Device for loading and/or unloading flowable media

• US 20070202758A1
• Filed: 02/14/2007
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FPS Ocean AS, Scana Offshore AS (Scana ASA)
• Original Assignee: FPS Ocean AS, Scana Amt AS (Scana ASA)
• Inventors: Often, Ola, Dahl, Tron, Olsen, Bjarne, Grinde, Petter
• Granted Patent: US 7,614,927 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 441/5
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/023 submerged when not in use container type buoys submerged when not in use, not adapted for mooring a vessel B63B22/28; connected to turret B63B21/508

Abstract

A device for loading and/or unloading of flowable media, comprising a buoy connected to at least one riser (6) and a vessel (30) provided with a pick-up space (77) for the buoy. The pick-up space (77) ends at the bottom of the vessel (30), the buoy being provided with buoyancy means (10) and comprising a first part (1) connected to the at least one riser (6) and a second part (11) which can be rotated with respect to the first part (1). The second part (11) is arranged for locking to the vessel (30). The buoy comprises connecting means for connecting the at least one riser (6) to a swivel (48) for transfer of the flowable medium. When the vessel is connected to the buoy, its position is maintained by a dynamic positioning system.

Claims

1. A device for loading and/or unloading of flowable media, comprising a buoy connected to at least one riser and a vessel equipped with a pick-up space for the buoy, which pick-up space ends at the bottom of the vessel, the buoy being provided with buoyancy means and comprising a first part connected to the at least one riser and a second part which can rotate with respect to the first part, the second part being arranged for locking to the vessel, wherein the buoy comprises connecting means for connecting the at least one riser to a swivel for transfer of flowable media, characterized in that the position of the vessel is maintained by a dynamic positioning system when the vessel is connected to the buoy.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the first part of the buoy comprises most of the buoyancy means of the buoy and is of a significantly larger volume than the second part of the buoy.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the buoy is connected to the seabed only via the at least one riser.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the upper part of the buoy is arranged in a dry position in the pick-up space.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the buoy is secured to the vessel by means of a downward facing shoulder 25 only.

6. A device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a generally cylindrical moon pool with a support stricture.

7. A device in accordance with claim 6, characterized in that the moon pool is open both at the top and the bottom.

8. A device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the buoy it actively rotated, the means of active rotation being connected to the directional control of the vessel.

9. A device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the pick-up space is located near the centre of motion of the vessel.

10. A device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the buoy hanging deck is located near the neutral axis of the vessel.

11. A device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a buoy pick-up tool, which comprises a shield arranged for placement over the upper end of the buoy and provided with a guide funnel for a gripper.

12. A device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a material part of the weight of the buoy is supported by the buoyancy of the buoy.

13. A device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the buoy comprises means of adjusting the buoyancy of the buoy by filling it with air or water after the buoy has docked in the vessel.

14. A device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the buoyancy tanks can be ballasted individually to allow the buoyancy of the buoy to be adjusted relative to risers and variations in weight, fouling and stability.

15. A device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the buoy comprises a central buoyancy chamber and peripheral ballasting chambers.

16. A device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the connections to all the risers in the buoy have been gathered together in a multibore connector.

17. A device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that it is equipped with means of flushing out the connector in the case of an emergency disconnect, in order to avoid discharging pollutants into the sea.

18. A device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that all hydraulic operations in the moon pool are performed from the vessel deck, and there is no requirement for electric and hydraulic control systems in the moon pool.

19. A device in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that the buoy is connected to the seabed only via the at least one riser.