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Production fluid assembly for remote offshore facilities storage

  • US 5,518,341 A
  • Filed: 09/06/1994
  • Issued: 05/21/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A storage system providing additional on-site storage for fluids produced at an offshore hydrocarbon production facility, said system comprising:

  • storage tank means adapted to be mounted sub-sea adjacent said production facility, said storage tank means having an elongated inner tank and an outer tank mounted substantially coaxially on at least a portion of said inner tank forming an annular outer chamber therebetween, said inner tank defining an axial inner chamber;

    a ballast fluid storage tank;

    valve means between said inner and outer chambers;

    piling means forming a first end of said tank means;

    ballasting piping means connected to said ballast fluid storage tank and to said annular outer chamber;

    production input piping means connected to said inner axial chamber; and

    production output piping means connected to said inner chamber whereby ballasting fluid is flowed from said ballast fluid storage tank into said annular chamber and through said valve means to said inner chamber to submerge said storage tank means and said piling means is set into the earth to fix said system in place, and production fluid is flowed into said axial chamber displacing said ballasting fluid into said annular chamber via said valve means to create a pressure head which, when said input piping is closed and said outlet piping is opened, will drive the produced fluid from said storage tank means.

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