Systems and methods for tensioning mooring lines at the seafloor

摘要

Systems and methods are disclosed for deploying one or more anchor piles on the seafloor using submersible line tensioning systems and techniques to achieve tensioning of mooring lines at the seafloor rather than at the conventional vessel deck level. Among other things, the disclosed systems and methods may be advantageously employed for tensioning mooring lines for Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs) when additional mooring legs must be added to the original complement of MODU legs, as well as and for tensioning mooring lines for vessels having turret mooring systems, each of which have limited space for surface tensioning equipment.

主权项

1. A method for tensioning a mooring line coupled to a vessel floating on a surface of a body of water that overlies a seafloor, comprising:
coupling one or more segments of the mooring line to extend from the vessel floating on the surface of the body of water to a submerged anchor pile that is at least partially embedded in the seafloor; and using a submerged line tensioner that is coupled to and mechanically supported by the submerged anchor pile to apply tension to the mooring line between the vessel floating on the surface and the submerged anchor pile.