Integrated production complex on gravity-bound structures (GBS)

Abstract

The invention relates to a production facility, which can be used to form a production complex, a natural gas liquefaction plant, an ammonia plant, a methanol plant, a hydrogen plant, intended for processing of hydrocarbons, storage and unloading of processed products on a gravity-based bottom structure GBS. The monolithic production complex comprises a gravity-based bottom structure GBS housing an upper module 10 equipped with processing facilities. The GBS has a rectangular top slab 2, a rectangular bottom slab 4, an intermediate horizontal slab 13, an inner vertical wall 5, at least one compartment 6 equipped with tanks 12 for storing hydrocarbons and / or the respective processed products, and a ballast compartment 7. The GBS top slab 2 has supports 9 on which the upper module 10 is installed. The GBS has a central part 1, which is a rectangular prism equipped with said top slab 2, and protruding parts 3 which extend along both sides of the central part 1 all around its periphery and have outer vertical walls 5. The protruding parts 3 and the central part 1 share the bottom slab 4, the protruding parts 3 being of lower height than the central part 1. The central part 1 has longitudinal and transverse walls 5 forming compartments 6 and 7, some of which house the tanks 12 and others are ballast compartments. The protruding part 3 has internal walls 5 perpendicular to its external walls and forming compartments 8 and 15, some of which are ballast compartments. The proposed solution is an efficient production complex for hydrocarbon processing adapted to operate underwater in icy conditions in the Arctic.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to production equipment, and can be used for forming a production complex intended for processing and storing hydrocarbons and unloading processed products, a natural gas liquefaction plant, an ammonia plant, a methanol plant, and a hydrogen plant on a gravity-based structure (GBS).

Background Art

[0002] There are two types of onshore and offshore hydrocarbon processing plants, for example, natural gas liquefaction plants (LNG plants).

[0003] The most common type is an LNG plant on a piled foundation, on which the plant equipment and structures are installed. In areas with permafrost soil, a soil heat stabilizer system is installed to support the plant structure in addition to the piled foundation. LNG plants are typically located near the coast, enabling loading of products onto sea-going vessels. In particular, the plant comprises LNG storage tanks and a jetty for unloading LNG, which is also accommodated on the piled foundation, wherein the LNG plant and LNG tanks are arranged on the shore, and the jetty for unloading LNG with required process equipment is installed in water near the coast. The LNG plant, tanks and unloading jetty are interconnected by pipelines mounted on pipe racks upright on the piled foundation for LNG transportation for unloading onto dedicated tanker gas carriers.

[0004] All required engineering systems and infrastructure facilities are typically developed at the construction site to assemble the LNG plant on the piled foundation, construct the necessary infrastructure for delivering staff, construction materials and supplies, accommodate construction workers, store materials, and operate construction equipment including temporary roads. When an LNG plant is assembled at a remote site especially with extreme environmental conditions, preparation of infrastructure for construction work is time-consuming and costly.

[0005] LNG plants built on pile foundations have the following drawbacks: • Long-term infrastructure development before construction work, • Soil heat stabilizers are costly (for plants located in areas with permafrost soil). • Costs for mobilizing and disbanding construction staff, equipment, and machinery. • The need to ensure that large construction teams can stay and work at construction sites, which are often located in remote, undeveloped areas with extreme environmental conditions. • The cost of ensuring that construction materials, LNG plant equipment, and supplies can be delivered regularly to construction sites, which are often characterized by limited access by transportation. • The cost of demolishing construction infrastructure and repairing the damaged land after construction is complete. • Adverse environmental impacts resulting from large-scale preparation and construction work at LNG plant sites.

[0006] Another type of design is the floating-based LNG plant. In this case, the LNG plant is part of a floating facility that produces, processes, and liquefies natural gas, as well as stores and unloads LNG. Floating facilities for the production, storage, and unloading of LNG (FLNG) are used in offshore gas field development and are installed directly on-site offshore using anchoring and / or mooring systems. Such floating facilities are not used in offshore locations in conditions of thick ice, as their reliable positioning, which is necessary to connect valves to underwater pipes, is impossible due to drifting ice.

[0007] One floating-base application for LNG plants is limited to development at offshore sites in ice-free waters.

