Abstract: A floating lowering and lifting device (1) includes a floating structure (2) and a lifting unit (3) lowerable from the floating structure (2) towards the sea bed, the lifting unit (3) having a chamber (5) with at least one gas-inlet opening (9) in its wall (27) and an equalization opening (23, 25) in its wall (27), a gas supply (13) being connected to the gas inlet opening (9). The device includes a control element (15) connected to the gas supply (13) for controlling a gas supply rate to the chamber (5), wherein the chamber (5) includes a releasable coupling member (7) for releasably attaching to a load (8).

Abstract: A vessel (14) that stores crude oil in tanks (12A–12H) in the vessel hull, maintains oxygen-free gas in the tank spaces (32) that lie above the crude oil. This is achieved by flowing in hydrocarbon-inert gas (gas that does not react with hydrocarbons), such as flue gas, when crude oil is removed so the crude oil level drops, and by flowing out vent gas that includes the inert gas and gaseous hydrocarbons that come from the crude oil, when crude oil flows into the tank and the oil level rises. An inert gas pipe (50) is used to flow inert flue gas into the tanks, and a separate vent gas pipe (52) is used to flow out the vent gas. A vacuum is applied to the vent pipe by connecting the vent pipe to an eductor (102) through which pressured gas, such as steam, is flowed. The vent gas is usually released into the atmosphere, but is burned when there is almost no wind, to prevent a buildup of hydrocarbon gas on the vessel deck.

Abstract: A system for offloading LNG (liquified natural gas) from a tanker (26) in shallow waters, for regasing, or heating the offloaded LNG to produce gaseous hydrocarbons, or gas, for pressurizing the gas, and for flowing the gas to an onshore station (56), includes a structure that is fixed to the sea floor and projects above the sea surface and aids in mooring the tanker. In one system, the structure that is fixed to the sea floor is a largely cylindrical tower (12) with a mooring yoke (20) rotatably mounted on its upper end. A floating structure (14) such as a barge that weathervanes, has a bow end pivotally connected to a distal end of the yoke, so the barge is held close to the tower but can drift around the tower with changing winds, waves and currents. The tanker is moored to the barge so the barge and tanker form a combination that weathervanes as a combination.

Abstract: A very large hydrocarbon production vessel (10) of at least 40,000 tons steel weight, is constructed without requiring a very long reserve time period in a very large dry dock. The hull of the vessel is constructed in at least three different hull sections, including a midship hull section (24) and bow and stern hull sections (20, 22), with each preferably constructed at a different construction site. The hull sections are then brought together in a very large dry dock and welded together, so a minimum amount of time must be reserved in the very large dry dock. The midship hull section is preferably constructed in a specialized shipyard, and the same shipyard installs drilling equipment (50) and equipment that connects to risers that bring up hydrocarbons, so the expertise of the shipyard is used for both the midsection hull construction and specialized drilling and riser handling equipment.

Abstract: A vessel (1) comprises a rotatable turret (14) and a supporting structure (3) over or on the turret for supporting a swivel (5). The swivel comprising an inner and an outer ring (21, 21?; 22, 22?) which can rotate with respect to each other and which define at least one fluid distribution path from a geostationary fluid riser (19) connected to one ring (22, 22?) to a product outflow pipe (18) connected to the other ring (21, 21?). A rig (2) is mounted over the turret area above or below the swivel (5), and a substantially rigid pipe extends from the rig, through a moonpool of the turret towards the sea bed, the rigid pipe being in line with the swivel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid transfer system, in particular for LNG in which an articulated vertical and horizontal mooring arm are suspended from a support on the processing vessel. Independently moveable ducts, for instance cryogenic hard piping are placed parallel to the mooring arms such that a transfer system is obtained in which is the mooring forces are insulated from the fluid transfer line with which rapid connection and disconnection is possible and which provides a large yaw resistance. In a preferred embodiment, the mooring system comprises two vertical arms connected to a triangular horizontal yoke attached to the bow of the LNG-carrier for improved yaw resistance.

