Jetty-Less Offshore Terminal Configurations

Abstract

Systems and methods provide for offloading liquefied gas, e.g. liquefied natural gas (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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for liquefying gas and loading the liquefied gas onto a cargo vessel at a location offshore, the system comprising:
 a floating storage unit which is moored to the seabed;   a 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; and   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 floating storage unit.   
     
     
         2 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , which further comprises third tubing or other means for transporting the gas to the liquefaction facility. 
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , the jack-up platform being positioned offshore in proximity to the floating storage unit. 
     
     
         4 . 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. 
     
     
         5 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , 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. 
     
     
         6 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the floating storage unit comprises a ship which is spread-moored to the seabed. 
     
     
         7 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , including the cargo vessel, wherein the cargo vessel is spread-moored to the seabed. 
     
     
         8 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the liquefied gas comprises liquefied natural gas, LNG, or liquefied petroleum gas, LPG. 
     
     
         9 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cargo vessel is moored side-by-side to the floating storage unit. 
     
     
         10 . 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. 
     
     
         11 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the platform is arranged in a near-shore configuration where the gas to be liquefied is fed from an onshore location. 
     
     
         12 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the floating storage unit is older than the jack-up platform or older than the liquefaction facility on the jack-up platform. 
     
     
         13 . A method of liquefying gas and loading liquified gas onto a cargo vessel, the method comprising:
 mooring a floating storage unit to a seabed, 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 floating storage unit.   
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the floating storage unit is moored in proximity to the jack-up platform. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , which further comprises providing third tubing or other means for transporting the gas to the liquefaction facility 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , which further comprises locating the jack-up platform with the liquefaction facility in a stranded gas field and using the liquefaction facility to liquefy supplied gas from the stranded gas field. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , which further comprises relocating the jack-up platform between stranded gas fields. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , which further comprises feeding the gas to the liquefaction facility from an onshore location.