Abstract: The invention concerns a vessel (1) for storing and/or producing hydrocarbons and a buoyant turret buoy (6) to be connected to the vessel (1). The outer surface of the bow (2) of the vessel (1) comprises a receiving structure (5) for connecting a buoyant turret buoy (6) to the bow (2). The main part of the receiving structure (5) protrudes from the lower part (4) of the bow (2) in the vessel's (1) direction of travel and an interface of the receiving structure (5) is complementary to an interface of a connecting section (17) of the buoyant turret buoy (6). Further the lower part (4) of the bow (2) is below the water line (w) during connection of the buoyant turret buoy (6) at sea. The invention also concerns a method for connecting the buoyant turret buoy (6) to receiving structure (5) of the vessel (1).

Abstract: The invention concerns a cargo transfer vessel for transferring fluid between an offshore production facility and a tanker and a method for transferring the fluid. The cargo transfer vessel comprise a hull having a first and a second outer longitudinal hull side; a deck, propulsion means for actively maintaining the cargo transfer vessel at a predetermined distance from the offshore production facility and the tanker during fluid transfer operations and fluid transfer means for transferring fluid between the offshore structure and the tanker. The vessel is further characterized in that the hull comprises a main hull member and at least one protruding hull member arranged below the cargo transfer vessels water line at each of the outer longitudinal hull sides for suppressing roll of the vessel, wherein the at least one protruding hull member extends at least partly along the hulls longitudinal length, i.e. from the start of the vessel's bow to the end of the vessel's aft.

Abstract: The invention concerns a vessel (1) for storing and/or producing hydrocarbons and a buoyant turret buoy (6) to be connected to the vessel (1). The outer surface of the bow (2) of the vessel (1) comprises a receiving structure (5) for connecting a buoyant turret buoy (6) to the bow (2). The main part of the receiving structure (5) protrudes from the lower part (4) of the bow (2) in the vessel's (1) direction of travel and an interface of the receiving structure (5) is complementary to an interface of a connecting section (17) of the buoyant turret buoy (6). Further the lower part (4) of the bow (2) is below the water line (w) during connection of the buoyant turret buoy (6) at sea. The invention also concerns a method for connecting the buoyant turret buoy (6) to receiving structure (5) of the vessel (1).

Abstract: The invention concerns a cargo transfer vessel for transferring fluid between an offshore production facility and a tanker and a method for transferring the fluid. The cargo transfer vessel comprise a hull having a first and a second outer longitudinal hull side; a deck, propulsion means for actively maintaining the cargo transfer vessel at a predetermined distance from the offshore production facility and the tanker during fluid transfer operations and fluid transfer means for transferring fluid between the offshore structure and the tanker. The vessel is further characterized in that the hull comprises a main hull member and at least one protruding hull member arranged below the cargo transfer vessels water line at each of the outer longitudinal hull sides for suppressing roll of the vessel, wherein the at least one protruding hull member extends at least partly along the hulls longitudinal length, i.e. from the start of the vessel's bow to the end of the vessel's aft.

Abstract: The invention concerns a cargo transfer vessel (3) for transferring fluid between an offshore production facility and a tanker and a method for transferring the fluid. The cargo transfer vessel comprise a hull (20) having a first and a second outer longitudinal hull side; a deck (30), propulsion means for actively maintaining the cargo transfer vessel at a predetermined distance from the offshore production facility and the tanker during fluid transfer operations and fluid transfer means for transferring fluid between the offshore structure and the tanker. The vessel is further characterized in that the hull comprises a main hull member and at least one protruding hull member (13) arranged below the cargo transfer vessels water line at each of the outer longitudinal hull sides for suppressing roll of the vessel, wherein the at least one protruding hull member extends at least partly along the hulls longitudinal length, i.e. from the start of the vessel's bow to the end of the vessel's aft.

Abstract: The invention concerns a cargo transfer vessel (3) for transferring fluid between an offshore production facility and a tanker and a method for transferring the fluid. The cargo transfer vessel comprise a hull (20) having a first and a second outer longitudinal hull side; a deck (30), propulsion means for actively maintaining the cargo transfer vessel at a predetermined distance from the offshore production facility and the tanker during fluid transfer operations and fluid transfer means for transferring fluid between the offshore structure and the tanker. The vessel is further characterized in that the hull comprises a main hull member and at least one protruding hull member (13) arranged below the cargo transfer vessels water line at each of the outer longitudinal hull sides for suppressing roll of the vessel, wherein the at least one protruding hull member extends at least partly along the hulls longitudinal length, i.e. from the start of the vessel's bow to the end of the vessel's aft.

