NO343204B1

NO343204B1 - Hose reel

Info

Publication number: NO343204B1
Application number: NO20161509A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Torkjell Lisland; Lars Even Nilssen
Original assignee: Scana Offshore As
Priority date: 2016-09-21
Filing date: 2016-09-21
Publication date: 2018-11-26
Also published as: NO20161509A1

Abstract

A hose reel for storing a transfer hose (27) capable of transferring oil or natural gas from an oil or gas production or storage facility to a shuttle tanker.The reel comprises a drum (20) that is rotatably supported about a rotational axis (25). The reel has a connection (26) between a swivel (23) arranged about said rotational axis (25) and the hose (27). The connection (26) is arranged within the core (21) of said drum (20) and an opening (32) is formed in an outer surface of said core (21). The opening (32) is adapted to receive an end of said hose (27).A hose reel for storing a transfer hose (27) capable of transferring oil or natural gas from an oil or gas production or storage facility to a shuttle tanker. The reel comprises a drum (20) that is rotatably supported about a rotational axis (25 ). The reel has a connection (26) between a swivel (23) arranged about said rotational axis (25) and the hose (27). The connection (26) is arranged within the core (21) of said drum (20) and an opening (32) is formed in an outer surface of said core (21). The opening (32) is adapted to receive an end of said hose (27).

Description

HOSE REEL

The present invention relates to an oil or gas production or storage facility transfer hose reel, especially to transfer oil or natural gas from an oil or gas production facility (such as a FPO or FPSO) to a shuttle tanker at sea.

Shuttle tankers are used for transporting oil or natural gas from oil or gas production facilities to a land-based terminal. Since the transfer of oil or gas is taking place at sea, a transfer hose is fed from the production facility to the tanker. The hose, which typically has an internal diameter of around 20 cm or more, is stored on a reel that may typically have a diameter of around 10 metres or more.

Typically, the inner end of the hose, i.e. the end that is to remain on board the production facility, is attached to the reel also when the hose is stored on the reel, and the fluids are transferred from the plant on the facility to the hose via a swivel.

At intervals the hose must be disconnected from the reel for maintenance or replacement of the hose or other parts.

A previously known hose reel is shown in GB2527071. This reel comprises a tether that is to be coupled between the reel and a hose to protect against tensile overload. The hose itself is connected to a gooseneck pipe that is bolted to the reel and has an outer end above the surface of the reel, similar to the known reel illustrated in figures 1a-e below.

A conventional reel is shown in figures 1a – e, wherein:

Figure 1a shows the prior art reel in elevated view transvers to the rotation axis, Figure 1b shows the prior art reel in planar view,

Figure 1c shows section along the line A-A in figure 1a to show the connection area between the hose and the reel,

Figure 1d shows a perspective view of the connection between the hose and the reel while the hose is connected to the reel, and

Figure 1e shows the same view as in figure 1d, but with the hose disconnected from the reel.

Referring first to figures 1a and 1b, the prior art reel comprises a drum 1 which is rotatable suspended in a support structure 2a and 2b about a rotational axis.

A hose 3 (only the inner part is shown) is attached to a connection 4 that in turn is attached to the drum 1.

An arrangement of ladders and work platforms 5 is arranged to provide personnel access to the connection 4.

Figure 1c shows a part of the hose 3 and the connection 4, as well as a part of the drum 1 and a part of the ladder and platform arrangement 5. The connection 4 comprises a tube 6 that extends from a fluid swivel 7 through the drum core 8 and is fixedly connected to a bend 9, which in turn is connected to the hose.

Figures 1d and e illustrates the disconnect procedure of the hose 3. To initiate the disconnect procedure, a work platform 5a is brought into the vicinity of the connection 4. Then a set of wires 10 are connected between the hose end 3 and the drum 1. When the hose end 3 has been thus secured, the coupling between the hose end the connection 4 is broken by unscrewing bolts connecting a flange 11 at the hose end 3 and a flange 12 at the connection 4. A slight rotation of the reel drum 1 will lower the hose 3.

There are several disadvantages with the prior art reel.

An obvious disadvantage is that the connection 4 to the hose end 3 extends outside the drum core. This means that the work people who are performing the disconnect and connect operations, have to do this from a platform that is at the very edge of the production facility, where they are subject to the elements and poorly protected.

Another disadvantage is that the connection 4 takes up valuable space on the drum core 8. It is not possible to reel the hose in additional layers on the space that is occupied by the connection 4. This means that the reel has to be longer to account for the lost length due to the connection. Usually, the hose is only stored in one layer on the drum to avoid that it interferes with the connection. If the hose is to be stored in more than one layer, it cannot be reeled on top of the connection 4 and extra length has to be added to the drum to account for the space on the drum that cannot be used. A greater length makes a heavier drum and the supports have to be more robust.

The connection 4 is also exposed to potential damages from hanging loads or other objects that may interfere with the connection.

Further, the system of ladders and platforms 5 is very bulky and must be removed before the drum 1 is rotated.

The present invention has as object to resolve at least some of the above problems. This is achieved by the reel comprising a drum that is rotatably supported about a rotational axis at a respective end thereof; said reel having a connection between a swivel arranged about said rotational axis and the hose, wherein said connection is arranged within the core of said drum and that an opening is formed in an outer surface of said core, said opening being adapted to receive an end of said hose.

