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The current invention includes to systems and methods of transferring cryogenic fluids between two locations. More particularly, some embodiments of the invention are related to systems and methods of using cryogenic risers and rotatable connections for transferring cryogenic fluids, including lique

The current invention includes to systems and methods of transferring cryogenic fluids between two locations. More particularly, some embodiments of the invention are related to systems and methods of using cryogenic risers and rotatable connections for transferring cryogenic fluids, including liquefied natural gas, from an ocean going vessel to a second location. One embodiment of the invention includes a system for transporting a cryogenic fluid between a floating vessel and a second location. The system including a cryogenic riser, a submersible turret connector. The being riser adapted to allow the vertical position of the first end of the riser to be changed, the second end of the first riser located in a body of water and in fluid communication with the second location. The submersible turret connector connected to the first end of the first riser. The first connector adapted for releasably connecting to a first floating vessel located on the body of water so that a cryogenic fluid can be communicated between the first vessel and the first end of the first riser, the first connector being moored to the bottom of the body of water such that the vertical position of the first connector can be changed, and the first connector adapted to allow the first vessel to rotate around the first connector upon the surface of the body of water while the first vessel is connected to the first connector.

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We claim: 1. A system for transporting a cryogenic fluid between a floating vessel and a second location, comprising: a) a first cryogenic riser having a first end and a second end, said first riser adapted to allow the vertical position of said first end of said first riser to be changed, said sec

We claim: 1. A system for transporting a cryogenic fluid between a floating vessel and a second location, comprising: a) a first cryogenic riser having a first end and a second end, said first riser adapted to allow the vertical position of said first end of said first riser to be changed, said second end of said first riser located in a body of water and in fluid communication with said second location, at least a portion of said first riser being insulated; wherein said first riser includes a first riser fluid conduit and a second riser fluid conduit; b) a first submersible turret connector connected to said first end of said first riser, said first connector adapted for releasably connecting to a first floating vessel located on said body of water so that a cryogenic fluid can be communicated between said first vessel and said first end of said first riser, said first connector being moored to the bottom of said body of water such that the vertical position of said first connector can be changed, and said first connector adapted to allow said first vessel to rotate around said first connector upon the surface of said body of water while said first vessel is connected to said first connector; c) a pipeline cryogenic fluid conduit having a first end and a second end, said first end of said pipeline conduit in fluid communication with said second end of said first riser, said second end of said pipeline conduit in fluid communication with said second location, and said pipeline conduit at least partially submerged within said body of water; wherein at least a portion of said pipeline conduit is insulated; wherein a first end of said first riser conduit and a first end of said second riser conduit is attached to said first connector and a second end of said first riser conduit and a second end of said second riser conduit is in fluid communication with said pipeline conduit; and d) a jumper fluid conduit, said jumper conduit providing a path for fluid communication between said first riser conduit and said second riser conduit. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said jumper fluid conduit is located in said first connector or between said first and second riser conduits. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein said pipeline conduit is comprised of a first pipeline fluid conduit and a second pipeline fluid conduit, a first end of said first pipeline conduit in fluid communication with said second end of said first riser conduit, a first end of said second pipeline conduit in fluid communication with said second end of said second riser conduit, a second end of said first pipeline conduit and a second end of said second pipeline conduit in fluid communication with said second location, thereby together with said jumper fluid conduit providing a fluid conduit loop suitable for circulation of a cryogenic fluid. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein said jumper fluid conduit is located in between said first and second pipeline conduits. 5. The system of claim 3, wherein said fluid conduit loop is adapted to circulate a cryogenic fluid from said second location, through said first and second pipeline conduits, said first and second riser conduits and said jumper conduit back to said second location while said first vessel is disconnected from said first connector. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein said first riser is adapted to changing the vertical distance between said first end and said second end of said first riser. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein said first riser is a flexible riser. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein said first riser includes one or more of a hose, rigid pipe, flexible pipe or articulating joints. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein said first connector is adapted for connecting to said first vessel at a point below the surface of said body of water. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein said first connector is adapted for connecting to said first vessel at a point above the surface of said body of water. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein said second location includes a facility. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein said facility is a second floating vessel located on said body of water. 13. The system of claim 11, wherein said facility is a land-based structure. 