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EP 1 383 676 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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25.01.2006 Bulletin 2006/04 |
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Date of filing: 18.03.2002 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC):
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International application number: |
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PCT/NO2002/000112 |
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International publication number: |
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WO 2002/076819 (03.10.2002 Gazette 2002/40) |
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VESSEL AND UNLOADING SYSTEM
SCHIFF UND ENTLADESYSTEM
NAVIRE ET SYSTEME DE DEPOTAGE
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR |
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Priority: |
23.03.2001 NO 20011524
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Date of publication of application: |
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28.01.2004 Bulletin 2004/05 |
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Proprietor: Leif Hoegh & Co. ASA |
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0203 Oslo (NO) |
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Inventors: |
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- EMBLEM, Rolf
N-0268 OSLO (NO)
- LARSEN, Oystein, Bruno
N-3046 DRAMMEN (NO)
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Representative: Briddes, Sam et al |
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Onsagers Ltd
c/o Innovation Norway
5 Lower Regent Street London SW1Y 4LR London SW1Y 4LR (GB) |
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References cited: :
WO-A1-01/03793 US-A- 6 003 603
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US-A- 3 590 407
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] The invention relates to a special vessel together with a system for unloading fluid
from a vessel to a shore-based infrastructure.
[0002] In connection with the transport of fluid such as natural gas from the field to the
area in which the natural gas has to be unloaded, a system is often employed involving
a number of special vessels and a series of fairly complicated operational steps.
A known vessel which is commonly employed for this purpose is an LNG carrier, which
is equipped with special tanks suitable for storing natural gas in its liquid state.
When loading on board the LNG carrier in the field, at least one additional vessel
is often employed for receiving fluid directly from the well and treating the fluid
before it is transferred to the LNG carrier. According to common practice, on arrival
at the unloading point the LNG carrier will transfer the load to an intermediate storage
unit where the liquefied natural gas is converted to a gaseous state before being
transferred to the end user.
[0003] These systems, requiring the use of several different special vessels and the performance
of related complicated operations, are shown to be complex and extremely costly. It
is an object of the present invention to attempt to reduce the number of special vessels
which require to be included in such a system, and to improve the characteristics
of these special vessels in relation to the operations which have to be carried out.
[0004] The following special vessels and systems are known from the patent literature:
[0005] In US 6089022 an unloading system is described involving an LNG carrier which is
equipped with spherical tanks for storing liquefied natural gas (LNG) and vaporizers
for regasifying the liquefied natural gas. On arrival at the unloading point, the
carrier is moored in such a manner that the vessel is located at a distance from the
mooring structure by mooring lines which extend from the bow area to the mooring structure.
The liquefied natural gas is regasified before being transported in a pipeline system
which transfers the natural gas from the carrier to a shore-based installation which
in the publication represents the end user.
[0006] In the arrangement in US 6089022 a single pipeline is employed for unloading the
natural gas from the vessel to shore. In figure 1 of the publication this pipeline
is illustrated arranged in such a manner that it extends from the bow area, through
the mooring structure, from where there is provided yet another pipeline which transfers
the natural gas to shore. In the publication there is no indication of any possibility
of using a buoy structure or alternative technical solutions, which can be mounted
in the vessel's hull for unloading natural gas.
[0007] The technical solution according to the present invention indicates the use of a
submerged buoy structure which has to be brought into abutment in a recess in the
vessel's hull for transferring natural gas to shore. Compared to the technique disclosed
in US 6089022, by means of the buoy structure a substantially simplified solution
is achieved which provides advantages both with regard to manning and the equipment
situation, since mooring and fluid transfer are implemented by means of one and the
same structure.
[0008] US 5564957 discloses a vessel in which a buoy structure is provided for installation
in a recess in the bow portion. The buoy structure is intended for use as a combined
mooring and transfer structure for transport of a liquid medium to and from the vessel.
