COMPOSITE BUOYANCY MODULE

摘要

A buoyancy system (10) for a deep water floating platform (8) includes at least one composite buoyancy module (58) coupled to the riser (46) having a length greater than 1000 feet and an associated weight. The composite buoyancy module is sized to have a volume to produce a buoyancy force at least as great as the weight of the riser. The composite buoyancy module may include a vessel (62) with composite vessel wall (66). The buoyancy module or vessel may have a non-circular cross-section defining an area which is greater than approximately 79 percent of an area defined by a square with sides tangent to the vessel wall to maximize buoyancy. A second buoyancy module (130) may be directly coupled to the first buoyancy module to achieve a desired buoyancy.