Abstract: Disclosed are various apparatus and method for transferring a hydrocarbon fluid between two bodies. To this purpose, a transfer skid and transfer hoses are moved from a first body to a second body to be installed thereupon to provide fluid communication between the two bodies. Offloading of hydrocarbon fluid may then take place between the two bodies. Emergency release operation may be triggered during the offloading, where the transfer hoses are disconnected from the transfer skid, and are returned to the first body. Various features of the transfer skid and associated apparatus allow the transfer skid to be installed on the second body with improved mating connections, transfer hoses to be returned to the first body after offloading operation without hydrocarbon fluid leakage, and transfer hoses to disconnect with speed and safety during emergency release operation.

Abstract: A structure-supported Jackup system comprising a Jackup drilling unit with a main deck structure and a plurality of legs movably coupled with the main deck structure, two or more support base structures disposed on seabed, and a plurality of movable supports, wherein each of the plurality of movable supports is securely coupled with either the main deck structure or one of the two or more support base structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a structure-assisted Jackup system comprising a Jackup drilling unit with a main deck structure and a plurality of legs movably coupled with the main deck structure, one or more support base structures disposed on seabed, and a plurality of movable supports, wherein each of the plurality of movable supports is securely coupled with either the main deck structure or one or more support base structure. The present invention also provides a process for assembling the structure-assisted Jackup system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for installation of an energy chain system onto equipments at an operation site. A base fixture is provided at a preparation site which is independently operable from the operation site. A drag chain assembly and an auxiliary fixture are attached to the base fixture. Cables/hoses required to be installed onto equipments at the operation site are arranged and attached to the auxiliary fixture. The base fixture carrying the drag chain assembly, the auxiliary fixture and the cables/hoses pre-arranged on the auxiliary fixture are then transported to the operation site to enable cable/hose installation and connection to the equipments. The auxiliary fixture is removed upon completion of the cable/hose installation and connection.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for limiting structural damage to an affected offshore platform and preventing damage spread from the affected offshore platform to another platform during an accident or an emergency condition. An offshore platform arrangement includes a mobile offshore production unit (MOPU), a mobile storage platform and a mobile offloading platform which are disposed at a clearance distance from one another. The platforms are fluidly connected by pipes to allow hydrocarbon fluid transfer therebetween. The pipes are adapted to cease fluid communication of hydrocarbon fluid between platforms for preventing damage spread therebetween. Also disclosed is an offloading system for hydrocarbon fluid transfer which includes a lifting system having an extendable lifting arm and a spreader frame platform rotatably coupled to the lifting arm. The spreader frame platform is operable to support a transfer skid and allow angular adjustment of the transfer skid in a horizontal plane.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a process for liquefaction of a natural gas. The process includes cooling the natural gas with a first refrigerant provided by a first cooling system and cooling the natural gas with a second refrigerant provided by a second cooling system. The second cooling system is a single phase cooling system. The first and second cooling systems operate independently from each other. The second refrigerant is cooled with the first refrigerant so that the cooling capacity of the second refrigerant and the second cooling system is increased.

Abstract: During an offloading operation between a first and a second body, an operating envelope of an offloading system can be displaced to compensate for a drifting movement of one of the bodies. By appropriately displacing the operating envelope, offloading operation can continue under safe conditions even though the working limit of the original operating envelope is breached due to the drifting movement of one of the bodies.

Abstract: An installation vessel for installing an offshore structure, the installation vessel comprising a hull and a plurality of legs, each leg comprising vertical chords and cross braces, the hull having a plurality of leg openings each configured for passage of a leg therethrough, each leg opening having a number of jack-cases for supporting pinions thereon, each pinion being configured for rotatably engaging a rack disposed on a chord of the leg to move the leg relative to the hull, each jack-case comprising a number of guides for guiding passage of the leg through the leg opening, each guide comprising a plurality of angled surfaces configured for sliding engagement with a corresponding plurality of surfaces of a rack, each of the plurality of angled surfaces comprising a wear plate.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to hull conversion of existing vessel for tank integration to allow storage of multiple hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon products onboard the existing vessel. In a converted vessel, a first liquefied hydrocarbon fluid may be stored in an added independent tank, while a second hydrocarbon fluid or a non-hydrocarbon fluid may be stored in an un-converted carge tank, which can be any one of a centre cargo tank, a port side tank or a starboard side tank.

Abstract: The present invention provides a skirted foundation that can be used in a jack-up rig for providing enhanced bearing capacity. The skirted foundation comprises a spudcan footing having an upper part and a base, wherein the upper part and the base are coupled at their peripherals to form an outer edge, wherein both the upper part and the base have a flat or conical configuration, and wherein the upper part supports one leg of a jack-up rig, and the base has a flat bottom or downward slope, and a skirt having an upper end being integrally coupled to the spudcan footing and downwardly projected to encircle the base and a lower end for penetrating seabed, wherein the skirt comprises a plurality of circumferential openings adjacent to the base of the spudcan footing and located within the top half of the skirt height.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method for efficient removal of sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) contained in an exhaust gas generated from fuel combustion and efficient treatment of water containing microorganisms (e.g. ballast water).

