EP0076341A1 - Amarrage à un seul point comprenant un bras rigide - Google Patents

Amarrage à un seul point comprenant un bras rigide Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0076341A1
EP0076341A1 EP81201122A EP81201122A EP0076341A1 EP 0076341 A1 EP0076341 A1 EP 0076341A1 EP 81201122 A EP81201122 A EP 81201122A EP 81201122 A EP81201122 A EP 81201122A EP 0076341 A1 EP0076341 A1 EP 0076341A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
vessel
rigid
riser
buoyancy chamber
water
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP81201122A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Willem Jan Van Heijst
Jacob De Baan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bluewater Terminal Systems NV
Original Assignee
Bluewater Terminal Systems NV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bluewater Terminal Systems NV filed Critical Bluewater Terminal Systems NV
Priority to EP81201122A priority Critical patent/EP0076341A1/fr
Priority to BR8205575A priority patent/BR8205575A/pt
Priority to NO823349A priority patent/NO823349L/no
Publication of EP0076341A1 publication Critical patent/EP0076341A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63BSHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B22/00Buoys
    • B63B22/02Buoys specially adapted for mooring a vessel
    • B63B22/021Buoys specially adapted for mooring a vessel and for transferring fluids, e.g. liquids
    • B63B22/025Buoys specially adapted for mooring a vessel and for transferring fluids, e.g. liquids and comprising a restoring force in the mooring connection provided by means of weight, float or spring devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to a novel apparatus for mooring a vessel floating on the surface of a body of water to the floor beneath that body of water by means of a single point mooring. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus that comprises of two rigid yokes or frames, pipes or conduits for transferring fluid into and out from a vessel, and a tensioned riser-type anchoring arrangement to moor the vessel permanently at an offshore location in the vicinity of a pipeline or oil field.
  • the storage vessel is preferably permanently moored.
  • the mooring must have sufficient integrity not to collapse or fail during the most severe sea conditions.
  • most commonly such storage vessels are moored to a single point mooring, allowing the vessels to respond to the combination of wind, waves and current, seeking automatically the position of least resistance.
  • the most common form of a single point mooring is a buoy floating on the surface of a body of water and anchored to the floor of that body of water at anchor points with a number of anchor chains.
  • a flexible pipe terminates at the buoy and connects the buoy with the pipeline on the floor of that body of water.
  • a turntable mounted on top of the buoy is a turntable supported by a bearing.
  • a fluid swivel mounted concentrically with the turntable is a fluid swivel which is coupled to the turntable.
  • the fluid swivel is of course in fluid communication with the terminus of the flexible pipe leading to the source of production.
  • the combination of turntable and swivel can rotate freely around the vertical axis of the buoy.
  • the vessel is moored to the buoy with ropes, and a floating hose connects the fluid swivel on the turntable of the buoy with the vessel piping.
  • a fluid connection between the pipeline on the floor of the body of water and the vessel piping is established, allowing free rotation of the vessel around the single point mooring without spillage of fluid or gas.
  • the disclosures describe a rigid yoke single point mooring consisting of a rigid yoke which includes a buoyancy chamber.
  • the rigid yoke can pivot about a horizontal axis at the extremity connected to the vessel.
  • the other extremity of the rigid yoke consists of an attachment point on a tension riser; that is, a rigid, substantially vertical length of pipe or tube maintained under tension.
  • the attachment point of the yoke to the tension riser consists of a universal joint.
  • the lower extremity of the tension riser is connected via a universal joint to an anchor point placed on the floor of the body of water.
  • the riser incorporates an axial rotation point so that the vessel and rigid yoke can freely rotate around the single point mooring.
  • the tension riser is kept under tension by the permanently submerged buoyancy chamber connected to the rigid yoke.
  • the rigid yoke provides a constant vertical force on the riser via the universal joint connection.
  • the resulting horizontal force due to waves, wind and current working on the vessel is the horizontal force component acting on the tension riser connection.
  • the combination of the horizontal and vertical forces acting on the riser determines the inclination of the tension riser, since the riser can only be loaded in tension.
  • the tension in the riser In order to limit the riser angles away from the vertical, the tension in the riser must be large. Because the riser is able to withstand large inclinations, relatively large horizontal excursions can be obtained, making this type of rigid yoke single point mooring more suitable in relatively high waves and shallow water bodies. If the buoyancy chamber is connected to the rigid yoke between vessel and riser, the riser attachment point to the rigid yoke can be placed above the surface of the water body, and larger excursions can be facilitated.
  • the list angle of the rigid yoke can be minimised by increasing the length of the rigid yoke, which results in a heavy structure with large forces on the hinges at the vessel end of the rigid yoke.
  • the inclination angle of the tension riser can be limited by increasing the tension of the riser.
  • the large riser tension requires a strong rigid yoke construction and a large buoyancy chamber.
  • the buoyancy chamber Since the buoyancy chamber is integrated into the rigid yoke between riser and vessel hinges, the buoyancy force of the chamber which pushes the rigid yoke upwards is divided between the tension riser and the vessel hinges, according to a ratio which is unversely proportional to the horizontal distance between buoyancy chamber and riser and the horizontal distance between buoyancy chamber and vessel hinges. As a result, the buoyancy chamber must be large to provide an adequate riser tension, since part of the buoyancy force of the said buoyancy chamber is lost in unnecessary upward loading of the vessel hinges.