14. The system of claim 12, further including a second submersible turret connector, said second connector adapted for connecting to said second vessel so that a fluid can be communicated between said first vessel and said second vessel and said second connector adapted to allow said second vessel to rotate around said second connector upon the surface of said body of water while said second vessel is connected to said second connector. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein said second connector is adapted for releasably connecting to said second vessel. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein said second connector is moored to the bottom of said body of water so that the vertical position of said second connector can be changed. 17. The system of claim 1 wherein said first riser, said pipeline conduit, or both are insulated with a material having a thermal conductivity less than 1.0 W/m-° C. (0.6 Btu/hr-ft-° F.). 18. The system of claim 1, wherein said second end of said first riser conduit and said second end of said second riser conduit is connected to said first end of said pipeline conduit at a manifold. 19. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said pipeline conduit is located on or below the bottom of said body of water. 20. The system of claim 1, wherein said pipeline conduit is suspended within said body of water. 21. The system of claim 18, wherein said manifold includes shut-off valves. 22. The system of claim 1, wherein said pipeline conduit includes a splitter manifold, said splitter manifold having an inlet connected to a point on said pipeline conduit, a first outlet in fluid communication with said first connector, and a second outlet in fluid communication with an alternative submersible turret connector suitable for releasably connecting to a floating vessel located on said body of water. 23. The system of claim 1, further including a messenger buoy connected to said first connector. 24. The system of claim 1, wherein the vertical position of said first connector can be changed from a first position located within 20 meters of the surface of the body of water and a second position greater than 20 meters below the surface of the body of water. 25. The system of claim 1, wherein said first vessel is located greater than 1 kilometer from said second location. 26. The system of claim 1, wherein said first connector is a submerged turret loading connector or a submerged turret production connector. 27. The system of claim 1, wherein said first connector includes a plurality of fluid conduits. 28. The system of claim 27, wherein said first riser is comprised of a plurality of cryogenic fluid conduits. 29. The system of claim 1, wherein said first floating vessel is a floating cryogenic fluid storage vessel. 30. The system of claim 29, wherein said first floating vessel is a floating carrier vessel. 31. The system of claim 1, wherein said first riser, said first connector and said pipeline conduit are adapted to transfer cryogenic fluids having a temperature below −50° C. (−58° F.). 32. The system of claim 31, wherein said first riser, said first connector and said pipeline conduit are adapted to transfer cryogenic fluids having a temperature below −100° C. (−148° F.). 33. A system for transporting a cryogenic fluid between a floating vessel and a second location, comprising: a) a first cryogenic riser having a first end and a second end, said first riser adapted to allow the vertical position of said first end of said first riser to be changed, said second end of said first riser located in a body of water and in fluid communication with said second location; wherein said first riser includes a first riser fluid conduit and a second riser fluid conduit; b) a first submersible turret connector connected to said first end of said first riser, said first connector adapted for releasably connecting to a first floating vessel located on said body of water so that a cryogenic fluid can be communicated between said first vessel and said first end of said first riser, said first connector being moored to the bottom of said body of water such that the vertical position of said first connector can be changed, and said first connector adapted to allow said first vessel to rotate around said first connector upon the surface of said body of water while said first vessel is connected to said first connector; c) a pipeline cryogenic fluid conduit having a first end and a second end, said first end of said pipeline conduit in fluid communication with said second end of said first riser, said second end of said pipeline conduit in fluid communication with said second location, said pipeline conduit at least partially submerged within said body of water; and d) a jumper fluid conduit, said jumper conduit providing a path for fluid communication between said first riser conduit and said second riser conduit; wherein at least a portion of said first riser, at least a portion of said pipeline conduit, or both are insulated; wherein a first end of said first riser conduit and a first end of said second riser conduit is attached to said first connector and a second end of said first riser conduit and a second end of said second riser conduit is in fluid communication with said pipeline conduit. 34. The system of claim 33, wherein said jumper fluid conduit is located in said first connector or between said first and second riser conduits. 35. The system of claim 33, wherein said pipeline conduit is comprised of a first pipeline fluid conduit and a second pipeline fluid conduit, a first end of said first pipeline conduit in fluid communication with said second end of said first riser conduit, a first end of said second pipeline conduit in fluid communication with said second end of said second riser conduit, a second end of said first pipeline conduit and a second end of said second pipeline conduit in fluid communication with said second location, thereby together with said jumper fluid conduit providing a fluid conduit loop suitable for circulation of a cryogenic fluid. 36. The system of claim 35, wherein said jumper fluid conduit is located in between said first and second pipeline conduits. 37. The system of claim 35, wherein said fluid conduit loop is adapted to circulate a cryogenic fluid from said second location, through said first and second pipeline conduits, said first and second riser conduits and said jumper conduit back to said second location while said first vessel is disconnected from said first connector. 