US3753494A - Under-sea oil storage installation - Google Patents

Under-sea oil storage installation Download PDF

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Publication number
US3753494A
US3753494A US00180293A US3753494DA US3753494A US 3753494 A US3753494 A US 3753494A US 00180293 A US00180293 A US 00180293A US 3753494D A US3753494D A US 3753494DA US 3753494 A US3753494 A US 3753494A
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tank
oil
sea
under
sludge
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00180293A
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English (en)
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H Hirata
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D88/00—Large containers
    • B65D88/78—Large containers for use in or under water

Definitions

  • the outer wall of the internal tank may ⁇ 56] References C'ted form the inner wall of the external tank and support a UNITED STATES PATEN S hollow shaft extending above the sea surface, the shaft 3,339,512 9/1967 Siegel.... 210/D1G. 21 carrying an equipment-supporting platform.
  • a sludge-gathering means which may 2,377,875 6/1945 Geisslel' 210/525 X be perforated plates or netting, for directing sludge into 3 1 3/1944 F 210/524 X a deposit tank.
  • Means are provided for agitating the 2 ilegel sludge preparatory to its being pumped out of the deogonows l posit tank.
  • the conventional method of transporting the crude oil from the production well to an oil refinery is as follows: the crude oil is transported by a submerged pipe line from the well to tanks constructed on the land near the wells, and stored in the tanks. If the oil is then to be loaded into a tanker, it is pumped from the storage tanks through a land pipe line to the tanker.
  • the installation includes an external tank having an annular shape, and an arched circular roof, the external tank surrounding an internal tank formed with a frusto-conical roof.
  • the internal wall of the external tank forms the external wall of the internal tank.
  • Conduit means connect the lower part of the internal tank with the upper part of the external tank, and openings are provided in the lower portion of the exterior wall of the external tank, sea water flowing into and out of the external tank through these openings.
  • a hollow shaft is mounted on the roof of the internal tank, and an equipment-supporting platform is carried by the shaft above the sea surface.
  • Spokes are provided which extend radially between the internal and external walls of the external tank, so as to maintain the walls concentric.
  • Perforated plates or nets are provided in the internal tank to catch the sludge carried by the oil, and deposit the sludge in a deposit tank at the bottom of the internal tank.
  • the external tank When there is a small quantity of oil stored in the installation described above, the external tank is completely filled with sea water, and the internal tank is almost completely filled with sea water. However, some oil will remain above the sea water in the internal tank. As oil is pumped into the internal tank, it does not mix with the sea water, but instead pushes the sea water downwardly in the internal tank. The sea water then flows through the conduit means into the upper portion of the external tank, and finally out through the openings at the bottom of the external tank. As oil continues to be pumped, it flows through the conduit means into the upper portion of the external tank, continuing to push the sea water out below it. Pumping continues until the bottom level of the oil almost reaches the openings at the bottom of the external tank.
  • the sludge Since the sludge is collected in a deposit tank at the bottom of the internal tank, it never reaches the external tank, and therefore does not flow out of the external tank and pollute the sea. As oil is being discharged from the internal tank, a portion of the oil is directed as a jet into the sludge, to agitate the latter, and the mixed oil and sludge are blended.
  • the deposit tank may also be provided with rotating blades to further agitate and liquify the sludge. The liquified sludge is then pumped out of the deposit tank.
  • FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an undersea oil storage installation according to the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1; 7
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the installation showing the direction of oil flow therein;
  • FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of another alternative embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.
  • FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 show an under-sea oil storage tank according to the present invention installed on a sea bottom 33.
  • the installation includes an annular external tank 1 surrounding an internal tank 2.
  • a hollow shaft 3, coaxial with tanks 1 and 2, projects upwardly above the sea surface and carries a platform 4.
  • External tank 1 comprises an external circular wall 1', an internal circular wall 5 coaxial therewith, and a circular arched roof 12 joining the upper edges of the two walls.
  • lntemal wall 5 is common to both external tank 1 and the internal tank 2.
