Process, apparatus and vessel for transferring fluids between two structures
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B65B-003/04
B63B-021/02
B63B-027/30
출원번호
US-0856486
(2010-08-13)
등록번호
US-8286678
(2012-10-16)
발명자
/ 주소
Adkins, Jimmie Dean
Danmeier, Donald Gregory
Hartono, John S.
출원인 / 주소
Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
대리인 / 주소
DiDomenicis, Karen
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
9인용 특허 :
26
초록▼
A process and apparatus are provided for transferring fluids such as, for example, liquefied natural gas between a source structure such as a floating storage vessel and a receiving structure such as a floating transport vessel utilizing a controllable deployment system to deploy a fluid conduit. Th
A process and apparatus are provided for transferring fluids such as, for example, liquefied natural gas between a source structure such as a floating storage vessel and a receiving structure such as a floating transport vessel utilizing a controllable deployment system to deploy a fluid conduit. The fluid conduit end is supported by a mooring device which is positioned by the controllable deployment system. A transfer vessel is also provided which utilizes the controllable deployment system to position and support a fluid conduit for connection with a manifold on a receiving vessel. The deployment system operates in active mode during positioning and in passive mode during fluid transfer. The fluid transfer system disclosed allows safe, controlled operation and fluid transfer in open sea conditions.
대표청구항▼
1. A fluid transfer apparatus for accommodating the transfer of fluid between a floating first structure and a second structure, the apparatus comprising: a) a mooring device capable of being releasably attached to a floating first structure having a first structure conduit;b) a first controllable d
1. A fluid transfer apparatus for accommodating the transfer of fluid between a floating first structure and a second structure, the apparatus comprising: a) a mooring device capable of being releasably attached to a floating first structure having a first structure conduit;b) a first controllable deployment system supported by a base, the controllable deployment system supporting the mooring device and capable of adjusting the position of the mooring device relative to the base;c) at least one fluid conduit displaceably supported relative to the mooring device and having a fluid conduit end adapted to be releasably connected to the first structure conduit; andd) a second controllable deployment system defined by a Stewart platform, which controls the displacement of the fluid conduit end relative to the mooring device to accommodate positioning of and fluid connection between the fluid conduit end and the first structure conduit;wherein the mooring device can be moved relative to the base by the first controllable deployment system so that the mooring device can be releasably attached to the floating first structure such that the mooring device moves with the floating first structure and the fluid conduit end can be displaced relatively to the mooring device to accommodate mating of the fluid conduit end with the first structure conduit. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second controllable deployment system is adapted to be actuated by hydraulics or by an electro-mechanical device. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first controllable deployment system can be operated in active control mode in which the position of the mooring device is actively adjusted, and in passive mode in which the mooring device is free to move relative to the base. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first controllable deployment system comprises at least one controllable positioning arm. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mooring device comprises at least one vacuum pad. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mooring device comprises at least one electromagnet. 7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a floating structure which carries the base of the first controllable deployment system. 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the floating structure is a semi-submersible vessel. 9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: a positioning system capable of propelling the floating structure and maintaining the floating structure within a defined relative-position operating envelope with respect to the floating first structure. 10. A process for transferring fluid between a floating first structure and a second structure, the process comprising, in sequence: operating a first controllable deployment system in active control mode to adjust the position of a mooring device supporting a fluid conduit end of at least one fluid conduit with respect to a first structure conduit on a floating first structure;attaching the mooring device to the floating first structure;disabling active control of the first controllable deployment system so that the first controllable deployment system is free to move relative to the mooring device thereby allowing the mooring device to move with the floating first structure;individually adjusting the position of the fluid conduit end of the at least one fluid conduit with respect to the mooring device and to the first structure conduit using a second controllable deployment system defined by a Stewart platform;fluidly connecting the fluid conduit end to the first structure conduit; andtransferring fluid between the floating first structure and the second structure through the at least one fluid conduit and first structure conduit. 11. The process of claim 10 wherein the fluid comprises one or more of liquefied natural gas, liquefied heavy gas, liquefied petroleum gas, compressed natural gas, natural gas, crude oil, gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel, fuel oil, synthetic crude, petroleum condensate, lubricating oil, synthetic lube oil, naphtha, and methanol and mixtures thereof. 12. The process of claim 10 wherein the at least one fluid conduit is in fluid communication with a third structure via at least one of a subsea catenary conduit, a floating conduit, a pipe supported by a floating jetty or arm, and a pipe supported by a subsea submerged jetty or arm. 13. The process of claim 12 wherein the third structure is selected from the group consisting of a floating storage vessel, a floating buoy or a storage tank. 14. The process of claim 10, further comprising controlled emergency shutdown of the transferring step, comprising: ceasing the transferring of fluid by closing first and second emergency block valves on the fluid conduit end;disconnecting the fluid conduit end from the first structure conduit by activating an emergency release system between the emergency block valves;retracting the fluid conduit end and the first emergency block valve with respect to the first structure conduit and the second emergency block valve using the second controllable deployment system;enabling active control of the first controllable deployment system;detaching the mooring device from the floating first structure; andretracting the fluid conduit end with respect to the first structure conduit using the first controllable deployment system in active control mode. 15. The process of claim 10 wherein the floating first structure is a floating transport vessel and the second structure is a floating storage vessel. 16. The process of claim 10 wherein the floating first structure is a floating transport vessel and the second structure is a stationary structure selected from the group consisting of a dock, a pier, a jetty, an offshore platform and a gravity based structure (GBS).
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Barras, Steven Alexander; Savy, Pierre; Renard, Didier B.; Raborn, Gene; Bill, Louis George; Espinasse, Philippe François, Device for transferring a fluid between at least two floating supports.
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