AU2014200191A1 - LNG export terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

A near shore liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal includes an LNG storage unit, a jetty and a converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel moored against the jetty. 5 The carrier-vessel includes a hull, at least one hydrocarbon storage tank and is provided with a natural gas processing system for liquefying natural gas. Onshore produced natural gas is supplied through a first pipeline to the natural gas processing plant on the carrier-vessel 10 and the LNG produced by the natural gas processing system is transferred from the carrier-vessel to the LNG storage unit via a second pipeline suitable for the transfer of cryogenic fluids. 15 [Figure 1] 5020311_1 (GHMatters) P95960.AU 13/01/14

Description

- 1 LNG export terminal Field of the invention The present invention relates to an near shore LNG 5 export terminal, comprising a floating natural gas processing system and an LNG storage unit. Background Such terminals have been described in the prior art. 10 US2940268, for example, teaches to liquefy of natural gas in a barge mounted liquefaction plant and to subsequent discharge the liquefied natural gas into suitably insulated storage tanks, preferably installed on a tank carrying vessel. The barges described in US2940268 are 15 often custom made in specialized wharfs and they mostly lack proper propulsion to reach their operational destination, so that they need to be towed or transported, sometimes over large distances. The risk of damage to the barge during the journey to the operational destination is 20 clear and present. Furthermore, the facilities provided on the barge are limited and it may be necessary to provide extensive facilities onshore. Providing facilities onshore is difficult and/or requires important investments on some operational sites. 25 Summary of the invention It is an object of the present invention is to provide an improved liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal which reduces the disadvantages and limitations 30 of the LNG export terminals, known from the prior art. Thereto, the near shore liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal comprises an LNG storage unit, a jetty and a converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel moored against the 5020311_1 (GHMatters) P95960.AU 13/01/14 - 2 jetty, the carrier-vessel comprising a hull, at least one hydrocarbon storage tank and is provided with a natural gas processing system for liquefying natural gas, wherein the converted hydrocarbon carrier vessel is arranged to 5 receive the onshore produced natural gas that is supplied through a first pipeline to the natural gas processing plant on the carrier-vessel and to transfer the LNG produced by the natural gas processing system from the carrier-vessel to the LNG storage unit via a second 10 pipeline suitable for the transfer of cryogenic fluids. The inventors have observed that instead of using a flat-top barge, as described in the prior art, the use of a converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel as a platform for the natural gas processing system for liquefying natural 15 gas offers the advantage that some functionalities of the converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel can be re-used and have to be newly built on a flat-top barge, such as, but not limited to, a deckhouse for operational people on board, possibly only during dayshift, going home after 20 work, supporting facilities for people on-board (drinking water, sewage treatment),safety systems in the accommodation area, boiler (to provide process heat and for start-up), and emergency power supply. Other functionalities such as propulsion, for sailing 25 on own power from the conversion/assembly yard to the final operational destination, are available as well. Within the frame-work of the present invention, it will be appreciated that the term "jetty-moored" encompasses also quay-moored or any other near-shore mooring. 30 The liquefaction process in the natural gas processing system involves removal of certain components, such as dust, acid gases, helium, water, and heavy hydrocarbons, that could cause difficulty downstream. The 5020311_1 (GHMatters) P95960.AU 13/01/14 - 3 natural gas is then condensed into a liquid at close to atmospheric pressure (maximum transport pressure set at around 25 kPa (4 psi)) by cooling it to approximately -162 0 C (-260 OF). 5 According to an embodiment of the present invention, the LNG storage unit comprises one or a plurality of onshore LNG storage tanks. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the onshore LNG storage tank is connectable through a 10 further pipeline to an LNG shuttle tanker. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the LNG storage unit comprises an LNG storage tanker having storage tanks for containing LNG. According to an embodiment of the present invention, 15 the storage tanks are spherical tanks. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the LNG storage tanks are membrane tanks. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the LNG storage tanker is connectable through a further 20 pipeline to a further LNG shuttle tanker. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel further comprises one or more facilities selected from a group comprising living quarters, maintenance facilities, safety systems, 25 emergency escape and evacuation systems, logistic systems and power generation systems. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel is a converted oil tanker. 30 According to an embodiment of the present invention, the converted oil tanker is a converted very large crude carrier (VLCC). 5020311_1 (GHMatters) P95960.AU 13/01/14 - 4 According to an embodiment of the present invention, the converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel is a converted LNG carrier. According to an embodiment of the present invention, 5 the second and further pipelines are cryogenic hoses. Advantageous embodiments are further defined by the dependent claims. Brief description of drawings 10 Presently preferred embodiments are described below in conjunction with the appended drawing figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements in the various figures, and wherein: Figure 1 illustrates an LNG export terminal with a 15 converted hydrocarbon carrier and an onshore placed LNG storage tank; Figure 2 illustrates the LNG export terminal of figure 1 with an LNG shuttle carrier moored against the jetty and receiving LNG from the onshore LNG storage tank; 20 Figure 3 illustrates an alternative LNG export terminal with a converted hydrocarbon carrier and an moored LNG storage vessel for storage of the produced LNG; Figure 4 illustrates the alternative LNG export terminal of figure 3 with a moored LNG shuttle carrier 25 receiving the produced and stored LNG from the LNG storage tanker. Detailed description of embodiments The present invention will be described with respect 30 to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto. The drawings described are only schematic and are non limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the 5020311_1 (GHMatters) P95960.AU 13/01/14 - 5 elements may be exaggerated and not drawn on scale for illustrative purposes. Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description are used for distinguishing 5 between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. The terms are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and the embodiments of the invention can operate in other sequences than described or illustrated herein. 