  • the bottom of external tank 1 is equipped with a plurality of radiating spokes 9 each of which is provided with a turnbuckle 8, the
  • turnbuckles being adjustable to keep external wall 1' circular and concentric with internal wall 5.
  • the ends of spokes 9 are fixed in the foundation 7 of external wall 1 and the foundation 6 of internal wall 5.
  • External wall 1 is provided along its lower edge with a plurality of spaced-apart openings 11, and internal wall is similarly provided along its lower edge with a plurality of spaced-apart openings 13.
  • Internal wall 5 is seated upon the edge of the circular bottom plate 14 of internal tank 2.
  • Flow pipes 10 establish communication between each opening 13 and the upper part 10 of external tank 1.
  • each plate 16 serves to gather sludge which floats on the oil deposited in the tank.
  • Each plate 16 is formed with a large number of holes 17.
  • Each plate 16 slopes from its outer edge toward its center. As a result, sludge deposited on the plates flows toward the center of each plate and downwardly through a pipe 18 into a tank 15. Although plates 16 gather sludge for deposit in tank 15, oil is free to flow through the holes 17 in plates 16.
  • a frustoconical roof 45 Mounted on the upper 'edge of wall 5 is a frustoconical roof 45, the upper edge of which carries hollow shaft 3. Connected in the side wall of hollow shaft 3 are valves 46 and 46 through which the interior of shaft 3 communicates with an oil receiving pipe 35. Fixed to the upper part of hollow shaft 3, above the sea surface 32, is the platform 4. Mounted on platform 4 is a motor 20 for driving an oil discharging pump 19. When pump 19 is operated, discharged oil is transferred to a tanker 38 (FIG. 3) through a flow meter 36 and a discharge pipe 37.
  • a tanker 38 FIG. 3
  • a circulation pump 25 moves this oil portion through a pipe 27 which terminates at its lower end at the bottom of sludge deposit tank 15.
  • the oil leaves pipe 27 as a jet 27' which agitates the sludge and causes it to float.
  • Lof cated at the bottom of tank is the lower end 21 of a suction pipe 21'.
  • the upper end of suction pipe 21 is connected to a water discharging pump 22, the sea water at the bottom of internal tank 2 is removed by operation of pump 22.
  • Water discharge by pump 22 is stored in an oil and water separater 23 wherein oil is recovered.
  • the recovered oil flows through pipe 43 into hollow shaft 3 and is stored in internal tank 2. After separation, pure sea water is discharged into the sea through pipe 24, flow through which is controlled by a valve 24.
  • Oil to be stored in the under-sea tank flows from oil receiving pipe 35 through valves 46 and 46, and in hollow shaft 3. Since the specific gravity of oil is lower than that of sea water, initially the oil remains in the upper part of hollow shaft 3, Le, near the height of the sea surface 32.
  • water discharging pump 22 is operated, and the sea water remaining beneath the level of openings 13 in internal tank 2 is drawn into suction plate 21 by water discharging pump 22. This pumping continues until the oil surface reaches oil surface indicator 42, and the pumped sea water is stored in oil and water separater 23. The separated oil is stored in hollow shaft 3, after flowing through pipe 43, and the separated sea water is discharged into the sea through valve 24' and discharging pipe 24. It will be seen that operation of discharging pump 22 causes oil to fill the lower part of internal tank 2, the oil replacing the discharged sea water.
  • motor 20 When stored oil is to be discharged, motor 20 is energized to operate oil discharging pump 19.
  • the pump is located so as to be deeper than the valley of the largest wave when the tide is out.
  • a portion of the discharging oil is delivered to the bottom of tank 15 by pump 25.
  • the sludge in tank 15 is agitated and the oil and the sludge are delivered to an oil tanker receiving oil from the undersea tank.
  • an equal amount of sea water flows into external tank 1 through openings 1 1.
  • sea water begins to flow into internal tank 2 through pipe 10.
  • control room 34 is informed of this, and automatically circulation pump 25 stops operating so that the oil and the sea water are not mixed.
  • the sea water surface reaches the level 31, and this is sensed by oil surface indicator 39.
  • motor 20 operating pump 19 automatically stops operating, and discharge of oil terminates.
  • a vent pipe 28, equipped with a fire extinguisher 29, is mounted on the upper part of hollow shaft 3. Gas within hollow shaft 3 is safely exhausted through vent pipe 28.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 The alternative under sea oil storage tank shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is identical to the one shown in FIGS. 1-3, except that the tank of FIGS. 4 and 5 is not equipped with plates 16 upon which sludge is deposited. Sludge deposited in tank 15 at the bottom of internal tank 2 is floated by operation of pump 25 which produces a circulating jet of oil. Floatation of the sludge is aided by rotating blades 47.
