Patents Assigned to Single Buoy Moorings, Inc.
  • Patent number: 12286199
    Abstract: The invention relates to an offshore hydrocarbon production facility arrangement that is to be located on a body of water, which includes a floating hydrocarbon processing unit, a floating renewable electric energy source, and a hydrogen gas source, wherein the floating renewable electric energy source is configured to generate electric energy; the hydrogen gas source is configured to produce hydrogen gas using the electric energy from the floating renewable electric energy source; the floating hydrocarbon processing unit is configured with an electric power generator; the electric power generator is coupled to the hydrogen gas source and is configured for receiving produced hydrogen gas as fuel gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventors: Jos Leo, Jan Van den Boomgaard, Peter Eijk
  • Publication number: 20230041653
    Abstract: The invention relates to an offshore hydrocarbon production facility arrangement that is to be located on a body of water, which includes a floating hydrocarbon processing unit, a floating renewable electric energy source, and a hydrogen gas source, wherein the floating renewable electric energy source is configured to generate electric energy; the hydrogen gas source is configured to produce hydrogen gas using the electric energy from the floating renewable electric energy source; the floating hydrocarbon processing unit is configured with an electric power generator; the electric power generator is coupled to the hydrogen gas source and is configured for receiving produced hydrogen gas as fuel gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventors: Jos Leo, Jan Van den Boomgaard, Peter Eijk
  • Patent number: 10933952
    Abstract: A electric swivel, LVES, in a swivel stack, includes an annular outer element defining a cylindrical chamber around an axis S and an cylindrical inner element coaxial with the outer element. The cylindrical chamber is sealed at an upper side with an annular cover and is configured for rotation relative to the inner and outer element around the axis S. The inner element includes at an inner radial side first and second bearing parts defining an inner bearing. The outer element includes at an outer radial side first and second bearing parts defining an outer bearing. The inner bearing includes an inner annular interface between the first and second bearing parts, the outer bearing includes an outer annular interface between the first and second bearing parts. Each of the annular interfaces is coaxial with the inner and outer element, and each annular interface is configured as a flame conducting path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventors: Georges Dixneuf, Sami Barhoumi, Frederic Sagot, Samir Boutahar, Terrence Lallouette
  • Patent number: 10260679
    Abstract: A near shore liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal includes an LNG storage unit, a jetty and a converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel moored against the jetty. The carrier-vessel includes a hull, at least one hydrocarbon storage tank and is provided with a natural gas processing system for liquefying natural gas. Onshore produced natural gas is supplied through a first pipeline to the natural gas processing plant on the carrier-vessel and the LNG produced by the natural gas processing system is transferred from the carrier-vessel to the LNG storage unit via a second pipeline suitable for the transfer of cryogenic fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Wyllie, Theodorus Johannes Bernardus Brinkel
  • Publication number: 20180327054
    Abstract: A electric swivel, LVES, in a swivel stack, includes an annular outer element defining a cylindrical chamber around an axis S and an cylindrical inner element coaxial with the outer element. The cylindrical chamber is sealed at an upper side with an annular cover and is configured for rotation relative to the inner and outer element around the axis S. The inner element includes at an inner radial side first and second bearing parts defining an inner bearing. The outer element includes at an outer radial side first and second bearing parts defining an outer bearing. The inner bearing includes an inner annular interface between the first and second bearing parts, the outer bearing includes an outer annular interface between the first and second bearing parts. Each of the annular interfaces is coaxial with the inner and outer element, and each annular interface is configured as a flame conducting path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventors: Georges Dixneuf, Sami Barhoumi, Frederic Sagot, Samir Boutahar, Terrence Lallouette
  • Patent number: 10093395
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a vessel hull (1) for use as a hull of an FPSO or FSO, comprising producing a vessel hull with a stern portion (2), a bow portion (3) and a central portion (4), arranging a deck (6) on the hull, for supporting processing modules, arranging hydrocarbon storage tanks inside the hull, providing the hull with an anchoring connection arrangement (7), characterized by arranging process module reinforcements (8) in the deck for supporting the hydrocarbon process modules, providing both longitudinal hull sides with mooring line connection reinforcements (9) at or near the bow portion, arranging riser connection reinforcements (10, 14) on one or more longitudinal hull sides, in between the mooring line connection reinforcements in longitudinal direction, for a riser balcony (28, 29), and providing the bow portion with turret reinforcements (11, 12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Felderhoff
  • Patent number: 10072467
    Abstract: A removable riser hang-off connector is equipped with a flexible element that, in one embodiment, comprises rubber-encapsulated steel plates. The connector is designed for attachment to a hang-off collar provided on a steel catenary riser below the tapered stress joint or flex joint. Connection of the removable riser hang-off connector may be made by an ROV. With the removable riser hang-off connector attached, the tapered stress joint and/or flex joint may be raised out of the water (for inspection, maintenance, repair or replacement) by lifting the upper end of the SCR out of its porch receptacle with a chain jack (or other lifting device) and inserting the removable riser hang-off connector into the porch receptacle. This temporarily supports the SCR in an elevated state with the tapered stress joint and/or flex joint above the surface of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir Salem, Thomas Prichard
  • Patent number: 10059409
    Abstract: A Taut-Inverted-Catenary (TIC) mooring system may be implemented using only field-proven components. The mooring lines yield a positive uplift force on the anchors in all conditions. In the inverted-catenary configuration, geometric stiffness is provided by a subsurface spring buoy or distributed buoyancy elements on the line. The TIC system consists as much as possible of light-weight components, such as polyester fiber rope. Since the uplift force on the anchor is always positive, clearance between polyester rope and the seabed is provided. All geometric stiffness is provided by the spring buoy. Therefore, a ground chain between the seafloor anchor and the fiber rope is not necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings, Inc.