[0009] The technique disclosed in this publication differs from the invention in that there
is no vaporizer provided on board the vessel, nor is there any indication in the publication
that the medium has to be transferred directly to a shore-based installation.
[0010] In US 6094937 a processing plant is described for converting natural gas to a liquid
state (LNG) and a shuttle system for transporting LNG from the field. In this shuttle
system two buoys and four carriers may be employed for transporting LNG, in order
to maintain almost continuous production in the field.
[0011] The invention has some features in common with the system disclosed in US 6094937
in that use is made of several carriers and several buoy structures for fluid as a
part of a transport system. However, there is a basic difference between the systems,
since the known system is used in connection with loading, while the system according
to the invention has to be used for unloading. This is manifested by the fact that
a liquefier is provided on board the carrier in US 6094937, while a vaporizer is provided
in the LNG tanker according to the invention.
[0012] In US 6094937 there is no suggestion that this loading/transport system will be capable
of use in connection with unloading. Nor will a vessel like that in US 6094937 be
able to be used for unloading natural gas to a shore-based infrastructure without
the need for considerable structural modifications to the vessel.
[0013] In particular, US 6003603 may be taken as a starting point for the invention. US
6003603 discloses the problem of cryogenic transfer through a swivel, and proposes
a loading system and method. However, the solution involves the conversion of compressed
gas into a liquid for onward transportation by LNG tanker. By contrast, the present
invention relates to a system in which liquefied natural gas is vaporised into a gas
in a shuttle and regas vessel (SRV) for onward transportation by a submerged pipeline
system
[0014] The existing technical solutions disclosed in these known publications demonstrate
an inadequacy in relation to the complex requirements which have initiated the present
invention.
[0015] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system for unloading
fluid, and especially natural gas, wherein the carrier vessel has storage tanks as
well as a vaporizer on board, and is arranged to receive a buoy structure which has
both a mooring function and a transfer function.
[0016] It is a further object of the present invention that the vessel with its special
functions should be able to form part of a shuttle system which in a preferred embodiment
includes a plurality of vessels and a plurality of the buoy structures concerned.
The object of this system is to achieve the continuous supply of natural gas from
the unloading point to the infrastructure.
[0017] The invention provides a system for unloading from a vessel provided with storage
tanks for storing natural gas in a liquid state (LNG), wherein a buoy structure is
provided in the bottom area of the vessel's hull, characterized in that the vessel
is a shuttle and regas vessel (RSV) and that a vaporizer is provided on the shuttle
and regas vessel for vaporizing the liquefied natural gas into a gaseous state on
arrival at the unloading point, the vaporized gas is transferred directly from the
shuttle and regas vessel to a submerged pipeline system, wherein the natural gas is
transported in the pipeline system to the shore-based infrastructure.
[0018] The invention also provides a method for transferring natural gas from a shuttle
and regas vessel (SRV) included in a system described in the preceding paragraph,
characterised in the steps of positioning the SRV in engagement with a buoy structure
located at the unloading point, vaporising liquefied natural gas on the SRV, and transferring
the vaporised gas directly from the SRV to a submerged pipeline system through the
buoy structure, whereby the vaporised gas is transported in the submerged pipeline
system from the SRV to the shore based infrastructure.
[0019] Further features of the invention are disclosed in the following paragraphs.
[0020] With the vessel according to the invention, a number of the operations required when
using the previously known systems are made superfluous. By means of the invention
a number of the operations associated with mooring, connection of pipelines, transfer
of liquid cargo from one vessel to another will be made superfluous and/or simplified.
In addition, when using the system according to the invention the number of crew members
will be reduced, and thereby also the operating costs, due to the fact that both the
number of operations performed becomes less and more functions are concentrated on
one vessel.
[0021] The design and production of a multi-functional vessel of this kind can be an extremely
costly and time-consuming process. It has therefore been an object of the present
invention to provide the vessel in a cost-effective manner, thus enabling the vessel
to be offered at a competitive price.