38. The system of claim 35, wherein said first riser is adapted to changing the vertical distance between said first end and said second end of said first riser. 39. The system of claim 38, wherein said first connector includes a plurality of fluid conduits. 40. The system of claim 39, wherein said first riser is comprised of a plurality of cryogenic fluid conduits. 41. A method of transporting a cryogenic fluid between a floating vessel and a second location, comprising: a) communicating a cryogenic liquid through a cryogenic fluid transfer conduit between a first vessel and a second location, said cryogenic fluid conduit comprising: i) a first cryogenic riser having a first end and a second end, said first riser adapted to allow the vertical position of said first end of said first riser to be changed, said second end of said first riser located in a body of water and in fluid communication with said second location, at least a portion of said first riser being insulated; wherein said first riser includes a first riser fluid conduit and a second riser fluid conduit; ii) a first submersible turret connector connected to said first end of said first riser, said first connector adapted for releasably connecting to said first vessel located on said body of water so that said cryogenic fluid can be communicated between said first vessel and said first end of said first riser, said first connector being moored to the bottom of said body of water such that the vertical position of said first connector can be changed, and said first connector adapted to allow said first vessel to rotate around said first connector upon the surface of said body of water while said first vessel is connected to said first connector; iii) a pipeline cryogenic fluid conduit having a first end and a second end, said first end of said pipeline conduit in fluid communication with said second end of said first riser, said second end of said pipeline conduit in fluid communication with said second location, and said pipeline conduit at least partially submerged within said body of water; wherein at least a portion of said pipeline conduit is insulated; wherein a first end of said first riser conduit and a first end of said second riser conduit is attached to said first connector and a second end of said first riser conduit and a second end of said second riser conduit is in fluid communication with said pipeline conduit; and iv) a jumper fluid conduit, said jumper conduit providing a path for fluid communication between said first riser conduit and said second riser conduit. 42. The method of claim 41, wherein said jumper fluid conduit is located in said first connector or between said first and second riser conduits. 43. The method of claim 41, wherein said pipeline conduit is comprised of a first pipeline fluid conduit and a second pipeline fluid conduit, a first end of said first pipeline conduit in fluid communication with said second end of said first riser conduit, a first end of said second pipeline conduit in fluid communication with said second end of said second riser conduit, a second end of said first pipeline conduit and a second end of said second pipeline conduit in fluid communication with said second location, thereby together with said jumper fluid conduit providing a fluid conduit loop suitable for circulation of a cryogenic fluid. 44. The method of claim 43, wherein said jumper fluid conduit is located in between said first and second pipeline conduits. 45. The method of claim 43, wherein said fluid conduit loop is adapted to circulate a cryogenic fluid from said second location, through said first and second pipeline conduits, said first and second riser conduits and said jumper conduit back to said second location while said first vessel is disconnected from said first connector. 46. The method of claim 41, wherein said first riser is adapted to changing the vertical distance between said first end and said second end of said first riser. 47. The method of claim 46, wherein said first riser is a flexible riser. 48. The method of claim 47, wherein said first riser includes one or more of a hose, rigid pipe, flexible pipe or articulating joints. 49. The method of claim 41, wherein said first connector is adapted for connecting to said first vessel at a point below the surface of said body of water. 50. The method of claim 41, wherein said first connector is adapted for connecting to said first vessel at a point above the surface of said body of water. 51. The method of claim 41, wherein said second location includes a facility. 52. The method of claim 51, wherein said facility is a second floating vessel located on said body of water. 53. The method of claim 51, wherein said facility is a land-based structure. 54. The method of claim 51, wherein at least a portion of said pipeline conduit is located on or below the bottom of said body of water. 55. The method of claim 51, wherein said pipeline conduit is suspended within said body of water. 56. The method of claim 41, wherein the vertical position of said first connector can be changed from a first position located within 20 meters of the surface of the body of water and a second position greater than 20 meters below the surface of the body of water. 57. The method of claim 41, wherein said first vessel is located greater than 1 kilometer from said second location. 58. The method of claim 41, wherein said first connector includes a plurality of fluid conduits. 59. The method of claim 41, wherein said first riser further is comprised of a plurality of cryogenic fluid conduits. 60. The method of claim 41, wherein said first floating vessel is a floating cryogenic fluid storage vessel. 61. The method of claim 60, wherein said first floating vessel is a floating carrier vessel. 62. The method of claim 41, wherein said cryogenic fluid includes greater than 50 weight percent methane. 63. The method of claim 62, wherein said cryogenic fluid has a temperature below −50° C. (−58° F.). 64. The method of claim 63, wherein said cryogenic fluid has a temperature below −100° C. (−148° F.). 65. The method of claim 62, further comprising transporting said cryogenic fluid to land. 66. The method of claim 62, further comprising vaporizing at least a portion of said cryogenic fluid to produce a gas comprising greater than 50 weight percent methane. 