[0008] There is also an option for an LNG plant on a GBS. A design solution exists (WO2015 / 039169A1, published March 26, 2015) in which an LNG plant or regasification facility, or gas-fired power plant, is installed on a gravity-bound structure (GBS) so that it is located on the seabed 5 to 200+ km from the shore, where the natural water depth is sufficient for tanker gas carriers to navigate. In this case, the GBS is also used as a mooring position for tankers and has one or more LNG storage tanks inside. To connect the GBS to the shore, pipelines run along the seabed or on pipe racks. The upper structure, including processing equipment, is housed on the GBS deck. The GBS deck has reserve space for the installation of additional equipment in case of production expansion.

[0009] This design has the following drawbacks:

[0010] The spare space on the GBS deck requires a larger structure, and only a portion of its surface area is used until additional equipment is installed. Furthermore, the GBS is not protected from external influences such as ice shock or sudden ship impacts.

[0011] An LNG production, storage, and unloading facility exists offshore, comprising a steel GBS installed on a lower foundation prepared early on the seabed near the shore with the help of solid ballast loading operations, and LNG processing equipment installed on the GBS once it is installed on the seabed (KR20180051852A, published May 17, 2018). The GBS comprises a box-shaped outer steel caisson with its lower surface seated on a foundation prepared on the seabed near the shore, a box-shaped inner steel caisson with an LNG storage space installed inside the outer steel caisson with the smallest possible gap, a top deck installed on the outer steel caisson, walls made of waterproof insulation plates installed on the inner surface of the inner steel caisson and the inner surface of the top deck to insulate the natural gas, liquefaction and unloading equipment located on the top deck, and solid ballast filling the space between the outer and inner caissons to ensure gravity and fix and immobilize it after it has stabilized.

[0012] This design has the following drawbacks: 1. GBS steel itself is more susceptible to corrosion, which reduces its durability. 2. The GBS steel body needs to be quite thick to withstand the impact of ice, which means greater metal consumption in the structure. 3. Solid ballast makes ballast loading / unloading operations for GBS more difficult. 4. The GBS is not protected from external influences such as ice shock or sudden ship impact. 5. Rectangular prism-shaped GBSs have a large draft when transported to the installation site, which makes it impossible to transport them through shallow water areas.

[0013] The design for the production complex (WO2021 / 106151A1, published June 3, 2021), which is the closest to the proposed design, features an offshore natural gas processing facility on a gravity-bound structure (GBS), comprising a rectangular prism-shaped GBS having a bottom slab and a top slab, an intermediate slab with internal vertical walls and on which one or more LNG tanks are installed in a single compartment, a ballast compartment extending along the entire GBS, and an upper module mounted on and supported on the top slab. The GBS top slab has space for LNG pumps to be removed from the tanks for replacement, repair or maintenance between modules or recesses within the top slab.

[0014] Offshore facilities have the following drawbacks: - The rectangular prism-shaped GBS has a large draft when transported to the installation site, which makes it impossible to transport through shallow water areas. - The long ballast loading work area extends along the entire GBS without any lateral partitions, making GBS ballast loading work difficult. - It is impossible to use membrane tanks, which feature the lowest metal consumption, when LNG tanks are arranged in a single row within the same compartment. - The GBS is not protected from external influences such as ice shock or emergency ship impacts. - If the GBS top slab has a recess for removing the LNG pump, the LNG tank will have a lower capacity, and the design of the top slab will be more complex. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0015] [Patent Document 1] WO2015 / 039169A1 [Patent Document 2] KR20180051852A [Patent Document 3] WO2021 / 106151A1 [Overview of the project] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0016] The technical problem solved by the present invention is as follows. Considering that the proportion of hydrocarbons produced in the Arctic is increasing, there is an urgent need to develop a new efficient production complex for hydrocarbon processing adapted to operate in icy waters in the Arctic. Means for Solving the Problems

