US3455270A - Protective dome for underwater mooring swivel - Google Patents

Protective dome for underwater mooring swivel Download PDF

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Publication number
US3455270A
US3455270A US727457A US3455270DA US3455270A US 3455270 A US3455270 A US 3455270A US 727457 A US727457 A US 727457A US 3455270D A US3455270D A US 3455270DA US 3455270 A US3455270 A US 3455270A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
mooring
swivel
dome
gas
turntable
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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
US727457A
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English (en)
Inventor
John Mascenik
John F Flory
Leonard E Van Houten
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ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
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Exxon Research and Engineering Co
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Publication of US3455270A publication Critical patent/US3455270A/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B22/00—Buoys
    • B63B22/02—Buoys specially adapted for mooring a vessel
    • B63B22/021—Buoys specially adapted for mooring a vessel and for transferring fluids, e.g. liquids
    • B63B22/023—Buoys specially adapted for mooring a vessel and for transferring fluids, e.g. liquids submerged when not in use

Definitions

  • the instant invention relates to protective equipment to be used in conjunction with remote operating systems which are adapted to be submerged in uids such as seawater, for example. More particularly, the invention relates to the protection of offshore tank ship mooring and loading systems which are used for the loading and unloading of liquid materials particularly petroleum products, crude oils and chemicals in areas where inadequate docking facilities are available. More particularly, the invention relates to the improvement which provides effective means for insulating an underwater mooring and loading system from the corrosive seawater environment.
  • Suitable systems are known in the art for the loading and unloading of seagoing vessels. Suitable systems must provide means for mooring and loading a vessel which insure operations which are essentially unaffected by a continuous shifting of the vessel due to variations in the tide, the degree of load carried and wind or wave action. In the loading of liquids such as petroleum products, chemicals and the like, provision must also be made for a conduit between the vessels storage chambers and onshore storage facilities.
  • Tankers are loaded at permanent piers in protected waters or harbors whereby the ship is moored to appear running parallel thereto and liquid connection is provided by flexible pipelines.
  • the pier restrains lateral movement of the ship and the fiexible lines adjust to vertical movement due to tidal and loading variations without undue strain on the vessel connections. It is to be appreciated, however, that piers are not available or suitable in many remote areas and consequently in such areas the mooring and loading of tankers must be accomplished without the protection of permanent xed piers in harbors or other protective waters.
  • the customary alternative where permanent piers are unavailable is offshore mooring whereby a exible coupling is provided for the transfer of liquid between a fixed submarine line running from shore storage and a moored continuously shifting tanker.
  • Common methods of this type of mooring and loading include submarine anchorages, floating terminals and rotating booms.
  • Submarine anchorages normally comprise a xed submarine line running to an anchorage on sea bottom, coupled to flexible loading hoses running to a tanker manifold.
  • Bow mooring of the tanker is usually provided for to allow the tanker to face the wind, waves and current.
  • the mooring swivel must withstand high mooring forces and must provide a concentric passage for cargo, it is necessarily large and complex. In many applications it is desirable to place this mooring swivel on the ocean -bottom to eliminate the large surface buoy or support towers which require much maintenance and constitute navigation hazards.
  • the problems of designing adequate underwater mooring swivels have been diflicult due to problems of sealing and lubrication of the mooring swivel in the salt water environment. These problems have necessitated in many instances the use of exotic materials and designs to prevent seawater corrosion.
  • a water-excluding dome is placed over the under ⁇ Water mooring swivel and lled with a gas under pressure to exclude the seawater from the area of the swivel and its associated sensitive components.
  • the level of water allowed into the dome is readily controlled by providing a float valve, which valve controls the pressurizing gas feed line.
  • the use of the dome allows conventional materials to be used in the construction of the swivel and also allows the use of less exotic swivel designs, thus effecting great reductions in cost and complexity.
  • the dome shuts out sunlight and, therefore, prevents marine growth ⁇
  • the dome also protects the components from silt and falling debris.
  • an object of the instant invention is to provide an eicient underwater swivel to be used in conjunction with a single point mooring system.
  • a further object is to provide an improved mooring system with a trouble-free underwater swivel joint, which joint may be fabricated from non-exotic materials which could not normally be used in a seawater environment.
  • Another object is to provide protection means for underwater mooring swivels which assure trouble-free operation and allow for ready accessibility and easy access during maintenance.
