Method and apparatus for the regasification of lng onboard a carrier

A method for regasifying LNG while onboard an LNG carrier comprising:

• mooring an LNG carrier at an offshore location, the LNG carrier comprising an onboard LNG vaporizer;
• selecting at least one heat source for use in regasification of LNG while onboard the LNG carrier, wherein the selecting comprises considering:
• an environmental impact of ambient water temperature depression in a vicinity of the LNG carrier;
• current availability of heat source configurations;
• and
• economic considerations in selecting the heat source configuration;
• configuring valves into a circuit such that the selected at least one heat source provides heat to the LNG vaporizer, and such that an unselected heat source is isolated from the circuit;
• regasifying the LNG onboard the LNG carrier with the circuit;
• and
• wherein the at least one heat source comprises a steam heater providing steam heat to the onboard LNG vaporizer through an intermediate fluid.

A method for regasifying LNG while onboard an LNG carrier comprising:

• mooring an LNG carrier at an offshore location, the LNG carrier comprising an onboard LNG vaporizer;
• selecting at least one heat source for use in regasification of LNG while onboard the LNG carrier from the group consisting of:
• a steam heater providing steam heat to the onboard LNG vaporizer through an intermediate fluid;
• flow through seawater providing direct heat to the onboard LNG vaporizer;
• and
• a submerged heat exchanger providing heat to the onboard LNG vaporizer through the intermediate fluid;
• wherein the selecting comprises considering:
• an environmental impact of ambient water temperature depression in a vicinity of the LNG carrier;
• current availability of heat source configurations;
• and
• economic considerations in selecting the heat source configuration;
• configuring valves into a circuit such that the selected at least one heat source provides heat to the LNG vaporizer, and such that an unselected heat source is isolated from the circuit;
• and
• regasifying the LNG onboard the LNG carrier with the circuit.