Dockside Ship-To-Ship Transfer of LNG

Abstract

Systems and methods for dockside regasification of liquefied natural gas (LNG) are described herein. The methods include providing LNG from a LNG carrier to a regasification vessel. The LNG may be regasified on the regasification vessel. The regasified natural gas may be discharged with a high pressure arm to a dock and delivered onshore. The regasification vessel may be moored to the dock. The LNG carrier may be moored to the regasification vessel or the dock.

1 . A method for dockside vessel regasification of liquefied natural gas (LNG), the method comprising:
 transferring LNG from a LNG carrier to a mooring dock, wherein the LNG carrier is moored at the mooring dock;   transferring the LNG from the mooring dock to a regasification vessel;   regasifying the LNG into regasified natural gas onboard the regasification vessel; and   delivering the regasified natural gas to a receiving dock using a high pressure arm.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein LNG is transferred from the mooring dock to a cargo tank on the regasification vessel. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the LNG carrier is located on a first side of the mooring dock, and the regasification vessel is located on a second side of the mooring dock. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the LNG carrier is located on a first side of the mooring dock, wherein the regasification vessel is located on a second side of the mooring dock, wherein the regasification vessel is rotationally coupled to the high pressure arm, and wherein the high pressure arm is located on the receiving dock. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the LNG carrier is located on the same side of the mooring dock as the regasification vessel. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the LNG from the LNG carrier is transferred to the mooring dock using a hard arm. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the LNG is transferred from the LNG carrier to the mooring dock, and then to the regasification vessel, in an uninterrupted flow. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transferring LNG from a LNG carrier comprises transferring LNG through rigid piping located on the mooring dock. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the regasification vessel is directly connected to a high pressure arm and the high pressure arm is directly connected to a gas pipeline on the receiving dock. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mooring dock is the same dock as the receiving dock. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mooring dock is adjacent to the receiving dock. 
     
     
         12 . A method for dockside vessel regasification of liquefied natural gas (LNG), the method comprising:
 transferring LNG from a LNG carrier to a regasification vessel, wherein the regasification vessel is moored at a dock;   regasifying the LNG into regasified natural gas on the regasification vessel;   delivering the regasified natural gas from the regasification vessel to the dock, wherein the dock is coupled to a first coupled side of the regasification vessel, and the LNG carrier is coupled to a second coupled side of the regasification vessel.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the regasified natural gas is delivered from the regasification vessel to the dock using a high pressure arm and the high pressure arm is located on the dock. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the LNG carrier is moored to the regasification vessel, wherein the regasification vessel comprises an emergency release coupling. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the LNG carrier is moored alongside the regasification vessel and wherein the regasification vessel is moored to the dock. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the LNG carrier is moored on to the aft of the regasification vessel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the LNG is transferred from the LNG carrier to the regasification vessel, and then to the dock as regasified natural gas in an uninterrupted flow. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the high pressure arm comprises at least one joint and a quick release system. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the high pressure arm is rotationally coupled to the regasification vessel. 
     
     
         20 . A system for dockside vessel regasification of liquefied natural gas (LNG), the system comprising:
 a LNG carrier comprising LNG;   a mooring dock, wherein the mooring dock receives the LNG from the LNG carrier;   a regasification vessel, wherein the regasification vessel receives LNG from the mooring dock, and wherein the regasification vessel further comprises a LNG regasification system; and   a high pressure arm, wherein first coupled end of the high pressure arm is rotationally coupled to the regasification vessel and second coupled end of the high pressure arm is coupled to a receiving dock, and the high pressure arm accepts regasified natural gas from the regasification vessel and delivers the regasified natural gas to the receiving dock.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the high pressure arm delivers the regasified natural gas to a pipeline on the receiving dock. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the mooring dock is the same dock as the receiving dock. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the mooring dock is adjacent to the receiving dock. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the high pressure arm comprises a quick release system and the regasification vessel comprises an emergency release coupling. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the high pressure arm comprises at least one joint. 
     
     
         26 . A system for dockside vessel regasification of liquefied natural gas (LNG), the system comprising:
 a LNG carrier comprising LNG;   a regasification vessel, wherein the regasification vessel receives LNG from the LNG carrier, and wherein the regasification vessel further comprises a LNG regasification system; and   a high pressure arm, wherein first coupled end of the high pressure arm is coupled to the regasification vessel and second coupled end of the high pressure arm is coupled to a dock, and wherein the high pressure arm accepts regasified natural gas from the regasification vessel and delivers the regasified natural gas to a pipeline on the dock.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein transponders detect motion of the regasification vessel. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the high pressure arm comprises a quick release system. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the regasification vessel comprises an emergency release coupling. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the emergency release coupling comprises a radio communication system. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the emergency release coupling comprises a pneumatic actuation system. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the high pressure arm comprises at least one joint.