EP0777600B1 - Method and device for offshore oil transfer - Google Patents

Method and device for offshore oil transfer Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0777600B1
EP0777600B1 EP95932245A EP95932245A EP0777600B1 EP 0777600 B1 EP0777600 B1 EP 0777600B1 EP 95932245 A EP95932245 A EP 95932245A EP 95932245 A EP95932245 A EP 95932245A EP 0777600 B1 EP0777600 B1 EP 0777600B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
hawser
hose
barrel
units
winch
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP95932245A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0777600A1 (en
Inventor
Asbjorn Lovgren
Claes W. Olsen
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.)
Hitec AS
Original Assignee
Hitec AS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hitec AS filed Critical Hitec AS
Publication of EP0777600A1 publication Critical patent/EP0777600A1/en
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Publication of EP0777600B1 publication Critical patent/EP0777600B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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

Definitions

  • the present invention is related to a method and a connecting device for offshore oil transfer between two units.
  • Transfer of oil offshore today is accomplished according to different principles, such as submerged tower, by means of a buoy etc (see No-B-145532).
  • a transfer system comprising shuttle tankers equipped with the submerged turret loading system (STL) or the submerged turret production system (STP).
  • STL submerged turret loading system
  • STP submerged turret production system
  • a stationary ship When loading with such a system (STL), a stationary ship is used as a storage tank. The oil is in between loaded to a second shuttle tanker. The ship rests with its bow towards the weather and the shuttle tanker is connected to the stern of the ship. During production (STP) the storing space aboard the ship may be limited and the oil therefore is transferred more or less continuously to the second shuttle tanker.
  • the connecting system according to the present invention ensures that shuttle tankers quickly and safe may be connected to different loading systems comprise a minimum of quickly performed manual operations. To provide the ships with multi use properties loading and unloading is performed in the same area of the ship, which to a high extent provides possibility for use of few components and few manual operations for connecting and disconnecting, enduring only a short time.
  • the system according to the present invention is defined with the features stated in the claims.
  • figure 1 discloses a side view of the stern of a shuttle tanker, comprising the system according to the present invention
  • figure 2 discloses a side view of the combined rolling hawser and chain lock device according to the present invention
  • figure 3 discloses a ground view of the device in figure 2.
  • Shuttle tankers constructed with the system according to the present invention are used in connection with the loading from a normal bow loading system station (BLS) by reversing the vessel up to the loading station, the stern thereby is given a somewhat bowlike shape.
  • the stern is hold up against the weather during loading by means of the positioning system of the ship.
  • the bow of the ship is placed up against the weather and loading to another shuttle tanker is made by connecting this to the stern.
  • the system according to the invention comprises a roll hawser with chain locks for safe mooring to an unloading station, respectively another vessel, and a host barrel hose barrel ensuring that the hose is exposed to a minimum of physical stress by the use of ball shaped couplings.
  • the oil hose thereafter is connected in a known way to a standard tail part on the outer end of the hose 4, usually made as a flange coupling.
  • the hose 6 is coiled up on a barrel 5 having a horizontal axis.
