Floating offshore structure

Abstract

A floating offshore structure of the present invention comprises: a hull including a storage tank in which product is stored; a gas turbine generator for producing electricity; and a plurality of production modules for manufacturing the product by receiving raw materials, wherein the gas turbine generator can be disposed in the hull, or one from among the plurality of production modules can be disposed in the hull. In the present invention, the gas turbine generator or one of the plurality of production modules is disposed in the hull so as not to be exposed to external air, thereby reducing construction costs, shortening construction period, and reducing maintenance and repair costs such that operating costs can be reduced, and stability on the sea can be improved.

Description

Floating offshore structures

[0001] The present invention relates to a floating offshore structure.

[0002] A floating offshore structure is a device that floats on the sea and produces goods by receiving raw materials from land or the seabed.

[0003] Among these floating offshore structures, there is the FLNG (Floating Liquefied Natural Gas), which receives natural gas (NG) from gas wells on land or the seabed, liquefies it to produce LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas), and stores and offloads it. In addition, there is the FPSO (Floating Production, Storage and Offloading), which receives well fluid from oil wells on land or the seabed, processes it to produce crude oil, and stores and offloads it.

[0004] A floating offshore structure comprises a hull that floats on the sea and stores products, and a topside section that is positioned on the hull and includes multiple production modules for receiving raw materials and producing products. In addition to the multiple production modules, the topside section includes utility modules that produce utilities, such as electricity or compressed air, necessary for the production of products. The utility modules include multiple utility equipment, and among the utility equipment is a gas turbine generator that produces electricity.

[0005] Meanwhile, production equipment included in the production module of the topside section and utility equipment such as gas turbine generators in the utility module are directly exposed to the open sea air, and thus are susceptible to corrosion and damage caused by wind and salt. Consequently, to install these pieces of equipment on the hull, expensive environmentally resistant materials must be used, and the amount of material required is also large. Furthermore, since production equipment and utility equipment such as gas turbine generators must satisfy explosion-proof equipment classification regulations, these pieces of equipment also become expensive. As a result, conventional floating offshore structures required relatively high construction costs and periods.

[0006] In addition, as a large amount of equipment is placed on the hull, the center of gravity shifts upward, giving rise to additional considerations such as continuously managing the volume of the topside to ensure the stability of the floating offshore structure at sea or adjusting the seawater volume in the ballast tanks.

[0007] The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a floating offshore structure that can reduce construction costs and shorten the construction period, and improve stability at sea, by placing a gas turbine generator or one of a plurality of production modules within the hull so that it is not exposed to the outside air.

[0008] The problems of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

[0009] One aspect of the floating offshore structure of the present invention for achieving the above objective comprises: a hull including a storage tank for storing a product; a gas turbine generator for producing electricity; and a plurality of production modules for receiving raw materials and producing the product, wherein the gas turbine generator may be placed within the hull, or one of the plurality of production modules may be placed within the hull.

[0010] The above hull may include a storage section including the storage tank, a bow section positioned in front of the storage section, and a stern section positioned behind the storage section.

[0011] The above gas turbine generator may further include a topside section which is positioned within the hull and on the hull and includes a plurality of the above production modules.

[0012] The above gas turbine generator can be placed within the above stern section.

[0013] The above stern section includes a stern machine room, and the gas turbine generator can be placed in the stern machine room.

[0014] In order for outside air to be supplied to the gas turbine generator, the other end of an outside air inlet duct, one end of which is connected to the gas turbine generator, is positioned over the upper deck of the hull, a chimney is connected to the hull, and the gas turbine generator and the chimney can be connected by an exhaust duct so that exhaust gas discharged from the gas turbine generator is discharged to the outside through the chimney.

[0015] One of the plurality of production modules is disposed within the hull, and may further include a topside section disposed on the hull and comprising the remaining production modules among the plurality of production modules and the gas turbine generator.

[0016] The production module positioned within the hull can be positioned within the bow section.

[0017] The above product is LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas), and the production module placed within the hull may be a liquefaction module that liquefies natural gas (NG).

[0018] An eco-friendly module that captures carbon dioxide contained in the exhaust gas emitted from the gas turbine generator or recovers waste heat from the exhaust gas may be placed on the hull.

[0019] Specific details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and drawings.

[0020] The floating offshore structure according to the present invention can reduce operating costs and improve stability at sea by reducing maintenance costs, as well as by placing a gas turbine generator or one of a plurality of production modules within the hull so that it is not exposed to the outside air, thereby reducing construction costs and shortening the construction period.