[0017] The solution proposed to the above problem is an integrated production complex on a gravity-based structure (GBS), which comprises a gravity-based structure (GBS) and an upper module provided with processing equipment arranged thereon. The GBS has a rectangular top slab, a rectangular bottom slab, an intermediate horizontal slab, internal vertical walls, at least one compartment provided with tanks for hydrocarbons and / or respective processed products, and at least one ballast compartment. The GBS top slab has a support thereon, and the upper module is installed on the support. According to the invention, the GBS has a central portion and a protruding portion, the central portion is a rectangular prism provided with said top slab, the GBS protruding portion extends along both sides of the central portion entirely around the periphery thereof and has an outer vertical wall, the GBS protruding portion and the GBS central portion share the above-listed bottom slab, the protruding portion has a lower height than the central portion, the GBS central portion has longitudinal and transverse walls forming compartments, at least one of the compartments accommodates said tanks, a part of the compartments are ballast compartments, the GBS protruding portion has inner walls perpendicular to the outer wall thereof and forming compartments, and a part of the compartments are ballast compartments.

[0018] Furthermore, a part of the compartments formed by the longitudinal and transverse walls of the GBS central portion can accommodate auxiliary equipment.

[0019] A preferred design features longitudinal and transverse walls forming an additional ballast compartment between the intermediate horizontal slab and the bottom slab.

[0020] It can also be recommended that the support for the upper module is arranged at the intersection of the longitudinal and lateral walls of the central part of the GBS.

[0021] It is also preferred that pipelines and cable communications are arranged in the space between the top slab and the bottom of the upper module.

Effects of the Invention

[0022] The technical results achieved by the proposed technical solution are as follows.

[0023] The protruding part of the GBS increases the buoyancy of the GBS and the whole structure, and reduces its draft during transportation to the installation site.

[0024] The additional ballast compartments at the periphery of the GBS inside the protruding portion facilitate balancing of the GBS, that is, allow the GBS to settle to an even draft without roll and draft adjustment.

[0025] The increased width of the bottom of the GBS increases the stability of the whole structure during transportation thereof, and enables upper structures with greater height and greater weight to be arranged on the GBS.

[0026] The protruding part of the GBS also protects the central part from drifting ice and impact from an emergency vessel.

[0027] The protruding portion can also serve as a foundation for a pier.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0028] [Figure 1] It is a top view showing the arrangement of an integrated production complex on the GBS. [Figure 2] It is a cross-sectional view along A-A with respect to Figure 1. [Figure 3] It is a longitudinal sectional view along B-B with respect to Figure 1. [Figure 4] It is a longitudinal sectional view along C-C with respect to Figure 1. [Figure 5] This is a diagram showing the layout of the GBS main partition. [Figure 6] This figure shows the vertical wall arrangement in the cross-sectional DD related to Figure 2. [Figure 7] Figure 2 shows the vertical wall arrangement in the cross-sectional area EE. [Figure 8] This diagram shows the arrangement of the support structures for the upper module on the GBS top slab. [Figure 9] This is a diagram showing the arrangement of the upper bearing structure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0029] A gravity-settled, integrated production complex is a fully technically prepared technical product comprising a single process, namely engineering and auxiliary equipment for production, storage and unloading of liquid hydrocarbons or ammonia, power generation, and storage of auxiliary substances and materials. An example of such a complex is a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant.

[0030] The integrated GBS production complex is assembled in a dedicated workshop and towed to the installation site on the water surface. The GBS is installed on a dedicated sub-foundation in a body of water, which may be the sea, lake, river, or reservoir. To prevent abrasion of the foundation beneath the GBS and at the bottom of the body, bottom fasteners such as gabions or other similar devices may be placed at the bottom around the GBS. The GBS is installed near a dedicated quay and connected to the shore by racks and bridges, allowing for the laying of a shore access route without the use of underwater pipelines and / or long surface racks, enabling easy access to the production complex and quick evacuation of staff. The racks and bridges reaching the shore are installed after the integrated production complex is installed at the operational site. By being located near the shoreline, the GBS integrates with onshore facilities, including the hydrocarbon field, which is the source of feedstock for the production complex. Before the GBS is installed, the quay may be used to deliver cargo for, for example, hydrocarbon field development and construction of onshore facilities.

[0031] The construction of the GBS production complex will solve the challenges arising from the long and costly work required to prepare and assemble the high-rise plant for construction, as well as the challenges arising from the fact that it is impossible to develop the site in a body of water with ice conditions using such a plant on a floating structure.

