초록 ▼

Disclosed are various apparatus and method for transferring a hydrocarbon fluid between two bodies. An offloading system for facilitating hydrocarbon fluid transfer between two bodies includes a transfer skid and a lifting system. The transfer skid is movable from a first body to a second body to be

Disclosed are various apparatus and method for transferring a hydrocarbon fluid between two bodies. An offloading system for facilitating hydrocarbon fluid transfer between two bodies includes a transfer skid and a lifting system. The transfer skid is movable from a first body to a second body to be installed thereupon to facilitate hydrocarbon fluid transfer to and from the first and the second bodies. The lifting system may be provided on the first body, and includes an extendable lifting arm; a spreader frame attachment which includes at least a first and a second lifting device to support the transfer skid, wherein the spreader frame attachment is rotatably coupled to the extendable lifting arm to allow angular or rotatable adjustment of the transfer skid in a horizontal plane.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An offloading system for facilitating hydrocarbon fluid transfer between two bodies, comprising: a transfer skid which is movable from a first body to a second body to be installed thereupon, the transfer skid comprising: a skid frame;a plurality of pipes which are rigidly attached to the skid fr

1. An offloading system for facilitating hydrocarbon fluid transfer between two bodies, comprising: a transfer skid which is movable from a first body to a second body to be installed thereupon, the transfer skid comprising: a skid frame;a plurality of pipes which are rigidly attached to the skid frame;a plurality of jack screw mechanisms for independently adjusting the pipes relative to the skid frame, each of the pipes having a first end and a second distal end;a coupler provided at the first end of the each of the pipes to connect to the second body after installing the transfer skid on the second body;an emergency release coupling provided at the second end of the each of the pipes; a transfer hose connected between the emergency release coupling and the first body; anda lifting system provided on the first body, the lifting system comprising: an extendable lifting arm;a spreader frame attachment which includes at least a first and a second lifting device to support the transfer skid, wherein the spreader frame attachment is rotatably coupled to the extendable lifting arm to allow angular adjustment of the transfer skid in a horizontal plane,wherein the first lifting device is adapted to support one side of the skid frame which is proximate to the coupler, and the second lifting device is adapted to support an opposed side of the skid frames which is proximate to the emergency release coupling, andwherein the first lifting device and the second lifting device are adapted to independently adjust the skid frame to prevent tilting of the skid frame. 2. The offloading system of claim 1, wherein the coupler is adapted to connect to a pipe extension installed on the second body, wherein the pipe extension includes a flexible expansion joint which is deflectable in an axial direction, a lateral direction and an angular direction to align with the coupler. 3. The offloading system of claim 1, wherein the spreader frame attachment is further removably coupled to the extendable lifting arm. 4. The offloading system of claim 1, wherein the coupler and the emergency release coupling are arranged spaced apart so that after installing the transfer skid onto the second body, the coupler is disposed inboard the second body while the emergency release coupling is disposed outboard of the second body. 5. The offloading system of claim 4, wherein the emergency release coupling disconnects the transfer hose from the transfer skid which is installed at the second body by way of detaching a part of the emergency release coupling, and allowing the detached part of the emergency release coupling, together with the transfer hose connected thereto, to fall away from the transfer skid due to gravity force. 6. The offloading system of claim 5, wherein the detached part of the emergency release coupling is supported by the lifting system to limit the fall of the detached part of the emergency release coupling. 7. The offloading system of claim 6, wherein the transfer hose maintains a catenary form during the fall of the detached part of the emergency release coupling by way of an attachment of the detached part of the emergency release coupling to a spreader beam which is supported by the lifting system. 8. A method of transferring hydrocarbon fluid, the method comprising: moving a transfer skid from a first body to a second body using a lifting system provided on the first body,wherein the transfer skid comprises: a skid frame;a plurality of pipes which are rigidly attached to the skid frame;a plurality of jack screw mechanisms for independently adjusting the pipes relative to the skid frame, each of the pipes having a first end and a second distal end;a coupler provided at the first end of the each of the pipes to connect to the second body after installing the transfer skid on the second body;an emergency release coupling provided at the second end of the each of the pipes; a transfer hose connected between the emergency release coupling and the first body; andwherein the lifting system comprises: an extendable lifting arm;a spreader frame attachment which includes at least a first and a second lifting device to support the transfer skid, wherein the spreader frame attachment is rotatably coupled to the extendable lifting arm to allow angular adjustment of the transfer skid in a horizontal plane,wherein moving a transfer skid from the first body to the second body includes having the first lifting device and the second lifting device independently adjust the skid frame to prevent tilting of the skid frame, wherein the first lifting device is adapted to support one side of the skid frame which is proximate to the coupler, and the second lifting device is adapted to support an opposed side of the skid frame which is proximate to the emergency release coupling;adjusting the pipes independently of one another to position the pipes on the second body;connecting the transfer skid to the second body to allow fluid communication between the first and the second body; andtransferring hydrocarbon fluid from the first body to the second body or vice versa. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein connecting the transfer skid to the second body includes connecting the coupler to a pipe extension installed on the second body, wherein the pipe extension includes a flexible expansion joint which is deflectable in an axial direction, a lateral direction and an angular direction to align with the coupler. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the coupler and the emergency release coupling are arranged spaced apart, the method further comprising: after installing of the transfer skid, having the couplet disposed inboard the second body and the emergency release coupling disposed out the second body. 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: disconnecting the transfer hose from the transfer skid which is installed at the second body by detaching a part of the emergency release coupling; andallowing the detached part of the emergency release coupling, together with the transfer hose connected thereto, to fall away it the transfer skid due to gravity force. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: limiting the fall of the detached part of the emergency release coupling by having the detached part of the emergency release coupling supported by the lifting system. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: having the transfer hose maintain a catenary form during the fall of the detached part of the emergency release coupling by way of an attachment of the detached part of the emergency release coupling to a spreader beam which is supported by the lifting system. 14. An offloading system for facilitating hydrocarbon fluid transfer between two bodies, comprising: a transfer skid which is movable from a first body to a second body to be installed thereupon, the transfer skid comprising: a skid frame;a plurality of pipes which are rigidly attached to the skid frame;a plurality of jack screw mechanisms for independently adjusting the pipes relative to the skid frame, each of the pipes having a first end and a second distal end;a coupler provided at the first end of the each of the pipes to connect to the second body after installing the transfer skid on the second body;an emergency release coupling provided at the second end of the each of the pipes;a transfer hose connected between the emergency release coupling and the first body; anda lifting system provided on the first body, the lifting system comprising: an extendable lifting arm;a spreader frame attachment which includes at least a first and a second lifting device to support the transfer skid, wherein the spreader frame attachment is rotatably coupled to the extendable lifting arm to allow angular adjustment of the transfer skid in a horizontal plane,wherein the coupler and the emergency release coupling are arranged spaced apart so that after installing the transfer skid onto the second body, the coupler is disposed inboard the second body while the emergency release coupling is disposed outboard of the second body,wherein the emergency release coupling disconnects the transfer hose from the transfer skid which is installed at the second body by way of detaching a part of the emergency release coupling, and allowing the detached part of the emergency release coupling, together with the transfer hose connected thereto, to fall away from the transfer skid due to gravity force,wherein the detached part of the emergency release coupling is supported by the lifting system to limit the fall of the detached part of the emergency release coupling, andwherein the transfer hose maintains a catenary form during the fall of the detached part of the emergency release coupling by way of an attachment of the detached part of the emergency release coupling to a spreader beam which is supported by the lifting system. 15. A method of transferring hydrocarbon fluid, the method comprising: moving a transfer skid from a first body to a second body using a lifting system provided on the first body,wherein the transfer skid comprises: a skid frame;a plurality of pipes which are rigidly attached to the skid frame;a plurality of jack screw mechanisms for independently adjusting the pipes relative to the skid frame, each of the pipes having a first end and a second distal end;a coupler provided at the first end of the each of the pipes to connect to the second body after installing the transfer skid on the second body;an emergency release coupling provided at the second end of the each of the pipes and spaced apart from the coupler;a transfer hose connected between the emergency release coupling and the first body; andwherein the lifting system comprises: an extendable lifting arm;a spreader frame attachment which includes at least a first and a second lifting device to support the transfer skid, wherein the spreader frame attachment is rotatably coupled to the extendable lifting arm to allow angular adjustment of the transfer skid in a horizontal plane,wherein moving the transfer skid from the first body to the second body includes having the first lifting device and the second lifting device independently adjust the skid frame to prevent tilting of the skid frame;after installing of the transfer skid, having the coupler disposed inboard the second body and the emergency release coupling disposed outboard of the second body;disconnecting the transfer hose from the transfer skid which is installed at the second body by detaching a part of the emergency release coupling;allowing the detached part of the emergency release coupling, together with the transfer hose connected thereto, to fall away from the transfer skid due to gravity force;limiting the fall of the detached part of the emergency release coupling by having the detached part of the emergency release coupling supported by the lifting system; andhaving the transfer hose maintain a catenary form during the fall of the detached part of the emergency release coupling by way of an attachment of the detached part of the emergency release coupling to a spreader beam which is supported by the lifting system.