EP3081475A1 - Améliorations relatives au stockage dans des réservoirs - Google Patents

Améliorations relatives au stockage dans des réservoirs Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3081475A1
EP3081475A1 EP15163431.8A EP15163431A EP3081475A1 EP 3081475 A1 EP3081475 A1 EP 3081475A1 EP 15163431 A EP15163431 A EP 15163431A EP 3081475 A1 EP3081475 A1 EP 3081475A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tank
tanks
ship
overall
geometrical characteristic
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP15163431.8A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP3081475B1 (fr
Inventor
Evert Olaus Grødal
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.)
National Oilwell Varco Norway AS
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National Oilwell Varco Norway AS
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Publication date
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Priority to EP15163431.8A priority Critical patent/EP3081475B1/fr
Priority to BR112017020934A priority patent/BR112017020934A2/pt
Priority to PCT/NO2016/050067 priority patent/WO2016167665A1/fr
Publication of EP3081475A1 publication Critical patent/EP3081475A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
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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 
    • 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
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B71/00—Designing vessels; Predicting their performance

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to structures comprising tanks, and in particular to a method of determining geometrical characteristics of a structure comprising tanks for containing oil or gas from offshore wells, and to related apparatus such as marine vessels, for example a floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel.
  • FPSO floating production, storage, and offloading
  • FPSO floating production, storage, and offloading
  • FPSO vessels are typically moored on site for substantial periods of time, such as weeks, months or years during which they are used to produce hydrocarbon fluids such as oil and gas from such wells. Accordingly, the FPSO vessels are normally provided with production equipment through which the fluids from the well are received onto the vessel. The produced fluids may then be stored on the vessel for a period of time until they are offloaded onto shuttle tankers which transport the fluids away from the FPSO vessel to a land facility for processing. The fluids are typically stored on the vessel in various tanks within the hull of the vessel.
  • FPSO vessels are normally highly slender structures that are boat-like in shape and appearance.
  • the "Prelude" Floating LNG vessel currently under development has a hull length of 488 m and breadth of 74 m.
  • the overall length of the hull divided by the overall breadth results in a slenderness ratio of about 6.6.
  • Platforms with a circular hull section also exist as FPSO vessels, such as the FPSO "Piranema Sprit".
  • FPSO vessels to provide the necessary storage capacity, etc.
  • the FPSO vessels once constructed also need to be in compliance with industry standards and/or regulations. This places restrictions on how the FPSO vessels can be designed, and in turn on the consumption of materials, fabrication and project costs. Regulations may typically require that the tanks cannot exceed certain volume limits, such that an arrangement of multiple tanks may typically need to be provided for storing the fluid from the wells. Containing walls in the tanks normally need to be formed from steel plates, and typically each such wall may use at least three plates in the breadth dimension. Regulations also specify, for example, that personnel accommodation structures cannot be placed directly above the tanks used for the storage of the fluids from the well.
  • any of the aspects of the invention may include the further features as described in relation to any other aspect, wherever described herein.
  • Features described in one embodiment may be combined in other embodiments.
  • a selected feature from a first embodiment that is compatible with the arrangement in a second embodiment may be employed, e.g. as an additional, alternative or optional feature, e.g. inserted or exchanged for a similar or like feature, in the second embodiment to perform (in the second embodiment) in the same or corresponding manner as it does in the first embodiment.
  • ship is used herein to refer to a ship complying with established offshore classification rules and standards, issued by a Recognized Classification Society, which is a member of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS).
  • IACS International Association of Classification Societies
  • a 2-dimensional matrix tank arrangement 10 is illustrated. Such an arrangement 10 may be used for storing fluid from a well, usually several wells, in the hull of an FPSO vessel.
  • the tank arrangement 10 has a number of tanks formed by first, longitudinal plates 100 (first wall plates) and second, transverse plates 102 (second wall plates) which intersect and are arranged crossways with respect to the first plates 100. It will be appreciated that the first and second plates 100, 102 are spaced apart from each other in the respective length and breadth directions.
  • the first plates 100 are arranged in parallel with one another.
  • the second plates 102 are also arranged in parallel with one another.
  • a series of storage tanks 103 for the fluid are thereby defined in the tank arrangement by the intersecting plates 100, 102.
  • the tank arrangement further has parallel top and bottom plates 104, 105.
  • the tank arrangement 10 has an overall Breadth B, Depth D, and Length L in orthogonal directions.
  • the overall surface area of the plates is equal to the sum of the surface areas of the transverse plates 102, the surface areas of the longitudinal plates 100, and the top and bottom plates 104, 105.