67. The method of claim 66, further comprising transporting said gas to land. 68. A method of transporting a cryogenic fluid between a floating vessel and a second location, comprising: a) communicating a cryogenic liquid through a cryogenic fluid transfer conduit between a first vessel and a second location, said cryogenic fluid conduit comprising: i) a first cryogenic riser having a first end and a second end, said first riser adapted to allow the vertical position of said first end of said first riser to be changed, said second end of said first riser located in a body of water and in fluid communication with said second location, wherein said first riser includes a first riser fluid conduit and a second riser fluid conduit; ii) a first submersible turret connector connected to said first end of said first riser, said first connector adapted for releasably connecting to said first vessel located on said body of water so that said cryogenic fluid can be communicated between said first vessel and said first end of said first riser, said first connector being moored to the bottom of said body of water such that the vertical position of said first connector can be changed, and said first connector adapted to allow said first vessel to rotate around said first connector upon the surface of said body of water while said first vessel is connected to said first connector; iii) a pipeline cryogenic fluid conduit having a first end and a second end, said first end of said pipeline conduit in fluid communication with said second end of said first riser, said second end of said pipeline conduit in fluid communication with said second location, said pipeline conduit at least partially submerged within said body of water; wherein a first end of said first riser conduit and a first end of said second riser conduit is attached to said first connector and a second end of said first riser conduit and a second end of said second riser conduit is in fluid communication with said pipeline conduit; and iv) a jumper fluid conduit, said jumper conduit providing a path for fluid communication between said first riser conduit and said second riser conduit: wherein at least a portion of said first riser, at least a portion of said pipeline conduit, or both are insulated. 69. The method of claim 68, wherein said jumper fluid conduit is located in said first connector or between said first and second riser conduits. 70. The method of claim 68, wherein said pipeline conduit is comprised of a first pipeline fluid conduit and a second pipeline fluid conduit, a first end of said first pipeline conduit in fluid communication with said second end of said first riser conduit, a first end of said second pipeline conduit in fluid communication with said second end of said second riser conduit, a second end of said first pipeline conduit and a second end of said second pipeline conduit in fluid communication with said second location, thereby together with said jumper fluid conduit providing a fluid conduit loop suitable for circulation of a cryogenic fluid. 71. The method of claim 70, wherein said jumper fluid conduit is located in between said first and second pipeline conduits. 72. The method of claim 70, wherein said fluid conduit loop is adapted to circulate a cryogenic fluid from said second location, through said first and second pipeline conduits, said first and second riser conduits and said jumper conduit back to said second location while said first vessel is disconnected from said first connector. 73. The method of claim 68, wherein said first riser is adapted to changing the vertical distance between said first end and said second end of said first riser. 74. The method of claim 68, wherein said first riser is a flexible riser. 75. A method of transporting a cryogenic fluid between a first location and a floating vessel located on a body of water, comprising: a) connecting a first floating vessel to a first submersible turret connector, said first connector adapted for releasably connecting to said first floating vessel so that a cryogenic fluid can be communicated between said first floating vessel and said first connector, said first connector being moored to the bottom of said body of water such that the vertical position of said first connector can be changed, and said first connector adapted to allow said first floating vessel to rotate around said first connector upon the surface of said body of water while said first floating vessel is connected to said first connector; b) communicating a cryogenic fluid between said first floating vessel and said first connector; c) communicating said cryogenic fluid between said first connector and a first cryogenic riser having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first riser connected to said first connector, said second end of said first riser located in a body of water and in fluid communication with said first location, and said first riser adapted to allow the vertical position of said first end of said first riser to be changed, wherein said first riser includes a first riser fluid conduit and a second riser fluid conduit; d) communicating said cryogenic fluid between said first riser and a pipeline cryogenic fluid conduit having a first end and a second end, said first end of said pipeline conduit in fluid communication with said second end of said first riser, said second end of said pipeline conduit in fluid communication with said first location, and said pipeline conduit at least partially submerged within said body of water; wherein a first end of said first riser conduit and a first end of said second riser conduit is attached to said first connector and a second end of said first riser conduit and a second end of said second riser conduit is in fluid communication with said pipeline conduit; and e) communicating said cryogenic fluid from said first location to said first submersible turret connector, through a jumper fluid conduit, and back to said first location when cryogenic fluid is not communicating between said first floating vessel and said first connector, wherein said jumper conduit provides a path for fluid communication between said first riser conduit and said second riser conduit. 76. The method of claim 75, wherein said first location includes a facility. 77. The method of claim 76, wherein said cryogenic fluid is communicated from said first floating vessel to said facility. 78. The method of claim 76, wherein said cryogenic fluid is communicated from said facility to said first floating vessel. 79. The method of claim 78, further including: e) disconnecting said first floating vessel from said first connector; and f) transporting said cryogenic fluid over said body of water on said first floating vessel to a third location. 80. The method of claim 79, further including: g) vaporizing said cryogenic fluid to a gas.