[0022] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the vessel is provided in a simple and
inexpensive manner using a standard LNG carrier as the basis. The carrier with its
storage tanks for liquefied natural gas is equipped with one or more vaporizers preferably
in the deck area, and a receiving recess is constructed in the hull for receiving
the buoy structure, thus making the vessel suitable for performing several types of
operation. This special vessel is described as a "Shuttle and Regas Vessel (SRV)",
and the vessel may of course also be used as an ordinary LNG carrier.
[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the vessel according to the invention is equipped with
spherical tanks for storing liquefied natural gas, but other types of storage tanks
may also be suitable, such as, for example, membrane tanks. These different types
of storage tanks are well-known both from the patent literature and in practical use.
Thus it will be up to a person skilled in the art to select the type of tank which
is most suitable in the individual case.
[0024] The principles and equipment to be used in connection with the regasification of
the liquefied natural gas also represent known per se technology. Sea water may be
utilised as a heat exchange medium in the vaporization process, but also other media
such as, for example, propane either alone or together with sea water, and a water-glycol
mixture may be suitable vaporization media.
[0025] The buoy structure which is to form part of the system may be designed in many ways.
From the patent literature several examples are known of submerged buoy structures
which can be connected to a vessel, thus enabling the vessel to rotate freely around
the buoy. However, with regard to the buoy structure's mode of operation, rapid connection
and disconnection of the buoy are a requirement in order that the unloading of fluid
can start almost immediately without delays due to time-consuming mooring procedures.
[0026] When the buoy structure is not in use, it is in a submerged condition. On arrival
at the unloading area, the vessel will pick up an auxiliary buoy, which has a line
attached to the buoy structure. The line is used to convey the buoy structure to the
surface, whereupon the buoy structure is brought into abutment in the vessel's recess.
[0027] Around its circumference the buoy structure is equipped with mooring lines which
extend down to the mooring points on the seabed. Risers are provided up to the middle
of the buoy structure and a swivel structure is arranged above the buoy structure.
By means of this arrangement fluid can be passed through the buoy structure via the
riser to the submerged pipelines, while at the same time the vessel rotates around
the buoy structure. The submerged pipelines transport fluid away from the vessel towards
the shore-based infrastructure.
[0028] The invention proposes a system for achieving an efficient unloading of fluid to
a shore-based infrastructure. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention,
two buoy structures and two or more carrier vessels are included in the system. The
number of vessels included in the system depends on the distance to the loading point.
One and the same vessel will alternate between different operations such as loading
from a loading station, for example in the field, transporting LNG from the loading
station to the unloading point and regasifying liquefied natural gas with subsequent
transfer to a receiving system on shore. When the unloading of fluid through the buoy
structure takes place almost continuously by having at least one vessel connected
to one of the buoy structures at all times, while the other vessels are on the way
to or from the loading stations, optimal efficiency is achieved in the utilisation
of the system.
[0029] On arrival at the unloading point, the buoy structure will be inserted in the receiving
recess in the carrier vessel. Liquefied natural gas will be passed from the storage
tanks to the vaporizer where the fluid is regasified and passed directly through the
buoy structure to submerged pipelines which convey the natural gas to a shore-based
infrastructure.
[0030] The shore-based infrastructure may take many forms, as long as the infrastructure
is suitable for receiving the regasified fluid which is sent ashore from the carrier
and the fluid is further distributed to the end users. For example, the infrastructure
may comprise a pipeline network which conveys the natural gas directly to the end
user or the infrastructure may comprise a depot which is connected to appropriate
transport means for further transport of natural gas to the consumers, etc.
[0031] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the figures
in which:
Fig. 1 is a side view of a carrier vessel with the necessary equipment.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the vessels coupled up to one of the buoy structures.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the connection of the pipelines with the infrastructure.
