Open-Sea Berth LNG Import Terminal

An open-sea berth LNG import terminal for offshore delivery of imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) comprising:

• a platform fixed to a seafloor;
• a pipeline operatively coupled to the platform and in fluid communication with onshore equipment;
• at least two sets of structures associated with the platform and configured to berth and moor vessels;
• a storage vessel berthed and moored to a first of the at least two sets of structures and adapted to store LNG, the storage vessel adapted to transfer LNG between a carrier vessel berthed and moored to a second of the at least two sets of structures and the storage vessel;
• and
• facilities on at least one of the platform or the storage vessel, wherein the stored LNG is vaporized by the facilities prior to delivery to the pipeline.

A method for importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) using an open-sea berth import terminal fixed to a seafloor and associated with at least two sets of structures used for berthing and mooring vessels and in fluid communication with a pipeline coupled to onshore facilities, the method comprising:

• berthing and mooring an LNG carrier at a first of at least two sets of structures;
• berthing and mooring a storage vessel at a second of the at least two sets of structures;
• offloading LNG from the LNG carrier to the storage vessel using cryogenic cargo transfer equipment;
• vaporizing the LNG from the storage vessel using facilities;
• and
• delivering the vaporized LNG to the pipeline.

A method for importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) comprising:

• berthing and mooring a first LNG carrier at a first structure associated with an open-sea berth import terminal fixed to a seafloor and coupled to a pipeline in fluid communication with onshore facilities;
• offloading LNG from the first LNG carrier to the open-sea berth import terminal using cryogenic cargo transfer equipment;
• vaporizing the LNG from the first LNG carrier at the open-sea berth import terminal;
• delivering the vaporized LNG to the pipeline;
• berthing and mooring a second LNG carrier to a second structure associated with the open-sea berth import terminal to prepare cryogenic cargo transfer equipment for offloading while the first LNG carrier is offloading at the first structure;
• initiating the offloading of LNG from the second LNG carrier after offloading of the LNG from the first LNG carrier is complete;
• and
• preparing the first LNG carrier for deberthing while the second LNG carrier is offloading.

A method for importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) comprising:

• berthing and mooring a first LNG carrier at a first structure associated with an open-sea berth import terminal fixed to a seafloor and coupled to a pipeline in fluid communication with onshore facilities;
• berthing and mooring a second LNG carrier at a second structure associated with the open-sea berth import terminal;
• transferring LNG from the first LNG carrier to the open-sea berth import terminal using cryogenic cargo transfer equipment;
• vaporizing the LNG from the first LNG carrier at the open-sea berth import terminal;
• and
• performing other offloading operations with the second LNG carrier concurrently with the transfer of LNG from the first LNG carrier.