  • the barrel thereafter is rotated in such a way that the coiled hose 5 runs out until the inner end of the hose 4, which is connected with the barrel 5 by means of a ball link 6, is situated in a preferred position, such as in the axial horizontal plane of the barrel.
  • the barrel 5 thereafter is locked in this position.
  • the ball link 6 is connected to the barrel and by means of pipe 7 further connected with the pipe 1 the center axis of the barrel, from which connection is established through this pipe to one side of the barrel 5.
  • the connection thereby is established to the piping system of the ship.
  • the hose freely can be moved in all directions without forces being created in the hose or the coupling.
  • the roll hawser 1 and the barrel 5 are arranged in the stern of the ship, the roll hawser preferably at the platform deck of the ship.
  • Ship provided for STL respectively STP couplings have the bridge arranged ahead of these installations of security reasons.
  • a multi use ship of the type described here thereafter have all installations for connection arranged in the stern.
  • the fairlead 1 is such that it functions as a normal fairlead where hawsers, buoys, wires and chains freely may run through and between vertically arranged rolls 1 and on horizontal rolls 3.
  • the tanker By loading from a single point mooring station (SPM) the tanker must be moored to a tower or a buoy.
  • the mooring hawser 9 from the tower of the buoy is pulled aboard on the shuttle tanker by means of a forerunner 10 and the pulling winch 8.
  • a chain 11 having standard length is connected in between the forerunner 10 and the hawser 9.
  • the forerunner 10 is pulled through the roll fairlead 1 until a sufficient number of chain loops are placed in a locking mechanism 12 in the roll fairlead 1. Thereafter the locking mechanism 12 is activated and the shuttle tanker is moored in such a way that the oil house may be connected as described above.
  • a shuttle tanker By unloading from a STL/STP-ship a shuttle tanker is moored to the ship with a corresponding hawser having a chain 11 between the forerunner and the hawser 10. At the other end of the hawser, aboard the ship, some chain links are inserted to lock those chain links by means of the locking mechanism 12 of the fairlead 1. When the leading chain length 11 is aboard the shuttle tanker.
  • the leading chain length 11 is stored in a specially designed box on the platform deck, between the roller fairlead 1 and a winch 13 for the hawser.
  • the chain length 11 is secured to the hawser as such, which is stored on the hawser winch 13. With the other end of the hawser, some chain links are connected which are used for locking in the locking mechanism 12.
  • the hawser winch 13 comprises two parts which can operated independently. On one part of the hawser winch 13 therefore the hawser 9 and the chain links are arranged and on the other part of the barrel a forerunner is arranged.
  • the forerunner When connecting the shuttle tanker to a STL/STP-ship the forerunner is let out and shut out by means of an air canon.
  • the forerunner is connected with the chain length 11 by means of a swivel.
  • the forerunner On the shuttle tanker the forerunner is pulled in and later also the chain length 11 and simultaneously the hawser is coiled off from the hawser winch 13. After the chain links are secured with the locking mechanism 12 aboard the ship, the chain length aboard the shuttle tanker is locked.
  • the mooring forces are, with the device according to the present invention, transferred to the locking mechanism 12 of the roller fairlead. Of this reason only one hawser winch 13 is needed.
  • the hose barrel 5 Upon proper mooring the hose barrel 5 gives out the hose 4, the end piece of which is connected with the manifold of the shuttle tanker. The hose barrel 5 is again locked in such a way that the ball link 6 is arranged in the horizontal plane of the barrel axis. In this way the hose may be freely moved without causing any forces to the hose or the coupling.