    Inventors: Swanik Maas Hoogeveen, Jack Pollack
  • Patent number: 9988848
    Abstract: A floating, offshore drilling and/or production platform is equipped with a rail-mounted transport system that can be positioned at a plurality of selected positions over the well bay of the vessel. The transport system can move a drilling riser with a drilling riser tensioner system and a blowout preventer from one drilling location to another without removing them from the well bay of the vessel. Using the transport system, the drilling riser is lifted just clear of a first well head and positioned over an adjacent, second well head using guidelines. The transport system may then move the upper end of the drilling riser (together with its attached tensioner and BOP) to a second drilling location. A dummy wellhead may be provided on the seafloor in order to secure the lower end of the drilling riser without removing it from the sea while production risers are being installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis Randall Jordan, Robert M. Kipp
  • Patent number: 9988860
    Abstract: A removable riser hang-off connector is equipped with a flexible element that, in one embodiment, comprises rubber-encapsulated steel plates. The connector is designed for attachment to a hang-off collar provided on a steel catenary riser below the tapered stress joint or flex joint. Connection of the removable riser hang-off connector may be made by an ROV. With the removable riser hang-off connector attached, the tapered stress joint and/or flex joint may be raised out of the water (for inspection, maintenance, repair or replacement) by lifting the upper end of the SCR out of its porch receptacle with a chain jack (or other lifting device) and inserting the removable riser hang-off connector into the porch receptacle. This temporarily supports the SCR in an elevated state with the tapered stress joint and/or flex joint above the surface of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir Salem, Thomas Prichard
  • Patent number: 9944357
    Abstract: An arrangement for mooring, loading and unloading of a vessel, includes a structure connected to the seabed and a Y-formed yoke for connecting the vessel to the structure, the structure including a stationary inner element adapted to be fixedly connected to the sea bed and an outer element having a rotatable fastening to the inner element, the outer element having a connector for fixing the yoke, wherein the yoke is provided with a pitch articulation to fix the first or mutual end of the yoke to the connector of the outer element and a roll articulation positioned between the pitch articulation and the first and second leg to allow the legs to rotate along the longitudinal axis of the yoke with respect to the pitch articulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventors: Yves Tosetti, Jean-Pierre Benoit, Pierre Balleraud, Olivier Allio
  • Patent number: 9933119
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a floating LNG plant (1, 1?, 100) comprising a converted LNG carrier with a hull and a plurality of LNG storage tanks (4, 104) wherein in that the floating LNG plant (1, 1?, 100) comprises: —at least one sponson (2, 2?, 3, 3?, 102, 103) on the side of the hull, for creating additional hull volume, —process equipment (110) for LNG processing on the floating LNG plant (1, 1?, 100), and—a reservoir for storing fluids separated during the LNG processing, wherein said reservoir is formed by the ballast tank or in the space reserved for the ballast tank of the original LNG carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Bernays, Hein Wille, Jeremy Duncan Stuart Joynson
  • Patent number: 9878763
    Abstract: A floating, offshore vessel having surface-piercing columns (e.g., a semi-submersible or a tension leg platform) has means for storage of liquid hydrocarbon liquids inside one or more columns. Hydrocarbon liquids may be stored in only two of the four columns typically found on a semi-submersible, thereby providing a safe-zone where the living quarters are located. A column houses at least one hydrocarbon storage (cargo) tank and at least one variable ballast tank, where the weight capacity of the hydrocarbon cargo tank(s) is approximately equal to the weight capacity of the variable ballast tank(s). The hydrocarbon cargo tank(s) and the variable ballast tank(s) are positioned in such an orientation that the horizontal center of gravity of the cargo tank(s) is (nearly) identical to the horizontal center of gravity of the variable ballast tank(s). Both the hydrocarbon cargo tank and the variable ballast tank may be directly accessible from top-of-column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings, Inc.