[0032] One proposed option for an integrated GBS production complex could be a power generation unit that utilizes thermal energy from natural gas consumption. Such a complex could receive liquefied natural gas (LNG) from specialized tanker gas carriers, store it, regasify it, and convert it into power.

[0033] The main components of the production line are the gravity-grip structure (GBS) and the modularized process equipment on top (Figures 1-4).

[0034] GBS is a rigid reinforced concrete structure that serves as a storage facility for produced and processed raw materials, as well as for auxiliary substances and materials. GBS is the base for the upper part of the production complex and is designed to be placed at the bottom of the body under its own weight. The central part 1 of GBS is molded as a rectangular prism and has a top slab 2.

[0035] On both sides of the central section 1, which runs along the entire perimeter, are GBS protruding sections 3 equipped with vertical outer walls. The GBS central section 1 and the protruding sections 3 share a common bottom slab 4, and the height of the protruding sections 3 is lower than the height of the GBS central section 1.

[0036] The central GBS section 1 is divided into compartments by vertical longitudinal and transverse walls 5 (Figures 5-7). Some compartments, for example, compartment 6, are used to store produced and processed feedstock, while other compartments, for example, compartment 7, are used to store ballast water. The GBS projection section 3 is divided into compartments by vertical walls 5 perpendicular to its outer wall. Compartments 8, located along the longer side of the GBS, are also included in the ballast system.

[0037] The GBS top slab 2 has a reinforced concrete support 9 on which the upper module 10 is installed.

[0038] The GBS can remain afloat during water transport to the installation site of the integrated production complex and can withstand the impact of ice in icy conditions. The change in the state of the GBS from floating to stationary at the installation site on the foundation 11 is ensured by ballast compartments 7 and 8 which are filled with water.

[0039] The external dimensions of the GBS may vary depending on the purpose of the production complex, such as for an LNG plant. The GBS dimensions (including the protruding section 3) may be 324m in length, 154m in width, and 30.2m in height, as follows. In this case, the length of the central section 1 of the GBS is 300m, the width is 108m, and the height is 30.2m. The protruding sections 3 on both sides of the GBS have a width of 22m, and the short end walls of the GBS are 12m wide. The height of the protruding section 3 is 13.75m.

[0040] The main spatial planning solutions for GBS structures are defined by scientific and technological parameters, as well as the internal and external loads affecting the GBS structure, taking into account the maximum possible negative combination.

[0041] The central section 1 of the GBS is rectangular prism-shaped and includes a main support structure, i.e., vertical longitudinal and transverse walls 5, horizontal slabs, i.e., a top slab 2, a bottom slab 4, and an intermediate support slab 13 beneath the main tank 12 for the storage of hydrocarbons and / or their respective processed products. The support structure ensures the necessary spatial rigidity of the GBS cage, including during the transport of the integrated production complex and while it is floating until it is installed. Reinforced concrete walls also realize the division of the GBS into compartments according to their functional purpose. Parts of the transverse walls 5 may have rectangular openings in their central sections instead of being rigid. In this case, they essentially serve the purpose of rigid ribs.

[0042] The reinforced concrete wall also functions as a bearing structure that transfers the load from above to the supporting slab 13 and foundation 11; therefore, the upper support 9 is positioned above the intersection of the vertical longitudinal and lateral walls 5 of the GBS.

[0043] The GBS top slab 2 is sloped from the central longitudinal line to the edge for drainage of atmospheric precipitation and process runoff. The structure of top slab 2 is designed to withstand explosive loads in the event of an emergency. When cryogenic liquids are involved in the scientific and technological process, steel with enhanced cryogenic resistance is used as a reinforcement to protect top slab 2 from cryogenic medium spills.

[0044] A horizontal support slab 13 is provided between the top slab 2 and the bottom slab 4 to distribute the load from the storage tanks 12 for liquid hydrocarbons and / or their processed products. The longitudinal and transverse walls 14 below the slab 13 transfer the load to the bottom slab 4, ensuring the spatial rigidity of the structure.

[0045] The main material for the central section 1 of the GBS is reinforced concrete, which is based on normal-density concrete improved with tension-reinforced material.

