E02B2017/0039

WIND TURBINE INSTALLATION METHOD

The present invention relates to a method for installing an offshore wind turbine at a target location at sea with an installation vessel, the vessel comprising:—a nacelle support structure for temporarily supporting a nacelle comprising a hub having a plurality of root end connectors to which the root ends of the blades are to be connected, the nacelle support structure comprising:—a support tower extending upwardly from a deck of the installation vessel,—a support platform configured to temporarily support the nacelle,—one or more lifting devices configured for:—lifting the nacelle onto the support platform,—lifting a nacelle assembly including the blades onto a wind turbine mast located adjacent the vessel, wherein the method comprises: a) lifting the nacelle onto the support platform, and securing the nacelle to the support platform, b) orienting a root end connector of the hub of the nacelle in a direction facing a guide path of the blade moving system, c) connecting the root end of the first blade to the corresponding first root end connector of the hub, d) repeating steps b) and c) for subsequent blades and root end connectors until all blades are connected to the hub of the nacelle, thereby providing a RNA, e) lifting the RNA from the nacelle support structure and positioning the RNA onto a wind turbine mast located adjacent the vessel.

UNIVERSAL BLOCK PLATFORM INTEGRATED PLATFORM BLOCK
20210222386 · 2021-07-22 ·

A method includes mounting a platform deck block to a tower. The platform deck block (500) includes a first frame (515) defining a deck, a plurality of first conductor tubes (505) connected to the first frame, a first plurality of releasable connectors (520) coupled to the first conductor tubes, and a plurality of docking receptacles (800A,800B,800C) defined in the deck. The tower includes a second frame (415), a plurality of second conductor tubes (405) connected to the second frame, and a second plurality of releasable connectors (420) coupled to the second conductor tubes and engaging the first plurality of releasable connectors coupled to the first conductor tubes. The method further comprises mounting a first production block (600) to one of the plurality of docking receptacles.

UNIVERSAL BLOCK PLATFORM JACKET CONNECTOR BLOCK
20210222533 · 2021-07-22 ·

A method includes mounting a first jacket connector block (400) to an apparatus. The first jacket connector block includes a first frame (415), a plurality of first conductor tubes (405) connected to the first frame, a first plurality of releasable connectors (420) coupled to first ends of the first conductor tubes, and a second plurality of releasable connectors (420) coupled to second ends of the first conductor tubes and engaging the apparatus.

Foundation for a structure
11072901 · 2021-07-27 · ·

A foundation (1) for a structure such as an off-shore wind turbine. The foundation (1) comprises a body (4) having a lateral surface (8,9) and a distal end (5) for insertion into a soil (2). At least a region of the lateral surface (8,9) forms a first electrode. A second electrode (7) is provided on the lateral surface (8,9) of the body (4) and is electrically insulated from the first electrode. The body (4) further comprises a spacing formation (6) for forming a gap (11) between the second electrode (7) and the soil (2) when the body (4) is inserted into the soil (2). In use, an electric potential may be established between the electrodes to induce electro-osmosis in the soil for allowing the foundation to be installed more easily. The polarity of the electric potential may also be reversed for stabilising the foundation.

UNIVERSAL BLOCK PLATFORM
20210172139 · 2021-06-10 ·

A method includes providing a lower platform block (300) including a first frame (315), a plurality of docking tubes (305) connected to the first frame, and a plurality of first conductor tubes (310) connected to the first frame. At least a first jacket connector block (400) including a second frame (415) and a plurality of second conductor tubes (405) connected to the second frame is releasably coupled to the lower platform block to align the second conductor tubes with the first conductor tubes. A platform deck block (500) including a third frame (515) defining a deck and a plurality of third conductor tubes (505) connected to the third frame is releasably coupled to the first jacket connector to align the third conductor tubes with the first conductor tubes.