[0021] The problems of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a side view of a floating offshore structure according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a side view of a floating offshore structure according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a side view of a floating offshore structure according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a side view of a floating offshore structure according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0026] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. The advantages and features of the present invention, and the methods for achieving them, will become clear by referring to the embodiments described below in detail together with the attached drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below but can be implemented in various different forms. These embodiments are provided merely to ensure that the disclosure of the present invention is complete and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the invention, and the present invention is defined only by the scope of the claims. Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals refer to the same components.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a side view of a floating offshore structure according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, a floating marine structure (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention can produce a product by receiving raw materials from land or the seabed while floating on the sea.

[0029] For example, the floating offshore structure (10) may be a Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) that produces, stores, and offloads LNG by receiving natural gas (NG) from a gas well on land or the seabed while floating on the sea. Additionally, the floating offshore structure (10) may be a Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) that produces, stores, and offloads crude oil by receiving and processing well fluid from an oil well on land or the seabed while floating on the sea. However, the floating offshore structure (10) is not limited to this.

[0030] A floating marine structure (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a hull (100), a topside section (200), and a deck house (300), etc.

[0031] The hull (100) can float on the sea. The hull (100) may include an empty space inside to allow it to float on the sea. This space of the hull (100) may be designed to maintain the buoyancy of the hull (100) and to respond to external forces or changes in the marine environment. The hull (100) includes a storage section (110), a bow section (120), and a stern section (130), etc.

[0032] The storage section (110) can store products such as LNG or crude oil produced in the topside section (200). For the storage of products, the storage section (110) may include storage tanks (111). There may be multiple storage tanks (111). Additionally, multiple storage tanks (111) may be arranged in the storage section (110) along the length direction of the hull (100). Furthermore, multiple storage tanks (111) may be arranged in the storage section (110) along the length direction and width direction of the hull (100), respectively. For example, four storage tanks (111) may be arranged in the storage section (110) along the length direction of the hull (100). Additionally, four storage tanks (111) may be arranged in the storage section (110) along the length direction of the hull (100), and two storage tanks (111) may be arranged in the storage section (110) along the width direction. However, the number of storage tanks (111) and the configuration in which the storage tanks (111) are placed in the storage section (110) are not limited to this.

[0033] The storage tank (111) may be a membrane-type tank or a stand-alone tank. However, the storage tank (111) is not limited to this.

[0034] The bow section (120) may be positioned in front of the storage section (110). The bow section (120) may be coupled to the storage section (110) so as to be positioned in front of the storage section (110). Mooring equipment not shown, such as a turret, may be placed in the bow section (120) to moor the floating offshore structure (10) in the sea. Utility equipment not shown, such as a generator or compressor, which produces utilities such as electricity or compressed air required for the production of products in the topside section (200), may be placed in the bow section (120). The bow section (120) may include a bow engine room not shown. Utility equipment may be placed in the bow engine room of the bow section (120). However, utility equipment may be placed in the bow section (120) without including a bow engine room. Additionally, utility equipment may not be placed in the bow section (120).

[0035] The stern section (130) may be positioned at the rear of the storage section (110). The stern section (130) may be coupled to the storage section (110) so as to be positioned at the rear of the storage section (110). The stern section (130) may include a stern machine room (131). A utility module (UM) may be positioned in the stern machine room (131). The utility module (UM) may include utility equipment that produces utilities. The utility module (UM) may include a gas turbine generator (GTG) as utility equipment. In addition to the gas turbine generator (GTG), the utility module (UM) may include other utility equipment not shown, such as a compressor. In other words, the utility module (UM) may include multiple utility equipment.

[0036] The gas turbine generator (GTG) can produce electricity. The electricity produced by the gas turbine generator (GTG) can be supplied to utility equipment included in the bow engine room, stern engine room (131), or topside section (200) through electrical distribution and supply equipment not shown, such as a switchboard. Additionally, the electricity produced by the gas turbine generator (GTG) can be supplied to production equipment not shown included in the production module (PM) described later, which is included in the topside section (200), through electrical distribution and supply equipment. Furthermore, the electricity produced by the gas turbine generator (GTG) can be supplied to a controller placed in the control room not shown later, which is included in the deck house (300), through electrical distribution and supply equipment. Meanwhile, electrical distribution and supply equipment can be placed in an electrical room not shown or an electrical and instrumentation room included in the stern engine room (131). However, the stern machine room (131) does not include an electrical room or an electrical and instrumentation room, and electrical distribution and supply equipment may be placed in the stern machine room (131).

