EP1383676B1 - Vessel and unloading system - Google Patents

Vessel and unloading system Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1383676B1
EP1383676B1 EP02702993A EP02702993A EP1383676B1 EP 1383676 B1 EP1383676 B1 EP 1383676B1 EP 02702993 A EP02702993 A EP 02702993A EP 02702993 A EP02702993 A EP 02702993A EP 1383676 B1 EP1383676 B1 EP 1383676B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
vessel
srv
natural gas
buoy
shuttle
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.)
Revoked
Application number
EP02702993A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1383676A1 (en
Inventor
Rolf Emblem
Oystein Bruno Larsen
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.)
Leif Hoegh and Co ASA
Original Assignee
Leif Hoegh and Co ASA
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
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Application filed by Leif Hoegh and Co ASA filed Critical Leif Hoegh and Co ASA
Publication of EP1383676A1 publication Critical patent/EP1383676A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1383676B1 publication Critical patent/EP1383676B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Revoked 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
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B25/00—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby
    • B63B25/02—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby for bulk goods
    • B63B25/08—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby for bulk goods fluid
    • B63B25/12—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby for bulk goods fluid closed
    • B63B25/16—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby for bulk goods fluid closed heat-insulated
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B2207/00—Buoyancy or ballast means
    • 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
    • F17C2265/00—Effects achieved by gas storage or gas handling
    • F17C2265/05—Regasification