Abstract: Installation vessels and methods for offshore wind turbine installation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a cantilever mast is used to transfer of wind turbine components from an installation vessel to an offshore installation site and guide the transfer to prevent undesired swinging movements of the wind turbine components. In another embodiment, a main crane is used in cooperation with a guide arm to transfer and guide wind turbine components from an installation vessel to an offshore installation site.

Abstract: A mooring system may comprise a station keeping apparatus having a turntable rotatably mounted thereon. The station keeping apparatus is operable to movably couple to a first vessel and to a second vessel in a side-by-side configuration. The turntable is operable to freely rotate both the first and the second vessel about the station keeping apparatus. The station keeping apparatus is securable to the second vessel using a head mooring line having a length which is adjustable for aligning a heading of both the first and the second vessel with a prevailing weather direction. Further, the mooring system may comprise a rigid yoke or a soft yoke movably coupling the turntable to the first vessel for angular adjustment between the station keeping apparatus and a longitudinal center line of the first vessel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a riser protection structure being suitable to be employed in a Jackup rig. The riser protection structure comprises a plurality of piles, an upper module, wherein the upper module comprises a main protection tubing for receiving a riser, a plurality of sleeves to be installed over the plurality of piles, and a connecting network; wherein the plurality of sleeves are disposed around the main protection tubing; and wherein the main protection tubing and the plurality of sleeves are connected together by the connecting network, and a lower module, wherein the lower module comprises a plurality of tubular guides for guiding and later fixing the piles and a connecting structure, wherein the plurality of piles are securely disposed into the seabed for providing the requisite support for the upper and lower modules when they are assembled.

Abstract: A vehicle for use in arctic environments, the vehicle comprising a hull for accommodating people, and a pair of rotatable propulsion screws connected to the hull for propelling the vehicle on water, ice, snow and land. Each propulsion screw comprises a shaft having at least one blade helically disposed therearound.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ice worthy jack-up rig that may extend the drilling season in shallow water off shore Arctic or ice prone locations. The inventive rig would work like a conventional jack-up rig while in open water with the hull jacked up out of the water. However, in the event of ice conditions, the hull is lowered into the water into an ice defensive configuration. The hull is specifically shaped with a lower portion that is an ice-bending surface to bend and break up ice that comes in contact with the hull while in the ice defensive configuration. Furthermore, the ice worthy jack-up rig that comprises at least two derricks so as to double the exploration efficiency and lower the relating costs.

Abstract: A racking assembly for receiving and storing at least one pipe. The racking assembly comprises a set back assembly including a selectively rotatable member having a plurality of radial slots sized for receiving a portion of the pipe(s) in sliding engagement, and a base for supporting the pipe(s). The base is coupled to the selectively rotatable member so as to permit mutual rotation. A barrier is located about a peripheral edge of the base, such that the setback assembly rotates relative to the barrier. The barrier is arranged to prevent the pipe(s) from moving radially from the base. The barrier has a gap sized to permit selective lateral movement of the pipe(s). Mutual rotation of the selectively rotatable member and the base permit alignment of the gap and a selected slot of the selectively rotatable member, and thus permits the pipe stands to be moved laterally into the setback assembly.

Abstract: A mooring system may comprise a station keeping apparatus having a turntable rotatably mounted thereon. The station keeping apparatus is operable to movably couple to a first vessel and to a second vessel in a side-by-side configuration. The turntable is operable to freely rotate both the first and the second vessel about the station keeping apparatus. The station keeping apparatus is securable to the second vessel using a head mooring line having a length which is adjustable for aligning a heading of both the first and the second vessel with a prevailing weather direction. Further, the mooring system may comprise a rigid yoke or a soft yoke movably coupling the turntable to the first vessel for angular adjustment between the station keeping apparatus and a longitudinal center line of the first vessel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a skirted foundation that can be used in a jack-up rig for providing enhanced bearing capacity. The skirted foundation comprises a spudcan footing having an upper part and a base, wherein the upper part and the base are coupled at their peripherals to form an outer edge, wherein both the upper part and the base have a flat or conical configuration, and wherein the upper part supports one leg of a jack-up rig, and the base has a flat bottom or downward slope, and a skirt having an upper end being integrally coupled to the spudcan footing and downwardly projected to encircle the base and a lower end for penetrating seabed, wherein the skirt comprises a plurality of circumferential openings adjacent to the base of the spudcan footing and located within the top half of the skirt height.

Abstract: An installation vessel for installing an offshore structure, the installation vessel comprising a hull and a plurality of legs, each leg comprising vertical chords and cross braces, the hull having a plurality of leg openings each configured for passage of a leg therethrough, each leg opening having a number of jack-cases for supporting pinions thereon, each pinion being configured for rotatably engaging a rack disposed on a chord of the leg to move the leg relative to the hull, each jack-case comprising a number of guides for guiding passage of the leg through the leg opening, each guide comprising a plurality of angled surfaces configured for sliding engagement with a corresponding plurality of surfaces of a rack, each of the plurality of angled surfaces comprising a wear plate.