AU2005305607B2 - Apparatus for offshore transfer of fluid - Google Patents

Apparatus for offshore transfer of fluid Download PDF

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Publication number
AU2005305607B2
AU2005305607B2 AU2005305607A AU2005305607A AU2005305607B2 AU 2005305607 B2 AU2005305607 B2 AU 2005305607B2 AU 2005305607 A AU2005305607 A AU 2005305607A AU 2005305607 A AU2005305607 A AU 2005305607A AU 2005305607 B2 AU2005305607 B2 AU 2005305607B2
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AU
Australia
Prior art keywords
rotatable member
axis
rotatable
transfer system
fluid transfer
Prior art date
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Ceased
Application number
AU2005305607A
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AU2005305607A1 (en
Inventor
Jacob De Baan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bluewater Energy Services BV
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Bluewater Energy Services BV
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Publication date
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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C6/00—Methods and apparatus for filling vessels not under pressure with liquefied or solidified gases
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B21/00—Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B27/00—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers
    • B63B27/24—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers of pipe-lines
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C5/00—Methods or apparatus for filling containers with liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases under pressures
    • F17C5/02—Methods or apparatus for filling containers with liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases under pressures for filling with liquefied gases
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C7/00—Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases from pressure vessels, not covered by another subclass
    • F17C7/02—Discharging liquefied gases
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C9/00—Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied or solidified gases from vessels not under pressure
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
    • F17C2221/03—Mixtures
    • F17C2221/032—Hydrocarbons
    • F17C2221/033—Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
    • F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
    • F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
    • F17C2223/0161—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/03—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
    • F17C2223/033—Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/04—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by other properties of handled fluid before transfer
    • F17C2223/042—Localisation of the removal point
    • F17C2223/046—Localisation of the removal point in the liquid
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2225/00—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2225/01—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
    • F17C2225/0146—Two-phase
    • F17C2225/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
    • F17C2225/0161—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2225/00—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2225/03—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
    • F17C2225/033—Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2270/00—Applications
    • F17C2270/01—Applications for fluid transport or storage
    • F17C2270/0102—Applications for fluid transport or storage on or in the water

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Loading And Unloading Of Fuel Tanks Or Ships (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
  • Transmission Devices (AREA)