Description

  • The present invention is related to a method and a connecting device for offshore oil transfer between two units.
  • Transfer of oil offshore today is accomplished according to different principles, such as submerged tower, by means of a buoy etc (see No-B-145532). Increasingly a transfer system is used comprising shuttle tankers equipped with the submerged turret loading system (STL) or the submerged turret production system (STP).
  • When loading with such a system (STL), a stationary ship is used as a storage tank. The oil is in between loaded to a second shuttle tanker. The ship rests with its bow towards the weather and the shuttle tanker is connected to the stern of the ship. During production (STP) the storing space aboard the ship may be limited and the oil therefore is transferred more or less continuously to the second shuttle tanker.
  • Shuttle tankers, however, also have the need for connection to other systems, such as bow loading system (BLS), which claims adaptation of the tankers specifically also for such systems.
  • Construction of shuttle tankers adapted for use with several of the known systems, however, demands as of today comprehensive structural devices aboard each shuttle tanker and also comprehensive and many manual operations before and after loading. Such operation are time consuming and therefore under specific circumstances also may be connected with hazard for people and equipment.
  • The connecting system according to the present invention ensures that shuttle tankers quickly and safe may be connected to different loading systems comprise a minimum of quickly performed manual operations. To provide the ships with multi use properties loading and unloading is performed in the same area of the ship, which to a high extent provides possibility for use of few components and few manual operations for connecting and disconnecting, enduring only a short time. The system according to the present invention is defined with the features stated in the claims.
  • In the drawing, figure 1 discloses a side view of the stern of a shuttle tanker, comprising the system according to the present invention, figure 2 discloses a side view of the combined rolling hawser and chain lock device according to the present invention and figure 3 discloses a ground view of the device in figure 2.
  • Shuttle tankers constructed with the system according to the present invention are used in connection with the loading from a normal bow loading system station (BLS) by reversing the vessel up to the loading station, the stern thereby is given a somewhat bowlike shape. The stern is hold up against the weather during loading by means of the positioning system of the ship. At stations constructed according to the STL and STP systems, the bow of the ship is placed up against the weather and loading to another shuttle tanker is made by connecting this to the stern.
  • The system according to the invention comprises a roll hawser with chain locks for safe mooring to an unloading station, respectively another vessel, and a host barrel hose barrel ensuring that the hose is exposed to a minimum of physical stress by the use of ball shaped couplings.
  • When connecting the ship to an oil loading system station (OLS) the oil hoses pulled up from the seabed by means of a hawser running through the fairlead 1 in a known manner and further to the pulling winch 8.
  • The oil hose thereafter is connected in a known way to a standard tail part on the outer end of the hose 4, usually made as a flange coupling. The hose 6 is coiled up on a barrel 5 having a horizontal axis. The barrel thereafter is rotated in such a way that the coiled hose 5 runs out until the inner end of the hose 4, which is connected with the barrel 5 by means of a ball link 6, is situated in a preferred position, such as in the axial horizontal plane of the barrel. The barrel 5 thereafter is locked in this position.
  • The ball link 6 is connected to the barrel and by means of pipe 7 further connected with the pipe 1 the center axis of the barrel, from which connection is established through this pipe to one side of the barrel 5. By means of a swivel the connection thereby is established to the piping system of the ship. Based on the ball link 6 the hose freely can be moved in all directions without forces being created in the hose or the coupling.
  • The roll hawser 1 and the barrel 5 are arranged in the stern of the ship, the roll hawser preferably at the platform deck of the ship. Ship provided for STL respectively STP couplings have the bridge arranged ahead of these installations of security reasons. A multi use ship of the type described here thereafter have all installations for connection arranged in the stern.
  • The fairlead 1 is such that it functions as a normal fairlead where hawsers, buoys, wires and chains freely may run through and between vertically arranged rolls 1 and on horizontal rolls 3.
  • By loading from a single point mooring station (SPM) the tanker must be moored to a tower or a buoy. The mooring hawser 9 from the tower of the buoy is pulled aboard on the shuttle tanker by means of a forerunner 10 and the pulling winch 8. A chain 11 having standard length is connected in between the forerunner 10 and the hawser 9. The forerunner 10 is pulled through the roll fairlead 1 until a sufficient number of chain loops are placed in a locking mechanism 12 in the roll fairlead 1. Thereafter the locking mechanism 12 is activated and the shuttle tanker is moored in such a way that the oil house may be connected as described above.
  • By unloading from a STL/STP-ship a shuttle tanker is moored to the ship with a corresponding hawser having a chain 11 between the forerunner and the hawser 10. At the other end of the hawser, aboard the ship, some chain links are inserted to lock those chain links by means of the locking mechanism 12 of the fairlead 1. When the leading chain length 11 is aboard the shuttle tanker.
  • When the system is not used, the leading chain length 11 is stored in a specially designed box on the platform deck, between the roller fairlead 1 and a winch 13 for the hawser. The chain length 11 is secured to the hawser as such, which is stored on the hawser winch 13. With the other end of the hawser, some chain links are connected which are used for locking in the locking mechanism 12.
  • The hawser winch 13 comprises two parts which can operated independently. On one part of the hawser winch 13 therefore the hawser 9 and the chain links are arranged and on the other part of the barrel a forerunner is arranged.
  • When connecting the shuttle tanker to a STL/STP-ship the forerunner is let out and shut out by means of an air canon. The forerunner is connected with the chain length 11 by means of a swivel. On the shuttle tanker the forerunner is pulled in and later also the chain length 11 and simultaneously the hawser is coiled off from the hawser winch 13. After the chain links are secured with the locking mechanism 12 aboard the ship, the chain length aboard the shuttle tanker is locked.
  • A method as described above to a very high extent simplifies the operations as opposed to what is used today, where the mooring is made by means of a separate winch where the hawser is secured to the axis of the winch by means of a moveable link.
  • The mooring forces are, with the device according to the present invention, transferred to the locking mechanism 12 of the roller fairlead. Of this reason only one hawser winch 13 is needed.
  • Upon proper mooring the hose barrel 5 gives out the hose 4, the end piece of which is connected with the manifold of the shuttle tanker. The hose barrel 5 is again locked in such a way that the ball link 6 is arranged in the horizontal plane of the barrel axis. In this way the hose may be freely moved without causing any forces to the hose or the coupling.