10 Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. The terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and the embodiments of the invention 15 described herein can operate in other orientations than described or illustrated herein. The term "comprising" should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It needs to be 20 interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression "a 25 device comprising means A and B" should not be limited to devices consisting of only components A and B. It means that with respect to the present description, the only relevant components of the device are A and B. Figure 1 schematically shows an LNG export terminal 1 30 with a converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel 100 and an onshore placed LNG storage tank 30 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 5020311_1 (GHMatters) P95960.AU 13/01/14 - 6 The LNG export terminal 50 comprises a converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel 100, an LNG storage unit 20 and a jetty 10. The converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel 100 is 5 arranged in coastal water 1 of a sea or a lake and is moored against the jetty 10, relatively close to shore 15. The converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel 100 comprises a hull, and is provided with a natural gas processing system (liquefaction system) 101 for liquefying 10 natural gas. The liquefaction system 101 typically comprises at least one hydrocarbon storage tank 102. From a source 20, onshore produced natural gas is supplied through a first pipeline 25 to an input 21 of the 15 natural gas processing plant 101, 102 on the converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel 100. The converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel 100 is arranged to receive the onshore produced natural gas, to produce LNG in the liquefaction system 101, 102 and to 20 transfer from an output 31 of the liquefaction system, the LNG product to the onshore LNG storage unit 30 via a second pipeline 35 suitable for the transfer of cryogenic fluids. In an embodiment, both the first and second pipelines 25 25, 35, run along the jetty between the converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel 100 and the shore 15. It is noted that alternatively the converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel could be spread-moored or turret-moored. 30 In an embodiment the converted hydrocarbon carrier vessel is either a converted oil tanker, or a converted very large crude carrier (VLCC) or a converted LNG carrier. 5020311_1 (GHMatters) P95960.AU 13/01/14 - 7 In an embodiment, the first and/or second pipelines 25, 35 may be embodied as cryogenic hoses. Figure 2 schematically shows the LNG export terminal in accordance with a further embodiment. 5 In this embodiment the LNG export terminal is configured to receive an LNG shuttle tanker or vessel 200 that functions as an offshore LNG storage unit and LNG carrier. The LNG shuttle tanker 200 is arranged with LNG 10 storage tanks 250 for storing LNG. The LNG export terminal's jetty 10 is configured for mooring of the LNG shuttle tanker 200. Additionally, the second pipeline 25 is arranged with an LNG product outlet 32 that can be coupled to an input of the LNG shuttle 15 tanker 200, in such a way that the LNG shuttle tanker can receive LNG from the onshore LNG storage tank 30. In a further embodiment, the second pipeline 35 may be configured to allow direct transfer from output 31 of the converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel 100 to outlet 35 20 coupled to the LNG shuttle tanker 200. Optionally, the converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel 100 may be configured to have the LNG shuttle tanker 200 mooring along the hull. Figure 3 schematically shows an LNG export terminal 25 in an alternative embodiment. In this embodiment, the onshore LNG storage tank 30 is omitted and replaced by a first LNG storage vessel 200 that functions as an LNG storage unit. The first LNG storage vessel 200 may be an LNG 30 shuttle tanker or an LNG storage tanker, and is arranged with LNG storage tanks 250 for storing LNG. In this embodiment, the converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel 100 is moored against the jetty 10 and has 5020311_1 (GHMatters) P95960.AU 13/01/14 - 8 the capability to have the first LNG storage vessel 200 mooring along its free side of the hull. Alternatively, the first LNG storage vessel 200 may be moored against the jetty 10 with the converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel 5 mooring along a free side of the hull of the first LNG storage vessel 200. In a further alternative, the converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel 100 and the first LNG storage vessel 200 are arranged lengthwise in line (or in tandem), each moored against the same side of the jetty 10 10. From the source 20, onshore produced natural gas is supplied through the first pipeline 25 to the input 21 of the natural gas processing plant 101, 102 on the converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel 100. 15 The converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel 100 is arranged to produce LNG in the liquefaction system 101, 102 and to transfer from the liquefaction system, the LNG product directly to the LNG storage tanks 250 on the first LNG storage vessel 200 via a second pipeline 33. 20 Additionally, the first LNG storage vessel 200 is equipped with a further pipeline 34 is arranged with an LNG product outlet 36 that can be coupled to an input of a further LNG shuttle vessel (not shown) that can moor along the jetty 10. In this manner, the first LNG shuttle 25 carrier vessel can function as an LNG storage tank, while the further LNG shuttle vessel is used a carrier for the LNG product. This can be advantageous in locations where it is difficult to construct an onshore LNG storage. Figure 4 illustrates the alternative LNG export 30 terminal of figure 3. A further LNG shuttle vessel 300 is moored at the jetty 10. The further LNG shuttle vessel 300 comprises LNG storage tanks 350 for storing LNG. 5020311_1 (GHMatters) P95960.AU 13/01/14 - 9 During loading, the LNG storage system on the further LNG shuttle vessel 300 is coupled via the further pipeline 36 with the first LNG shuttle vessel 200 that functions as LNG storage. 5 In this manner the moored further LNG shuttle vessel 300 is arranged to receive the produced and/or stored LNG either from the liquefaction system 101, 102 converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel 100 directly or from the first LNG shuttle vessel 200. 10 The pipelines as described above may be pipelines suitable for cryogenic substances or may be cryogenic hoses. Instead of a jetty 10, the LNG export terminal may comprise a quay or a breakwater type or a mooring 15 arrangement with dolphin type mooring construction for mooring the converted hydrocarbon carrier vessel or in some embodiments, the first LNG storage vessel. The foregoing description details certain embodiments of the invention. It will be appreciated, however, that no 20 matter how detailed the foregoing appears in text, the invention may be practiced in many ways. It should be noted that the use of particular terminology when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being 25 re-defined herein to be restricted to including any specific characteristics of the features or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointed out novel features of the invention 30 as applied to various embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the device or process illustrated may be made by those skilled in the technology without 5020311_1 (GHMatters) P95960.AU 13/01/14 - 10 departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims 5 are to be embraced within their scope. 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 10 "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 15 publication is 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. 5020311_1 (GHMatters) P95960.AU 13/01/14