[0037] For the operation of the gas turbine generator (GTG), outside air may be supplied to the gas turbine generator (GTG). To supply outside air to the gas turbine generator (GTG), one end of the outside air inlet duct (DI) may be connected to the gas turbine generator (GTG). Additionally, the other end of the outside air inlet duct (DI) connected to the gas turbine generator (GTG) may be positioned above the upper deck of the hull (100). By doing so, outside air may flow into the other end of the outside air inlet duct (DI) and flow through the outside air inlet duct (DI). Then, the outside air flowing through the outside air inlet duct (DI) may be supplied to the gas turbine generator (GTG) through one end of the outside air inlet duct (DI).

[0038] When the gas turbine generator (GTG) is in operation, exhaust gas can be discharged from the gas turbine generator (GTG). To discharge the exhaust gas discharged from the gas turbine generator (GTG) to the outside, a chimney (FN) may be connected to the hull (100). The chimney (FN) may be connected to the stern (130) of the hull (100) so as to be positioned adjacent to the deck house (300) and extend in the height direction of the hull (100). Additionally, an exhaust duct (DE) may be connected to the gas turbine generator (GTG) and the chimney (FN). By doing so, the exhaust gas discharged from the gas turbine generator (GTG) may flow into the exhaust duct (DE) and flow through the exhaust duct (DE) to flow into the chimney (FN). Then, the exhaust gas that has flowed into the chimney (FN) may flow through the chimney (FN) and be discharged to the outside.

[0039] The gas turbine generator (GTG) may not be included in the utility module (UM) and may be placed in the stern machine room (131). Additionally, the gas turbine generator (GTG) may not be placed in the stern machine room (131) but may be placed within the stern section (130) or within other parts of the hull (100), such as the bow section (120).

[0040] In this way, the gas turbine generator (GTG) can be placed within the hull (100), such as within the stern (130), so that it is not exposed to the outside air at sea. Accordingly, the need to use expensive environmentally resistant materials for the placement of the gas turbine generator (GTG) is reduced, and the amount of material used can also be reduced. In addition, the level of explosion-proof equipment grade regulations required for the gas turbine generator (GTG) can be relaxed, thereby suppressing the increase in the cost of the gas turbine generator (GTG). Therefore, the construction cost of the floating offshore structure (10) can be reduced and the construction period shortened, and maintenance costs can be reduced, thereby reducing the operating expenditure (OPEX).

[0041] In addition, as the center of gravity of the hull (100) is shifted downward, the stability of the floating marine structure (10) at sea can be improved.

[0042] Meanwhile, an unillustrated diesel generator may be included in the utility module (UM) as an auxiliary to the gas turbine generator (GTG), or placed in the stern engine room (131) or the bow engine room, or placed in the stern section (130) or the bow section (120).

[0043] The stern section (130) may include an instrumentation room not shown or the aforementioned electrical and instrumentation room. In addition, in the instrumentation room or the electrical and instrumentation room, instrumentation equipment not shown may be placed so that a controller in the control room of the deck house (300) can monitor and control utility equipment or production equipment, and so that the controller is connected to utility equipment or production equipment. The instrumentation room may also be placed in the deck house (300).

[0044] Meanwhile, the hull (100) may include an unillustrated unloading facility for unloading products such as LNG or crude oil stored in a storage tank (111) of a storage section (110) onto a transport vessel that transports them.

[0045] In addition, the hull (100) may be equipped with a propeller, such as a pod thruster, which is not shown, and may move on the sea.

[0046] The topside section (200) may be positioned on the hull (100). The topside section (200) may be connected to a raw material supply source, such as a gas well or oil well on land or the seabed, via a raw material supply pipe not shown, to receive raw materials such as natural gas or oil well fluid. Additionally, the topside section (200) may be connected to utility equipment, such as the bow engine room or stern engine room (131) of the hull (100), to receive utilities such as electricity or compressed air to produce products such as LNG or crude oil.

