Marine structure

• US 4,188,157 A
• Filed: 03/13/1978
• Issued: 02/12/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: A/S Hoyer-Ellefsen
• Original Assignee: A/S Hoyer-Ellefsen
• Inventors: Vigander, Kjell
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, David H.
• Application Number:
  US05/885,974
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 61/101, 62/45, 114/256, 114/257, 175/8, 175/9, 405/195, 405/210, 405/207
• US Class Current: 405/210
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/025 Reinforced concrete structures E02B17/021 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0069 Gravity structures
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0086 Large footings connecting several legs or serving as a reservoir for the storage of oil or gas
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0109 with exteriorly curved end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/032 with substantially vertical main axis
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/052 large (>1000 m3)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0391 by vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0604 Liners
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0629 Two walls
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0639 Steels
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0678 Concrete
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0142 bundled in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0146 with details of the manifold
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0184 Attachments to the ground, e.g. mooring or anchoring
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/033 Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0161 cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/033 Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0135 Pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0178 in the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0318 using seawater
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0626 : Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0636 : Flow or movement of content
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/038 : Detecting leaked fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/05 : Regasification
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0121 : Platforms
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0128 : Storage in depth
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 3/005 : Underground or underwater containers or vessels storing in natural or artificial cavities in the earth in general B65G5/00

Abstract

An offshore structure is provided for handling cryogenic fluids such as liquefied natural gas. The structure comprises a lower section of concrete and an upper section which projects up from the lower section above the sea level to support a deck superstructure. The lower section is formed of a plurality of cells and at least one of the cells houses an insulated tank for the storage of low temperature fluids. The tank or tanks are completely submerged when in operation and are rigidly supported by the associated cell. Each tank comprises a primary and secondary barrier with insulation associated therewith and the tank(s) communicates with the deck superstructure through an access tunnel system.

Claims

1. An offshore structure for handling of cryogenic fluids, such as liquefied natural gas, comprising a lower section of concrete and an upper section projecting up from the lower section above the sea level to support a deck superstructure, the lower section being formed of a plurality of cells, at least one of said cells housing an insulated tank for storage of low temperature fluids, the insulated tank housed by said at least one cell being completely submerged in operation and being rigidly supported by said at least one cell, said storage tank also comprising at least a primary and secondary barrier with insulation associated therewith, and said offshore structure further comprising an access tunnel system providing communication between the storage tank and the deck superstructure.

2. An offshore structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage tank is arranged in spaced relation to the corresponding cell in which the tank is housed such that the storage tank is separated from the walls of the cell, but supported by the cell, said cell including means providing communication with the surrounding sea to allow a water flow through the cell past the tank so as to produce a substantially constant temperature outside said tank.

3. An offshore structure as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the storage tank is rigidly supported at the lower end thereof.

4. An offshore structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the storage tanks are supported by ringformed concrete supports.

5. An offshore structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein said supports are made up of columns.

6. An offshore structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the storage tank is suspended from the top of a cell.

7. An offshore structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the access tunnel system is subjected to atmospheric conditions and houses pipe arrangements and accessory equipment.

8. An offshore structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower section of the offshore sturucture is intended to rest on the sea bed.