Systems and processes for mooring a vessel and transferring energy to or from a vessel

Abstract

Systems and processes for mooring a vessel. The system can include a buoy that includes a fixed part rotatively coupled to a rotating part. A first swivel can be disposed on the buoy that includes a fixed part rotatively coupled to a rotating part, with the fixed part of the first swivel coupled to the fixed part of the buoy. A second swivel can be disposed on the buoy that includes a fixed part rotatively coupled to a rotating part, with the fixed part of the second swivel coupled to the rotating part of the buoy. A spool can be coupled to and configured to rotate with the rotating part of the second swivel. A central longitudinal axis of the first swivel can be oriented vertically with respect to the buoy and a central longitudinal axis of the second swivel can be oriented substantially horizontally with respect to the buoy.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for mooring a vessel, comprising:
 a buoy comprising a fixed part rotatively coupled to a rotating part;   a first swivel disposed on the buoy comprising a fixed part rotatively coupled to a rotating part, wherein the fixed part of the first swivel is coupled to the fixed part of the buoy, and wherein the rotating part of the first swivel is configured to rotate with the rotating part of the buoy;   a second swivel disposed on the buoy comprising a fixed part rotatively coupled to a rotating part, wherein the fixed part of the second swivel is coupled to the rotating part of the buoy; and   a spool coupled to and configured to rotate with the rotating part of the second swivel, wherein a central longitudinal axis of the first swivel is oriented vertically with respect to the buoy and a central longitudinal axis of the second swivel is oriented substantially horizontally with respect to the buoy.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first swivel is a first slip ring,   the second swivel is a second slip ring, and   the first and second slip rings are each configured to conduct electricity therethrough while the rotating part of the first and second slip rings rotate relative to the fixed part of the first and second slip rings, respectively.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a first electrical conduit having a first end connected to the rotating part of the first swivel and a second end connected to the fixed part of the second swivel; and   a second electrical conduit having a first end connected to the rotating part of the second swivel and a second end configured to be connected to the vessel when the vessel is moored to the buoy.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the fixed part of the first swivel is configured to connect to a first end of a subsea electrical conduit, and wherein a second end of the subsea electrical conduit is configured to connect to an electrical power source. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the electrical power source comprises one or more wind turbine generators. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising an electrical motor disposed on the rotating part of the buoy, wherein the electrical motor is configured to rotate the spool in a payout direction and in a retrieval direction. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first electrical conduit is configured to provide electrical power to the electrical motor. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a battery disposed on the rotating part of the buoy, wherein the battery is configured to provide electrical power to the electrical motor. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the battery is configured to be charged via a solar panel disposed on the rotating part of the buoy or via the subsea electrical conduit. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the central longitudinal axis of the first swivel and the central longitudinal axis of the second swivel are substantially perpendicular or substantially orthogonal with respect to one another. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the central longitudinal axis of the first swivel and the central longitudinal axis of the second swivel intersect and are perpendicular with respect to one another. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a switch and a remote telemetry system, wherein:
 the switch is disposed on the buoy and configured to electrically isolate the second electrical conduit from the electrical power source, and   the remote telemetry system is configured to control the electric motor and the switch from a remote location.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the buoy is a turret buoy or a turntable buoy. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first swivel is a first fluid swivel,   the second swivel is a second fluid swivel, and   the first and second fluid swivels each define at least one flow path therethrough configured to convey a fluid therethrough while the rotating part of the first and second fluid swivels rotates relative to the fixed part of the first and second fluid swivels.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a first fluid conduit having a first end connected to the rotating part of the first fluid swivel and a second end connected to the fixed part of the second fluid swivel; and   a second fluid conduit having a first end connected to the rotating part of the second fluid swivel and a second end configured to be connected to the vessel when the vessel is moored to the buoy, wherein the fixed part of the first fluid swivel is configured to connect to a first end of a subsea fluid conduit, and wherein a second end of the subsea fluid conduit is configured to connect to a fluid source.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a drive system disposed on the buoy, wherein the drive system is configured to rotate the rotating part of the buoy with respect to the fixed part of the buoy. 
     
     
         17 . A process for mooring a vessel, comprising:
 positioning the vessel near an offshore mooring system, wherein the offshore mooring system comprises:
 a buoy comprising a fixed part rotatively coupled to a rotating part; 
 a first swivel disposed on the buoy comprising a fixed part rotatively coupled to a rotating part, wherein the fixed part of the first swivel is coupled to the fixed part of the buoy, and wherein the rotating part of the first swivel is configured to rotate with the rotating part of the buoy; 
 a second swivel disposed on the buoy comprising a fixed part rotatively coupled to a rotating part, wherein the fixed part of the second swivel is coupled to the rotating part of the buoy; and 
 a spool coupled to and configured to rotate with the rotating part of the second swivel, wherein a central longitudinal axis of the first swivel is oriented vertically with respect to the buoy and a central longitudinal axis of the second swivel is oriented substantially horizontally with respect to the buoy; and 
   connecting the vessel to the rotating part of the buoy via a hawser.   
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein the first swivel and the second swivel are each slip rings configured to conduct electricity therethrough while the rotating part of the first and second slip rings rotate relative to the fixed part of the first and second slip rings, wherein the second electrical conduit is at least partially coiled about the spool, and wherein the system further comprises:
 a first electrical conduit having a first end connected to the rotating part of the first swivel and a second end connected to the fixed part of the second swivel;   a second electrical conduit having a first end connected to the rotating part of the second swivel and a second end configured to be connected to the vessel when the vessel is connected to the rotating part of the buoy; and   a subsea electrical conduit having a first end connected to the fixed part of the first swivel and a second end connected to an electrical power source, and wherein the process further comprises:   operating the spool in a payout direction to cause the second end of the second electrical conduit to deploy from the spool; and   connecting the second end of the second electrical conduit to the vessel to provide electrical power thereto.   
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein the buoy further comprises a drive system disposed on the buoy, the process further comprising rotating the rotating part of the buoy with respect to the fixed part of the buoy via the drive system prior to or during connection of the vessel to the buoy. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein the buoy further comprises a drive system disposed on the buoy, the process further comprising rotating the rotating part of the buoy with respect to the fixed part of the buoy via the drive system prior to or during connection of the second end of the second electrical conduit to the vessel.