  • FIG. 1 provides an example of a 2 by 4 tank arrangement, where x is 5 and y is 3 .
  • V LBD
  • NLP non-linear programming
  • Equation 10 includes all parts of the right hand side of Equation 1.
  • the three parts on the right hand side of Equation 1 are individually identical with one another, which for the 2 by 4 tank matrix arrangement is illustrated graphically by Figure 2 (this is same tank arrangement as in Figure 1 , where x equals 5 and y equals 3).
  • Equation 2 Vx 2 2 y 1 / 3
  • B Vy 2 2 x 1 / 3
  • D 4 V xy 1 / 3
  • L, B and D From Equations 11a to 11c is a true global optimum and there are no local optima. Moreover, it is the overall L, B and D combination that gives rise to the optimum and not the location of the internal plates.
  • the internal plates can actually be moved, creating different individual tank sizes whilst remaining at the optimum in terms of the overall surface area A of plates used in the tank arrangement. For example, variants are possible where a particular tank row can have different breadth than other tank rows, as long as the overall breath is kept constant. The same is of course valid for the longitudinal plates.
  • FIG. 3 gives an example of such a variant, where plates are positioned such the tank arrangement has central rows of tanks 110c for storing fluid from the well with a greater width than the side rows of tanks 110a, 110b for ballast.
  • the overall L, Band D dimensions of the tank arrangement as a whole is optimal in terms of surface areas of the plates, in accordance with the theory as explained above.
  • the Length L , Breadth B and Depth D can be determined, e.g. calculated or estimated, for an optimal tank arrangement.
  • a volume V is provided initially, which may be a desired storage capacity volume for the tank arrangement for the FPSO vessel, and the number of plates x and y are determined, e.g. by a determination of the number of tanks required, and noting the maximum required tanks size requirement for compliance with regulations.
  • the overall volume capacity for a minimum of area A of plates can be determined for a certain available length L, breadth B or depth D .
  • the sides(s) can be of different length in the three directions, denoted l, b and d.
  • the tank arrangement comprises a 4x2 matrix of tanks 503 identical to the tank arrangement 10 of Figure 1 , with an overall size of L, B and D.
  • Equations 18a-18c are the same set of equations as Equations 11a-11c as used for finding the minimum plate area. Equations 18a-18c gives the overall dimensions for the tank arrangement optimised for minimum weld length E. This indicates that the two optima i.e. minimum plate area and minimum edge length, coincide. Accordingly, the overall dimensions for the tank arrangement obtained through Equations 11a-11c or Equations 18a-18c are the same and are optimal for the weld length and the plate area.
  • a tank arrangement 60 is illustrated.
  • the tank arrangement 60 comprises ballast tanks 613a, 613b at the flanks, and cargo tanks 613c centrally, and is identical to that of Figure 3 except that the tank arrangement 60 includes an additional bottom tank 613d, in effect adding a tank layer in the depth dimension.
  • the derivations above specify only two tank plates in the vertical (see the number 2 in third term of the right hand side of Equation 1), a similar derivation can be provided to give the optimum (area minimised) solution for the overall L, Band D for three tank plates in the vertical (depth dimension) as indicated in the arrangement 60 of Figure 8 , or for a further number of such plates.
  • steps for determining the overall dimensions of the tank arrangement L, B, and D may be implemented by suitably configured apparatus such as a computer and/or computer program.
  • a computer may thus comprise a processor configured to execute a computer program with instructions for calculating a geometrical characteristic such as the dimensions L, B, and D.
  • the program could for example comprise machine readable instructions for implementing the Equations 11a-11c and/or Equations 18a-18c.
  • the individual tanks within the arrangement in this example are of equal size, having a length l, breadth b, and depth d as indicated in Table 1 (whilst in contrast capital letters are used to denote the overall quantities, as explained in the theory section above).
  • Table 1 indicates that the structure where the tank arrangement is optimised has a significantly smaller overall tank plate area than the non-optimised arrangement for the same overall volume and number of plates or tanks. Accordingly, a given wall material, e.g. steel plate of given thickness, can likewise be much less than in the non-optimised structure.
  • the overall breadth B and overall length L of the optimised tank arrangement are equal, such that the slenderness ratio ( L divided by B ) is 1. In contrast, the slenderness ratio of the non-optimised arrangement is 4.83.
  • the tank arrangement optimised as set out in Table 1 and embodied in the hull 301 of Figure 5 has equal length and breadth, this is not necessarily the case more generally.
  • the overall Length L 1 of the tank arrangement may be substantially different to the Breadth B 1 .
  • Table 3 illustrates various solutions for L, Band D obtained from the Equations 11a-11c for a given, predefined overall volume, for different xy tank matrices, varying only x.
  • the solutions in Table 3 are for a matrix tank arrangement such as that illustrated in Figure 3 including ballast tanks 113a, 113b (on the flank rows 110a, 110b), and cargo tanks 113c for storing e.g. oil or gas from the wells (on the central rows 110c).