Description

WO 2006/054180 PCT/IB2005/003748 1 APPARATUS FOR THE OFFSHORE TRANSFER OF FLUID The present application relates to apparatus suitable for effecting the loading and offloading of fluids, such as liquefied natural gas.
Various methods have been developed to make offshore loading and offloading of liquefied natural gas (LNG) a practical proposition. Such a method is known from OTC paper 15301 (prepared for presentation at'the 2003 Offshore Technology Conference held in Houston, Texas, 5-8 May 2003, and entitled "Offshore Transfer Re-Gasification and Salt Dome Storage of LNG"). This paper describes a single-point mooring system suitable for the mooring of an LNG carrier vessel. The paper further describes apparatus for discharging the LNG through the existing mid-ships manifold.
The discharging apparatus comprises a rotatably mounted rigid arm which carries a standard fluid transfer system.
The fluid transfer system consists of three pipe-in-pipe (PIP) lines; two of the lines are dedicated to the transfer of LNG and the third line is dedicated to vapour return.
The fluid transfer system is hingedly coupled to the rigid arm to allow the arm to weathervane and pitch to accommodate changes in movement between the vessel and platform.
When offloading from the mid-ship manifold of a vessel moored at a single-point mooring structure, the structure may surge backwards and forwards under the. influence of wave and wind loads. To accommodate this movement, the'rigid arm of the transfer apparatus described in the above-referenced OTC paper would require a large reach capable of covering the full range of surge motions of the vessel, including 2 those which may occur after failure of a mooring hawser and any further movements which take place in the time it takes to shut transfer valves before a physical disconnect can be performed.
With certain types of loading equipments, such as steel loading arms or flexible hoses, these large surge motions result in large angular offsets between the extremities of such loading arms and hoses and this poses large strains on their constituent components.
Moreover, since physical spacing between loading arms and hoses is limited, a certain "shadowing" occurs between the arms and hoses and hence, during a disconnect operation, clashing between mechanical components becomes unavoidable.
The present application, at least in preferred embodiments, attempts to address at least some of the problems outlined above.
Viewed from a first aspect, the present application relates to an apparatus suitable for the offshore transfer of fluids, the apparatus being mountable on a base and comprising first, second and third rotatable members, and a fluid transfer system suitable for connecting the apparatus to a fluid source or a fluid store, the second rotatable member being mounted on the first rotatable member, and the third rotatable member being mounted on the second rotatable member, and the fluid transfer system being mounted on said third rotatable member, wherein the first member is rotatable about a first axis, the second member is rotatable about a second axis, and the third member is rotatable about N \Melbourne\Cases\Patent\71000-71999\P71984 AU\Specio\P71984 .AU Specification.DOC 16/05/07 -3a third axis, the axes being substantially vertical and parallel, the first and second axes being offset from each IND other and the second and third axes being offset from each other, and wherein the apparatus is configured such that when the first member is rotated about first axis through an NO angle of cc, the second member is rotated about said second
V)
axis through an angle of 2c'; whereby in use, the fluid Stransfer system is maintained in a predetermined orientation relative to the base.
The apparatus of the present invention advantageously creates a stable platform on which the fluid transfer system may be mounted. The fluid transfer system may comprise hard loading arms or flexible hoses capable of spanning the entire range of surge motions such that the loading arms or hoses themselves can be operated with virtually zero angular offset during large surge motions. Clearly, this arrangement provides improved functionality and allows the fluid transfer system to operate without clashes occurring during the critical phases of any disconnect operation.
In an embodiment the fluid transfer system, in use, undergoes translation in a plane substantially perpendicular to said axes.
In an embodiment the first rotatable member is rotatably mounted on the base.
In an embodiment said first member rotates in a first direction the second member rotates in a second direction, the first and second directions being opposite to each other.
N,\Melbourne\Caoee\Patent\71OOO-71999\P71984.AU\Specia\P71984.AU Specification.DOC 16/05/07 -4- In an embodiment the apparatus is configured such that when the first element is rotated about said first axis through an angle of the third member is rotated about said third axis through an angle of a*.
In an embodiment the apparatus is configured such that said first and third members rotate in the same direction.
In an embodiment the distance between the first axis and the second axis is the same as the distance between the second axis and the third axis.
In an embodiment the apparatus further comprises a first actuator for rotating said first rotatable member.
In an embodiment the apparatus further comprises a second actuator for rotating said second rotatable member relative to said first rotatable member.
In an embodiment the apparatus further comprises a third actuator for rotating said third rotatable member relative to said second rotatable member.
In an embodiment the apparatus further comprises a first linkage assembly for effecting rotation of the second rotatable member relative to the first rotatable member.
In an embodiment the apparatus further comprises a second linkage assembly for effecting rotation of the third rotatable member relative to the second rotatable member.
N \Melbourne\Caees\Patent\71000-71999\P71984.AU\Specis\P71984.AU Specification.DOC 16/05/07 5 In an embodiment the apparatus further comprises means for determining the angular rotation of each rotatable member.
In embodiments of the invention the apparatus allows the fluid transfer system to undergo translation relative to the base and may, therefore, accommodate relative movement between a vessel and the fluid transfer system at least in one plane.
In embodiments of the invention the configuration of the first, second and third rotatable members may allow the third member, and consequently the fluid transfer system, to be maintained in a pre-determined orientation relative to the base, even when the first and second members are rotated.
Two preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the transfer apparatus of the present invention mounted on a single point mooring structure; Figure 2 shows the apparatus of Figure 1 from a different perspective; Figure 3 shows an end view of the apparatus of the present invention; and Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
