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AssigneeStatoil ASA
InventorKare G Breivik
Estimating the term…
A system for transferring a load from ship-based production and storage units (10) to dynamically positioned tankers (3), comprising a loading hose (14) which, during a loading operation, extends between an end (11) of the ship-based unit (10) and a bow manifold (6) on the tanker (3), and which is stored on the ship-based unit (10) when not in use. The ship-based unit at said end is provided with two manifold and connecting means (12 resp. 13) located on either side of the fore-and aft axis (X-X) of the unit (10), and the ends of the loading hose (14) are arranged for connection to a respective one of the connecting means (12, 13), so that the hose, in connected condition, can hang like a catenary between the connecting means (12, 13) transversely to the ship-based unit (10), and an optional end of the hose (14) can be released from the connecting means in question, to be connected to the bow manifold (6) on the relevant tanker (3).
A system for transferring a load from ship-based production and storage units (10) to dynamically positioned tankers (3), comprising a loading hose (14) which, during a loading operation, extends between an end (11) of the ship-based unit (10) and a bow manifold (6) on the tanker (3), and which is stored on the ship-based unit (10) when not in use, characterised in that the ship-based unit (10) at said end (11) is provided with two manifold and connecting means (12 resp. 13) located at either side of the fore-and-aft axis X-X of the unit (10), and that the ends of the loading hose (14) are arranged for connection to a respective one of the connecting means (12, 14), so that the hose, in connected condition, can hang like a catenary between the connecting means (12, 13) transversely to the ship-based unit (10), and an optional end of the hose (14) can be released from the connecting means in question, to be connected the bow manifold (6) on the relevant tanker (3).
A system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ship-based unit (10) is provided with a winch and an associated handling line (18) for pulling in the free end of the loading hose (14) after disconnection from the bow manifold (6) of the tanker.
A system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ship-based unit (10) at said end (11) is provided with a fender structure (19) which is designed so that a connected tanker (3) will slide along the fender structure (19) in case of a contact with the ship-based unit (10).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids when loading or unloading ships
Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers: of pipe-lines
Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for transfer at sea between ships or between ships and off-shore structures: using pipe-lines
Dispensing, delivering or transferring liquids, not otherwise provided for
Term end not estimated
The invention relates to a system for transferring a load from ship-based production and storage units to dynamically positioned tankers, comprising a loading hose which, during a loading operation, extends between an end of the ship-based unit and a bow manifold on the tanker, and which is stored on the ship-based unit when not in use.
In connection with offshore loading of oil from so-called FSO and FPSO vessels, i.e. vessels for floating storage of oil (FSO=Floating Storage and Offloading) and for floating production and storage of oil (FPSO=Floating Production, Storage and Offloading), it is advantageous, especially in exposed ocean areas, to use DP-based buoy loading tankers (DP=dynamic positioning) in order to maintain a high continuity/loading regularity also in periods of bad weather.
FIG. 1 of the drawings schematically shows how ship and equipment typically is arranged to carry out such operations. The figure shows a ship-based storage and/or production unit 1 (i.e. an FSO or FPSO vessel) which is anchored by means of a turret anchoring 2, for example a so-called STP buoy, and a DP buoy loading tanker 3, wherein a loading hose 4 for the transfer of oil extends between the rearward end 5 of the unit 1 and a bow manifold 6 and an associated mooring arrangement on the tanker 3. The prevailing weather direction is designated “W” in the Figure.
The invention will be further described below in connection with an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawings, wherein
FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of the above-mentioned previously known system;
FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the rearward end portion of an FSO/FPSO vessel which is equipped with a system according to the invention;
FIGS. 2-4 show an FSO or FPSO vessel 10 wherein a system according to the invention is arranged at the rearward end 11 of the vessel. As shown, the system comprises two manifold and connecting means 12 and 13, respectively, which are situated on either side of the centre or fore-and-aft axis X-X of the vessel. A loading hose 14 extends between and is connected to the connecting means, the ends of the loading hose being provided with connecting units for connection to a respective one of the connecting means 12 and 13, so that the hose in the illustrated connected condition, when loading does not take place, can hang like a catenary between the manifold and connecting means 12, 13, transversely to the vessel 10, as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, in this case the hose is not pulled in onto a hose reel on the FSO/FPSO vessel, as in the above-mentioned known solution.
As shown in FIG. 5, the loading hose 14 at each end is provided with connecting units in the form of a coupling head 15 which is connected to the hose via a swivel unit 16 allowing rotation of the hose. The coupling heads are of the standardized type which is also suitable for connection to the bow manifold on the relevant tankers which are to use the system. Thereby it is indifferent which end of the loading hose is connected to the tanker.
Each end of the hose 14 is also shown to be provided with a lifting bridle 17 for use in hoisting of the hose end in question, for connection to the relevant manifold and connecting means.