Method and apparatus for providing fluid transfer between a marine platform and a service vessel

A method of fluid transfer between a marine production platform having a deck and-a work vessel having a deck, wherein the platform or work vessel has a periphery with a horizontally extending portion above deck, comprising the steps of:

• a) positioning the work vessel next to the production platform;
• b) adjusting the elevational positions of the vessel relative to the production platform so that a deck portion of the production platform and a deck portion of the work vessel are at about the same elevation;
• c) providing a bridge truss that enables a span to be formed between the deck portions of the production platform and work vessel, wherein the truss has an extension with a foot that fits under at least part of the guard rail, the bridge truss having interconnected truss members and a planar surface that enables fluid conveying members to be temporarily supported by the truss and a plurality of pipe spool pieces with quick connect fittings;
• d) wherein in step “c” the bridge truss is a self supporting liftable structure that includes interconnected vertical, horizontal and diagonal members, an upper tray, a lower tray and a plurality of flow line spool pieces that each have end portions with piping connecting fittings;
• e) connecting the production platform piping system to one or more of the flow line spool pieces with adjustable length temporary flexible flow lines that quick connect to the spool pieces at the piping connecting fittings;
• f) transferring fluids between the production platform and work vessel via the spool piece flow lines and temporary flexible flow lines;
• and
• g) placing one or more flexible hoses on the truss above one of the trays.

A method of fluid transfer between a marine production platform and a work vessel comprising the steps of:

• a) positioning the work vessel next to the production platform;
• b) adjusting the elevational positions of the vessel relative to the production platform so that a deck portion of the production platform and a deck portion of the work vessel are at about the same elevation;
• c) providing a bridge truss that enables a span to be formed between the deck portions of the production platform and work vessel, the bridge truss having a length, a height, end portions, interconnected truss members, and a planar surface that enables flexible hoses to be supported by the truss, and a plurality of pipe spool pieces with quick connect fittings;
• d) wherein in step “c” the bridge truss is a self supporting liftable structure that includes interconnected vertical, horizontal and diagonal members, an upper tray, a lower tray and a plurality of flow line spool pieces that each have end portions with piping connecting fittings;
• e) connecting the production platform piping system to one or more of the flow line spool pieces with adjustable length temporary flexible flow lines that quick connect to the spool pieces at the piping connecting fittings;
• f) transferring fluids between the production platform and work vessel via the spool piece flow lines and temporary flexible flow lines;
• and
• g) wherein the truss has a foot extension on at least one of its end portions that is shorter than the truss height.

A fluid transfer system for effecting fluid transfer between a production platform having a deck and a piping system, and a work vessel that is next to the production platform and having a deck and a piping system, comprising:

• a) a bridge truss that is sized and shaped to span between the production platform and the work vessel, the truss having a length, a height, end portions, and a foot on each end portion;
• b) upper and lower trays on the truss that each extend a majority of the length of the truss;
• c) a plurality of pipe spool pieces on the truss, positioned in between the upper and lower trays;
• d) connectors on the spool pieces for connecting each spool piece to the piping systems;
• and
• e) wherein at least one end portion of the truss has a foot extension on at least one end portion that is shorter than the truss height.

A method of fluid transfer between a marine platform having a piping system and a work vessel having a piping system comprising the steps of:

• a) positioning the work vessel next to the platform;
• b) adjusting the elevation of the vessel relative to the platform so that a deck portion of the platform and a deck portion of the work vessel are at about the same elevation;
• c) providing a bridge that enables a span to be formed between the deck portions of the platform and work vessel, the bridge having a plurality of piping spool pieces with quick connect fittings;
• d) spanning the gap between the marine platform and the work vessel with the bridge;
• and
• e) attaching piping systems on the platform and work vessel to the spool pieces at the quick connect fittings so that fluid transfer is enabled between the platform and the work vessel via the spool pieces on the bridge.

A method of fluid transfer between a marine production platform having a deck and a work vessel having a deck, the platform and work vessel each having piping systems, comprising the steps of:

• a) positioning the work vessel next to the production platform;
• b) adjusting the elevation of the vessel relative to the production platform so that a deck portion of the production platform approaches a deck portion of the work vessel;
• c) providing a bridge that enables a span to be formed between the deck portions of the production platform and work vessel, the bridge having a plurality of pipe spool pieces with quick connect fittings;
• d) wherein in step “c” the bridge is a self supporting liftable structure;
• e) connecting the production platform piping system to one or more of the flow line spool pieces with adjustable length temporary flexible flow lines that quick connect to the spool pieces at the piping connecting fittings;
• and
• f) transferring fluids between the production platform and work vessel via the spool piece flow lines.