A single point mooring (SPM) structure 1 of the type described in OTC paper 15301 is shown by way of example in Figure 1, adjacent to tanker vessel V. Transfer apparatus N.\Melbourne\Ce\aes\Patent\710071999\P7194.AU\Specia\P71 9 4 .AU Specification.DOC 16/05/07 6- THIS PAGE HAS BEEN LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK 00 Ns\Melbourne\Caas\Patent\*1ooo-71s99\P71sa4.Au\specie\p71gs 4 .Au Specification.DOC 16/05/07 WO 2006/054180 PCT/IB2005/003748 7 in accordance with the present invention is provided on a column 2 at the aft-end of the SPM structure 1. The transfer apparatus comprises a first rotatable member 3 which is mounted on the column 2. A second rotatable member 4 is mounted on the first rotatable member 3; and a third rotatable member 5 is mounted on the second rotatable member 4.
As shown in Figure 2, a fluid transfer system 6 is provided on the third rotatable member 5. The fluid transfer system 6 comprises four hard conduits 7-10, each of which are carried by a support arm 11-14.
The first rotatable member 3 is rotated by an electric motor. It will, of course, be appreciated that other actuation means, such as a hydraulic cylinder, may be implemented to effect rotation of the first rotatable member 3. The transfer apparatus further comprises a linkage bar system 15 for effecting angular rotation of the second and third rotable members 4, 5. The implementation of a linkage bar system 15 advantageously removes the need to provide additional actuation means and may thereby reduce the cost of the transfer apparatus.
The first rotatable member 3 is rotated about a first axis A; the second rotatable member 4 is rotated about a second axis B; and the third rotatable member 5 is rotated about a third axis C. The first, second and third-axis A, B, C are arranged substantially vertically such that the first, second and third rotatable members 3, 4, 5 each rotate in respective substantially horizontal planes. The distance between the first axis A and the second axis B is the same WO 2006/054180 PCT/IB2005/003748 8 as the distance between the second axis B and the third axis
C.
The linkage bar assembly 15 is such that when the first rotatable member 3 undergoes an angular rotation of uo relative to the column 2, the second rotatable member 4 undergoes an angular rotation of 2a relative to the first rotatable member 3. For example, if the first rotatable member 3 is rotated through 300 relative to a reference plane, the second rotatable member 4 undergoes an angular rotation of 600 relative to the first rotatable member 3.
The linkage bar system 15 is arranged such that rotation of the first rotatable member 3 through an angle of uo results in a corresponding rotation of the third rotatable member through an angle of uo relative to the second rotatable member 4.
The linkage bar assembly 15 is arranged such that the first and third rotatable members 3, 5 rotate in the same direction, whereas the second rotatable member 4 rotates in the opposite direction. Thus, in the arrangement shown in Figures 1-3, rotation of the first rotatable member 3 in a clockwise direction (viewed from above) causes the third rotatable member 5 to rotate in a clockwise direction, and the second rotatable member 4 to rotate in an anti-clockwise direction.
The net result of the arrangement of the first, second and third rotatable members 3, 4, 5 is that the fluid transfer system 6 undergoes translations along a horizontal axis.
Advantageously, the transfer apparatus is arranged such that WO 2006/054180 PCT/IB2005/003748 -9 the fluid transfer system may undergo translation along a longitudinal axis parallel to an adjacent edge of the SPM structure 1. Thus, the fluid transfer system 6 may translate in the surge direction of the vessel carrying the liquefied natural gas without getting closer or further away from the manifold provided on the vessel.
It will be appreciated that the arrangement of the transfer apparatus is such that the orientation of the fluid transfer system 6 relative to the SPM structure 1 is maintained constant as it undergoes translation. This functionality is especially desirable as the stresses applied to the supporting arm 11-14 may be reduced as the fluid transfer system 6 may be maintained in an orientation perpendicular to the vessel.
Moreover, the longitudinal position of the fluid transfer system 6 may be maintained constant relative to the LNG carrier vessel by effecting appropriate rotation of the first, second and third rotatable members 3, 4, 5. This may further reduce or minimise side-loads on the fluid transfer system 6.
The support arms 11-14 are provided with an elbow joint to accommodate transverse movement of the LNG carrier vessel relative to the SPM structure 1.
As shown in Figure 3, the transfer apparatus is provided with a series of fluid swivels 16 to allow the transfer of fluid through the transfer apparatus irrespective of the angular orientation of the first, second and third rotatable members 3, 4, WO 2006/054180 PCT/IB2005/003748 10 In order to monitor the motions of the LNG carrier vessel carrying the liquefied natural gas, an optical or other tracking system may be provided. This tracking system preferably provides continuous information as to the location of the vessel relative to the SPM structure 1 and allows the angular orientation of the first, second and third rotatable members 3, 4, 5 to be controlled to maintain the longitudinal position of the fluid transfer system 6 constant relative to the vessel.
A second embodiment of the transfer apparatus is shown in Figure 4. In this embodiment, like reference numerals have been used for like components. The apparatus of this embodiment is modified insofar as the hard loading arms 11- 14 have been replaced by a set of catenary hoses 17 mounted on the underside of the third rotatable member To allow the catenary hoses to be suspended under the transfer apparatus, the third rotatable member 5 is rotatably mounted on the underside of the second rotatable member 4, which in turn is mounted on the underside of the first rotatable member 3.
The third rotatable member 5 is also provided with a support mechanism 18 for carrying the fluid transfer system 6.
The angular control of the first, second and third rotatable members 3, 4, 5 is generally the same as for the first embodiment such that the fluid transfer system 6 may translate along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the SPM structure 1.
11 The support member 18 advantageously allows for transverse movement of the vessel relative to the SPM structure 1 in the same way as this motion was accommodated by the hard loading arms 11-14 of the first embodiment.
It will be noted that in the second embodiment, the distance between the first and second axis A, B is not the same as the distance between the second and third axis B, C. The relative angular rotation of the first, second and third members 3, 4, 5 is modified accordingly to ensure that the fluid transfer system 6 is maintained in a pre-determined orientation as it undergoes translation.
In certain cases, the assembly of the first, second and third rotatable members 3, 4, 5 is more optimally located well above the water level, for example to allow sufficient space for catenary type hoses, as shown in Figure 4. In other applications, such as those with hard loading arms 11- 14, as shown in Figures 1-3, the first, second and third rotatable members 3, 4, 5 are better placed closer to the water line.
In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.
It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is N\Mebourne\Caes\Patent\71000-71999\P71984.AU\Specia\P71984.AU Specification.lOC 16/OS/07 12 referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.
?4:\Melbourne\Cae\Patent\71OOO-71999\P71984.AU\Specia\P71984.AU Specification.DOC 16/05/07