Claims (6)

  1. Method for connection between two units offshore with the purpose of oil transfer, including transferring a hawser between the units and, depending on the need, locking at least one end of the hawser by means of a locking device (12) CHARACTERIZED in a combined roller fairlead (1) arranged on one of the units, to chain links connected to one end, and to connect an oil hose between the units, whereby the end of the oil hose on one of the units is connected with a ball link (6) allowing free movement of the hose (4) suspending from the ball link, whereby the hose is adapted to be coiled on a hose barrel (5) and the ball link is secured to the barrel and connected with the piping system of one of the units through the axis of the barrel.
  2. Method according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN connecting to a mooring station of the single point mooring type by pulling the hawser aboard the one unit with a forerunner and locking the chain length between the hawser and the forerunner by means of the locking mechanism (12) of the roller fairlead (1).
  3. Method according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN connecting to an oil loading system station by pulling an oil hose up from the seabed by means of a hawser to the roller fairlead (1) by means of a pulling winch (8) to connect the oil hose to the end piece on the barrel hose and to let out the hose from the barrel (5) until the hose (4) from the barrel suspends freely down from the ball link (6) of the barrel.
  4. Method according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN connecting a shuttle tanker by guiding a forerunner on the hawser from the hawser winch (13) to the tanker, whereafter a chain length connected to the hawser may be secured aboard the shuttle tanker and the chain length are locked by means of the locking mechanism (13), to the roller fairlead (1).
  5. Connecting device for oil transfer between two units offshore, CHARACTERIZED IN the device comprising a roller fairlead (1) having horizontal an vertical rollers (3, 2) and a locking mechanism (12) for locking of chain links to the roller fairlead (1) and a hose barrel (5) comprising a hose (4) having its inner end connected with a ball link (6) being connected with the piping system of the ship, by means of a radially arranged pipe to an axially arranged pipe in the barrel and further with a swivel to the piping system.
  6. Device according to claim 5, CHARACTERIZED IN the chain links being arranged closest to the winch on the independently movably part of a hawser winch (13) and being secured to the tail end of the hawser, the leading end of the hawser being connected with a chain length (11) arranged between the roller fairlead (1) and the hawser winch (13), and that the second part of the hawser winch having coiled up a forerunner being connected with the leading chain length, adapted to be shut over to another unit, such as a shuttle tanker.
EP95932245A 1994-09-09 1995-09-06 Method and device for offshore oil transfer Expired - Lifetime EP0777600B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NO943361 1994-09-09
NO943361A NO300676B1 (en) 1994-09-09 1994-09-09 Oil transfer connection device
PCT/NO1995/000152 WO1996007583A1 (en) 1994-09-09 1995-09-06 Method and device for offshore oil transfer

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0777600A1 EP0777600A1 (en) 1997-06-11
EP0777600B1 true EP0777600B1 (en) 2000-01-05

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ID=19897388

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95932245A Expired - Lifetime EP0777600B1 (en) 1994-09-09 1995-09-06 Method and device for offshore oil transfer

Country Status (6)

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EP (1) EP0777600B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH10507709A (en)
AU (1) AU3534895A (en)
DE (1) DE69514368D1 (en)
NO (1) NO300676B1 (en)
WO (1) WO1996007583A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4174064B2 (en) 2007-03-02 2008-10-29 横浜ゴム株式会社 Marine hose
CN116573114B (en) * 2023-05-25 2023-11-24 上海白鹭新能源有限公司 Landing auxiliary device of photoelectric operation and maintenance ship

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA936374A (en) * 1969-05-06 1973-11-06 Lecomte Claude Floating systems, especially mooring buoys, for anchoring to the sea-bed
FR2368399A1 (en) * 1976-10-19 1978-05-19 Emh IMPROVEMENTS TO EQUIPMENT TO CONNECT OIL TANKERS TO MARINE OR SIMILAR COLUMNS
US4339002A (en) * 1979-08-09 1982-07-13 Halliburton Company Sea buoy discharge manifold system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1996007583A1 (en) 1996-03-14
NO300676B1 (en) 1997-07-07
NO943361L (en) 1996-03-11
NO943361D0 (en) 1994-09-09
AU3534895A (en) 1996-03-27
JPH10507709A (en) 1998-07-28
DE69514368D1 (en) 2000-02-10
EP0777600A1 (en) 1997-06-11

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