  • Table 3 Tank matrix w/ cargo tanks and ballast tanks half the cargo tank width Parameter Units 5x5 5x6 5x7 5x8 5x9 5x10 L m 124.71 138.21 151.08 163.42 175.31 186.81 B m 124.71 118.47 113.31 108.95 105.19 101.90 D m 41.57 39.49 37.77 36.32 35.06 33.97 A m 2 93318 98238 102710 106823 110641 114212 V Sm 3 646548 646548 646548 646548 646548 646548 x 6 7 8 9 10 11 y 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 L (single cargo tank) m 24.94 23.03 21.58 20.43 19.48 18.68 B (single cargo tank) m 31.18 29.62 28.33 27.24 26.30 25.47 D (single cargo tank) m 41.57 39.49 37.77 36.32 35.06 33.
  • FIG. 9 an example FPSO ship 200 is illustrated having a tank arrangement 230 which is optimised as described above for storing fluid from at least one well in a hull 201 of the ship 200.
  • the tank arrangement comprises multiple tanks 233 having walls 232 for containing fluid in the tanks (without leakage).
  • the tank arrangement 230 is arranged in a storage section 202 of the hull 201 between end sections 203, 204.
  • First and second cofferdams 222, 223 separate the tank arrangement from the first and second end sections 203, 204 respectively.
  • the end sections 203, 204 are configured to allow for example personnel accommodation modules 240, 241 to be arranged thereupon, or other equipment that may not be suitable to be placed above the tank arrangement, e.g.
  • the end sections are not designated areas for storage of produced well fluids.
  • the distance between the end sections 203, 204 is determined by the length of the tank arrangement. In this case, the ship 200 has dual bows. Accordingly, the end sections 203, 204 both comprise bow sections. In other variants however, the first end section 203 may be a bow section, and the second end section 204 may be stern section.
  • the end sections can typically include cranes, offloading stations, offloading reels, lifeboats, life rafts and/or marine evacuation systems, muster areas, laydown areas, mooring systems, mooring winches, a flare tower, machinery rooms, living quarter and/or temporary refuge, helideck, HPU rooms, emergency generators, essential generator, firewater pump system, and can also have process systems.
  • the ship 200 further includes topside production equipment in order to facilitate performing operations in the well and/or processing the fluid arriving on board the ship from the well, e.g. through production pipes.
  • the production equipment 250 in this example includes processing equipment including processing tanks 251 for use in processing the fluid from the well prior to being directed into the storage tanks 233 within the tank arrangement 230. Such processing may for example include separating the produced fluid into respective components such as oil, water and/or gas.
  • the ship may also include a utilities structure 252 including power and/or drive machinery for operating equipment.
  • the utilities structure 252 and the processing tanks 251 are arranged above the storage section of the hull.
  • FIG. 10 there is shown a section of a hull 301 of an FPSO ship.
  • the hull 301 has a matrix tank arrangement 330 which is optimised for minimum surface area of the plates making up the containing walls of the tanks 333 in the tank arrangement 330, such as described above.
  • the tank arrangement is provided within a storage section 302 of the hull, between end sections 303, 304.
  • the tank arrangement has intersecting containing walls 332, 333 which extend the length and breadth of the arrangement, and define orthogonal rows of tanks 333 in a 5 x 5 matrix (with x, y equal to 6).
  • the optimised tank arrangement 320 will therefore adhere to the dimensions described in Table 1 (and Table 3 for the 5x5 matrix).
  • the overall length L 2 of the hull 301 is somewhat longer than the length L 1 of the tank arrangement due to the presence of end sections 302, 304 which are not used for storage of fluids, in the same way as described in relation to the vessel 200 above.
  • the tank arrangement 320 spans the distance L1 from a first cofferdam 322 to a second cofferdam 323, the cofferdams 322, 323 separating respective end sections of the hull from the tank arrangement.
  • the tank arrangement spans the full breadth B 1 of the hull. Accordingly, the breadth B 1 of the tank arrangement and the breadth B 2 of the hull are substantially the same.
  • the hull 301 has dual bows. Accordingly, the first and second end sections 303, 304 in this example comprise bows.
  • Figure 11 provides a modelled 3-D representation illustrating an example shape of the hull 301.
  • the end sections 303, 304 of the hull 301 will typically add less than 20% to the length of the tank arrangement.
  • the slenderness overall of the hull of the FPSO ship will also remain low, compared with traditional designs for the expected plate numbers necessary for providing necessary volume of storage of fluids.
  • the slenderness ratio of the hull ( L 2 divided by B 2 ) in Figure 5 is 1.4, but the slenderness ratio of the tank arrangement ( L 1 divided by B 1 ) is 1.
  • the slenderness ratio of any of the tank arrangement, hull or of the ship as a whole is generally below 3.8, more specifically below 2, and typically in the range of 1 to 2.
  • the slenderness ratio of the hull is typically in the range of 1.3 to 3, such as for example 1.4 to 2.5 or 1.5 to 2.0.
  • Embodiments of the invention are advantageous in various ways.
  • an optimum tank arrangement and vessel design can be obtained.
  • the optimisation can allow quantities of materials for construction of the tank arrangement to be reduced, and the amount and time required for welding to be reduced as difficult edge weld lengths are at a minimum (at the same point as the minimum plate area).
  • An orthogonal tank arrangement formed from intersecting planar orthogonal plates can be particularly convenient and cost effective, as plates, e.g. of steel, can be obtained at low cost, ready for construction of the tanks.
  • Orthogonal prismatic designs can be well suited to ship hulls.
  • Ship hulls can be efficient in providing a large amount of cargo storage such as well fluids in the tank arrangement whilst accommodating supporting equipment in the hull end sections.