[0047] The topside section (200) may include a plurality of production modules (PM) for producing products. For example, when LNG is produced in the topside section (200), the topside section (200) may include a production module (PM) which is a pretreatment module including production equipment such as equipment for pretreating natural gas (not shown) and equipment for removing impurities or adjusting components in natural gas, and a production module (PM) which is a liquefaction module including production equipment such as equipment for liquefying natural gas. Additionally, when crude oil is produced in the topside section (200), the topside section (200) may include a production module (PM) which is a separation module including production equipment such as equipment for separating crude oil, gas, and water, etc., from oil well fluid (not shown), and a production module (PM) which is a processing and stabilization module including production equipment such as equipment for processing and compressing gas, equipment for processing produced water, and equipment for stabilizing crude oil. However, the production module (PM) included in the topside section (200) to produce the product is not limited to this.

[0048] Meanwhile, utility equipment, etc., may be placed in addition to the production module (PM) in the top side section (200).

[0049] The topside section (200) is connected to the storage section (110) of the hull (100) and can store products such as produced LNG or crude oil in the storage tank (111) of the storage section (110).

[0050] The deck house (300) may provide a space for a worker to control and monitor the floating offshore structure (10). To this end, the deck house (300) may include a control room not shown. A controller that the worker can interface with may be placed in the control room. The controller may be connected to utility equipment or production equipment via the aforementioned instrumentation equipment to monitor and control the utility equipment or production equipment. Additionally, the controller may be connected to a generator, such as a gas turbine generator (GTG), via the aforementioned electrical distribution and supply equipment to receive electricity.

[0051] The deck house (300) can provide a space for a worker to reside. To this end, the deck house (300) may include an unillustrated residential area. The deck house (300) may be placed on the hull (100). The deck house (300) may be placed on the stern (130) of the hull (100).

[0052] FIG. 2 is a side view of a floating offshore structure according to some embodiments of the present invention. For convenience of explanation, the differences from the description using FIG. 1 will be explained in detail.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 2, as the gas turbine generator (GTG) is positioned within the hull (100), there may be space remaining on the hull (100) where the topside portion (200) is positioned. In this remaining space on the hull (100), an eco-friendly module (EM) may be positioned. The eco-friendly module (EM) can capture carbon dioxide contained in the exhaust gas emitted from the gas turbine generator (GTG) or recover waste heat from the exhaust gas. In other words, the eco-friendly module (EM) may be a carbon dioxide capturer that captures carbon dioxide contained in the exhaust gas emitted from the gas turbine generator (GTG) or a waste heat recovery unit that recovers waste heat from the exhaust gas.

[0054] In this case, the exhaust duct (DE) can be connected to the gas turbine generator (GTG) and the chimney (FN), as well as to the eco-module (EM). In other words, the exhaust duct (DE) can be connected to the gas turbine generator (GTG) and the eco-module (EM), and to the eco-module (EM) and the chimney (FN). However, the eco-module (EM) is not limited to this.

[0055] In this way, an eco-friendly module (EM) is placed on the hull (100), so that the floating offshore structure (10) can satisfy the eco-friendly regulations when working in the sea where eco-friendly regulations apply.

[0056] Meanwhile, if the eco-friendly module (EM) is a waste heat recovery unit, a steam turbine generator not shown may be placed inside or on the hull (100). And, the waste heat recovered from the exhaust gas in the eco-friendly module (EM) may be used to produce steam used in the steam turbine generator.

[0057] FIG. 3 is a side view of a floating offshore structure according to some embodiments of the present invention. For convenience of explanation, the differences from those described using FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 will be explained in detail.

[0058] Referring to FIG. 3, one of a plurality of production modules (PM) may be placed within the hull (100). The production module (PM) placed within the hull (100) may be placed within the bow section (120). However, the part of the hull (100) where the production module (PM) is placed is not limited to this, such as the production module (PM) being placed within the stern section (130).

[0059] The product is LNG, and the production module (PM) placed in the hull (100) may be a liquefaction module for liquefying natural gas. The production module (PM) which is a liquefaction module may be placed within the bow section (120). However, the production module (PM) placed in the hull (100) is not limited to the following: it may be placed within the stern section (130) and may include electrical distribution and supply equipment or instrumentation equipment such as a switchboard or a transformer.

[0060] The topside section (200) may include the remaining production module (PM) among the plurality of production modules (PM). Additionally, the topside section (200) may include a gas turbine generator (GTG). The topside section (200) may include a gas turbine generator (GTG) by including a utility module (UM) that includes the gas turbine generator (GTG) and other utility equipment. However, the topside section (200) may include the remaining production module (PM) among the plurality of production modules (PM) and the gas turbine generator (GTG).