Fig. 4 is a general view of the organisation of the vessels in order to obtain an
efficient unloading of fluid.
Fig. 5 illustrates the vessel connected to both buoy structures simultaneously.
[0032] Fig. 1 is a simplified schematic view of the retrofitted LNG carrier "Shuttle and
Regas Vessel (RSV)" according to the invention. The vessel 1 is illustrated provided
with a plurality of tanks 2 for storing liquefied natural gas. The figure shows how
in the vessel's hull there is provided a conical recess 5 which forms a receiving
arrangement for the buoy structure 7 (not illustrated in the drawing). The vessel
1 is further provided with at least one vaporizer 4. In order to improve the vessel's
manoeuvrability, the vessel is also equipped with thrusters 6 in the vessel's bow
portion and stern portion respectively.
[0033] Fig. 2 illustrates an arrangement of buoy structures 7 which are connected to a submerged
pipeline system. The submerged pipeline system comprises a riser 8 which is attached
to each of the buoy structures 7, and furthermore a pipeline 9 is connected to the
end of the riser 8. The pipelines 9 are connected to an on-shore . infrastructure,
illustrated here in the figure by the pipeline system 10. The buoy structures 7 are
equipped with mooring lines 11 extending from the mooring point on the seabed to an
attachment on the circumference of the buoy structure.
[0034] Figure 2 illustrates two vessels 1 where one of the vessels 1 is connected to one
of the buoy structures 7, while the other vessel 1' illustrates the voyage to/from
the loading point. On connection with the buoy structure 7, the liquefied natural
gas is transferred to the vaporizer 4, where the fluid is regasified before being
transferred through the buoy structure 7 via the submerged pipelines 9 which are connected
to yet another pipeline 10 for bringing natural gas ashore to the infrastructure.
[0035] Figure 3 illustrates the same situation as in figure 2, but in addition it also illustrates
the pipeline system's connection to the infrastructure, which in this case is composed
of a shore-based pipeline system 12.
[0036] Fig. 4 illustrates the principle for the organisation of the connection of the various
vessels to the buoy structures as well as transport to and from the loading station
where LNG is loaded on board the vessel. In this example four vessels are included
in the system.
[0037] In fig. 5 both the buoy structures are connected to the vessels 1 and 1' simultaneously.
In the situation illustrated in the figure the vessel 1 is in the process of completing
the unloading of natural gas, while the vessel 1' has just received the buoy structure
7 in the recess 5. By means of this arrangement a uniform transition will be achieved
in the unloading process from vessel 1 to vessel 1', and a continuous flow of natural
gas into the submerged pipeline system will thereby be maintained.
1. A system for unloading from a vessel provided with storage tanks for storing natural
gas in a liquid state (LNG), wherein a buoy structure is provided in the bottom area
of the vessel's hull,
characterized in that the vessel (1) is a shuttle and regas vessel (SRV) and
that a vaporizer (4) is provided on the shuttle and regas vessel for vaporizing the
liquefied natural gas into a gaseous state on arrival at the unloading point (7),
the vaporized gas is transferred directly from the shuttle and regas vessel (1) to
a submerged pipeline system (8,9,10), wherein the natural gas is transported in the
pipeline system to the shore-based infrastructure (12).
2. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that each shuttle and regas vessel (1) is a retrofitted LNG tanker which also may be used
as an ordinary LNG carrier.
3. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the shuttle and regas vessel (1) is equipped with a recess (5) in the bottom of the
hull, where the recess is designed for receiving a corresponding submerged buoy structure
(7) connected to a pipeline system (8) which transfers fluid from storage in the shuttle
and regas vessel to the shore-based infrastructure (12).
4. A system according to claim 3, characterized in that the shore based infrastructure is a pipeline network (12) which conveys the natural
gas directly to the end user, or the infrastructure may comprise a depot which is
connected to appropriate transport means for further transport of natural gas to the
consumers.