Abstract: A tank installation for the storage of liquids, especially oil in a floating storage or production installation, including a number of tanks which are connected to pipe systems for supply of liquid to or removal of liquid from the tanks. The installation includes a central section around which the tanks are arranged in such a manner that each tank has an inner sidewall portion bordering on the central section, and the pipe systems are arranged in the central section and include radially extending pipe lengths that are connected to respective tanks.

Abstract: A tank installation for the storage of liquids, especially oil in a floating storage or production installation, including a number of tanks which are connected to pipe systems for supply of liquid to or removal of liquid from the tanks. The installation includes a central section around which the tanks are arranged in such a manner that each tank has an inner sidewall portion bordering on the central section, and the pipe systems are arranged in the central section and include radially extending pipe lengths that are connected to respective tanks.

Abstract: Platform for drilling after or production of hydrocarbons at sea, consisting of a semi-submersible platform body which supports drilling and/or production equipment on its upper surface. The platform body is designed as a vertical mainly flat bottomed cylinder which is provided with at least one peripheral circular cut-out in the lower section of the cylinder since the centre of buoyancy for the submerged section of the platform is positioned lower than the centre of gravity of the platform.

Abstract: Platform for drilling after or production of hydrocarbons at sea, consisting of a semi-submersible platform body (2) which supports drilling and/or production equipment on its upper surface. The platform body (2) is designed as a vertical mainly flat bottomed cylinder which is provided with at least one peripheral circular cut-out (5, 30, 35, 36) in the lower section of the cylinder since the centre of buoyancy for the submerged section of the platform (1) is positioned lower than the centre of gravity of the platform.

Abstract: A ship for use in offshore operations, with one or more vertical openings (moonpools) in the hull, wherein the deck and/or hull bottom areas between or substantially between and/or otherwise adjacent the openings, are displaced relative to the rest of the deck and/or hull bottom areas of the ship to a position closer to the ship's transverse neutral axis. The area between the rest of the other deck- and hull bottom areas and substantially the displaced area or areas at the openings in the ship and the rest of the deck- and/or hull bottom areas can be stepped in one or more steps, or be shaped as an approximately linear or arcuate junction.

Abstract: When mooring a production ship (10) above a submarine production well, minimum three (usually e.g. eight) anchor lines are used in the form of mooring chains (16b, 16a′, 16b′, 16c′) each extending from a stationary point at the seabed to a separate attachment point on the ship (10). At least one anchor line (16b, 16c) (of a minimum line number of three) has a fixed length and leads to an attachment hook (20) on-board the ship, while the or each of the remaining anchor lines (16a′, 16c′, 16d′), as known per se, has a changeable, shortenable length between the stationary seabed point and a point (34) on the ship (10), e.g. by means of a winch (30) for each of said longitudinally changeable anchor lines (16a′, 16c′, 16d′), simplifying the mooring arrangement constructively and the mooring operations functionally.

Abstract: A swivel device for a ship (10) equipped so as to serve as i.a. a production and/or a drilling ship by exploitation of submarine wells or reservoirs, respectively, containing oil and/or gas, where the ship (10) is formed with a vertically through-going shaft (12). Within the shaft (12), a turret (16) having a substantially vertical axis is rotatably mounted in relation to the hull and is included in said swivel device. Thus, when the turret (16) is moored to the seabed, the ship (10) may turn about said vertical axis, dependent on wind and/or sea currents. The swivel device comprises a first pipe (32) substantially concentrical with the turret (16) and with a smaller external diameter than the internal diameter of the turret (16), so that, between the outside of said first pipe (32) and the inner side of the turret (16), a vertically through-going annulus is formed for accommodating of several production risers (34).

Abstract: System for mooring ships, in particular for operations in connection with oil and gas activity, whereby a ship is equipped with a mooring device at its bow portion. There is included an anchor device located at the seabed, as well as at least one anchoring line adapted to connect the anchor device to the mooring device on the ship. The anchor device is an essentially permanent anchor device, preferably in the form of a suction anchor, gravitation anchor or pile anchor. The anchor device is provided with a swivel device for the anchoring line. A buoyant body is attached to a middle portion of the anchoring line.