  • the wave-induced forces on the buoyancy chamber are directly proportional to its displacement, and dynamic loading may be destructive to the apparatus.
  • the single pair of hinges at the vessel end of the rigid yoke must provide all the support needed to counteract the tensional and longitudinal loading on the rigid yoke as a result of wave action and vessel motion.
  • an apparatus for mooring a vessel floating on the surface of a body of water and anchored to the floor of that body of water comprising of two rigid yokes which at one end are connected to the vessel by means of two pairs of hinges, usually at vertical intervals, which allow the rigid yokes to pivot about horizontal axes.
  • the other ends of the rigid yokes are connected to an integrated support structure/buoyancy chamber by means of another two pairs of hinges which also allow the rigid yokes to pivot about horizontal axes.
  • the buoyancy chamber which is generally submerged, provides an uplifting force that counterbalances the weight of the rigid yokes and the tension load of the riser, which is supported by the support structure at a location clearly above the surface level of the body of water by means of a rotary member and universal joint.
  • the rotary member or turntable, allows the support structure and buoyancy chamber (and rigid yokes and vessel) to rotate freely about the vertical axis of the tension riser.
  • Generally concentric with the rotary member is a fluid swivel.
  • the tension riser is anchored to the floor of the body of water via a universal joint that allows the riser to incline in any direction.
  • a pipe and flexible hoses, or flexible pipes, are connected to a pipeline on the floor of the water body.
  • the buoyancy chamber and support structure will not incline if the vessel is loaded, or if the vessel is drifting away from the mooring point under the influences of waves and wind.
  • the universal joint which forms the connection between the tension riser and the support structure will rotate in a similar manner as the universal joint located at the lower end of the tension riser.
  • the vertical tension load force component in the tension riser remains basically constant, providing a continuously increasing restoring mooring force as a function of the vessel drift distance away from the neutral mooring point.
  • a vessel (1) is moored to the floor (21) of a body of water (26) by means of a rigid tension riser (6), and support structure (5) with integrated buoyancy chamber (4), and a pair of rigid yokes (2) and (3).
  • This mooring apparatus also comprises a fluid connection (24) connecting the vessel (1) with a fluid pipeline (25) on the floor (21) of the body of water (26).
  • the tension riser (6) is attached to the floor (21) of the body of water (26) at an anchor structure (10), such as a concrete block which may be piled into the floor (21), or by any other suitable anchoring means designed to resist the horizontal and vertical forces acting upon it.
  • the tension riser (6) is connected to the anchor structure (10) by means of a universal joint (11) which allows inclination of the tension riser (6) in any direction.
  • the fluid pipeline (25) on the floor (21) runs across the anchor structure (10), enters the fluid pipeline (24a) which is raised above the surface of the anchor structure (10), and penetrates the tension riser (6) immediately above the universal joint (11). It then runs upwards through the tension riser (6).
  • a flexible hose (27) is used to jump the universal joint (11).
  • the tension riser (6) is connected to the support structure (5) with integrated buoyancy chamber (4) by the universal joint (20) and the rotary member (28).
  • This combination allows completely free movement of the integrated buoyancy chamber/support structure (4)(5) with respect to the tension riser (6), including rotation about a vertical axis.
  • the vessel (1) is free to rotate about the tension riser (6) and find the position of least resistance with respect to wind and wave conditions.
  • the rotary member (28) is mounted on the universal joint (20) and the support structure (5) with integrated buoyancy chamber (4) -is rigidly fixed to the rotary member (28).
  • the support structure (5) with integrated buoyancy chamber (4) includes four rigid struts (23) extending from the rotary member (28) to immediately interior from each of the four corners of the rectangle.
  • the buoyancy chamber(4) normally submerged beneath the water surface (22) and fitted rigidly to the struts (23), is usually of a circular cross-section.
  • the pair of hinges (18)(19) is fitted to the extremities of the said buoyancy chamber (4), the purpose of which is to allow the first rigid yoke (3) to rotate freely about the horizontal axis (T-T).
  • a second pair of hinges (16) (17) is fitted to the upper side of the support structure (5), the purpose of which is to allow the second rigid yoke (2) to rotate freely about the horizontal axis (Z-Z).
  • the two rigid yokes (2) and (3) connect the support structure (5) with the integrated buoyancy chamber (4) to the vessel (1).
  • Each of the rigid yokes (2) and (3) is connected to the vessel (1) by hinges.
  • the rigid yoke (2) is connected to the vessel by hinges (13) and-(12) to_allow free rotation about the horizontal axis (X-X).
  • the rigid yoke (3) is connected to the vessel by hinges (14) and (15) to allow free rotation about the horizontal axis (Y-Y).
  • the two rigid yokes (2) and (3) are usually strengthened by means of four struts (30) (31) and (32) (33). This arrangement means that motions of the vessel (1) can take place under variable weather and sea conditions, yet the rigid yokes (2) and (3) will remain parallel.
  • the fluid pipeline (24b) emerges from the tension riser (6) immediately below the universal joint (20).
  • a flexible hose (36) is used to jump the universal joint (20), and the fluid pipeline (24c) then enters the fluid swivel (34) which is concentric with respect to the rotary member (28).
  • This fluid swivel (34) is of a type known to those skilled in the art, and may be capable of carrying several barallel fluid conduits
  • the fluid pipeline (24c) emerges from out of the top of the rotary member (28) and is arranged across the struts (23) and one of the arms of the. rigid yoke (2), ultil it finally reaches the connection point (35) with the vessel (1).