Abstract: A floating structure (1), such as a mooring buoy, moored to the seabed (2) via anchor lines (3,4) that comprise an anchor line section (9,10) which is stretchable in its length direction, such as a polyester line. A water-resistant element (7,8) is connected at or near the upper end of at least one of the stretchable anchor line sections (9,10) for resisting displacement in the length direction of the anchor lines (3,4). Preferably the water-resistance element (7,8) is connected to the floating structure (1) via a substantially non-stretchable anchor line section (5,6), such as chain section. The floating structure (1) can be moored in deep water, and reduces fatigue weakening of the floating structure (1) and of the anchor lines (3,4).

Abstract: The invention relates to a storage structure having a fluid transfer boom for transfer of cryogenic liquids such as liquified natural gas (LNG) from a first storage structure to a vessel. The boom has two arms which are rotatably connected at their first ends via a swivel joint. In one embodiment a liquified natural gas duct is supported within the first and second arms which form a gas tight housing around the liquified natural gas duct. The transfer boom according to the present invention provides a redundant containment system wherein the LNG duct is supported by the structurally strong and self-supporting transfer boom which confines the natural gas in case of a leak in the inner LNG duct. In a further embodiment the transfer boom comprises seven swivel joints in total such that rotation in all directions is possible when the vessel is moored to the storage structure and has to cope with relative motions of roll, pitch, yaw, heave, sway and surge.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid transfer system, in particular for LNG in which an articulated vertical and horizontal mooring arm are suspended from a support on the processing vessel. Independently moveable ducts, for instance cryogenic hard piping are placed parallel to the mooring arms such that a transfer system is obtained in which is the mooring forces are insulated from the fluid transfer line with which rapid connection and disconnection is possible and which provides a large yaw resistance. In a preferred embodiment, the mooring system comprises two vertical arms connected to a triangular horizontal yoke attached to the bow of the LNG-carrier for improved yaw resistance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrocarbon transfer system (1) in which a floating construction (2) such as a FPSO is connected to an offloading buoy (3) via a submerged offloading pipeline (10). The motions of the buoy are de-coupled form the pipeline (10) via connection of the pipeline by a support member (7) and connecting member (8) while the pipeline (10) is extendable in a length direction to compensate for drift phenomena.

Abstract: A method of connecting a first floating structure to the seabed, includes the steps of: providing a second floating structure, anchored to first and second anchoring points respectively on the sea bed via at least two anchor lines, attaching the second floating structure to the first structure via a pulling device, on the side of the first anchor line, displacing the first floating structure away from the second anchoring point towards the first anchoring point, disconnecting the first anchor line from the second floating structure while maintaining a pulling force on the second anchor line via the pulling device, and attaching the first anchor line to the first floating structure. By interconnecting a temporary buoy to the vessel to be anchored via a tension member, the anchor lines of the buoy and the vessel can remain under tension at all times whereby damage to the anchor lines is prevented.

Abstract: A loading arrangement includes a riser that extends from a subsea structure to a coupling element for coupling the riser to a vessel. The coupling element includes a buoy body which is connected to a retention member via a flexible connection part. The retention member, such as a submerged buoy, is attached to anchor lines which at or near their end parts are provided with buoy. The connection part, which can be a cable or a frame structure has a relatively high tensile strength to anchor the vessel to the sea bed and to prevent drift of the vessel when tension is exerted on the connection part and the anchor line.

Abstract: A vessel includes a riser and/or tendon tensioning construction. A connector, such as an arm or deck structure, is suspended from cables movable relative to cable guides. The connector carries two or more risers and/or tendons extending from a subsea structure to above water level. The free ends of the cables are attached to weights for exerting a tensioning force on the risers, which are substantially decoupled from pitch, roll and heave motions of the vessel.

