公开(公告)号：US09758941B2

公开(公告)日：2017-09-12

申请号：US13275648

申请日：2011-10-18

申请人： Lyle David Finn, III ,  Edward E. Horton, III ,  James V. Maher

发明人： Lyle David Finn, III ,  Edward E. Horton, III ,  James V. Maher

IPC分类号： B63B21/50 ,  E02B17/02 ,  B63B35/44 ,  B63B21/27 ,  B63B35/00 ,  E02B17/00

CPC分类号： E02B17/027 ,  B63B21/27 ,  B63B21/50 ,  B63B35/003 ,  B63B35/4406 ,  B63B2021/505 ,  E02B2017/0039 ,  E02B2017/0047

摘要： An offshore structure comprises a hull having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. In addition, the structure comprises an anchor coupled to the lower end of the hull and configured to secure the hull to the sea floor. The anchor has an aspect ratio less than 3:1. The hull includes a variable ballast chamber positioned axially between the first end and the second end of the hull and a first buoyant chamber positioned between the variable ballast chamber and the first end of the hull. The first buoyant chamber is filled with a gas and sealed from the surrounding environment. Further, the structure comprises a ballast control conduit in fluid communication with the variable ballast chamber and configured to supply a gas to the variable ballast chamber. The structure also comprises a topside mounted to the first end of the hull.