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
  • Wind Motors (AREA)
EP81201122A 1981-10-07 1981-10-07 Amarrage à un seul point comprenant un bras rigide Withdrawn EP0076341A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP81201122A EP0076341A1 (fr) 1981-10-07 1981-10-07 Amarrage à un seul point comprenant un bras rigide
BR8205575A BR8205575A (pt) 1981-10-07 1982-09-23 Amarracao para uma embarcacao flutuando na superficie de u'a massa d'agua
NO823349A NO823349L (no) 1981-10-07 1982-10-05 Ett punkt fortoeyningsboeye.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP81201122A EP0076341A1 (fr) 1981-10-07 1981-10-07 Amarrage à un seul point comprenant un bras rigide

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0076341A1 true EP0076341A1 (fr) 1983-04-13

Family

ID=8188156

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP81201122A Withdrawn EP0076341A1 (fr) 1981-10-07 1981-10-07 Amarrage à un seul point comprenant un bras rigide

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0076341A1 (fr)
BR (1) BR8205575A (fr)
NO (1) NO823349L (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2136375A (en) * 1983-03-14 1984-09-19 Tecnomare Spa Mooring system for tanker ships
GB2139584A (en) * 1983-05-05 1984-11-14 Mobil Oil Corp Submerged single point mooring system
US4665856A (en) * 1985-10-03 1987-05-19 Sofec, Inc. Mooring apparatus
GB2198407A (en) * 1986-06-19 1988-06-15 Peter William George Burridge Single point buoy
CN104071304A (zh) * 2014-07-07 2014-10-01 中国核动力研究设计院 适用于船体式浮动核电站的单点系泊***
RU2651401C1 (ru) * 2017-02-27 2018-04-19 Акционерное общество "Центральное конструкторское бюро морской техники "Рубин" Адаптивное погруженное швартовное устройство для передачи нефти или газа с подводного терминала на плавучее сооружение

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1360743A (en) * 1972-10-26 1974-07-24 Continental Oil Co Submersible single point mooring facility
FR2303702A1 (fr) * 1975-03-10 1976-10-08 Ihc Holland Nv Structure flottante

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1360743A (en) * 1972-10-26 1974-07-24 Continental Oil Co Submersible single point mooring facility
FR2303702A1 (fr) * 1975-03-10 1976-10-08 Ihc Holland Nv Structure flottante

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2136375A (en) * 1983-03-14 1984-09-19 Tecnomare Spa Mooring system for tanker ships
GB2139584A (en) * 1983-05-05 1984-11-14 Mobil Oil Corp Submerged single point mooring system
US4546721A (en) * 1983-05-05 1985-10-15 Mobil Oil Corporation Submerged single point mooring system
US4665856A (en) * 1985-10-03 1987-05-19 Sofec, Inc. Mooring apparatus
GB2198407A (en) * 1986-06-19 1988-06-15 Peter William George Burridge Single point buoy
GB2198407B (en) * 1986-06-19 1990-01-17 Peter William George Burridge Bearing assembly
CN104071304A (zh) * 2014-07-07 2014-10-01 中国核动力研究设计院 适用于船体式浮动核电站的单点系泊***
RU2651401C1 (ru) * 2017-02-27 2018-04-19 Акционерное общество "Центральное конструкторское бюро морской техники "Рубин" Адаптивное погруженное швартовное устройство для передачи нефти или газа с подводного терминала на плавучее сооружение

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO823349L (no) 1983-04-08
BR8205575A (pt) 1983-08-30

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PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

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STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

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Withdrawal date: 19830304

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: DE BAAN, JACOB

Inventor name: VAN HEIJST, WILLEM JAN