TRITON ANCHOR LLC — Department of Energy SBIR Phase I: C56-17a

Description

Floating wind platform mooring and cable disconnection and connection operations are extremely costly due to the requirements of multiple large vessels, crews, and lengthy offshore campaigns. The current stateof-the-art disconnection and connection methodologies require anchor handling vessels and tow vessels with extreme bollard pull capacity to handle operations while keeping the platform on station. Wet storing of mooring or providing buoyancy modules to each component further complicates the operation and sequence of events with the need to continuously locate and retrieve components from the seafloor with remotely operated robotics. Additionally, deck personnel involved in this operation add great cost and safety risks when routinely handling high-tension mooring and cabling components in a hazardous dynamic offshore environment. The objective of this project is to prove how Triton Anchor’s innovative quick mooring connector solution will ensure safe, quick, and reliable disconnection and connection operations of the mooring lines and dynamic cable from the platform hull. By utilizing this new mooring and cable connection system, the number of vessels, their size and capability requirements, and the time needed to be on location for each operation will be reduced considerably. This solution will be applicable for catenary, semi-taut, and taut mooring systems and the majority of semisubmersible floating offshore wind platforms. During this project, Triton Anchor will prove the feasibility of this mechanical solution to meet the requirements of multiple platforms, field developers, and various mooring designs while adhering to best practices by API-RP-2SK, DNV-ST-0119, and other relevant industry codes and standards. Additionally, Triton Anchor will perform a cost comparison analysis between current traditional mooring disconnection and connection methodologies and its new solution with minimal vessels and personnel to prove the cost saving estimations to public rate payers. This concept greatly reduces OPEX costs and increases wind farm efficiency by minimizing wind turbine down time. By advancing these factors, more energy is produced at less cost which yields direct benefits to rate-payers. In addition to cost savings, the decrease in quantity and size of vessels required for this operation yields a great reduction in carbon emissions, field traffic, and marine life disturbance.