Disconnectable tension leg platform for offshore oil production facility

摘要

A quick connect/disconnect system for an offshore oil/gas production platform is facilitated by a submerged connection header for the platform. The platform comprises a vessel with a connection bay on vessel bottom. The vessel has the ability to be ballasted to position the connection bay either for connection or for transport toward and away from the connection header. The connection header houses the production lines and control lines and is positively buoyed and held in place by tension cables extending from the header bottom to the ocean floor. The quick connect/disconnect system comprises couplers for the production lines and control lines and devices for releasably linking the header to the vessel bay whereby the vessel may be held in a state of positive buoyancy by appropriately deballasting the vessel. The quick connect/disconnect system includes a device for forcing apart the header from the vessel to break linking devices and coupling devices thereby permitting the vessel to move upwardly away from the connection header.