5. A system according to any of the proceeding claims, characterized in that two or more shuttle and regas vessels (1, 1') and two buoy structures are included
in the system.
6. A system according to any of the proceeding claims, characterized in that the shuttle and regas vessel (1) is equipped with thrusters (6,6) in shuttle and
regas vessels bow portion and stern portion respectively.
7. A method for transferring natural gas from a shuttle and regas vessel (SRV) included
in a system according to claims 1 to 5, characterised in the steps of positioning the SRV (1) in engagement with a buoy structure (7) located
at the unloading point, vaporising liquefied natural gas on the SRV (1), and transferring
the vaporised gas directly from the SRV to a submerged pipeline system (8,9,10) through
the buoy structure (7), whereby the vaporised gas is transported in the submerged
pipeline system from the SRV to the shore based infrastructure (12).
8. A method as claimed in claim 7, in which there are at least two SRVs (1,1') and at
least two buoy structures, characterised in that the SRVs travel in a continuous shuttle traffic between a remote loading station
and the buoy structures, and are organised in such a manner that at least one SRV
is periodically connected to one or another of the buoy structures (7) for transferring
the natural gas from the SRV to the shore based infrastructure (12), whereby the supply
of gas to the shore based infrastructure is continuous.
9. A method for transferring natural gas from a shuttle and regas vessel (SRV) included
in a system according to any one of claims 1 and 3 to 5, characterized in the steps of positioning the SRV in engagement with a buoy structure located at the
unloading point, vaporizing liquefied natural gas on the SRV, and transferring the
vaporized gas directly from the SRV to a submerged pipeline system through the buoy
structure, whereby the vaporized gas is transported in the submerged pipeline system
from the SRV to the shore based, infrastructure.
10. A method as claimed in claim 9 in which there are at least two SRVs and at least two
buoy structures, characterized in that the SRV's travel in a continuous shuttle traffic between a remote loading station
and the buoy structures, and are organized in such a manner that at least one SRV
is periodically connected to one or another of the buoy structures for transferring
the natural gas from the SRV to the shore based infrastructure, whereby the supply
of gas to the shore based infrastructure is continuous.
1. Système pour décharger depuis un navire comportant des réservoirs de stockage pour
stocker le gaz naturel dans un état liquide (GNL), dans lequel une structure flottante
est fournie dans la zone de fond de la coque du navire, caractérisé en ce que le navire (1) est un navire navette et de regazage (SRV) et en ce qu'un vaporiseur (4) est fourni sur le navire navette et de regazage pour vaporiser le
gaz naturel liquéfié dans un état gazeux à l'arrivée au point de déchargement (7),
le gaz vaporisé est transféré directement depuis le navire navette et de regazage
(1) vers un système de conduites immergé (8, 9, 10), dans lequel le gaz naturel est
transporté dans le système de conduites vers l'infrastructure à quai (12).
2. Système selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que chaque navire navette et de regazage (1) est un méthanier adapté qui peut aussi être
utilisé comme un méthanier ordinaire.
3. Système selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que le navire navette et de regazage (1) est équipé avec une niche (5) au fond de la
coque, dans lequel la niche est conçue pour recevoir une structure flottante immergée
correspondante (7) raccordée à un système de conduites (8) qui transfère le liquide
depuis le stockage dans le navire navette et de regazage vers l'infrastructure à quai
(12).
4. Système selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que l'infrastructure à quai est un réseau de conduites (12) qui transporte le gaz naturel
directement vers l'utilisateur final, ou l'infrastructure peut comprendre un dépôt
qui est raccordé à des moyens de transport convenables pour un transport supplémentaire
du gaz naturel vers les consommateurs.
5. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que deux ou plus navires navettes et de regazage (1, 1') et deux structures flottantes
sont comprises dans le système.
6. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le navire navette et de regazage (1) est équipé avec des propulseurs (6, 6) dans
les portion de proue et portion de poupe, respectivement, des navires navettes et
de regazage.