  • Another difference in the tank of FIGS. 4 and 5 is the provision of columns 48 for supporting platform 4, the columns being mounted on the upper part of the internal wall 5. Platform 4 must have a large surface area, so as to support big equipment, and it must be stomg enough to bear up against the effects of waves and wind. Strong and heavy materials are necessary for constructing the platform, and this is expensive. By providing columns 48 for supporting platform 4, it is possible to construct hollow shaft 3 with light weight materials.
  • FIGS. 6 and 7 The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is identical to that of FIGS. 1-3, except that in place of plates 16, the arrangement of FIGS. 6 and 7 employs within internal tank 2 a netting 49.
  • the netting may be arranged in the form of a plate, or it may be hung to form concentric cylinders.
  • the equipment for agitating and floating the sludge is the same as shown in FIG. 4, and the mechanism for storing and discharging the oil is the same as in FIG. 1.
  • columns 48 as described above in connection with FIG. 4, are employed.
  • the undersea tank of the present invention will receive the effects of billow, sea tide, and wind pressure, tending to move it horizontally, suitable stakes, or like abutments, should be driven into the sea bottom around the outside circumference of external tank 1, or the bottom of the external tank should be concreted or surrounded with large rocks. Furthermore, the undersea tank will be subjected to a force tending to float it resulting from the difference in specific gravities of the oil and sea water. Therefore, the tank body must be weighted to resist this force, or staked.
  • oil flows from the bottom of the internal tank into the external tank, and during this flow through the internal tank, sludge carried by the oil is deposited in the internal tank and can then be pumped out without polluting the sea.
  • a sludge is removed from the internal tank at the same time oil is discharged, and hence depositing the sludge at the bottom of the internal tank presents no problem.
  • the circular arched shape of the roof 12 of external tank 1 has been found best for resisting the force mentioned above produced by the difference of specific gravities of the oil and sea water, and for resisting the force of waves in the sea when no oil is stored in the external tank. Under certain circumstances, such is when the volume of external tank 1 is large, spokes 9 may be replaced by prestressed concrete beams.
  • An under-sea oil storage installation comprising:
  • first and second storage tanks supported on the sea bottom
  • conduit means through which the lower part of said first tank communicates with the upper part of said second tank
  • a sludge deposit tank within said first tank and sludge-gathering means within said first tank for accumulating and depositing sludge carried by the oil in said deposit tank, said sludge-gathering means allowing the oil to flow through it, whereby when said tanks are empty of oil they are filled with sea water, but when oil is pumped into said first tank it first fills the latter and upon continued pumping flows sludge-free through said conduit means into said second tank, the sea water being pushed by the oil out of said tanks through said opening, and when oil is pumped out of said first tank sea water flows into said tank through said opening pushing oil out of said second tank through said conduit means into said first tank.
  • An under-sea oil storage installation as defined in claim 2 including a circular roof covering said second tank, said roof having an arched cross-sectional shape.
  • An under-sea oil storage installation as defined in claim 5 including an equipment-supporting platform above said storage tanks, and columns supported on said inner wall supporting said platform.
  • An under-sea oil storage installation as defined in claim 1 including a hollow shaft supported on said first tank, the upper end of said shaft extending above the sea surface and the interior of said shaft communicating with the interior of said first tank, and said oil introducing and removing means being located within said shaft.
  • An under-sea oil storage installation as defined in claim 7 including an equipment-supporting platform carried by said shaft above the sea surface.
  • An under-sea oil storage installation as defined in claim 1 including a pump for discharging the contents of said deposit tank.
  • An under-sea storage installation as defined in claim 12 including means for diverting a portion of the oil being discharged from said first tank into said deposit tank, said diverting means introducing oil into said deposit tank in the form of a jet for agitating the sludge therein.
  • An under-sea oil storage installation as defined in claim 12 including blades within said deposit tank, and means for rotating said blades to agitate the sludge.
  • An under-sea oil storage installation as defined in claim 12 including an oil and water separator, said pump discharging the contents of said deposit tank into said separator.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Cleaning Or Clearing Of The Surface Of Open Water (AREA)
US00180293A 1970-12-15 1971-09-14 Under-sea oil storage installation Expired - Lifetime US3753494A (en)

