초록 ▼

A subsea system for the storage of petroleum products or other liquids with densities lighter than water is disclosed. The system includes at least one storage tank disposed alongside a bowl-like structure. A flexible membrane sealed to a top peripheral surface of the bowl structure or a hollow blad

A subsea system for the storage of petroleum products or other liquids with densities lighter than water is disclosed. The system includes at least one storage tank disposed alongside a bowl-like structure. A flexible membrane sealed to a top peripheral surface of the bowl structure or a hollow bladder supported by the bowl is provided. Pipes run from the bottom of the tank to the space between the membrane and the bowl or to the interior of the bladder. Water stored in the tank is displaced to the bowl/membrane volume space or to the hollow bladder. When discharge of the petroleum products is desired, a supply/discharge valve at the top of the tank is opened and sea pressure acting on the flexible membrane forces water from the membrane/bowl space or bladder back into the bottom of the tank causing the petroleum products to be discharged via the supply/discharge pipe.

대표청구항 ▼

A subsea system for the storage of petroleum products or other liquids with densities lighter than water comprising, at least one storage tank means for containing water and said petroleum products, at least one tub-like structure disposed adjacent to said tank means, said structure having a top per

A subsea system for the storage of petroleum products or other liquids with densities lighter than water comprising, at least one storage tank means for containing water and said petroleum products, at least one tub-like structure disposed adjacent to said tank means, said structure having a top peripheral surface above an upwardly facing bowl, a flexible membrane secured about said top peripheral surface of said tub-like structure, transfer piping means for providing fluid communication between the bottom of said storage tank means and said bowl of said tub-like structure, and supply/discharge piping means for connecting the top of said tank means to a supply/discharge line of petroleum products, whereby where said tank means is filled with water, a portion of said water is transferred via said transfer piping means to a storage space defined between said bowl of said tub-like structure and said flexible membrane by pumping petroleum products into said tank means via said supply/discharge piping means, and after said tank means contain petroleum products, said petroleum products are forced outwardly via said supply/discharge line by the static pressure of the sea acting on said flexible membrane thereby forcing said water from said storage space via said transfer piping means to the bottom of said tank means.