Device and Method for Providing a Sizeable, Slender Object with a Longitudinal Direction Into an Underwater Bottom

Described is a device for providing a sizeable, slender object having a longitudinal direction into an underwater bottom from a deck of a vessel. The device includes a lifting means configured to take up the object at a lifting point thereof and position it on the underwater bottom; an upending tool connected to an edge of the vessel and configured to engage a first circumferential part of the object suspended from the lifting means and provide a pivot around which the object can be upended; and a gripping tool connected to an edge of the vessel and configured to engage a second circumferential part of the object suspended from the lifting means, whereby the first and second circumferential parts are optionally spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the object. The gripping tool includes an actuator system configured to act on at least one of the upending tool and the gripping tool and control movements of at least one of the first and the second circumferential parts, relative to the vessel. A method using the device is also described.

Harbour plant and method for mooring a floating body in a harbour plant

Various embodiments relate to a method and a harbour plant for mooring a floating body. The harbour plant includes a piled base structure provided with two upwards through sea level projecting sidewalls terminated above sea level and a laterally arranged bottom structure interconnecting the sidewalls, where a top surface of the bottom structure is arranged at a depth allowing the floating body to be floated in between the sidewalls, and where the floating body is arranged to be rigidly, but releasably supported by at least parts of the sidewalls. The method includes bringing the floating body into a position between the sidewalls and fixing rigidly the floating body to the vertical sidewalls of the base structure and still exposing the floating body more or less fully to buoyancy by allowing a water-filled gap at least between bottom of the floating body and a corresponding upper surface of the base structure.

Controlling the buoyancy of a mass of buoyant spheres
10935163 · 2021-03-02 · ·

A buoyant element for conferring buoyancy on a subsea structure or apparatus has a floodable envelope that contains a mass of buoyant spheres and a void extending between the spheres. Openings penetrate the envelope, in fluid communication with the void. One or more one destruction devices are arranged to destroy at least one of the spheres within the envelope in use. After the envelope has been submerged and flooded to fill the void between the spheres with water, the destruction devices are imploded to create shockwaves that expand the void by sympathetic implosion of the spheres. Additional water is admitted into the envelope through the openings to fill the expanding void, thereby ballasting the buoyant element.

Seabed base structure and method for installation of same

This publication relates to a shallow water terminal, preferably for storing and loading or unloading hydrocarbons, such as LNG, oil or gas. The base structure comprises a floatable, and removable seabed substructure (10) intended to be supported by a seabed (30), the seabed substructure (10) comprising a base structure (11) provided preferably with an upwards extending wall structure (22), arranged along at least a part of the periphery of the base structure (11), the base structure (10) preferably also being provided with an opening (23) in the wall structure (22) for allowing the floatable module to be berthed in and supported by the seabed substructure (10). The base structure (10) is provided with strong points (24) configured to receive the ends of preinstalled vertical piles (14) for at least temporary support of the base structure (11) during a piling operation for permanent piling of the base structure (10) to the sea bed (30). The publication also relates to a method for piling a base structure on or above a seabed (30).

OFFSHORE VESSEL, PREFERABLY AN OFFSHORE WIND TURBINE INSTALLATION VESSEL, A CRANE FOR PROVIDING SUCH A VESSEL, AND A METHOD FOR USING SUCH A CRANE, PREFERABLY FOR UPENDING A MONOPILE

An offshore wind turbine installation vessel includes a crane provided with a computerized crane control system. The computerized crane control system is linked to the slew drive, the luffing drive, and the hoisting winch of the crane, and is programmed to perform a foundation pile installation routine providing a coordinated pattern of slew motion of the superstructure and of luffing motion of the boom structure, as well as operation of the hoisting winch so that the load connector of the crane moves from a foundation pile pick up position thereof, where the load connector is connected to the top end of a horizontally oriented foundation pile stored on a storage deck, to a foundation pile overhoarding position thereof, wherein the foundation pile is in vertical suspended from the load connector, outside of the hull.