[0046] The GBS protrusion 3 is positioned along the periphery of the GBS central section 1, forming a single structure with it. The longer side of the protrusion 3 almost entirely accommodates the ballast section 8 (Figure 5), while the shorter end mostly accommodates the auxiliary and engineering sections 15. The GBS protrusion 3 serves the following primary purposes: - To achieve the required target GBS buoyancy parameters, - To accommodate ballast compartment 8, which is generally intended to balance the GBS, and to ensure that the GBS floats at equal draft without roll and draft adjustments. - In the event of an emergency collision / ship impact, the design features a natural protective barrier, with the protruding portion 3 absorbing and dissipating most of the impact energy, preventing damage to the main part of the GBS cage, and ensuring the integrity and maintenance of the main tank 12 and the support structure of the upper foundation. - To accommodate auxiliary processing and shipboard equipment that ensures LNG tankers can moor and unload liquid hydrocarbons.

[0047] Storage tanks for liquid hydrocarbons and / or their respective processed products are housed in the GBS section and are intended for the storage of products in the integrated production complex. Depending on its intended use, the production complex may also have storage tanks for feedstocks, semi-finished products, and consumables. The central section 1 of the GBS has several tanks 12 (Figure 5) which may have different designs depending on the properties of the substances to be stored. For the storage of LNG and cryogenic liquids under near-atmospheric pressure, membrane tanks are used. In this case, the tank 12 consists of a steel membrane made of stainless steel or Invar (Fe-Ni alloy) separated from the concrete structure by a thermal insulation layer installed inside the concrete section 6. The thermal insulation layer is placed directly on the top slab 2, the intermediate slab 13, and the walls of the GBS and moves the load from the tank 12 and its liquid contents to the boundary structure mentioned above. The GBS slabs and walls thus function as support structures for the membrane tank, and together they are integrated into a single structural unit. To prevent any leakage, the bottom and sides of the membrane tank 12 have a secondary barrier in which an additional membrane is installed inside the thermal insulation layer.

[0048] In the case of an LNG plant, the liquefied gas is stored in two 115,000 cbm tanks 12, each located within an individual compartment 6 measuring 135 × 40 × 24 m. The compartment 6 containing the tanks 12 is surrounded by a dry compartment 16 that allows for inspection of the outer surface of the tank boundary structure.

[0049] For the storage of condensates and other liquid hydrocarbons that do not require low temperatures, GBS concrete compartments 17 may be used, and their boundary structure functions as a protective barrier. Part of compartment 7 can be used for both ballast water and the storage of condensates and other liquid hydrocarbons that do not require low temperatures. In the case of an LNG plant, there is a compartment 7 with a capacity of 75,000 cbm and a size of 135 × 30 × 30 m for stable condensate storage, and one of the compartments 17 has a capacity of 5,000 cbm and a size of 30 × 8 × 30 m, which is for substandard condensate storage.

[0050] A “wet” storage system, including a layer of water below, may be used for hydrocarbons, which have a lower density than water. In this case, the bottom layer of the stored product, approximately 1 m thick, is considered a mixing area to ensure guaranteed separation of the water and the stored product during the loading operation. Compartment 7 is also slightly pressurized (from atmospheric pressure) at the top of compartment 7 using a nitrogen blanket to make compartment 7 airtight and prevent the formation of a flammable and explosive gas mixture with hydrocarbon vapors.

[0051] The height of the water layer below in compartment 7 may be fixed or variable. In the case where the water layer height is fixed, it remains constant regardless of the quality of the condensate or other liquid hydrocarbons stored in the compartment, for example, fixed at 2 meters. Changes in the amount of condensate in compartment 7 are compensated for by changes in the amount of nitrogen blanket. In the case where the water layer height is variable, the height of the water layer below changes so that compartment 7 is permanently filled with liquid. When compartment 7 is filled with condensate or other liquid hydrocarbons, some of the water is removed from it by the active ballast system. Additional water is supplied to compartment 7 when the level of stored hydrocarbons decreases.

[0052] A compartment 6 for the storage of large volumes of hydrocarbons is located within the central section 1 of the GBS. Smaller compartments, such as tanks (for example, diesel fuel, hot oil, or glycol water), may also be located within the protruding section 3 of the GBS.