    Inventors: Oriol Rijken, Kent Davies
  • Patent number: 9828812
    Abstract: In a pipe joint where two pipe sections (14, 16) have threadably engaged end potions (17, 18), joint ends (32, 34) are substantially sealed to each other by a sealing surface (40, 50) on one pipe section that substantially abuts a sealing surface (42, 52) on the other pipe section. In one joint, a ring-shaped cutout(121, FIG. 7) is formed in a first pipe section and a ring-shaped spacer (120) is located in the cutout. The spacer is chosen from several that have slightly different lengths so the spacer ends contacts the corresponding sealing surface(130).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Pollack, David C. Riggs
  • Patent number: 9822911
    Abstract: A method for replacing an outer annular ring of a fluid swivel includes a swivel comprising an inner annular ring and an outer annular ring, the rings being located with their adjacent cylindrical surfaces in close proximity for defining a chamber, for receiving a fluid, between peripheral opposing faces of the inner annular ring and the outer annular ring, wherein the inner annular ring is adapted to be connected to an end of a fluid line and wherein the outer annular ring is adapted to be connected to a product piping on the vessel, wherein the method comprises the steps of: removing the outer annular ring, replacing the outer annular ring by means of a first semi-circular element and a second semi-circular element, and fixing the first semi-circular element to the second semi-circular element, by means of a fixing means, to form a replacement outer annular ring of the swivel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventors: Cyril Evrard, Christian Randrianarivony
  • Publication number: 20170327190
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a vessel hull (1) for use as a hull of an FPSO or FSO, comprising producing a vessel hull with a stern portion (2), a bow portion (3) and a central portion (4), arranging a deck (6) on the hull, for supporting processing modules, arranging hydrocarbon storage tanks inside the hull, providing the hull with an anchoring connection arrangement (7), characterized by arranging process module reinforcements (8) in the deck for supporting the hydrocarbon process modules, providing both longitudinal hull sides with mooring line connection reinforcements (9) at or near the bow portion, arranging riser connection reinforcements (10, 14) on one or more longitudinal hull sides, in between the mooring line connection reinforcements in longitudinal direction, for a riser balcony (28, 29), and providing the bow portion with turret reinforcements (11, 12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Felderhoff
  • Patent number: 9515443
    Abstract: Brush holder for an electrical swivel, wherein the brush holder is provided with an electrically conductive body, provided with means for connecting the body to a feed line for electrical energy and provided with at least one recess for receiving a brush adapted to transfer electrical energy towards a connector, wherein the brush is connected to the body by means of an electric wire for the transfer of electrical energy from the body towards the brush and by means of a spring for allowing the brush to be pushed out of the recess and to protrude from the surface of the body adapted to face the connector and for urging the brush against the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Jean-Francois Rene Murris, Gérard André Revol, Georges Roger Yves Dixneuf
  • Publication number: 20160251061
    Abstract: An arrangement for mooring, loading and unloading of a vessel, includes a structure connected to the seabed and a Y-formed yoke for connecting the vessel to the structure, the structure including a stationary inner element adapted to be fixedly connected to the sea bed and an outer element having a rotatable fastening to the inner element, the outer element having a connector for fixing the yoke, wherein the yoke is provided with a pitch articulation to fix the first or mutual end of the yoke to the connector of the outer element and a roll articulation positioned between the pitch articulation and the first and second leg to allow the legs to rotate along the longitudinal axis of the yoke with respect to the pitch articulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventors: Yves TOSETTI, Jean-Pierre BENOIT, Pierre BALLERAUD, Olivier ALLIO
  • Patent number: 9239122
    Abstract: A pipeline includes a pair of pipe sections with ends (20, 22), connected together by threads. the pipe ends having axial and radial abutments lying beyond the ends of the thread. The abutments are located to stabilize a nib sealing arrangement and to enhance the capacity to resist bending while using a shorter thread length. The shorter threads (24, 26) enable pipe ends of smaller wall thicknesses to be used. At the abutments, each pipe end has a nib (40A, 40B) that is deflected to enter a groove as the pipe ends mate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack Pollack
  • Publication number: 20150321734
    Abstract: A floating structure includes a hull and a work structure for supporting, lifting or lowering elongate objects. The work structure includes an elevating platform having an opening for receiving an object to be supported, lifted or lowered. The elevating platform is supported on the hull and is connected to a movable force element. The work structure includes a compensator platform pivotably supported on the hull around a pivot axis via a bracket or curved track. The compensator platform has an opening for receiving the object to be handled while the elevating platform is supported on the compensator platform via at least one elastomeric support. The force element is on one side attached to the hull and on the other side to the compensator platform for transmitting a driving force or a damping force to the platform when the platform is pivoted about a pin or displaced over the curved track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: Single Buoy Moorings, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus Coenradus Johannes Jozephus WOLDRING, Jack POLLACK, David RIGGS