  • FIGURE l is a diagrammatic illustration of the device of the instant invention in a single point mooring system
  • FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the gas dome protection means of the instant invention.
  • referenceI numeral 2 denotes a tanker.
  • Tanker 2 is secured to a mooring buoy 4 by the mooring line 6.
  • the underwater mooring swivel indicated generally at 12 is provided with a frame member 10.
  • An anchor chain 8 secures the buoy 4 to frame 10 at eyelet 14.
  • the lower portion of frame 10 is rigidly secured to a turntable 16 adapted for rotation in turntable support means 18.
  • Suitable bearings indicated schematically at 20 and 21 are provided to insure that the turntable 16 may freely rotate within support means 18.
  • Support means 18 are firmly attached to a foundation block or base 22 which is firmly atiixed to ocean bed 24.
  • a cargo swivel 26 is affixed in the central region of the turntable 16. Swivel 26 is designed to allow continuous 360 rotation about a pipeline 28, which is used to transfer cargo from the mooring swivel 12 to suitable land based storage vessels (not shown).
  • Frame 1li is provided also with a mounting lug 30.
  • a gas dome 40 is provided over the turntable and swivel assembly and firmly affixed to lug 30 and eyelet portion 14 of frame 10.
  • portion 14 and lug 30 of the frame 12 project through the surface of gas dome 40 and are affixed thereto by suitable joints such as welds 48 and 50.
  • Lug 30 is provided with a pivot hole 52 adapted to receive a pivot 36.
  • Pivot 36 secures the yoked end 34 of a loading arm 32 to the lug 30.
  • Within the loading arm 32 is provided a cargo transfer line 46.
  • a liexible piping connection 38 is provided to transfer the cargo around the rotatable connection formed by yoke 34 and lug 30.
  • the instant system is able to accommodate any movement of the tanker 2; the swivel joint between the loading arm and the lug 30 accommodating the up and down motion of the moored ship and the turntable 16 with its associated pivot 26 accommodating motions of the tanker 2 about the mooring point.
  • dome 40 is provided with means for eliminating seawater therefrom.
  • These means comprise apparatus for introducing a gas under pressure into the dome 40, which gas displaces seawater from its interior and includes a gas line' 54 for piping a gas under pressure from the shore to the dome 40.
  • Gas line 54 is provided with a control valve 58, which is actuated by a oat 57 which rides on the surface 60 of the water within the dome 40. If water level 60 should begin to rise, iioat 57 is elevated and this in turn opens the valve 58, thus allowing pressurized gas into the dome, which in turn displaces the water in dome 40 until it is back to its desired level.
  • dome 40 ready access to the interior of dome 40 is achieved through the peripheral gap 61 between the lower portion of dome 40 and base 22.
  • the pressurizing gas is oxygen containing, divers could readily work in comfort and without breathing apparatus within dome 40 to do any necessary periodic maintenance such as the lubrication of bearings 20 and 21, for example.
  • An underwater mooring which comprises a base, a frame, bearing means for rotatably mounting said frame on said base, a swivel joint adapted to rotate with said frame, conduit means for transferring fluid to and from said swivel joint, a uid tight open bottomed dome secured to said frame and extending over said bearing means, and means for introducing into said dome a fluid at a pressure sufficient to exclude water from the region of said bearing means and said swivel.
  • the mooring of claim 1 further including a float controlled valve on said uid introducing means.
  • An underwater mooring suitable for transferring uid between a shore facility and a moored vessel which comprises, a base, a turntable rotatably mounted on said base, a frame mounted on said turntable, a swivel joint adapted to rotate with said turntable, a first conduit means in communication with said swivel joint for transferring fluid between said joint and said shore facility, a second conduit means in communication with said swivel joint for transferring uid between said moored vessel and said joint, a fluid tight open bottomed dome rigidly secured to said frame and extending over said turntable and means for introducing into said dome a uid at a pressure suicient to exclude water, from the region of said turntable.
  • an improved underwater mooring which comprises a base supported by the ocean bottom, a turntable rotatably mounted on said base, a swivel joint adapted to rotate with said turntable, said swivel suitable for transferring materials between a shore facility and a moored vessel, a mooring frame mounted on said turntable', a irst conduit means in communication with said swivel for transferring uid between said swivel and said shore facility, a second conduit means in communication with said swivel for transferring fluid between said moored vessel and said swivel, a gas tight open bottomed dome rigidly secured to said frame and extending over said turntable, and means for excluding water from said dome to protect said turntable, said last means including a gas conduit from said shore facility to the interior of said dome and control means to admit said gas from said gas conduit into said dome at a pressure suicient to prevent said water from rising above

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Lining Or Joining Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
US727457A 1968-05-08 1968-05-08 Protective dome for underwater mooring swivel Expired - Lifetime US3455270A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US72745768A 1968-05-08 1968-05-08

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US3455270A true US3455270A (en) 1969-07-15