7. Procédé pour transférer du gaz naturel depuis un navire navette et de regazage (SRV)
compris dans un système selon les revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend les étapes consistant à positionner le SRV (1) en engagement avec une
structure flottante (7) située au niveau du point de déchargement, vaporiser le gaz
naturel liquéfié sur le SRV (1), et transférer le gaz vaporisé directement depuis
le SRV vers un système de conduites immergé (8, 9, 10) à travers la structure flottante
(7), moyennant quoi le gaz vaporisé est transporté dans le système de conduites immergé
depuis le SRV jusqu'à l'infrastructure à quai (12).
8. Procédé selon la revendication 7, dans lequel il y a au moins deux SRV (1, 1') et
au moins deux structures flottantes, caractérisé en ce que les SRV voyagent dans un trafic de navette continu entre une station de chargement
éloignée et les structures flottantes, et sont organisés de telle manière qu'au moins
un SRV est périodiquement raccordé à l'une ou l'autre des structures flottantes (7)
pour transférer le gaz naturel depuis le SRV vers l'infrastructure à quai (12), moyennant
quoi l'alimentation en gaz vers l'infrastructure à quai est continue.
9. Procédé pour transférer du gaz naturel depuis un navire navette et de regazage (SRV)
compris dans un système selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 et 3 à 5, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend les étapes consistant à positionner le SRV en engagement avec une structure
flottante située au niveau du point de déchargement, vaporiser le gaz naturel liquéfié
sur le SRV, et transférer le gaz vaporisé directement depuis le SRV à un système de
conduites immergé à travers la structure flottante, moyennant quoi le gaz vaporisé
est transporté dans le système de conduites immergé depuis le SRV jusqu'à l'infrastructure
à quai.
10. Procédé selon la revendication 9, dans lequel il y a au moins deux SRV et au moins
deux structures flottantes, caractérisé en ce que les SRV voyagent dans un trafic de navette continu entre une station de chargement
éloignée et les structures flottantes, et sont organisés de telle manière qu'au moins
un SRV est périodiquement raccordé à l'une ou l'autre des structures flottantes pour
transférer le gaz naturel depuis le SRV vers l'infrastructure à quai, moyennant quoi
l'alimentation en gaz de l'infrastructure à quai est continue.
1. System zum Entladen eines Schiffes, das mit Vorratstanks zum Aufbewahren von Erdgas
in einem verflüssigten Zustand (LNG) versehen ist, wobei eine Schwimmkörperstruktur
im unteren Bereich der Schiffshülle vorgesehen ist,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
das Schiff (1) ein Pendel und Wiedervergasungsschiff (shuttle and regas vessel) (SRV)
ist und dass ein Verdampfer auf dem Pendel und Wiedervergasungsschiff vorgesehen ist,
um das veflüssigte Erdgas bei Ankunft an einem Ladepunkt (7) in einen gasförmigen
Zustand zu verdampfen, wobei das verdampfte Gas direkt von dem Pendel und Wiedervergasungsschiff
(1) zu einem Unterwasser-Pipelinesystem (8, 9, 10) übertragen wird, wobei das Erdgas
im Pipelinesystem zu einer küstenbasierten Infrastruktur (12) transportiert wird.
2. System nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jedes Pendel und Wiedervergasungsschiff (1) ein nachgerüsteter LNG-Tanker ist, der
ebenso als gewöhnlicher LNG-Verfrachter verwendet werden kann.
3. System nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Pendel und Wiedervergasungsschiff (1) mit einer Vertiefung (5) im Boden der Hülle
ausgestattet ist, wobei die Vertiefung konzipiert ist, um eine entsprechende unter
Wasser gelegene Schwimmkörperstruktur (7) aufzunehmen, die mit einem Pipelinesystem
(8) verbunden ist, welches Fluid von dem Lagerraum im Pendel- und Wiedervergasungsschiff
zu der küstenbasierten Infrastruktur (12) überträgt.
