US3793842A - Self-stabilizing submarine tank - Google Patents

Self-stabilizing submarine tank Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3793842A
US3793842A US00231933A US23193372A US3793842A US 3793842 A US3793842 A US 3793842A US 00231933 A US00231933 A US 00231933A US 23193372 A US23193372 A US 23193372A US 3793842 A US3793842 A US 3793842A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
tank
cells
compartments
submarine
submerging
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00231933A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
R Lacroix
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.)
Sea Tank Co SA
Original Assignee
Sea Tank Co SA
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
Application filed by Sea Tank Co SA filed Critical Sea Tank Co SA
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3793842A publication Critical patent/US3793842A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • 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
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B17/00—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor
    • E02B17/02—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor placed by lowering the supporting construction to the bottom, e.g. with subsequent fixing thereto
    • E02B17/025—Reinforced concrete structures
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
    • E04H7/00—Construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil engineering techniques in situ or off the site
    • E04H7/02—Containers for fluids or gases; Supports therefor
    • E04H7/18—Containers for fluids or gases; Supports therefor mainly of concrete, e.g. reinforced concrete, or other stone-like material
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B17/00—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor
    • E02B2017/0056—Platforms with supporting legs
    • E02B2017/0065—Monopile structures
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B17/00—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor
    • E02B2017/0056—Platforms with supporting legs
    • E02B2017/0073—Details of sea bottom engaging footing
    • E02B2017/0086—Large footings connecting several legs or serving as a reservoir for the storage of oil or gas