[0053] For storing small volumes, freestanding tanks are also used in GBS compartments (in the central section 1 or the protruding section 3). In the case of LNG plants, freestanding tanks are used for wastewater, demineralized water, fresh water, wash water, absorbents, butane, and propane.

[0054] The auxiliary and engineering compartment 16 within the central GBS section 1 is located on either side of the main hydrocarbon storage compartment 6, centered between them. The compartment 16 is intended for processing needs, equipment placement, processing fluid tanks, and access and evacuation routes for staff. With the dry compartment 16 aligned along the periphery of the main compartment 6 for hydrocarbon storage, the outer surface of the boundary wall of the hydrocarbon storage tank 12 can be inspected.

[0055] An auxiliary and engineering section 15 is located within the protruding portion 3 of the GBS. The section 15 is intended to accommodate machining needs, equipment placement, and machining fluid tanks.

[0056] The engineering equipment includes power supply systems, including substations such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, ballast water heating and recirculation systems, water supply and waste systems, fire pumps and pipelines, foam fire-fighting system skids, electrochemical protection systems, telecommunications and warning systems, and video surveillance systems. The majority of the engineering equipment is located on top slab 2 and / or module 10, with the remainder located within engineering compartment 15. Auxiliary compartment 15 may remain empty and is equipped with ladders and manholes for accessing its interior.

[0057] The support 9 of the upper module on the GBS top slab 2 ensures that the reaction force of the support is transferred from the upper module 10 to the main load-bearing structure of the GBS. Structurally, the support is a reinforced concrete tower with a head for embedded components. At the connection point between the GBS support 9 and the upper module 10, a special sealant 18 is used (Figure 9) to compensate for the thermal expansion of the upper module 10 by ensuring free rotation and movement in a predetermined direction.

[0058] The placement of the support 9 in the arrangement (Figure 8) is determined based on the intersection of the GBS load bearing walls 5 to ensure the distribution of loads from the upper module 10.

[0059] The height of the support 9 is selected to provide sufficient space 19 between the GBS top slab 2 and the lower part of the upper module 10 in order to arrange piping and cable communications between the upper side and the equipment in the GBS compartment and to allow people and machines to move on the GBS top slab 2.

[0060] The GBS ballast system includes an inner ballast compartment 7, an inner ballast compartment 20 beneath the support slab 13 formed by vertical walls 14, and an outer ballast compartment 8 located within the GBS central section 1 and the GBS protruding section 3. A ballast recirculation and heating system is provided to prevent the water in the ballast compartments from freezing. The water in the ballast compartments is heated using waste heat from the exhaust gas of a gas turbine installed on the upper module 10.

[0061] The ballast system performs two main functions, namely, - Ballast loading work, i.e., changing the weight of the GBS, ensuring the required GBS draft when floating and the structural stability when the GBS is installed on the lower foundation, and - To balance the GBS, that is, to make the GBS equal to the waterline without rolling or draft adjustment while afloat, through compensation with ballast water for the structural center of gravity deviation from its geometric center.

[0062] The upper section where the processing equipment is located consists of module 10. The number of module 10 is determined during the production complex engineering phase. The location of the modules on the GBS is estimated taking their weight into account to ensure that the center of gravity of the production complex is close to the geometric center of the GBS in order to reduce the amount of ballast water required to balance the structure when floating.

[0063] The upper module 10 is a three-dimensional steel frame with support columns, which houses processing equipment, electrical equipment, automation systems, and the like.

[0064] The vertical columns 21, vertical bracing members 22, and floor beams 23 are the main elements of the column-supported frame of module 10 (Figure 9). At the foundation level, the upper module 10 is no different in its design and arrangement from the upper modules used in the oil and gas sector.

[0065] The equipment configuration depends on the purpose of the integrated production complex. For example, in an LNG plant, module 10 includes a raw gas processing unit, equipment for gas liquefaction and unloading of LNG onto tanker gas carriers, as well as auxiliary equipment and public infrastructure lines.

[0066] To facilitate equipment maintenance and staff access, module 10 has several decks. The main rows 24 of each module 10 are at the same height, connecting the evacuation route and load transport route across the upper section, thereby reducing the load on the GBS top slab 2. Other rows on the upper module 10 vary in height depending on their function and equipment.