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a special vessel together with a system for unloading fluid from a vessel to a shore-based infrastructure.
  • a system In connection with the transport of fluid such as natural gas from the field to the area in which the natural gas has to be unloaded, a system is often employed involving a number of special vessels and a series of fairly complicated operational steps.
  • a known vessel which is commonly employed for this purpose is an LNG carrier, which is equipped with special tanks suitable for storing natural gas in its liquid state.
  • at least one additional vessel is often employed for receiving fluid directly from the well and treating the fluid before it is transferred to the LNG carrier.
  • the LNG carrier will transfer the load to an intermediate storage unit where the liquefied natural gas is converted to a gaseous state before being transferred to the end user.
  • an unloading system is described involving an LNG carrier which is equipped with spherical tanks for storing liquefied natural gas (LNG) and vaporizers for regasifying the liquefied natural gas.
  • LNG liquefied natural gas
  • the carrier On arrival at the unloading point, the carrier is moored in such a manner that the vessel is located at a distance from the mooring structure by mooring lines which extend from the bow area to the mooring structure.
  • the liquefied natural gas is regasified before being transported in a pipeline system which transfers the natural gas from the carrier to a shore-based installation which in the publication represents the end user.
  • the technical solution according to the present invention indicates the use of a submerged buoy structure which has to be brought into abutment in a recess in the vessel's hull for transferring natural gas to shore.
  • a substantially simplified solution is achieved which provides advantages both with regard to manning and the equipment situation, since mooring and fluid transfer are implemented by means of one and the same structure.
  • US 5564957 discloses a vessel in which a buoy structure is provided for installation in a recess in the bow portion.
  • the buoy structure is intended for use as a combined mooring and transfer structure for transport of a liquid medium to and from the vessel.
  • the invention has some features in common with the system disclosed in US 6094937 in that use is made of several carriers and several buoy structures for fluid as a part of a transport system.
  • there is a basic difference between the systems since the known system is used in connection with loading, while the system according to the invention has to be used for unloading. This is manifested by the fact that a liquefier is provided on board the carrier in US 6094937, while a vaporizer is provided in the LNG tanker according to the invention.
  • US 6003603 may be taken as a starting point for the invention.
  • US 6003603 discloses the problem of cryogenic transfer through a swivel, and proposes a loading system and method.
  • the solution involves the conversion of compressed gas into a liquid for onward transportation by LNG tanker.
  • the present invention relates to a system in which liquefied natural gas is vaporised into a gas in a shuttle and regas vessel (SRV) for onward transportation by a submerged pipeline system
  • SRV regas vessel
  • the vessel with its special functions should be able to form part of a shuttle system which in a preferred embodiment includes a plurality of vessels and a plurality of the buoy structures concerned.
  • the object of this system is to achieve the continuous supply of natural gas from the unloading point to the infrastructure.
  • the invention provides a system for unloading from a vessel provided with storage tanks for storing natural gas in a liquid state (LNG), wherein a buoy structure is provided in the bottom area of the vessel's hull, characterized in that the vessel is a shuttle and regas vessel (RSV) and that a vaporizer is provided on the shuttle and regas vessel for vaporizing the liquefied natural gas into a gaseous state on arrival at the unloading point, the vaporized gas is transferred directly from the shuttle and regas vessel to a submerged pipeline system, wherein the natural gas is transported in the pipeline system to the shore-based infrastructure.
  • LNG liquid state
  • RSV shuttle and regas vessel
  • the invention also provides a method for transferring natural gas from a shuttle and regas vessel (SRV) included in a system described in the preceding paragraph, characterised in the steps of positioning the SRV in engagement with a buoy structure located at the unloading point, vaporising liquefied natural gas on the SRV, and transferring the vaporised gas directly from the SRV to a submerged pipeline system through the buoy structure, whereby the vaporised gas is transported in the submerged pipeline system from the SRV to the shore based infrastructure.
  • SRV shuttle and regas vessel
  • the vessel is provided in a simple and inexpensive manner using a standard LNG carrier as the basis.
  • the carrier with its storage tanks for liquefied natural gas is equipped with one or more vaporizers preferably in the deck area, and a receiving recess is constructed in the hull for receiving the buoy structure, thus making the vessel suitable for performing several types of operation.
  • This special vessel is described as a "Shuttle and Regas Vessel (SRV)", and the vessel may of course also be used as an ordinary LNG carrier.
  • the vessel according to the invention is equipped with spherical tanks for storing liquefied natural gas, but other types of storage tanks may also be suitable, such as, for example, membrane tanks. These different types of storage tanks are well-known both from the patent literature and in practical use. Thus it will be up to a person skilled in the art to select the type of tank which is most suitable in the individual case.
  • sea water may be utilised as a heat exchange medium in the vaporization process, but also other media such as, for example, propane either alone or together with sea water, and a water-glycol mixture may be suitable vaporization media.
  • the buoy structure which is to form part of the system may be designed in many ways. From the patent literature several examples are known of submerged buoy structures which can be connected to a vessel, thus enabling the vessel to rotate freely around the buoy. However, with regard to the buoy structure's mode of operation, rapid connection and disconnection of the buoy are a requirement in order that the unloading of fluid can start almost immediately without delays due to time-consuming mooring procedures.
  • the buoy structure When the buoy structure is not in use, it is in a submerged condition. On arrival at the unloading area, the vessel will pick up an auxiliary buoy, which has a line attached to the buoy structure. The line is used to convey the buoy structure to the surface, whereupon the buoy structure is brought into abutment in the vessel's recess.
  • buoy structure Around its circumference the buoy structure is equipped with mooring lines which extend down to the mooring points on the seabed. Risers are provided up to the middle of the buoy structure and a swivel structure is arranged above the buoy structure. By means of this arrangement fluid can be passed through the buoy structure via the riser to the submerged pipelines, while at the same time the vessel rotates around the buoy structure. The submerged pipelines transport fluid away from the vessel towards the shore-based infrastructure.
  • the invention proposes a system for achieving an efficient unloading of fluid to a shore-based infrastructure.
  • two buoy structures and two or more carrier vessels are included in the system.
  • the number of vessels included in the system depends on the distance to the loading point.
  • One and the same vessel will alternate between different operations such as loading from a loading station, for example in the field, transporting LNG from the loading station to the unloading point and regasifying liquefied natural gas with subsequent transfer to a receiving system on shore.
  • the buoy structure On arrival at the unloading point, the buoy structure will be inserted in the receiving recess in the carrier vessel. Liquefied natural gas will be passed from the storage tanks to the vaporizer where the fluid is regasified and passed directly through the buoy structure to submerged pipelines which convey the natural gas to a shore-based infrastructure.
  • the shore-based infrastructure may take many forms, as long as the infrastructure is suitable for receiving the regasified fluid which is sent ashore from the carrier and the fluid is further distributed to the end users.
  • the infrastructure may comprise a pipeline network which conveys the natural gas directly to the end user or the infrastructure may comprise a depot which is connected to appropriate transport means for further transport of natural gas to the consumers, etc.
  • Fig. 1 is a simplified schematic view of the retrofitted LNG carrier "Shuttle and Regas Vessel (RSV)" according to the invention.
  • the vessel 1 is illustrated provided with a plurality of tanks 2 for storing liquefied natural gas.
  • the figure shows how in the vessel's hull there is provided a conical recess 5 which forms a receiving arrangement for the buoy structure 7 (not illustrated in the drawing).
  • the vessel 1 is further provided with at least one vaporizer 4.
  • the vessel is also equipped with thrusters 6 in the vessel's bow portion and stern portion respectively.
  • Fig. 2 illustrates an arrangement of buoy structures 7 which are connected to a submerged pipeline system.
  • the submerged pipeline system comprises a riser 8 which is attached to each of the buoy structures 7, and furthermore a pipeline 9 is connected to the end of the riser 8.
  • the pipelines 9 are connected to an on-shore . infrastructure, illustrated here in the figure by the pipeline system 10.
  • the buoy structures 7 are equipped with mooring lines 11 extending from the mooring point on the seabed to an attachment on the circumference of the buoy structure.
  • Figure 2 illustrates two vessels 1 where one of the vessels 1 is connected to one of the buoy structures 7, while the other vessel 1' illustrates the voyage to/from the loading point.
  • the liquefied natural gas is transferred to the vaporizer 4, where the fluid is regasified before being transferred through the buoy structure 7 via the submerged pipelines 9 which are connected to yet another pipeline 10 for bringing natural gas ashore to the infrastructure.
  • Figure 3 illustrates the same situation as in figure 2, but in addition it also illustrates the pipeline system's connection to the infrastructure, which in this case is composed of a shore-based pipeline system 12.
  • Fig. 4 illustrates the principle for the organisation of the connection of the various vessels to the buoy structures as well as transport to and from the loading station where LNG is loaded on board the vessel.
  • four vessels are included in the system.
  • both the buoy structures are connected to the vessels 1 and 1' simultaneously.
  • the vessel 1 is in the process of completing the unloading of natural gas, while the vessel 1' has just received the buoy structure 7 in the recess 5.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
  • Ship Loading And Unloading (AREA)
  • Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)
  • Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)
  • Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)
  • Circuits Of Receivers In General (AREA)
  • Control And Safety Of Cranes (AREA)
EP02702993A 2001-03-23 2002-03-18 Vessel and unloading system Revoked EP1383676B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NO20011524 2001-03-23
NO20011524A NO20011524L (no) 2001-03-23 2001-03-23 Fartöy og lossesystem
PCT/NO2002/000112 WO2002076819A1 (en) 2001-03-23 2002-03-18 Vessel and unloading system