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US727457A Expired - Lifetime US3455270A (en) 1968-05-08 1968-05-08 Protective dome for underwater mooring swivel

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US (1) US3455270A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2007930A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1220651A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3660856A (en) * 1968-10-10 1972-05-09 Single Buoy Moorings Mooring buoy
US3675609A (en) * 1970-03-19 1972-07-11 Walter Kohring Mooring structure
DE2200705A1 (de) * 1971-01-06 1972-07-20 Esso Res And Engineering Co Einpunktmuringvorrichtung
US3693362A (en) * 1970-05-12 1972-09-26 Exxon Production Research Co Protection of underwater equipment by immersion
US3727652A (en) * 1970-12-02 1973-04-17 D Reynolds Submerged tanker mooring and cargo transferring system
US3840927A (en) * 1973-04-27 1974-10-15 Imodco Swivel unit for mooring and cargo transfer system
US3999498A (en) * 1974-07-01 1976-12-28 Exxon Research And Engineering Company Articulated loading arm with end hoses for single point mooring
FR2324551A1 (fr) * 1975-09-18 1977-04-15 Brown Vosper Offshore Ltd Davi Terminal de chargement offshore pour un produit
US4066031A (en) * 1975-09-26 1978-01-03 Compagnie Francaise Des Petroles Device for regulation of anchorage forces
US4096704A (en) * 1976-11-15 1978-06-27 David Brown-Vosper (Offshore) Limited Offshore product loading terminal
US4429655A (en) 1979-04-30 1984-02-07 Amtel, Inc. Single leg terminal
US4587919A (en) * 1982-10-18 1986-05-13 Renee M. A. Loire Simplified single device for mooring and loading-unloading tanker vessels from a submarine conduit for feeding or discharging a fluid, and method of installing said submarine conduit and said simplified mooring device
WO1997030888A1 (en) * 1996-02-21 1997-08-28 Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A/S System for loading ships at sea
WO1998023846A1 (en) * 1996-11-27 1998-06-04 Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A.S System, vessel, seabed installation and method for producing oil or gas
RU2133687C1 (ru) * 1996-03-21 1999-07-27 Текномаре С.п.А. Способ одноопорной швартовки судов и система для его осуществления (варианты)
RU2186934C2 (ru) * 1996-08-27 2002-08-10 Ден Ношке Статс Ольесельскап А.С. Поворотное устройство
RU2186932C2 (ru) * 1996-08-27 2002-08-10 Ден Ношке Статс Ольесельскап А.С. Подводный модуль
RU2186933C2 (ru) * 1996-08-27 2002-08-10 Ден Ношке Статс Ольесельскап А.С. Подводная скважина
US6497286B1 (en) * 1998-03-27 2002-12-24 Cooper Cameron Corporation Method and apparatus for drilling a plurality of offshore underwater wells
WO2003104076A1 (fr) * 2002-06-06 2003-12-18 Nikolai Vladimirovich Kulikov Brise-glace (et variantes), procedes et systeme de leur amarrage et d'entretien des navires a un support unique

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3104570C2 (de) * 1981-02-10 1986-02-06 M.A.N. Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg AG, 4200 Oberhausen Verankerung von im Meerwasser angeordneten Schwimmkörpern

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3366088A (en) * 1967-01-30 1968-01-30 Robert G. Gibson Floating oil harbor

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3366088A (en) * 1967-01-30 1968-01-30 Robert G. Gibson Floating oil harbor