[0067] The liquid hydrocarbon loading dock 25 is structurally integrated with the GBS and the upper section. A loading arm and fenders and loading platform equipped with other vessel and processing equipment are installed on the seaward side of the GBS on projection 3. Mooring equipment for tanker docking is installed on the seaward side of the upper section.

[0068] Pier 25 can also be used to unload liquid hydrocarbons from tankers. If the production complex on the gravity-settled structure is a power generation facility, the primary function of the pier is to receive LNG from tanker-gas carriers.

[0069] The separation of GBS into compartments depends on its functional design, including the specialization of the integrated production complex. Generally, GBS are designed to have three types of compartments: ballast compartments, hydrocarbon storage compartments, and auxiliary and engineering compartments.

[0070] In the case of a GBS LNG plant, the central section 1 of the GBS comprises six main compartments (Figure 5). Two compartments 6 along the GBS centerline are intended for hydrocarbon storage, and the four lateral compartments 7 can be used both as ballast compartments and as additional storage compartments for hydrocarbons, such as condensates. In the case of "wet" storage of hydrocarbons at variable water levels, compartment 7 is both a ballast compartment and a storage compartment for hydrocarbons and / or their respective processed products. Auxiliary and engineering compartments 16 and additional hydrocarbon storage compartments 17 are located between the main compartments 6 and 7.

[0071] An additional ballast section 20 (Figures 2 and 4) is located beneath the main hydrocarbon storage section 6 between the bottom slab 4 and the support slab 13 for the main hydrocarbon storage tanks 6 and 7.

[0072] The GBS projection 3 (Figure 5) houses the ballast compartment 8 and the auxiliary and engineering compartment 15. In the case of the GBS LNG plant, the projections 3 on both sides mostly comprise the ballast compartment 8, while the shorter end mostly comprises the auxiliary and engineering compartment 15. The seabed 29 and the water level 30 in the body are shown in Figures 2 to 4.

[0073] The compartments may be separated by lateral partitions, except for the main LNG storage compartment 6. In this case, openings are created within the ballast compartment to allow ballast water to flow through, and passages for staff and communication are created in the auxiliary and engineering compartments.

[0074] The integrated production complex on the gravity-settled structure is connected to the shore as needed by two pipe racks 26 in which piping and cable routing are laid, and three evacuation bridges 27 for the movement and evacuation of staff. The pipe racks and bridges are constructed as steel bridge structures installed on supports. The supports are located on one side on the GBS top slab 2 and on the other side on the dock side 28.

Claims

1. A production complex for carbon-hydrogen processing comprising a gravity-bound structure (GBS) and an upper module having processing equipment disposed thereon, wherein the GBS has a central portion and a protruding portion, the central portion having a rectangular parallelepiped shape with a top slab and an intermediate support slab, the protruding portion extending along both sides of the central portion around the entire periphery of the central portion and having outer vertical walls, the GBS protruding portion and the GBS central portion sharing a bottom slab, the protruding portion being lower in height than the central portion, the GBS central portion having longitudinal and transverse vertical walls forming a compartment, part of the compartment being carbon A production complex comprising a compartment for storing hydrogen and / or processed products, the portion of which is a ballast compartment, the portion of which is for storing hydrocarbons, and which houses a tank positioned on the intermediate support slab, the protruding portion having an inner wall perpendicular to its outer wall and forming a compartment, the portion of which is another ballast compartment, wherein each of several compartments in the central portion, including the compartment for storing hydrocarbons and the ballast compartment, is positioned on both sides of the intermediate support slab and extends from the bottom slab to the top slab.

2. The production complex according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the compartment formed by the longitudinal and transverse walls of the central portion accommodates auxiliary equipment.

3. The production complex according to claim 1, characterized in that there are longitudinal and transverse walls between the intermediate support slab and the bottom slab that form an additional ballast compartment.

4. The production complex according to claim 1, characterized in that the GBS top slab has a support, the upper module is mounted on the support, and the support for the upper module is positioned above the intersection of the longitudinal and transverse walls of the central portion.

5. The production complex according to claim 4, characterized in that the piping and cables are arranged in the space between the top slab and the lower part of the upper module.

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