a n d d e s c r i p t i o n a r e d e s i g n e d t oi l l u s t r a t e t h e l o a d o u t o f a s p a r s t r u c t u r e , i t s h o u l d be unders t o o d t h a t t h e method e s c r i b e d a n d i l l u s t r a t e d i s a l s o a p p l ic a b l e t o any y p e o f heavy r l a r g e s t r u c t u r e , s u c h a s a deck o ran f f s h o r e s t r u c t u r e , t h a t i s s k i d d e d o u t from h e f a b r i c a t i o ny a r d , a s opposed to b e i n g l i f t e d o u t by a c r a n e . The maind i f f e r e n c e from t h e d e s c r i p t i o n f o r t h e s p a r s t r u c t u r e i s t h a to t h e r s t r u c t u r e s may ot e q u i r e r o t a t i o n once i n t h e Water rmay o t r e q u i r e b e i n g p l a c e d i n t h e W a t e r p r i o r t o t r a n s p o rt a t i o n . For i n s t a l l a t i o n on a base s t r u c t u r e , such a s a j a c k e t ,s p a r , o r TLP, such t h e r s t r u c t u r e s m a y be i f t e d from h e HLVo r t h e y m a y be e t i n - p l a c e u s i n g a ? o a t o v e r method knoWni n t h e i n d u s t r y .[ 0 0 5 3 ] While s p e c i ? c embodiments a n d / r d e t a i l s o f t h ei n v e n t i o n have been shoWn and d e s c r i b e d above t o i l l u s t r a t et h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f t h e i n v e n t i o n , i t i s u n d e rs t o o d t h a t t h i s i n v e n t i o n m a y be embodied a s more f u l l yd e s c r i b e d i n t h e c l a i m s , o r as o t h e r W i s e knoWn by t h o s es k i l le d i n t h e a r t ( i n c l u d i n g a n y a n d l l e q u i v a l e n t s ) , W i t h o u td e p a r t i n g f r o m s u c h p r i n c i p l e s .

What s claimed a s i n v e n t i o n i s :1 . A ethod o r l o a d o u t o f a s p a r t y p e s t r u c t u r e , c o m p r i si n g t h e s t e p s :

J u n . 1 4 , 2 0 1 2

a . p o s i t i o n i n g a s p a r s t r u c t u r e on land perpendicular t o aq u a y , t h e s p a r h a v i n g ? r s t a n d s e c o n d e n d s and s t r a k e si n s t a l l e d around a p o r t i o n o f t h e s p a r ;

b . m o o r i n g a ? o a t i n g U - s h a p e d t a n k a l o n g s i d e t h e q u a y a n da l i g n e d W i t h t h e s p a r ;c . m o o r i n g a h e a v y l i f t v e s s e l a g a i n s t t h e U - s h a p e d t a n k

d . moving t h e s p a r o n t o t h e U - s h a p e d t a n k a n d h e a v y l i f tv e s s e l s u c h t h a t t h e U - s h a p e d t a n k s u p p o r t s t h e ? r s t e n do f t h e s p a r a n d t h e h e a v y i f t v e s s e l s u p p o r t s t h e r e m a i nd e r o f t h e s p a r ;

e . m o v i n g th e h e a v y l i f t v e s s e l , U - s h a p e d t a n k , a n d s p a ro v e r W a t e r h a v i n g s u ? i c i e n t d e p t h t o a l l o W ? o a t o f f o ft h e s p a r ;

f . b a l l a s t i n g th e h e a v y i f t v e s s e l a n d U - s h a p e d t a n k doWnW a r d , c a u s i n g ? o a t o f f o f t h e s p a r ;

g . s e p a r a t i n g t h e U - s h a p e d t a n k f r o m t h e s p a r a n d movingt h e h e a v y l i f t v e s s e l a n d U - s h a p e d t a n k f r o m u n d e r t h es p a r ;h . r o t a t i n g th e ? o a t i n g s p a r 1 8 0 d e g r e e s a r o u n d i t s c e n t r a la x i s ;i . a t t a c h i n g t h e U-shaped a n k t o t h e s e c o n d e n d o f t h e s p a ra n d b a l l a s t i n g th e U - s h a p e d t a n k u p W a r d t o r e d u c e t h ed r a f t o f t h e s p a r ; and

j . c o m p l e t i n g t h e s t r a k e s a r o u n d t h e s p a r .2 . The e t h o d o f c l a i m 1 , f u r t h e r c o m p r i s i n g , d u r i n g s t e pd , p r e v e n t i n g s t r u c t u r a l o v e r l o a d o f th e h e a v y l i f t v e s s e l a n ds t a b i l i Z i n g t h e s p a r b y b a l l a s t i n g t he h e a v y l i f t v e s s e l a n d

