A FLOATING PLATFORM HAVING A SPOOLABLE TETHER INSTALLED THEREON AND METHOD FOR TETHERING THE PLATFORM USING SAME

摘要

The present invention discloses a process for installing a floating platform (20) to the ocean floor using a spoolable tether (15), comprising installing the spooled tether onto the floating platform; towing the floating platform to a site for installation; unspooling the tether; connecting a bottom end connector (45) of the tether to a foundation (75) on the ocean floor; and connecting a top end connector of the tether to the floating platform. A preferred floating platform is a tension leg platform, and the invention includes a novel tension leg platform (TLP) comprising a spooled tether (15) installed thereon. In a preferred embodiment the foundation (75) is a suction anchor (100), and the suction anchor (100) is connected to the bottom end connector (45) prior to unspooling the tether and attached to the ocean floor after unspooling the tether. The floating platform may be installed, moved and re-installed according to the invention.