Systems for transferring a fluid to and/or from a vessel and processes for using same

A fluid transfer system, comprising:

• a catenary anchor leg mooring buoy configured to float on a surface of a body of water, wherein:
• the catenary anchor leg mooring buoy comprises a fixed part rotatively coupled to a rotating part, and
• the catenary anchor leg mooring buoy has a first end configured to be connected to the fixed part of the catenary anchor leg mooring buoy and a second end configured to be connected to a seabed;
• a fluid swivel configured to be disposed on the catenary anchor leg mooring buoy, wherein the fluid swivel comprises a fixed part rotatively coupled to a rotating part, wherein the fixed part and the rotating part of the fluid swivel define a first fluid flow path and a second fluid flow path therethrough that are segregated from one another, and wherein the fixed part of the fluid swivel is coupled to the fixed part of the catenary anchor leg mooring buoy;
• a first subsea conduit configured to provide fluid communication between a first pipeline disposed on the seabed and the first fluid flow path defined by the fluid swivel;
• a second subsea conduit configured to provide fluid communication between a second pipeline disposed on the seabed and the second fluid flow path defined by the fluid swivel;
• a first surface conduit configured to fluidly connect a fluid storage tank disposed on a vessel and the first fluid flow path defined by the fluid swivel, wherein the first surface conduit comprises a valve;
• a second surface conduit configured to fluidly connect the fluid storage tank and the second fluid flow path defined by the fluid swivel and
• a crossover conduit comprising a crossover valve, wherein:
• the crossover conduit is configured to provide fluid communication between (i) the first surface conduit and the second surface conduit, or (ii) the first subsea conduit and the second subsea conduit, wherein:
• the fixed part of the fluid swivel and the rotating part of the fluid swivel are configured to maintain fluid communication between the first subsea conduit and the first surface conduit via the first fluid flow path,
• the fixed part of the fluid swivel and the rotating part of the fluid swivel are configured to maintain fluid communication between the second subsea conduit and the second surface conduit via the second fluid flow path, and
• the system is configured to transfer a fluid having a boiling point that is less than an ambient temperature at atmospheric pressure to or from the fluid storage tank.

A process for transferring a fluid, comprising:

• mooring a vessel to a catenary anchor leg mooring buoy floating on a surface of a body of water, wherein:
• the catenary anchor leg mooring buoy comprises a fixed part rotatively coupled to a rotating part,
• the catenary anchor leg mooring buoy comprises a mooring leg comprising a chain,
• the mooring leg has a first end configured to be connected to the fixed part of the catenary anchor leg mooring buoy and a second end configured to be connected to a seabed,
• the vessel is moored to the rotating part of the catenary anchor leg mooring buoy, and
• a fluid swivel is disposed on the catenary anchor leg mooring buoy, wherein the fluid swivel comprises a fixed part rotatively coupled to a rotating part, and wherein the fixed part and the rotating part of the fluid swivel define a first fluid flow path and a second fluid flow path therethrough that are segregated from one another;
• a first subsea conduit in fluid communication with a first subsea pipeline disposed on the seabed and the first fluid flow path defined by the fluid swivel;
• a second subsea conduit in fluid communication with a second subsea pipeline disposed on the seabed and the second fluid flow path defined by the fluid swivel;
• a first surface conduit in fluid communication with the first fluid flow path defined by the fluid swivel, wherein the first surface conduit is configured to fluidly connect to a fluid storage tank disposed on the vessel, and wherein the first surface conduit comprises a valve;
• a second surface conduit in fluid communication with the second fluid flow path defined by the fluid swivel, wherein the second surface conduit is configured to fluidly connect to the fluid storage tank, and wherein the second surface conduit comprises a valve;
• and
• a crossover conduit comprising a crossover valve, wherein the crossover conduit is in fluid communication with the first surface conduit and the second surface conduit, wherein:
• the fixed part of the fluid swivel is coupled to the catenary anchor leg mooring buoy,
• the fixed part of the fluid swivel and the rotating part of the fluid swivel maintain fluid communication between the first subsea conduit and the first surface conduit via the first fluid flow path, and
• the fixed part of the fluid swivel and the rotating part of the fluid swivel maintain fluid communication between the second subsea conduit and the second surface conduit via the second fluid flow path;
• connecting the first surface conduit to the fluid storage tank disposed on the vessel;
• closing the valve of the first surface conduit;
• opening the crossover valve;
• flowing the fluid from the first subsea pipeline, through the first subsea conduit, the first fluid flow path defined by the fluid swivel, at least a portion of the first surface conduit, the crossover conduit, at least a portion of the second surface conduit, the second fluid flow path defined by the fluid swivel, the second subsea conduit and into the second subsea pipeline, wherein the fluid has a boiling point that is less than an ambient temperature at atmospheric pressure;
• closing the crossover valve;
• opening the valve of the first surface conduit;
• flowing the fluid from the first subsea pipeline, through the first subsea conduit, through the first fluid flow path defined by the fluid swivel, through the first surface conduit and into the fluid storage tank disposed on the vessel;
• closing the valve of the first surface conduit;
• and
• re-opening the crossover valve.