U - s h a p e d t a n k .3 . The m e t h o d o f c l a i m 1 , f u r t h e r c o m p r i s i n g i n s t a l l i n g as t a b i l i t y column o n t h e h e a v y l i f t v e s s e l a f t e r s t e p d .4 . The method f l a i m , f u r t h e r c o m p r i s i n g b a l l a s t i n g t h e

s p a r doWnWard e f o r e t h e U - s h a p e d t a n k i s s e p a r a t e d f r o mt h e s p a r .

5 . The method o f c l a i m 1 , W h e r e i n ste p h o f r o t a t i n g t h es p a r 1 8 0 d e g r e e s i s a c c o m p l i s h e d b y s e q u e n t i a l b a l l a s t i n g .6 . A ethod o r l o a d o u t o f a s p a r t y p e s t r u c t u r e , c o m p r i si n g t h e s t e p s :

a . p o s i t i o n i n g a s p a r s t r u c t u r e on land perpendicular t o aq u a y , t h e s p a r h a v i n g ? r s t a n d s e c o n d e n d s and s t r a k e si n s t a l l e d around a p o r t i o n o f t h e s p a r ;

b . m o o r i n g a ? o a t i n g U - s h a p e d t a n k a l o n g s i d e t h e q u a y a n da l i g n e d W i t h t h e s p a r ;

c . m o o r i n g a h e a v y l i f t v e s s e l a g a i n s t t h e U - s h a p e d t a n kd . b a l l a s t i n g t h e h e a v y i f t v essel a n d U - s h a p e d t a n k W h i l e

moving t h e s p a r o n t o t h e U - s h a p e d t a n k a n d h e a v y l i f tv e s s e l s u c h t h a t t h e U - s h a p e d t a n k s u p p o r t s t h e ? r s t e n do f t h e s p a r a n d t h e h e a v y i f t v e s s e l s u p p o r t s t h e r e m a i nd e r o f t h e s p a r ;

e . i n s t a l l i n g a s t a b i l i t y column on h e heavy i f t v e s s e l ;f . m o v i n g t h e h e a v y l i f t v e s s e l , U - s h a p e d t a n k , a n d s p a ro v e r W a t e r h a v i n g s u ? i c i e n t d e p t h t o a l l o W ? o a t o f f o f

t h e s p a r ;g . b a l l a s t i n g th e h e a v y i f t v essel a n d U - s h a p e d t a n k doWn

W a r d , c a u s i n g ? o a t o f f o f t h e s p a r ;h . s e p a r a t i n g t h e U - s h a p e d t a n k f r o m t h e s p a r a n d m o v i n g

t h e h e a v y l i f t v e s s e l a n d U - s h a p e d t a n k f r o m u n d e r t h es p a r ;

i . r o t a t i n g t h e ? o a t i n g s p a r 1 8 0 d e g r e e s a r o u n d i t s c e n t r a la x i s ;

j . a t t ac h i n g t h e U - s h a p e d t a n k o t h e s e c o n d e n d o f t h e s p a ra n d b a l l a s t i n g th e U - s h a p e d t a n k u p W a r d t o r e d u c e t h ed r a f t o f t h e s p a r ; and

k . c o m p l e t i n g t h e s t r a k e s a r o u n d t h e s p a r .


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US 012/0148381A1

7 . The method f l a i m 6 , f u r t h e r c o m p r i s i n g b a l l a s t i n g t h es p a r downward e f o r e t h e U - s h a p e d t a n k i s s e p a r a t e d f r o mt h e s p a r .

