Importance

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Abstract

A tension leg means for a marine platform having a hawse pipe positionable over an anchor template guide frame means which includes one or more anchor pile members set in a seabed, each tension leg means comprising one or more tension pipe strings each including a plurality of pipe string members interconnected by couplings. A connector means secures each pipe string to an anchor pile member in a manner to lock the pipe string against relative rotation with respect to the anchor pile member. The pipe string extends into said hawse pipe and a quick latch connector means supported by the platform is arranged to quickly latchably connect the upper end of the tension pipe string to the latch connector means and platform while permitting adjustment of tension in the tension pipe string. Tension pipe strings are adjusted to substantially uniform tension by the latch connector means. Flexible coupling means are provided in the pipe string above the connector means to the anchor pile member and just below the hawse pipe. An expandable stabilizer is carried on the pipe string at the bottom end of the hawse pipe to minimize transfer of lateral forces to the anchor pile member and platform. A method of installing a tension leg from a floatable marine platform including lowering an anchor template pile guide structure having pile conductors thereon to the sea floor, lowering an articulated guide structure including arm means to the template structure and indexing the position of the arm means with respect to each of anchor pile conductors and extending the arm means to position a pair of guide lines adjacent each conductor guide to facilitate drilling and guidance of anchor pile members into and through said anchor conductors, lowering a tension pipe string through a hawse pipe in the platform and attaching and locking a connector means to an anchor pile member against relative rotation, and connecting the upper end of the tension pipe string to a latch connector means carried by said platform and applying fluid pressure to the latch connector means to adjust tension in the associated pipe string.

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First Claim