System for increased floatation and stability on tension leg platform by extended buoyant pontoons

摘要

The disclosure provides a tension leg platform ("TLP") with a plurality of buoyant pontoons (10, 12, 14, 15) suitable for highly disturbed seas that can expand the stability of the tension leg platform by extending at least one buoyant pontoon beyond an intersection (34) of two pontoons. In at least one embodiment, the location of the column (6) can be decoupled from the customary end of the pontoon. The tendons (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32) can be located at the ends of the pontoons extending beyond the intersection. In some embodiments, such as four- column TLPs, the pontoons can be extended orthogonally relative to an adjacent pontoon. The extending pontoon increases a buoyancy of the pontoon, increases a pitch stability of the TLP, and increases quayside stability. The extended pontoon can be structurally intersected with the adjacent pontoon to strengthen the extended pontoon and reduce the failure mode of such structure.