Claims (12)

1. Apparatus suitable for the offshore transfer of fluids, the apparatus being mountable on a base and comprising first, second and third rotatable members, and a fluid transfer system suitable for connecting the apparatus to a fluid source or a fluid store, the second rotatable member being mounted on the first rotatable member, and the third rotatable member being mounted on the second rotatable member, and the fluid transfer system being mounted on said third rotatable member, wherein the first member is rotatable about a first axis, the second member is rotatable about a second axis, and the third member is rotatable about a third axis, the axes being substantially vertical and parallel, the first and second axes being offset from each other and the second and third axes being offset from each other, and wherein the apparatus is configured such that when the first member is rotated about first axis through an angle of the second member is rotated about said second axis through an angle of 2c°; whereby in use, the fluid transfer system is maintained in a predetermined orientation relative to the base.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fluid transfer system, in use, undergoes translation in a plane substantially perpendicular to said axes.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first rotatable member is rotatably mounted on the base.
4. Apparatus as claimed in any one preceding claim, wherein when said first member rotates in a first direction N\Mebourne\Caes\Patent\71000-71999\P71984.AU\Specia\P71984AU Specification.DOC 16/05/07 14 Sthe second member rotates in a second direction, the first and second directions being opposite to each other. \O Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the apparatus is configured such that when the first element is rotated IN about said first axis through an angle of the third 0 member is rotated about said third axis through an angle of m a°.
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the apparatus is configured such that said first and third members rotate in the same direction.
7. Apparatus as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the distance between the first axis and the second axis is the same as the distance between the second axis and the third axis.
8. Apparatus as claimed in any one preceding claim, further comprising a first actuator for rotating said first rotatable member.
9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a second actuator for rotating said second rotatable member relative to said first rotatable member. Apparatus as claimed in any one preceding claim, further comprising a third actuator for rotating said third rotatable member relative to said second rotatable member.
11. Apparatus as claimed in any one preceding claim, further comprising a first linkage assembly for effecting N;\Melbourne\Cae\Patent\71000-71999\P71984.AU\Specis\P71984.AU Specification.DOC 16/05/07 15 rotation of the second rotatable member relative to the first rotatable member.
12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a second linkage assembly for effecting rotation of the third rotatable member relative to the second rotatable member.
13. Apparatus as claimed in any one preceding claim, further comprising means for determining the angular rotation of each rotatable member.
14. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. N.\Melbourne\Case\Patent\71000-71999\P71984 .AU\Speci\P71984.AU Specification.DOC 16/05/07
AU2005305607A 2004-11-22 2005-11-22 Apparatus for offshore transfer of fluid Ceased AU2005305607B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0425654.1 2004-11-22
GB0425654A GB2420319B (en) 2004-11-22 2004-11-22 Apparatus for the offshore transfer of fluid
PCT/IB2005/003748 WO2006054180A1 (en) 2004-11-22 2005-11-22 Apparatus for offshore transfer of fluid

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
AU2005305607A1 AU2005305607A1 (en) 2006-05-26
AU2005305607B2 true AU2005305607B2 (en) 2009-01-08

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AU2005305607A Ceased AU2005305607B2 (en) 2004-11-22 2005-11-22 Apparatus for offshore transfer of fluid

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US (1) US20070292243A1 (en)
EP (1) EP1815180B1 (en)
CN (1) CN100489371C (en)
AU (1) AU2005305607B2 (en)
GB (1) GB2420319B (en)
RU (1) RU2359859C2 (en)
WO (1) WO2006054180A1 (en)

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FR2944256B1 (en) * 2009-04-09 2012-12-21 Eurodim Sa SYSTEM FOR TRANSFERRING FLUIDS BETWEEN TWO VESSELS PLACED SIDE-SIDE
KR101122350B1 (en) * 2009-12-18 2012-03-23 에스티엑스조선해양 주식회사 Catamaran type LNG floater
US8286678B2 (en) * 2010-08-13 2012-10-16 Chevron U.S.A. Inc. Process, apparatus and vessel for transferring fluids between two structures
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EP1815180B1 (en) 2009-06-03
AU2005305607A1 (en) 2006-05-26
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US20070292243A1 (en) 2007-12-20
RU2359859C2 (en) 2009-06-27

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