Floating platform with storage tanks for compressed gas and/or hydrate forms of hydrocarbons

Abstract

A floating platform to provide fluid separation and storage of hydrocarbon effluents and the like. The platform includes a floating hull structure with a hollow central section and a center assembly mounted within the hollow central section and being retractable and extendable below the hull. A floating platform is described wherein fluid separators and/or storage vessels are disposed within the floating hull to provide additional separation capacity. The floating hull may also house ballast tanks and liquid storage tanks. Additionally, fluid separators may be housed within the central section.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A floating structure comprising: 
 a floatable hull that presents an upper deck; and    a storage vessel for storage of a material of the group consisting of hydrocarbon gas and solid hydrocarbon hydrates.    
     
     
         2 . The floating structure of  claim 1  wherein the storage vessel is disposed within the floatable hull.  
     
     
         3 . The floating structure of  claim 1  wherein the storage vessel is located atop the floatable hull.  
     
     
         4 . The floating structure of  claim 1  wherein the storage vessel is surrounded by an environmental boundary.  
     
     
         5 . The floating structure of  claim 4  wherein the environmental boundary comprises an insulated shell.  
     
     
         6 . The floating structure of  claim 1  wherein the storage vessel is disposed within a center column assembly of the floating structure.  
     
     
         7 . The floating structure of  claim 4  wherein temperature is controlled within the environmental boundary.  
     
     
         8 . The floating structure of  claim 7  wherein temperature is controlled via circulation of a fluid of desired temperature within the boundary.  
     
     
         9 . The floating structure of  claim 8  wherein fluid pressure of the fluid is also controlled.  
     
     
         10 . A floating structure comprising: 
 a floatable hull that presents an upper deck and defines a hollow central section therewithin;    a center assembly mounted within the hollow central section and being retractable and extendable below the hull; and    a plurality of storage vessels disposed within the floatable hull, each of the storage vessels being useful for storage of hydrocarbon gas or hydrates.    
     
     
         11 . The floating structure of  claim 10  wherein at least one of the storage vessels is located upon the upper deck.  
     
     
         12 . The floating structure of  claim 10  wherein at least one of the storage vessels is located within the floating hull.  
     
     
         13 . The floating structure of  claim 10  wherein at least one of the storage vessels is located within the center column assembly.  
     
     
         14 . A method of storing compressed hydrocarbon gases or solid hydrates following production and prior to transport to a remote location, comprising the steps of: 
 disposing said gases or hydrates within a storage vessel upon a floating platform;    controlling the temperature of the storage vessel.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of offloading the gases or hydrates to a transport tanker.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of mooring the floating platform in place proximate an offshore production well prior to disposing the gases or hydrates within the storage vessel.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the step of controlling the temperature of the storage vessel comprises circulating a fluid of desired temperature about the storage vessel.