Definitions

  • a submarine tank formed of pre-stressed concrete comprises central cells and outward peripheral ballast cells.
  • the cells are interconnected and can be filled with liquid hydrocarbons.
  • Appropriate control means can be provided for effectuating the controlled submerging of the tank.
  • Vertical pillars can be provided to remove any vertical force effect of swells.
  • Lower stud members can be provided on the bottom of the tank.
  • the present invention relates to submarine tanks, more particularly for hydrocarbons, made of prestressed reinforced concrete, comprising several cells located between two plates.
  • the lower plate or apron is substantially planar, and rests on the sea bed, the upper plate has an upswept shape and acts as a cover adapted to receive connections to the cells and the operating unit necessary for using the tank for storing fluids.
  • a characteristic of the present tank is that its constituent cells are formed into two types of compartments, the ones forming a reinforced core having an upswept cover, the others, called ballasting compartments, being peripheral and downswept.
  • FIG. 2 shows a vertical cut-away view of the tank along ll--II in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 shows a tank in an elevation view, provided 7 with an emerging column;
  • FIG. 4 shows a tank in an isometric projection in the mode of construction by elements assembled at sea, on the surface.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 show, at l, the peripheral part of the tank that is used for the ballasting cells.
  • the part 2 is the resisting core shown here as a truncated pyramid with square bases.
  • 3v is a ballasting cell and 4 is a cell of the resisting core.
  • the resisting core is separated sure can be either the pressure of the total height of the sea water, for current depths in the order of a hundred or so metres, or that which separates two consecutive submerging levels for greater depths.
  • Openings are made in the walls separating the cells to allow them to communicate with one another.
  • the corresponding openings are provided with waterproof doors which, when operated, enable respectively the cutting off and the establishing of the communication between adjacent cells.
  • openings 7a On the walls of the cells of the core there are openings 7a at the lower part, and 7b at the upper part, whereas on those of the ballasting cells 3, openings 70 are provided. The gates with which certain of the openings are fitted have not been illustrated.
  • ballasting cells 3 Inasmuch as concerns the ballasting cells 3, they are grouped together into compartments of two types: angle compartment 13 with five cells and intermediate compartments 14 with six cells having substantially the same capacity.
  • the cells of a same compartment communicate with one another, by openings 70 in their walls.
  • the empty tank floats and, at 15, FIG. 2, its empty water line is illustrated.
  • the water line moves up to 16, whereas after complete filling of the cells of the second group, the water line then moves up to 17, at a distance in the order of a metre from the upper base of the truncated pyramid having square bases forming the cover 9 of the core having inherent resistance.
  • the head-room thus provided for the tank ensures the required stability of the latter during towing.
  • compartments having specific functions during the submerging of the tank.
  • These cells are grouped into compartments of three types: a central compartment 18 acting as an extra'ballasting and taking part, due to its progressive and partial filling, in the submerging operation, four balancing compartments 19 used for removing the faulty balance by selective filling of the latter and, lastly, four storage compartments 20 remaining empty during submerging.
  • a pumping system not illustrated, enables water to be brought into the base of the compartment 18, whereas air is evacuated from the upper part. This system can be reversed and enables, in case of need, the unballasting of the compartment.
  • Balancing by the compartments 19 can be effected with a constant volume of water without modifying the water line, by pumping water from the compartment 19 in which suitable pumps and hydraulic circuits are provided for that purpose; on the other hand, the grouping together'of these cells into compartments momentarily independent from one another cancels the water ballast effects.
  • the dimensions of the tank, the total number of the cells and the number of cells assigned to the functional compartments organized for the submerging operation are connected with the dimensions of the tank, the product to be stored and the storage conditions of the product.
  • the plate forming the apron can be thickened at 11 in order to embody the support surface of the tank on the bottom.
  • the spade studs which can possibly be arranged on the outside of the apron, are shown at 12. These studs are intended to improve, according to the kind of sea bed, the resistance of the tank to horizontal movement, and also to avoid any possible erosion caused by undercurrents.
  • the tank rests on the sea bed by its own weight which is sufficient to counteract the alternating vertical efforts of the swell which would tend to lift it periodically; nevertheless, the hollow pillars 21, FIG. 1, are arranged vertically in the compart ments which they pass through from one end to the other, to balance permanently the pressures exerted on the lower and upper plates, of the tank, and hence to compensate the effects of the vertical components of the swell on the tank.
  • the tank When the tank is submerged to a shallow depth, it is then arranged so as to resist the total pressure exerted at the end of the submerging, which can then be effected in a continuous way by continuous injection of water in the extra ballasting compartment 18.
  • submerging requires, in that case, stoppages at imtermediate levels, spaced out vertically at heights defined previously, and corresponding to the permissible differential pressure. At these levels, all the compartments of the reinforcing core and filled with a compressed gaseous fluid enabling the outside water pressure to become balanced again and submerging to be resumed down to the next level. In that case, the inherent resistance of the tank is then only partial; but in relation to known structures which are less resistant, it enables the number of levels required during submerging to be reduced.
  • the actual submerging operation can be controlled; either by floats arranged in chains round the tank, the floats of each chain being linked together by an anchor chain; or by a pillar rising above the tank and constantly remaining above the surface.
  • This pillar can subsequently connect the tank for the material to be stored therein with possible access to the control valves at the upper part of the tank which can be assigned for that purpose, and the positioning of the superstructures which can be installed at its summit easier.
  • FIG. 3 shows an elevation view of the tank provided with such an emerging pillar 22; it enables submerging to be controlled, access to the control valves placed above the tank and, possibly, as is known, an upper platform 23 to be arranged above the level 24 of the sea.
  • the hydrocarbons which remove the sea water, can then be injected into the tank. Injection is thus effected under pressure. Injection is stopped when a volume of hydrocarbons sufficient for filling the tank up to a height less than one metre, for example, from the total height has been injected, thus leaving a water clearance.
  • the pumping of hydrocarbons can be effected either by allowing the oil to flow subsequent to the pressure exerted by the sea water, or by setting up a pressure by pumping.
  • the various openings 7a, 7b and providing communication between the cells take part in the stabilization of the water to hydrocarbon interface, in combination with the dimensions of the orifices for making the tank communicate with the sea.
  • This stabilization is valid both for movements caused during filling or emptying and for movements caused during filling or emptying and for movements due to the swell and to sea currents. It can then be noted that there is an attenuation and a dephasing of the interface movements in relation to the movements caused by the sea, more particularly by the swell.
  • the apparent weight of the tank completely filled with hydrocarbons is sufficient, despite the lightening force created by the difference in density between hydrocarbons and sea water, to provide a pressure on the sea bed opposed to lifting and sliding of the tank.
  • the tank illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is built entirely on land, in an excavation, then floated to its submerging site.
  • the various walls and partitions are pre-stressed in two directions, and considering the effort exerted at the level of the embedded joints, the tank is then under three-dimensional pre-stress.
  • Both the inner and outer surfaces of the tank can be coated with known materials, more particularly, synthetic resin, to prevent their corrosion and to improve their fluid-tight qualities, and can be physiochemically treated in a known way to counteract the effects of sea water and of the fluids to be stored therein.
  • submerged tanks comprise any hollow body which can be submerged by specialization of the compartments it comprises, so as to effect, so to speak, automatic submerging; and, in this case, a container which submerges itself by the means described, will be considered as a submerged tank.
  • a pre-stressed concrete submarine storage tank formed by a plurality of scaled cells extending between an upper cover plate and a flat lower plate resting on the sea bed, the improvement wherein: said plates are similarly rectangular, of generally equal size, with said upper plate being of truncated pyramidal shape at its center, said cells are grouped into multiple types of sealed core and peripheral compartments including means for effecting fluid communication between cells of the same compartment, and wherein; said cells extending about the periphery of said tank are shorter in height than the sealed core cells and comprise two types of peripheral compartments with all peripheral compartments of the same type being symmetrical in relation to the axis of symmetry of said tank, and means are provided for filling all peripheral compartments of the same type simultaneously with sea water to act as ballasting compartments or with fluid hydrocarbon to act as storage compartments, said core cells internal of the peripheral compartments are taller and include at least one central compartment having means for progressively and partially filling said central compartment cells to control submerging of said tank, and said core cells further form at their
  • a submarine tank as in claim 1 further including lower stud members attached to the lower plate which help prevent relative errosion of the sea bed beneath the tank.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
  • Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)
  • Pens And Brushes (AREA)
US00231933A 1971-03-05 1972-03-06 Self-stabilizing submarine tank Expired - Lifetime US3793842A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR7107723A FR2127401A5 (es) 1971-03-05 1971-03-05