The invention will now be described, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 2 shows a reel according to the invention in a perspective view from one side,

Figure 3 shows a side view of the reel, shoring the same side at in figure 2,

Figure 4 shows an elevated view transverse to the rotation axis of the drum,

Figure 5 shows a perspective cross-section of the reel,

Figure 6 shows a perspective cross-section of the reel in a different direction from figure 5,

Figure 7 shows a side cross-section of the reel.

Figure 8 shows a detailed view of the connection area.

Referring to figure 2, the reel according to the present invention has a drum 20, which comprises a drum core 21 and side walls 22. The drum core 21 and side walls 22 are connected to a hub 23 via an arrangement of spokes 24. The reel is rotatable about a rotational axis 25 at the centre of the hub 23. The reel is supported about this axis 25 by supports that are not shown. These supports may conveniently be similar to the supports 2a and 2b shown in the prior art reel in figures 1a-e.

The reel has a connection 26 for a hose (the hose end 27 is shown in figures 4, 5, 6 and 7), which will be explained in detail below.

A work platform 28 is attached to the spoke arrangement 24 in the vicinity of the connection 26.

Referring to figure 3, this shows one end face of the reel. The connection 26 is visible as well as the work platform 28. Also shown is a chute 29 to guide the hose end 27 through the drum core 21.

Figure 4 shows a part of the hose near the hose end 27.

Referring to figure 5, the connection 26 is shown in its entirety. At one end the connection 26 is coupled to a swivel 30 at the hub 23. The connection 26 extends through a series of bends to a connector 31 that connects to a hose end 27. The work platform 28 is arranged to give maintenance people access to the connector 31.

Figure 5 also shows the chute 29.

Figure 6 shows the chute 29 from the outside. The chute 29 is arranged on the inside of an opening 32 in the drum core. The hose end 27 extends through the opening 32 and is guided to the connector 31 by the chute 29. This means that there are no parts of the connection 26 that extends outside the surface of the drum core 21, as the entire connection 26 is arranged on the inside of the drum core 21.

Figure 7 shows a cross-section in side view of the reel. It shows the hose end 27 extending along the outer surface of the drum core 21 through the opening 32 and into the chute 29. At the inner end of the chute 29 there is a second opening (not shown) immediately before the connector 31 so that the hose 27 end can be connected to the connector 31.

Figure 8 shows a detail around the connector 31 and the work platform 28. A set of winches 33 are arranged on the work platform 28. These are coupled to wires 34 that extend over sheaves 35 that are attached to the inside of the drum core 21. The wires 34 can be attached to a terminal end 36 of the hose end 27.

When the hose is to be disconnected from the connection 26, the wires 34 are tightened to carry the weight of the hose end 27. Then the coupling between the terminal end 36 of the hose and the connector 31 is released. When the coupling has been released the wires 34 are slackened. The hose may be lowered out through the chute 29 as necessary, e.g. to replace the hose.

The connection 26 is supported on the platform 28 by a support bracket 37 and a clamp 38, so that the connector 31 is kept stationary. A load cell may be arranged in association with the support bracket 37, such as between the support bracket 37 and the clamp 38, to monitor the tension of the hose when in use.

Since the work platform 28 is permanently attached to the reel drum 20 the drum must be stopped at a position where the work platform is horizontal and be rotationally locked before the decoupling of the hose can commence. The figures does not show access ladders or the like to the work platform 28, but a ladder can be permanently installed within the drum or a ladder can be attached to the drum when necessary. An external lift may also be used to bring maintenance personnel up to the work platform 28.

Since the work platform 28 is situated within the drum 20, the persons on the platform will be protected by the surrounding structure.

The hose may be reeled in several layers on the drum, and the drum may therefore be of a shorter length than the prior art drums.

Instead of a chute with dense walls, it is also possible to have guide beams that will guide the hose end from the opening 32 to the connector 31.

Claims

1.

An oil or gas production or storage facility transfer hose storage reel, especially capable of transferring oil or natural gas from an oil or gas production or storage facility to a shuttle tanker at sea, said reel comprising a drum (20) that is rotatably supported about a rotational axis (25) at a respective end thereof; said reel having a connection (26) between a swivel (30), arranged about said rotational axis (25), and a hose (27), c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that said connection (26) is arranged within the core (21) of said drum (20) and that an opening (32) is formed in an outer surface of said core (21), said opening (32) being adapted to receive an end (27) of said hose.

2.

The reel of claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that a guide (29) is arranged inside said drum core (21) in conjunction with said opening (32), to guide said hose end (27) to a connector (31) at said connection (26).

3.

The reel of claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that said guide is a chute (29).

4.

The reel of any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that a work platform (28) is arranged within said drum core (21) in conjunction with the interface between said connection (26) and said hose (27).

5.

The reel of claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that at least one winch (33) is arranged on said work platform (28), said winch (33) being adapted for supporting a terminal end (36) of said hose (27) when said hose (27) is disconnected from said connection (26).

6.

The reel of any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that it comprises a lock mechanism to prevent rotation of said drum (20).

7.

The reel of claim any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that said hose (27) extends through said opening (32) in a smooth curve and allows a further layer of hose to be reeled upon the part of the hose entering said opening (32).

8.

The reel of claim any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that it comprises a load cell arranged in conjunction with the connection (26), to monitor the tension of the hose (27) when in use.