Dockside Ship-To-Ship Transfer of LNG

Abstract

Systems and methods for dockside regasification of liquefied natural gas (LNG) are described herein. The methods include providing LNG from a LNG carrier to a regasification vessel. The LNG may be regasified on the regasification vessel. The regasified natural gas may be discharged with a high pressure arm to a dock and delivered onshore. The regasification vessel may be moored to the dock. The LNG carrier may be moored to the regasification vessel or the dock.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 170,388 to Bryngelson et al., filed Apr. 17, 2009 and entitled “Continuous Shipboard Regasification of LNG,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. This application claims the benefit of PCT Application No. PCT / U.S. Ser. No. 10 / 31068 to Bryngelson et al., filed Apr. 14, 2010 and entitled “Dockside Ship-to-Ship Transfer of LNG,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The invention relates to a system and method of shipboard regasification of liquefied natural gas (“LNG”). Particularly, this system and method relates to dockside ship-to-ship transfer of LNG in connection with the shipboard regasification of LNG.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Natural gas is often carried onboard special cryogenic tanker ships from the location of its origin to the locat...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]In some embodiments, a system for vessel regasification of LNG includes a LNG carrier, a dock, a regasification vessel and a high pressure arm. The LNG carrier is moored at the dock and transfers LNG to the dock through a fluid conduit. The regasification vessel receives LNG from the dock through a fluid conduit, and regasifies the LNG into regasified natural gas. The high pressure arm is coupled to the regasification vessel, accepts regasified natural gas from the regasification vessel and is the conduit for the regasified natural gas to pass into a pipeline on the dock.

[0010]In some embodiments, a system for vessel regasification of LNG includes a LNG carrier, a regasification vessel, a dock and a high pressure arm. The LNG carrier transfers LNG to the regasification vessel through a fluid conduit. The regasification vessel receives LNG from the LNG carrier through a fluid conduit,

Problems solved by technology

In these examples, the offloading of natural gas is disturbed since the LNG carrier with regasification facilities must leave the offloading location to receive additional LNG cargoes, which is undesirable.

However, constructing such a facility is costly and time consuming and locations having underwater pipelines are limited.

As a result, such an arrangement is not suitable for many locations in need of a timely natural gas supply at a low cost.

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