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JP45111157A JPS4945527B1 (de) 1970-12-15 1970-12-15

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Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3921557A (en) * 1973-03-01 1975-11-25 Shell Oil Co Floating storage unit
US4230422A (en) * 1979-03-19 1980-10-28 Texaco Inc. Submerged offshore storage facility
US4351623A (en) * 1980-06-10 1982-09-28 Raymond International Builders, Inc. Underwater storage of oil
US20120248099A1 (en) * 2009-11-16 2012-10-04 Kingtime International Limited Enclosed offshore tank for storing crude oil
CN103240256A (zh) * 2012-02-08 2013-08-14 中国石油化工股份有限公司 水下漏油收集与暂存装置及其使用方法
CN103240255A (zh) * 2012-02-08 2013-08-14 中国石油化工股份有限公司 水下漏油收集与暂存装置及使用方法
CN103240258A (zh) * 2012-02-08 2013-08-14 中国石油化工股份有限公司 自吸式水下漏油集储装置及使用方法
US20160025085A1 (en) * 2014-07-24 2016-01-28 Oceaneering International, Inc. Subsea pressure compensating pump apparatus
US9656801B2 (en) * 2015-05-05 2017-05-23 Safe Marine Transfer, LLC Underwater storage tank and fill control mechanism
US9783947B2 (en) * 2015-12-27 2017-10-10 William Wei Lee Submerged oil storage, loading and offloading system

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2355875A (en) * 1942-04-03 1944-08-15 Dorr Co Method of and apparatus for clarifying liquids
US2377875A (en) * 1941-12-01 1945-06-12 Dorr Co Compound clarifier
US3339512A (en) * 1966-06-17 1967-09-05 Siegel Gilbert Multiple storage and redistribution facility
US3408971A (en) * 1965-07-22 1968-11-05 Texaco Inc Submerged oil storage vessel and oil loading facility for offshore wells
US3610194A (en) * 1969-07-17 1971-10-05 Gilbert Siegel Submerged offshore fluid storage facility
US3643447A (en) * 1969-12-04 1972-02-22 Texaco Inc Flexible storage container for offshore facility

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2377875A (en) * 1941-12-01 1945-06-12 Dorr Co Compound clarifier
US2355875A (en) * 1942-04-03 1944-08-15 Dorr Co Method of and apparatus for clarifying liquids
US3408971A (en) * 1965-07-22 1968-11-05 Texaco Inc Submerged oil storage vessel and oil loading facility for offshore wells
US3339512A (en) * 1966-06-17 1967-09-05 Siegel Gilbert Multiple storage and redistribution facility
US3610194A (en) * 1969-07-17 1971-10-05 Gilbert Siegel Submerged offshore fluid storage facility
US3643447A (en) * 1969-12-04 1972-02-22 Texaco Inc Flexible storage container for offshore facility

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3921557A (en) * 1973-03-01 1975-11-25 Shell Oil Co Floating storage unit
US4230422A (en) * 1979-03-19 1980-10-28 Texaco Inc. Submerged offshore storage facility
US4351623A (en) * 1980-06-10 1982-09-28 Raymond International Builders, Inc. Underwater storage of oil
US20120248099A1 (en) * 2009-11-16 2012-10-04 Kingtime International Limited Enclosed offshore tank for storing crude oil
CN103240258A (zh) * 2012-02-08 2013-08-14 中国石油化工股份有限公司 自吸式水下漏油集储装置及使用方法
CN103240255A (zh) * 2012-02-08 2013-08-14 中国石油化工股份有限公司 水下漏油收集与暂存装置及使用方法
CN103240256A (zh) * 2012-02-08 2013-08-14 中国石油化工股份有限公司 水下漏油收集与暂存装置及其使用方法
US20160025085A1 (en) * 2014-07-24 2016-01-28 Oceaneering International, Inc. Subsea pressure compensating pump apparatus
US9574557B2 (en) * 2014-07-24 2017-02-21 Oceaneering International, Inc. Subsea pressure compensating pump apparatus
US9656801B2 (en) * 2015-05-05 2017-05-23 Safe Marine Transfer, LLC Underwater storage tank and fill control mechanism
US10046907B2 (en) * 2015-05-05 2018-08-14 Safe Marine Transfer, LLC Underwater storage tank and fill control mechanism
AU2020203153B2 (en) * 2015-05-05 2021-07-01 Safe Marine Transfer, LLC Subsea storage tank, method of installing and recovering such a tank, system, method to retrofit a storage tank and method of refilling a subsea storage tank
US9783947B2 (en) * 2015-12-27 2017-10-10 William Wei Lee Submerged oil storage, loading and offloading system

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