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3793842A true US3793842A (en) 1974-02-26

Family

ID=9073031

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00231933A Expired - Lifetime US3793842A (en) 1971-03-05 1972-03-06 Self-stabilizing submarine tank

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US3793842A (es)
AR (1) AR207310A1 (es)
BR (1) BR7201238D0 (es)
CA (1) CA951924A (es)
FR (1) FR2127401A5 (es)
GB (1) GB1354258A (es)
IT (1) IT949833B (es)
NL (1) NL7202896A (es)
NO (1) NO136803C (es)
OA (1) OA03970A (es)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3879952A (en) * 1972-05-02 1975-04-29 Olav Mo Pressure resistant caisson
US3886753A (en) * 1972-04-04 1975-06-03 Jal Nariman Birdy Submersible structures
US3911687A (en) * 1972-05-02 1975-10-14 Olav Mo Foundation method for caissons
US4060995A (en) * 1975-03-26 1977-12-06 Sea Tank Co. S.A. Immersion of an offshore weight-structure having two compartments
US4155671A (en) * 1976-03-25 1979-05-22 Hollandsche Beton Maatschappij B.V. Marine structures
US4234270A (en) * 1979-01-02 1980-11-18 A/S Hoyer-Ellefsen Marine structure
US4478537A (en) * 1982-07-02 1984-10-23 Brian Watt Associates, Inc. Arctic caisson system
WO1986001555A1 (en) * 1984-08-30 1986-03-13 Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A.S. Basement to be located on the sea bed and method for establishing such a basement
US4884918A (en) * 1985-05-08 1989-12-05 Paul Gulbenkian Method and apparatus for cellular construction structure
CN100358761C (zh) * 2004-05-18 2008-01-02 朱建华 推车登高架
US20090324341A1 (en) * 2008-04-30 2009-12-31 Technion Research And Development Foundation Ltd. Method of erecting a building structure in a water basin
AU2013101613B4 (en) * 2012-09-03 2014-10-30 Seacaptaur Ip Ltd Tank
WO2020188127A1 (es) * 2019-03-18 2020-09-24 Berenguer Ingenieros S.L. Método de instalación de estructura marítima offshore y estructura marítima offshore

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NO833924L (no) * 1983-10-27 1985-04-29 Ostlund As Fremgangsmaate ved undervannsarbeider paa store havdyp
JPS60230418A (ja) * 1984-04-28 1985-11-15 Takenaka Komuten Co Ltd 海洋単位構築物
FR2565272B1 (fr) * 1984-05-29 1986-10-17 Pi Rostovsky Prom Plate-forme marine en beton arme
FR2655617B1 (fr) * 1989-12-13 1994-10-14 Jacques Giner Caisse en materiaux composites pour contenir des fluides.
FR2664311A1 (fr) * 1990-07-05 1992-01-10 Doris Engineering Structure gravitaire pour installation en mer, a stabilite amelioree vis-a-vis des effets de la houle.
AU2013204480A1 (en) * 2012-09-03 2014-03-20 Seacaptaur Ip Ltd Tank

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2938353A (en) * 1954-12-27 1960-05-31 Shell Oil Co Submersible drilling barge
US3385464A (en) * 1965-04-20 1968-05-28 Equipements D Entpr S Sa Soc E Immersible tank with ballast means for its transport and immersion
US3396544A (en) * 1966-11-07 1968-08-13 Mobil Oil Corp Storage tank fixed on the ocean bottom and method of installation
US3621662A (en) * 1969-09-29 1971-11-23 Brown & Root Underwater storage structure and method of installation
US3708987A (en) * 1971-07-23 1973-01-09 J Roulet Concrete reservoir for underwater use

