Shallow draft floating offshore drilling/producing structure

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention addresses such areas.
What is provided is a shallow draft floating structure that combines the benefits of the different types of floating structures presently in use.
The structure is formed from a buoyant hull on which one or more modules or decks may be placed to support process equipment, a drilling rig, utilities, and accommodations for personnel.
Drilling and/or producing is accomplished through a center well in the hull.
The hull includes fixed ballast, an oil storage area, and voids and variable ballast for offsetting the lighter weight of the stored oil.
The hull is designed to have a relatively small water plane area.
The hull is also designed to have roll and pitch periods that are detuned from waves in the area that the hull is to be installed.
It is an object of the invention to provide a floating offshore structure that allows the hull and decks to be constructed independently of each other and assembled at a site that is not necessarily the final field location, which will reduce the schedule and cost of the project.
It is another object of the invention to provide a floating offshore structure that has very favorable heave, pitch, and roll motion characteristics, which will allow the use of steel production and drilling risers and allow drilling operations that are less affected by changing weather conditions.