8 . The ethod f l a i m , W h e r e i n s t e p o f o t a t i n g t h e s p a ri s a c c o m p l i s h e d b y s e q u e n t i a l b a l l a s t i n g .9 . A ethod o r l o a d o u t o f a s p a r t y p e s t r u c t u r e , c o m p r i si n g t h e s t e p s :

a . p o s i t i o n i n g a s p a r s t r u c t u r e on land perpendicular t o aq u a y , t h e s p a r h a v i n g ? r s t and s e c o n d e n d s and s t r a k e si n s t a l l e d around a p o r t i o n o f t h e s p a r ;

b . m o o r i n g a ? o a t i n g U- h a p e d t a n k a l o n g s i d e t h e q u a y a n da l i g n e d W i t h t h e s p a r ;m o o r i n g a h e a v y i f t v e s s e l a g a i n s t t h e U - s h a p e d t a n k ;

d . moving t h e s p a r o n t o t h e U - s h a p e d t a n k a n d h e a v y l i f tv e s s e l s u c h t h a t t h e U - s h a p e d t a n k s u p p o r t s t h e ? r s t e n do f h e s p a r a n d t h e h e a v y i f t v e s s e l s u p p o r t s t h e r e m a i nd e r o f t h e s p a r ;

e . m o v i n g t h e h e a v y l i f t v e s s e l , U - s h a p e d t a n k , a n d s p a ro v e r W a t e r h a v i n g s u ? i c i e n t d e p t h o a l l o W s e p a r a t i o n o fth e U - s h a p e d t a n k f r o m th e h e a v y i f t v e s s e l ;s e p a r a t i n g t h e U - s h a p e d t a n k f r o m t he h e a v y i f t v e s s e l ;t r a n s p o r t i n g t h e s p a r on t h e heavy l i f t v e s s e l and t h eU - s h a p e d t a n k s e p a r a t e l y t o a d e s i r e d s i t e ;

h . p l a c i n g t h e U - s h a p e d t a n k b e n e a t h t h e s p a r a n d b a l l a s ti n g upWard o make o n t a c t W i t h t h e s p a r ;

i b a l l a s t i n g th e h e a v y i f t v essel a n d U - s h a p e d t a n k doWnW a r d , c a u s i n g ? o a t o f f o f t h e s p a r ;

1 0

J u n . 1 4 , 2 0 1 2

j . s e p a r a t i n g t h e U - s h a p e d t a n k f r o m t h e s p a r a n d m o v i n gt h e h e a v y l i f t v e s s e l a n d U - s h a p e d t a n k f r o m u n d e r t h es p a r ;k . r o t a t i n g th e ? o a t i n g s p a r 1 8 0 d e g r e e s a r o u n d i t s c e n t r a la x 1 s ;l . a t t a c h i n g t h e U-shaped a n k t o t h e s e c o n d e n d o f t h e s p a ra n d b a l l a s t i n g th e U - s h a p e d t a n k u p W a r d t o r e d u c e t h ed r a f t o f t h e s p a r ; and

m. c o m p l e t i n g t h e s t r a k e s around h e s p a r .1 0 . ethod o r load o u t of an o f f s h o r e s t r u c t u r e from af a b r i c a t i o n y a r d , c o m p r i s i n g t h e s t e p s :a . p o s i t i o n i n g t h e s t r u c t u r e on land e r p e n d i c u l a r t o a q u a y ,

t h e s t r u c t u r e h a v i n g ? r s t a n d s e c o n d e n d s ;b . m o o r i n g a ? o a t i n g U - s h a p e d t a n k a l o n g s i d e t h e q u a y a n da l i g n e d W i t h th e s t r u c t u r e ;c . m o o r i n g a h e a v y l i f t v e s s e l a g a i n s t t h e U - s h a p e d t a n k

d . moving h e s t r u c t u r e o n t o t h e h e a v y l i f t v e s s e l s u c h t h a tt h e U-shaped a n k s u p p o r t s a p o r t i o n o f t h e o f t h e s t r u ct u r e d u r i n g i t s movement n t o t h e h e a v y l i f t v e s s e l , t h es t r u c t u r e b e i n g moved n t i r e l y o n t o t h e h e a v y i f t v e s s e la n d n o t r e s t i n g o n t h e U - s h a p e d t a n k ;e . b a l l a s t in g t h e h e a v y i f t v e s s e l a n d U- h a p e d t a n k du r i n gmovement o f t h e s t r u c t u r e t h e r e o n ;

f . s e p a r a t i n g t h e U - s h a p e d t a n k f r o m th e h e a v y l i f t v e s s e land s p a r ; and

g . t r a n s p o r t i n g t h e s t r u c t u r e on t h e heavy i f t v e s s e l t o ad e s i r e d s i t e .

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