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1383676A1 EP1383676A1 (en) 2004-01-28
EP1383676B1 true EP1383676B1 (en) 2006-01-25

Family

ID=19912299

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02702993A Revoked EP1383676B1 (en) 2001-03-23 2002-03-18 Vessel and unloading system

Country Status (11)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1383676B1 (es)
JP (1) JP2004525816A (es)
KR (1) KR20030090686A (es)
CN (1) CN1257085C (es)
AT (1) ATE316489T1 (es)
DE (1) DE60208877T2 (es)
DK (1) DK1383676T3 (es)
ES (1) ES2257529T3 (es)
NO (1) NO20011524L (es)
PT (1) PT1383676E (es)
WO (1) WO2002076819A1 (es)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8448673B2 (en) 2006-11-15 2013-05-28 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Transporting and transferring fluid
US8959931B2 (en) 2006-09-11 2015-02-24 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Transporting and managing liquefied natural gas

Families Citing this family (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101057101A (zh) * 2004-11-08 2007-10-17 国际壳牌研究有限公司 液化天然气的浮动储存再气化单元
NO20050856L (no) * 2005-02-17 2006-08-18 Statoil Asa System og fremgangsmate for offshore lossing og regassifisering av LNG
CN100451436C (zh) * 2005-08-10 2009-01-14 中国石油天然气股份有限公司 一种液化天然气的储运方法及装置
JP5283514B2 (ja) 2006-03-15 2013-09-04 ウッドサイド エナジー リミテッド Ｌｎｇの船上再ガス化
US20070214805A1 (en) 2006-03-15 2007-09-20 Macmillan Adrian Armstrong Onboard Regasification of LNG Using Ambient Air
SG174766A1 (en) 2006-09-11 2011-10-28 Exxonmobil Upstream Res Co Open-sea berth lng import terminal
KR100991994B1 (ko) * 2008-03-28 2010-11-04 삼성중공업 주식회사 액화가스 로딩/언로딩 시스템을 가지는 액화천연가스운반선
KR101239341B1 (ko) 2010-09-03 2013-03-06 삼성중공업 주식회사 액화천연가스의 재기화 장치 및 방법
AU2012216352B2 (en) 2012-08-22 2015-02-12 Woodside Energy Technologies Pty Ltd Modular LNG production facility
CN103738478B (zh) * 2014-01-26 2017-07-28 中国海洋石油总公司 深水立柱式外输浮筒
CN104802952B (zh) * 2015-04-06 2017-05-03 陈佳宇 软质浮体单元及基于该浮体单元的管线杆、发电站和充气模型
WO2017192136A1 (en) * 2016-05-04 2017-11-09 Innovative Cryogenic Systems, Inc. Istallation for feeding a gas-consuming member with combustible gas and for liquefying said combustible gas
RU2714014C1 (ru) * 2019-08-27 2020-02-11 Олег Григорьевич Бардовский Способ выгрузки нефтепродуктов на необорудованный берег с танкеров

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3590407A (en) * 1968-11-13 1971-07-06 Mobil Oil Corp Swivel tanker floating storage system
NO179986C (no) * 1994-12-08 1997-01-22 Norske Stats Oljeselskap Fremgangsmåte og system for fremstilling av flytendegjort naturgass til havs
NO308714B1 (no) * 1999-07-09 2000-10-16 Moss Maritime As Undervannsfordamper for LNG

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8959931B2 (en) 2006-09-11 2015-02-24 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Transporting and managing liquefied natural gas
US8448673B2 (en) 2006-11-15 2013-05-28 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Transporting and transferring fluid

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN1511099A (zh) 2004-07-07
ATE316489T1 (de) 2006-02-15
DE60208877D1 (de) 2006-04-13
EP1383676A1 (en) 2004-01-28
ES2257529T3 (es) 2006-08-01
NO20011524L (no) 2002-09-24
JP2004525816A (ja) 2004-08-26
WO2002076819A1 (en) 2002-10-03
PT1383676E (pt) 2006-06-30
CN1257085C (zh) 2006-05-24
NO20011524D0 (no) 2001-03-23
KR20030090686A (ko) 2003-11-28
DE60208877T2 (de) 2006-09-14
DK1383676T3 (da) 2006-06-06

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