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  • 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)
EP15163431.8A 2015-04-13 2015-04-13 Améliorations relatives au stockage dans des réservoirs Active EP3081475B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP15163431.8A EP3081475B1 (fr) 2015-04-13 2015-04-13 Améliorations relatives au stockage dans des réservoirs
BR112017020934A BR112017020934A2 (pt) 2015-04-13 2016-04-13 melhorias relativas ao armazenamento em tanques
PCT/NO2016/050067 WO2016167665A1 (fr) 2015-04-13 2016-04-13 Améliorations relatives au stockage dans des réservoirs

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP15163431.8A EP3081475B1 (fr) 2015-04-13 2015-04-13 Améliorations relatives au stockage dans des réservoirs

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EP3081475A1 true EP3081475A1 (fr) 2016-10-19
EP3081475B1 EP3081475B1 (fr) 2019-08-21

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Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2406084A (en) * 1945-03-24 1946-08-20 Abraham J Levin Ship or vessel
FR1330876A (fr) * 1962-05-17 1963-06-28 Anciens Chantiers Dubigeon Sa Procédé pour l'embarquement et la fixation, à bord d'un navire, de réservoirs degrandes dimensions
US3724411A (en) * 1970-03-26 1973-04-03 Technigaz Support for a self-carrying storage or conveying tank
US3922986A (en) * 1974-07-02 1975-12-02 Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Ind Method for building liquefied-gas-carrier
US3942459A (en) * 1971-08-17 1976-03-09 Bridgestone Liquefied Gas Company, Ltd. Method of constructing low temperature liquefied gas tanker ships
US4286535A (en) * 1978-05-24 1981-09-01 Eugene Lunn Ship for lighter-than-water fluids
US4341175A (en) * 1978-06-16 1982-07-27 Ivanov Jury P Shipbuilding method and complex
WO2005056379A1 (fr) * 2003-12-15 2005-06-23 Single Buoy Moorings Inc. Structure modulaire de stockage et/ou de traitement d'hydrocarbures au large
US20050150443A1 (en) * 2004-01-09 2005-07-14 Conocophillips Company High volume liquid containment system for ships

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2406084A (en) * 1945-03-24 1946-08-20 Abraham J Levin Ship or vessel
FR1330876A (fr) * 1962-05-17 1963-06-28 Anciens Chantiers Dubigeon Sa Procédé pour l'embarquement et la fixation, à bord d'un navire, de réservoirs degrandes dimensions
US3724411A (en) * 1970-03-26 1973-04-03 Technigaz Support for a self-carrying storage or conveying tank
US3942459A (en) * 1971-08-17 1976-03-09 Bridgestone Liquefied Gas Company, Ltd. Method of constructing low temperature liquefied gas tanker ships
US3922986A (en) * 1974-07-02 1975-12-02 Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Ind Method for building liquefied-gas-carrier
US4286535A (en) * 1978-05-24 1981-09-01 Eugene Lunn Ship for lighter-than-water fluids
US4341175A (en) * 1978-06-16 1982-07-27 Ivanov Jury P Shipbuilding method and complex
WO2005056379A1 (fr) * 2003-12-15 2005-06-23 Single Buoy Moorings Inc. Structure modulaire de stockage et/ou de traitement d'hydrocarbures au large
US20050150443A1 (en) * 2004-01-09 2005-07-14 Conocophillips Company High volume liquid containment system for ships

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP3081475B1 (fr) 2019-08-21
WO2016167665A1 (fr) 2016-10-20
BR112017020934A2 (pt) 2018-07-10

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