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2938353A (en) * 1954-12-27 1960-05-31 Shell Oil Co Submersible drilling barge
US3385464A (en) * 1965-04-20 1968-05-28 Equipements D Entpr S Sa Soc E Immersible tank with ballast means for its transport and immersion
US3396544A (en) * 1966-11-07 1968-08-13 Mobil Oil Corp Storage tank fixed on the ocean bottom and method of installation
US3621662A (en) * 1969-09-29 1971-11-23 Brown & Root Underwater storage structure and method of installation
US3708987A (en) * 1971-07-23 1973-01-09 J Roulet Concrete reservoir for underwater use

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3886753A (en) * 1972-04-04 1975-06-03 Jal Nariman Birdy Submersible structures
US3879952A (en) * 1972-05-02 1975-04-29 Olav Mo Pressure resistant caisson
US3911687A (en) * 1972-05-02 1975-10-14 Olav Mo Foundation method for caissons
US4060995A (en) * 1975-03-26 1977-12-06 Sea Tank Co. S.A. Immersion of an offshore weight-structure having two compartments
US4155671A (en) * 1976-03-25 1979-05-22 Hollandsche Beton Maatschappij B.V. Marine structures
US4234270A (en) * 1979-01-02 1980-11-18 A/S Hoyer-Ellefsen Marine structure
US4478537A (en) * 1982-07-02 1984-10-23 Brian Watt Associates, Inc. Arctic caisson system
GB2175337A (en) * 1984-08-30 1986-11-26 Norske Stats Oljeselskap Basement to be located on the sea bed and method for establishing such a basement
WO1986001555A1 (en) * 1984-08-30 1986-03-13 Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A.S. Basement to be located on the sea bed and method for establishing such a basement
US4884918A (en) * 1985-05-08 1989-12-05 Paul Gulbenkian Method and apparatus for cellular construction structure
CN100358761C (zh) * 2004-05-18 2008-01-02 朱建华 推车登高架
US20090324341A1 (en) * 2008-04-30 2009-12-31 Technion Research And Development Foundation Ltd. Method of erecting a building structure in a water basin
US8297885B2 (en) * 2008-04-30 2012-10-30 Technion Research And Development Foundation Ltd. Method of erecting a building structure in a water basin
AU2013101613B4 (en) * 2012-09-03 2014-10-30 Seacaptaur Ip Ltd Tank
WO2020188127A1 (es) * 2019-03-18 2020-09-24 Berenguer Ingenieros S.L. Método de instalación de estructura marítima offshore y estructura marítima offshore
US20220162825A1 (en) * 2019-03-18 2022-05-26 Beridi Maritime S.L. Method for the installation of an offshore maritime structure and offshore maritime structure

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1354258A (en) 1974-06-05
OA03970A (fr) 1979-08-31
NO136803B (no) 1977-08-01
IT949833B (it) 1973-06-11
CA951924A (en) 1974-07-30
NO136803C (no) 1977-12-07
BR7201238D0 (pt) 1973-05-24
FR2127401A5 (es) 1972-10-13
AR207310A1 (es) 1976-09-30
NL7202896A (es) 1972-09-07

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3793842A (en) Self-stabilizing submarine tank
US3708987A (en) Concrete reservoir for underwater use
US3738113A (en) Offshore oil storage structure with submergence shell
US3429128A (en) Offshore storage structure
US3698198A (en) Deep-water drilling, production and storage system
US3824942A (en) Offshore underwater storage tank
US3327667A (en) Moored production-storage tank
GB1366770A (en) Submersible structures
US3472033A (en) Fluid storage apparatus
US3553969A (en) Submerged oil storage structure
US3889476A (en) Submersible caissons and their applications
US3552132A (en) Oil terminal and method for fabricating the same
US3306052A (en) Floatable structure and method of operating same
US3791152A (en) Offshore storage system
US3858402A (en) Oil storage terminals
US4127004A (en) Off-shore platforms and methods for installing the same
US4162658A (en) Floating liquid-storage tank having side walls of double-hull construction
US3385464A (en) Immersible tank with ballast means for its transport and immersion
US4685409A (en) Device for the storing of oil
US3889477A (en) Crude oil offshore storage vessel
US3913335A (en) Offshore terminal
US4222682A (en) Platforms for sea-bottom exploitation
US4181452A (en) Oil-production platform and method of assembling and installing the same on a sea bed
US3863457A (en) Submarine foundation and offshore working platform
US4165196A (en) Method of constructing a column formed from annular elements and elements for the application of said method