Jetty-Less Offshore Terminal Configurations

Abstract

Systems and methods provide for offloading liquefied gas, e.g. LNG, from a cargo vessel offshore and regasifying the offloaded gas. In example systems, a floating storage unit is moored to the seabed offshore; first tubing offloads liquefied gas from the cargo vessel to the storage unit; a jack-up platform is positioned offshore in proximity to the floating storage unit, the jack-up platform comprising legs which are arranged to be supported on the seabed and a hull which is arranged to be jacked up along the legs to a position above the sea surface; a regasification facility is provided on the jack-up platform; second tubing extends between the storage unit and the regasification facility of the jack-up platform for transferring liquified gas from the cargo vessel to the regasification facility for regasification of the liquified gas; and third tubing communicates regasified gas away from the regasification facility, e.g. to shore.

1 . A system for offloading liquefied gas from a cargo vessel and regasifying the offloaded gas at a location offshore, the system comprising:
 a floating storage unit which is moored to the seabed offshore;   first tubing for offloading liquefied gas from the cargo vessel to the storage unit;   a jack-up platform positioned offshore in proximity to the floating storage unit, the jack-up platform comprising legs which are arranged to be supported on the seabed and a hull which is arranged to be jacked up along the legs to a position above the sea surface;   a regasification facility on the jack-up platform;   second tubing extending between the storage unit and the regasification facility of the jack-up platform for transferring liquified gas from the cargo vessel to the regasification facility for regasification of the liquified gas; and   third tubing for communicating regasified gas away from the regasification facility.   
     
     
         2 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the floating storage unit comprises a ship which is spread-moored to the seabed. 
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , which further includes the cargo vessel, and the cargo vessel is spread-moored to the seabed. 
     
     
         4 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the liquified gas comprises liquefied natural gas, LNG, or liquefied petroleum gas, LPG. 
     
     
         5 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , which further comprises a floating travel unit which is configured to travel between the storage unit and the cargo vessel to connect an end of the first tubing to the cargo vessel, the floating travel unit being arranged to travel into position to be positioned adjacent to the cargo vessel and comprising a lifting and handling device, the lifting and handling device being configured to reach over a side of the cargo vessel when so positioned and further configured for maneuvering and landing the end of the first tubing onto a landing surface adjacent to a cargo manifold of the cargo vessel for connection thereto. 
     
     
         6 . The system as claimed in  claim 5 , which further comprises a chain crawling propulsion system comprising at least one seabed anchored chain, the travel unit being arranged to draw in the chain so as to be moveable across sea into the position adjacent to the cargo vessel for connection of the first tubing. 
     
     
         7 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cargo vessel is moored side-by-side to the floating storage unit. 
     
     
         8 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , which does not use or require a jetty or jetty mooring of at least one of the storage unit and the cargo vessel. 
     
     
         9 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a power plant on the jack-up platform on which the regasification platform is provided or another jack-up platform, the power plant being configured to be supplied with regasified gas from the regasification facility. 
     
     
         10 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a power plant and a fresh water generation facility being configured to be powered using electrical power generated by the power plant, the fresh water generation facility disposed on any one of:
 the jack-up platform on which the regasification facility is provided;   a jack-up platform on which the power plant is provided; and   another jack-up platform.   
     
     
         11 . A system for offloading liquefied gas from a cargo vessel at a location offshore, the system comprising:
 a floating storage unit which is moored to the seabed;   first tubing for offloading liquified gas from the cargo vessel to the storage unit;   a regasification facility;   an intermediate structure positioned offshore in proximity to the storage unit, the intermediate structure arranged to be supported on the seabed;   a connection manifold above the sea surface on the intermediate structure;   second tubing configured to extend between the storage unit and the connection manifold on the intermediate structure for transferring liquified gas from the cargo vessel to the intermediate structure; and   third tubing arranged on the seabed for conveying liquefied gas from the intermediate structure to the regasification facility.   
     
     
         12 . The system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the regasification facility is located onshore. 
     
     
         13 . The system as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising a fixed length conduit for fluidly connecting the manifold with the tubing on the seabed. 
     
     
         14 . The system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the intermediate structure comprises a tower arranged to extend upward from the seabed and penetrate through the sea surface to an elevated location. 
     
     
         15 . The system as claimed in  claim 14  when dependent upon  claim 13 , wherein the conduit comprises an internal conduit in the tower. 
     
     
         16 . The system as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising a regasification facility onshore or close to shore, and the third tubing is configured for transporting the liquified gas from the intermediate structure to shore for regasification at the regasification facility. 
     
     
         17 . The system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the floating storage unit includes a regasification facility. 
     
     
         18 . The system as claimed in  claim 11 , which further comprises a floating travel unit which is configured to travel between the storage unit and the cargo vessel to connect an end of the first tubing to the cargo vessel, the floating travel unit being arranged to travel into position to be positioned adjacent to the cargo vessel and comprising a lifting and handling device, the lifting and handling device being configured to reach over a side of the cargo vessel when so positioned and further configured for manoeuvring and landing the end of the first tubing onto a landing surface adjacent to a cargo manifold of the cargo vessel for connection thereto. 
     
     
         19 . The system as claimed in  claim 18 , which further comprises a chain crawling propulsion system comprising at least one seabed anchored chain, the travel unit being arranged to draw in the chain so as to be moveable across sea into the position adjacent to the cargo vessel for connection of the first tubing. 
     
     
         20 . A system for offloading liquefied gas from a cargo vessel and regasifying the offloaded gas at a location offshore, the system comprising:
 a floating storage unit which is moored to the seabed offshore, the floating storage unit comprising an upright cylindrical hull;   tubing for offloading fluid from the cargo vessel to the storage unit; and   a regasification facility on the floating storage unit.   
     
