System and Method for Secure Offshore Storage of Crude Oil

Abstract

A system and method for allowing the temporary storage of large quantities of crude oil, refined petroleum product, other chemicals or products, and / or fresh water at an offshore location includes a group or groups of floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks first floated to the secured predetermined locations. The floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks rest on the ocean bottom and may be connected one to another by a manifold. The group or groups of floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks are protected by a coordinated security system.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY TO PRIOR APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 347,686, filed on May 24, 2010, entitled “System and Method for Secure Offshore Storage of Crude Oil”, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference into the present disclosure.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT[0002]The invention described in this patent application was not the subject of federally sponsored research or development.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention pertains to the storage of crude oil, refined petroleum product, other chemicals or products, and / or fresh water; more particularly, the present invention pertains to the strategic storage of crude oil, refined petroleum product, other chemicals or products, and / or fresh water at offshore locations.BACKGROUND[0004]It is well known that the United States maintains a Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Specifically, the United Stat...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]The disclosed system and method establishes a remotely located secure offshore strategic crude oil storage reserve that will enable the continued flow of crude oil to refineries, exports or shipments to end users despite disruptions at onshore facilities or the exhaustion of the storage capacity of onshore crude oil storage facilities.

[0017]A secondary function for the disclosed system and method is the enablement of the strategic secure storage of crude oil reserves that will provide a way of profiting from short-term demand spikes or unanticipated price movements; specifically, crude oil will be quickly available for export or shipment during short-term demand spikes or unexpected changes in commodity prices.

Problems solved by technology

It is possible that, in critical times, the size of the United States Strategic Petroleum Reserve may not be large enough to meet either projected consumer demand or anticipated national defense requirements.

It is also possible that the existing United States Strategic Petroleum Reserve could be the target of a terrorist attack.

Should the storage facilities for the crude oil be attacked, or the pipelines delivering oil to these storage facilities, for the purpose of either destroying the stored crude oil, making a political statement or simply theft—the potential revenue or international political leverage associated with the control of a large store of crude oil would be lost.

Furthermore, dangers in the Strait of Hormuz have increased the potential risks of shipment of crude oil and hydrocarbon products from the Persian Gulf.

Many other problems, obstacles, limitations and challenges of the prior art will be evident to those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the prior art.

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