Claims (12)

1. Near shore liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal comprising an LNG storage unit, a jetty and 5 a converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel moored against the jetty, the carrier-vessel comprising a hull, at least one hydrocarbon storage tank and is provided with a natural gas processing system for liquefying natural gas, wherein onshore produced natural gas is 10 supplied through a first pipeline to the natural gas processing plant on the converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel, the converted hydrocarbon carrier vessel is arranged to receive the onshore produced natural gas and to transfer the LNG produced by the 15 natural gas processing system from the carrier-vessel to the LNG storage unit via a second pipeline suitable for the transfer of cryogenic fluids.

2. LNG export terminal according to claim 1, wherein the 20 LNG storage unit comprises one or more LNG storage tanks that are placed onshore.

3. LNG export terminal according to claim 2, wherein the onshore placed LNG storage tank is connected via a 25 cryogenic pipeline to the tanks of a LNG shuttle tanker that is temporary moored against the jetty.

4. LNG export terminal according to claim 1, wherein the LNG storage unit is an LNG storage tanker having 30 storage tanks for the produced LNG and which is moored directly against the jetty or against the converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel. 5020311_1 (GHMatters) P95960.AU 13/01/14 - 12

5. LNG export terminal according to claim 4, wherein the storage tanks are spherical tanks.

6. LNG export terminal according to claim 4, wherein the 5 LNG storage tanks are membrane tanks.

7. LNG export terminal according to claim 4, wherein the LNG storage tanker is connectable through a further cryogenic pipeline or hose to a LNG shuttle tanker 10 that is temporary moored against the jetty, the LNG storage tanker or the converted hydrocarbon carrier vessel.

8. LNG export terminal according to claim 1, wherein the 15 converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel further comprises one or more of living quarters, maintenance facilities, safety systems, emergency escape and evacuation systems, logistic systems and power generation. 20

9. LNG export terminal according to claim 1, wherein the converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel is a converted oil tanker. 25

10. LNG export terminal according to claim 9, wherein the converted oil tanker is a converted very large crude carrier (VLCC).

11. LNG export terminal according to claim 1, 30 wherein the converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel is a converted LNG carrier. 5020311_1 (GHMatters) P95960.AU 13/01/14 - 13

12. LNG export terminal according to claim 1, wherein the second and further pipelines are cryogenic hoses. 5020311_1 (GHMatters) P95960.AU 13/01/14