Abstract: A high pressure swivel includes an inner and an outer wall. Each annular wall is connected to a respective distribution member via apertures which have an axial dimension which is smaller than the diameter of the inlet or outlet. In this way, the pressure area between the seals of the inner and outer rotatable walls is reduced. Each distribution member may include a chamber that is defined by the external surface of the inner and outer annular walls, and an enclosing wall. In this way, an effective thermal isolation is provided by the distribution chambers adjacent to the external surfaces of the inner and outer rings. Deformation of the distribution chambers of the swivel will tend to decrease the width of the seal extrusion gap.

Abstract: A method of connecting two or more elongate connection members (105) between the seabed and a floating vessel (106) carrying a connector (102) which is suspended from the vessel by at least two spaced apart suspension members for relative displacement of the connector with respect to the vessel, at least one suspension member being connected to tensioning elements (109, 109′) for exerting an upward force on the connector. The method comprises the steps of: a) attaching one or more connection members to the connector, b) increasing the tensioning force of the tensioning elements, or vice versa, and c) repeating steps a and b until the connection members are installed between the vessel and the seabed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a storage structure having a fluid transfer boom for transfer of cryogenic liquids such as liquified natural gas (LNG) from a first storage structure to a vessel. The boom has two arms which are rotatably connected at their first ends via a swivel joint. In one embodiment a liquified natural gas duct is supported within the first and second arms which form a gas tight housing around the liquified natural gas duct. The transfer boom according to the present invention provides a redundant containment system wherein the LNG duct is supported by the structurally strong and self-supporting transfer boom which confines the natural gas in case of a leak in the inner LNG duct. In a further embodiment the transfer boom comprises seven swivel joints in total such that rotation in all directions is possible when the vessel is moored to the storage structure and has to cope with relative motions of roll, pitch, yaw, heave, sway and surge.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon mooring and transfer system includes a tower resting on the seabed, a vessel containing hydrocarbons, anchoring elements having at least four spaced-apart anchoring members connected via a respective anchor line to the vessel. A hydrocarbon transfer duct extends between a coupling position, located between the bow and stern of the vessel and the tower. The system includes at least six anchoring members, at least four of which are connected to the vessel, the vessel being attachable to at least two different groups consisting of four anchoring members in at least two orientations.

Abstract: An offshore construction includes a floating body (1), at least one anchor line (2) for connecting the floating body to the sea bed, the anchor line being connected to the floating body via a flexible top part (4) which is attached to a connector (5) on the floating body. The connector includes a housing (9) having two mutually perpendicular pivot axes (10, 12) with an elongate tubular member (8) extending in the anchor line direction and a latch mechanism (15) for fixation of the anchor line to the floating body and preventing movement in the direction of the sea bed. The connector includes a rod (13), which can be accommodated within the tubular member. The rod is connected to the flexible top part.

Abstract: An anchoring system includes a vessel and one or more anchor lines extending from a first anchor to a pulling device on the vessel and from there on to a second anchor. The anchor line may extend transversely to the length direction of the vessel, or may extend parallel to the length direction of the vessel, offset from the longitudinal or transverse centre-lines. The anchoring system provides an active semi-weathervaing capability whereby heave and roll motions may be significantly reduced. Accurate station keeping maybe achieved with a relatively small number of pulling devices, the pulling force of which can be relatively small.

Abstract: The invention relates to a storage structure having a fluid transfer boom for transfer of cryogenic liquids such as liquified natural gas (LNG) from a first storage structure to a vessel. The boom has two arms which are rotatably connected at their first ends via a swivel joint. In one embodiment a liquified natural gas duct is supported within the first and second arms which form a gas tight housing around the liquified natural gas duct. The transfer boom according to the present invention provides a redundant containment system wherein the LNG duct is supported by the structurally strong and self-supporting transfer boom which confines the natural gas in case of a leak in the inner LNG duct. In a further embodiment the transfer boom comprises seven swivel joints in total such that rotation in all directions is possible when the vessel is moored to the storage structure and has to cope with relative motions of roll, pitch, yaw, heave, sway and surge.