Abstract: To permit use of a ship as production ship, among other things in conjunction with a so-called STL-buoy (30) and in test production without a buoy (30), and in which the ship (10) is formed with a bottom recess (12) for the reception of the buoy (30) in a mutually pivotal manner, there has been formed, immediately above said bottom recess (12), a vertically oriented cavity (14) in the ship's hull. In this cavity (14) is pivotally supported a sleeve-shaped turret (16) which is configured with at least one through bore, channel or other passage for passing pipelines (24, 24′), pipeline portions (38, 38′), or the like, which may be connected at the one end via a swivel device (22) to one or more pipes or the like (26) fixed in the vessel. The sleeve-shaped turret (16) works alone during test production, but is connected to the buoy (30) so that together they form a turret (16, 30) in regular production.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system for loading or unloading a ship at sea, in particular for operations in connection with oil and gas activity, whereby the ship concerned is equipped with a mooring device at its bow. There is included an anchor device located at the seabed, and at least one anchoring line adapted to connect the anchor device to the mooring device on the ship. A permanent anchor device is provided with a swivel device for the anchoring line, and a buoyant body is attached to a middle portion of the anchoring line. Moreover, there is provided a hose connected to the swivel device and to the ship, for loading or unloading operations.

Abstract: A method of loading and treatment of a gaseous or liquid hydrocarbon mixture produced on an offshore production platform, a production vessel or a well installation when producing oil and gas from a reservoir, wherein the mixture is supplied to a gas treatment vessel (12) via a buoy loading system comprising a buoy (14) of the STL/STP type, and is treated on board the vessel (12) for producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) or an LPG mixture stored in tanks on the vessel. Simultaneously with the supply of the hydrocarbon mixture, oil is also supplied to the vessel (12) via the same buoy (14), the buoy including a multi-course STP connector, the oil being transferred directly from the STP connector via a pipeline (23) and an unloading means (25) on the vessel (12) to a tanker (13) for storage and transport of the supplied oil.

Abstract: A loading/unloading terminal, especially for use in loading or unloading of petroleum products comprises a barge (1) provided with a downwardly open receiving space (2) for reception and releasable securement of a submerged buoy (20), and a submerged buoy (20) of the type comprising a bottom-anchored center member (21) for passage of medium from or to a transfer line (32) attached to the center member, and an outer member (23) rotatably mounted on the center member (21) to allow turning of the barge (1;40) about the center member (21) when the outer member (23) is secured in the receiving space (2) of the barge. The barge (1) further is provided with a coupling means (4) for connection of the passage (22) of the center member (21) to a line (9) for medium transfer to or from an adjacent conventional tanker, and with a means (10-14) for hoisting and introduction of the buoy (20) into the receiving space.

Abstract: An arrangement in a loading/unloading buoy for use in shallow waters, wherein the buoy (1) is arranged for introduction and releasable securement in a downwardly open receiving space in a floating vessel, the buoy comprising a bottom-anchored center member (2) for the passage of medium from or to a transfer line (25) which is coupled to the underside of the center member (2), and an outer member (4) which is rotatably mounted on the center member to allow turning of the vessel about the center member when the outer member is secured in the receiving space. The buoy is provided with a bottom support structure (15) which is connected to the center member (2) of the buoy and arranged for support of the buoy at the sea bed (16) when it is not in use, and to the center member of the buoy there are connected a number of mooring lines (21) extending outwards from the buoy (1) a substantial distance along the sea bed (16) and having an inherent elasticity allowing raising of the buoy from the sea bed.

Abstract: A buoy for use in loading or unloading of a flowable medium, especially oil, comprising an outer buoyancy member (2) arranged to be introduced and secured in a submerged downwardly open receiving space in a floating vessel, and a central member (3) which is rotatably mounted in the outer member and is intended for anchoring to the sea bed and arranged for passage of medium between a transfer line (57) which, in operation, is coupled to the lower end of the central member (3) and a tube system on the vessel. The central member (3) is provided with a lower extension body (8) having an outer peripheral portion (9) abutting on and essentially corresponding to the outer periphery of the adjacent end (10) of the outer buoyancy member (2), and having a lower portion (11) which is downwardly tapering from the outer peripheral portion (9).