     
         21 . The system as claimed in  claim 20 , further comprising tubing for transporting the regasified gas from the regasification facility to shore. 
     
     
         22 . The system as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the hull comprises a plurality of Bi-lobe storage tanks disposed along a circumference of the hull. 
     
     
         23 . A system for offloading liquefied gas from a cargo vessel at a location offshore and regasifying the offloaded gas, the system comprising:
 a floating storage unit which is moored to the seabed offshore;   tubing for offloading fluid from the cargo vessel to the storage unit;   at least one jack-up platform; and   a regasification facility;   wherein any one or more of the regasification facility, a power production facility, and a water generation facility, is disposed on the jack-up platform;   the power production facility being operable using regasified gas from the regasification facility.   
     
     
         24 . The system as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein at least one of the regasification facility, power production facility, and water generation facility is provided on the jack-up platform, and at least one other of the regasification facility, power production facility and water generation facility is provided on the floating storage unit. 
     
     
         25 . The system as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the regasification facility is provided on the floating storage unit, and either or both the water regeneration facility and the power production facility is disposed on the jack-up platform. 
     
     
         26 . The system as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein at least one of the regasification facility;
 power production facility; and water generation facility is provided on a first jack-up platform; and at least one other of the regasification facility; power production facility; and water generation facility is provided on a separate, second jack-up platform.   
     
     
         27 . The system as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the floating storage unit comprises either a ship or an upright cylindrical hull arranged having circular or near-circular outer diameter at the sea surface. 
     
     
         28 . The system as claimed in  claim 23 , which further comprises a power cable for transmitting electrical power produced from the power production facility away from the facility, e.g. to shore. 
     
     
         29 . A system for offloading liquefied gas from at least one cargo vessel and regasifying the offloaded gas at a location offshore, the system comprising:
 a jack-up platform;   tubing for offloading liquified gas from the cargo vessel to the jack-up platform; and   a regasification facility on the jack-up platform for regasifying the offloaded gas.   
     
     
         30 . The system as claimed in  claim 29 , further comprising tubing for conveying gas from the regasification facility to shore or other receiver or user. 
     
     
         31 . The system as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the tubing comprises a fixed length conduit, e.g. in rigid or in non-flex configuration, e.g. extending vertically, for conveying gas away from the regasification facility to a pipeline on the seabed. 
     
     
         32 . The system as claimed in  claim 29 , which further comprises a power production facility operable to produce power using gas from the regasification facility. 
     
     
         33 . The system as claimed in  claim 32 , which further comprises power cable for transmitting electrical power to shore or other receiver or user. 
     
     
         34 . The system as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the power cable comprises a fixed length cable, e.g. in rigid or in non-flex configuration, between the power facility and a subsea cable on the seabed for transmission to shore or other receiver or user. 
     
     
         35 . The system as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the power production facility is provided on the jack-up platform or another jack-up platform. 
     
     
         36 . A method of offloading liquified gas from at least one cargo vessel and regasifying the offloaded gas at a location offshore, the method comprising
 providing a cargo vessel carrying liquefied gas;   providing a jack-up platform and a regasification facility on the jack-up platform;   utilizing tubing to offload the liquefied gas from the cargo vessel to the jack-up portion;   regasifying the gas with the regasification facility; and   operating a power production facility to produce power using the gas from the regasification facility.   
     
     
         37 . A system for liquefying gas and loading the liquefied gas onto a cargo vessel and at a location offshore, the system comprising:
 a floating storage unit which is moored to the seabed;   a jack-up platform positioned offshore in proximity to the floating storage unit, the jack-up platform comprising legs which are arranged to be supported on the seabed and a hull which is arranged to be jacked up along the legs to a position above the sea surface;   a liquefaction facility on the jack-up platform;   first tubing for loading liquefied gas fluid from the floating storage unit to the cargo vessel;   second tubing extending between the floating storage unit and the liquefaction facility of the jack-up platform for transferring liquified gas from the liquefaction facility to the cargo vessel; and   third tubing for transporting the gas to the liquefaction facility.   
     
     
         38 . The system as claimed in  claim 37 , which further comprises a floating travel unit which is configured to travel between the storage unit and the cargo vessel to connect an end of the first tubing to the cargo vessel, the floating travel unit being arranged to travel into position to be positioned adjacent to the cargo vessel and comprising a lifting and handling device, the lifting and handling device being configured to reach over a side of the cargo vessel when so positioned and further configured for maneuvering and landing the end of the first tubing onto a landing surface adjacent to a cargo manifold of the cargo vessel for connection thereto. 
     
     
         39 . The system as claimed in  claim 38 , which further comprises a chain crawling propulsion system comprising at least one seabed anchored chain, the travel unit being arranged to draw in the chain so as to be moveable across sea into the position adjacent to the cargo vessel for connection of the first tubing. 
     
     
         40 . A method of liquefying gas and loading liquified gas onto a cargo vessel, the method comprising:
 mooring a floating storage unit to a seabed in proximity to a jack-up platform positioned offshore, the jack-up platform comprising legs which are arranged to be supported on the seabed and a hull which is arranged to be jacked up along the legs to a position above the sea surface;   providing a liquefaction facility on the jack-up platform; and   providing first tubing for loading liquefied gas fluid from the floating storage unit to the cargo vessel, second tubing extending between the floating storage unit and the liquefaction facility of the jack-up platform for transferring liquefied gas from the liquefaction facility to the cargo vessel, and third tubing for transporting the gas to the liquefaction facility.