[0061] In this way, one of the multiple production modules (PM) is placed within the hull (100), such as within the bow section (120), so that it is not exposed to the outside air at sea. Accordingly, the need to use expensive environmentally resistant materials for the placement of the production modules (PM) is reduced, and the amount of material used can also be reduced. In addition, the level of explosion-proof equipment grade regulations required for the production modules (PM) can be relaxed, thereby suppressing the increase in the cost of the production modules (PM). Therefore, the construction cost of the floating offshore structure (10) can be reduced and the construction period shortened, and maintenance costs can be reduced, thereby reducing operating costs.

[0062] FIG. 4 is a side view of a floating offshore structure according to some embodiments of the present invention. For convenience of explanation, the differences from those described using FIG. 1 to 3 will be explained in detail.

[0063] Referring to FIG. 4, as one of the multiple production modules (PM) is placed within the hull (100), there may be space remaining on the hull (100) where the topside portion (200) is placed. And, an eco-friendly module (EM) may be placed in this remaining space on the hull (100).

[0064] The Eco-Module (EM) can capture carbon dioxide contained in exhaust gases emitted from gas turbine generators (GTG) or recover waste heat from the exhaust gases. In other words, the Eco-Module (EM) can be a carbon dioxide capturer or a waste heat recovery unit.

[0065] In this case, the exhaust duct (DE) may be connected to the gas turbine generator (GTG) and the eco-module (EM). Additionally, the exhaust duct (DE) may be connected to the eco-module (EM) and the chimney (FN). However, the eco-module (EM) is not limited to this.

[0066] In this way, an eco-friendly module (EM) is placed on the hull (100), so that the floating offshore structure (10) can satisfy the eco-friendly regulations when working in the sea where eco-friendly regulations apply.

[0067] Meanwhile, if the eco-friendly module (EM) is a waste heat recovery unit, a steam turbine generator not shown may be placed inside or on the hull (100). And, the waste heat recovered from the exhaust gas in the eco-friendly module (EM) may be used to produce steam used in the steam turbine generator.

[0068] A floating offshore structure according to such an embodiment can reduce operating costs and improve stability at sea by placing a gas turbine generator or one of a plurality of production modules within the hull so that it is not exposed to the outside air, thereby reducing construction costs and shortening the construction period, as well as reducing maintenance costs.

[0069] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the attached drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention may be implemented in other specific forms without changing its technical concept or essential features. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive.

Claims

1. A hull including a storage tank in which products are stored; Gas turbine generators that produce electricity; and It includes a plurality of production modules for producing the above-mentioned product by receiving raw materials, and A floating offshore structure in which the gas turbine generator is positioned within the hull, or one of the plurality of production modules is positioned within the hull.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above hull is, A storage unit including the above-mentioned storage tank, A front section positioned in front of the above storage section, and A floating offshore structure comprising a stern section positioned at the rear of the storage section.

3. In Paragraph 2, The above gas turbine generator is positioned within the hull, and A floating offshore structure comprising a topside section disposed on the hull and including a plurality of the production modules.

4. In Paragraph 3, The above gas turbine generator is a floating offshore structure positioned within the above stern section.

5. In Paragraph 4, The above stern section includes a stern machinery room, and The above gas turbine generator is a floating offshore structure positioned in the stern machinery room.

6. In Paragraph 3, In order for outside air to be supplied to the gas turbine generator, the other end of an outside air inlet duct, one end of which is connected to the gas turbine generator, is positioned over the upper deck of the hull, and A smokestack is connected to the above hull, and A floating offshore structure in which the gas turbine generator and the chimney are connected by an exhaust duct so that exhaust gas discharged from the gas turbine generator is discharged to the outside through the chimney.

7. In Paragraph 2, One of the plurality of the above production modules is placed within the hull, and A floating offshore structure disposed on the hull and further comprising a topside section including the remaining production modules among the plurality of production modules and the gas turbine generator.

8. In Paragraph 7, The production module disposed within the hull is a floating offshore structure disposed within the bow section.

9. In Paragraph 8, A floating offshore structure in which the above-mentioned product is LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas), and the above-mentioned production module disposed within the hull is a liquefaction module for liquefying natural gas (NG).

10. In Paragraph 1, A floating offshore structure having an eco-friendly module disposed on the hull for capturing carbon dioxide contained in the exhaust gas emitted from the gas turbine generator or recovering the waste heat of the exhaust gas.

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