Cited By (42)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3660856A (en) * 1968-10-10 1972-05-09 Single Buoy Moorings Mooring buoy
US3675609A (en) * 1970-03-19 1972-07-11 Walter Kohring Mooring structure
US3693362A (en) * 1970-05-12 1972-09-26 Exxon Production Research Co Protection of underwater equipment by immersion
US3727652A (en) * 1970-12-02 1973-04-17 D Reynolds Submerged tanker mooring and cargo transferring system
JPS5563989A (en) * 1971-01-06 1980-05-14 Exxon Research Engineering Co One point mooringgload manipulating device
DE2200705A1 (de) * 1971-01-06 1972-07-20 Esso Res And Engineering Co Einpunktmuringvorrichtung
US3708811A (en) * 1971-01-06 1973-01-09 Exxon Research Engineering Co Single anchor leg single point mooring system
US3840927A (en) * 1973-04-27 1974-10-15 Imodco Swivel unit for mooring and cargo transfer system
US3999498A (en) * 1974-07-01 1976-12-28 Exxon Research And Engineering Company Articulated loading arm with end hoses for single point mooring
FR2324551A1 (fr) * 1975-09-18 1977-04-15 Brown Vosper Offshore Ltd Davi Terminal de chargement offshore pour un produit
US4066031A (en) * 1975-09-26 1978-01-03 Compagnie Francaise Des Petroles Device for regulation of anchorage forces
US4096704A (en) * 1976-11-15 1978-06-27 David Brown-Vosper (Offshore) Limited Offshore product loading terminal
US4429655A (en) 1979-04-30 1984-02-07 Amtel, Inc. Single leg terminal
US4587919A (en) * 1982-10-18 1986-05-13 Renee M. A. Loire Simplified single device for mooring and loading-unloading tanker vessels from a submarine conduit for feeding or discharging a fluid, and method of installing said submarine conduit and said simplified mooring device
WO1997030888A1 (en) * 1996-02-21 1997-08-28 Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A/S System for loading ships at sea
US6109197A (en) * 1996-02-21 2000-08-29 Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A.S. System for loading ships at sea
WO1997030889A1 (en) * 1996-02-21 1997-08-28 Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A/S. System for anchoring ships
KR100450541B1 (ko) * 1996-02-21 2004-12-03 스타토일 에이에스에이 탄화수소를생산하기위한시스템
CN1095783C (zh) * 1996-02-21 2002-12-11 挪威国家石油公司 用于锚定船的装置
AU711621B2 (en) * 1996-02-21 1999-10-21 Statoil Petroleum As System for anchoring ships
RU2198815C2 (ru) * 1996-02-21 2003-02-20 Ден Ношке Статс Ольесельскап А.С. Система для добычи углеводородов
AU714682B2 (en) * 1996-02-21 2000-01-06 Statoil Petroleum As System for production of hydrocarbons
AU721382B2 (en) * 1996-02-21 2000-06-29 Statoil Petroleum As System for loading ships at sea
WO1997030887A1 (en) * 1996-02-21 1997-08-28 Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A/S System for production of hydrocarbons
CN1100698C (zh) * 1996-02-21 2003-02-05 挪威国家石油公司 用于为海上的船装载的装置
US6227138B1 (en) 1996-02-21 2001-05-08 Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A.S. System for anchoring ships
RU2196701C2 (ru) * 1996-02-21 2003-01-20 Ден Ношке Статс Ольесельскап А.С. Система для загрузки судов в море
US6332500B1 (en) 1996-02-21 2001-12-25 Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A. S. Anchor system for the transfer of fluids
RU2185994C2 (ru) * 1996-02-21 2002-07-27 Ден Ношке Статс Ольесельскап А.С. Система для постановки судов на якорь
CN1095784C (zh) * 1996-02-21 2002-12-11 挪威国家石油公司 用于开采碳氢化合物的装置
RU2133687C1 (ru) * 1996-03-21 1999-07-27 Текномаре С.п.А. Способ одноопорной швартовки судов и система для его осуществления (варианты)
RU2186932C2 (ru) * 1996-08-27 2002-08-10 Ден Ношке Статс Ольесельскап А.С. Подводный модуль
RU2186933C2 (ru) * 1996-08-27 2002-08-10 Ден Ношке Статс Ольесельскап А.С. Подводная скважина
RU2186934C2 (ru) * 1996-08-27 2002-08-10 Ден Ношке Статс Ольесельскап А.С. Поворотное устройство
GB2337282B (en) * 1996-11-27 2001-07-04 Norske Stats Oljeselskap System,vessel,seabed installation and method for producing oil or gas
US6213215B1 (en) 1996-11-27 2001-04-10 Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A. S System, vessel, seabed installation and method for producing oil or gas
GB2337282A (en) * 1996-11-27 1999-11-17 Norske Stats Oljeselskap System,vessel,seabed installation and method for producing oil or gas
WO1998023846A1 (en) * 1996-11-27 1998-06-04 Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A.S System, vessel, seabed installation and method for producing oil or gas
US6497286B1 (en) * 1998-03-27 2002-12-24 Cooper Cameron Corporation Method and apparatus for drilling a plurality of offshore underwater wells
WO2003104076A1 (fr) * 2002-06-06 2003-12-18 Nikolai Vladimirovich Kulikov Brise-glace (et variantes), procedes et systeme de leur amarrage et d'entretien des navires a un support unique
US20060096513A1 (en) * 2002-06-06 2006-05-11 Kulikov Nikolai V Ice breaker (variants), method and system for single-support mooring and servicing ships
US7270066B2 (en) 2002-06-06 2007-09-18 Murmansk Shipping Company, Joint Stock Company Ice breaker (variants), method and system for single-support mooring and servicing ships

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2007930A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-01-16
GB1220651A (en) 1971-01-27

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