4. System nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die küstenbasierte Infrastruktur ein Pipeline-Netzwerk (12) ist, welches das Erdgas
direkt zum Endverbraucher befördert, oder die Infrastruktur ein Depot umfassen kann,
welches mit geeigneten Transportmitteln verbunden ist, um das Erdgas zu den Verbrauchern
weiter zu transportieren.
5. System nach einem der vorangegangenen Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass zwei oder mehr Pendel- und Wiedervergasungsschiff (1, 1') und (2) Schwimmkörperstrukturen
in dem System angeschlossen sind.
6. System nach einem der vorangegangenen Ansprüche,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Pendel und Wiedervergasungsschiff (1) mit Schubdüsen (6, 6) im Bug- bzw. Heckabschnitt
der Pendel und Wiedervergasungsschiffe ausgestattet ist.
7. Verfahren zum Übertragen von Erdgas von einem Pendel- und Wiedervergasungsschiff (shuttle
und regas vessel SRV), das in einem System entsprechend den Ansprüchen 1 bis 5 vorhanden
ist, gekennzeichnet durch die Schritte des Positionierens des SRV (1) in Eingriff mit einer Schwimmkörperstruktur
(7), die an dem Entladepunkt positioniert ist, des Verdampfens des verflüssigten Erdgases
auf dem SRV (1), und des Übertragens des verdampften Gases direkt von dem SRV zu einem
unter Wasser befindlichen Pipeline-System (8, 9, 10) durch die Schwimmkörperstruktur (7), wobei das verdampfte Gas in dem unter Wasser gelegenen
Pipeline-System vom SRV zu der küstenbasierten Infrastruktur (12) transportiert wird.
8. Verfahren nach Anspruch 7, bei welchem mindestens zwei SRVs (1, 1') und mindestens
zwei Schwimmkörperstrukturen vorhanden sind, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die SRVs in einem stetigen Pendelverkehr zwischen einer entfernten Ladestation und
den Schwimmkörperstrukturen fahren, und auf solche Weise organisiert sind, dass mindestens
ein SRV periodisch mit einer oder der anderen der Schwimmkörperstrukturen (7) verbunden
ist, um das Erdgas von dem SRV zur küstenbasierten Infrastruktur (12) zu übertragen,
wodurch die Zufuhr von Gas zu der küstenbasierten Infrastruktur durchgehend ist.
9. Verfahren zum Übertragen von Erdgas von einem Pendel- und Wiedervergasungsschiff (SRV),
das in einem System nach einem der Ansprüche 1 und 3 bis 5 enthalten ist, gekennzeichnet durch die Schritte des Positionierens des SRV im Eingriff mit einer Schwimmkörperstruktur,
die am Entladepunkt positioniert ist, des Verdampfens des verflüssigten Erdgases auf
dem SRV, und des Transferierens des verdampften Erdgases direkt vom SRV zu einem unter
Wasser liegenden Pipelinesystem durch die Schwimmkörperstruktur, wodurch das verdampfte Erdgas in dem unter Wasser liegenden
Pipelinesystem vom SRV zur küstenbasierten Infrastruktur transportiert wird.
10. Verfahren nach Anspruch 9, bei welchem mindestens zwei SRVs und mindestens zwei Schwimmkörperstrukturen
vorhanden sind, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die SRVs in einem stetigen Pendelverkehr zwischen einer entfernten Ladestation und
den Schwimmkörperstrukturen fahren, und auf solche Weise organisiert sind, dass mindestens
ein SRV periodisch mit einer oder der anderen der Schwimmkörperstrukturen verbunden
ist, um das Erdgas von dem SRV zur küstenbasierten Infrastruktur zu übertragen, wodurch
die Zufuhr von Gas zur küstenbasierten Infrastruktur durchgehend ist.