Floating offshore structure
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SAMSUNG HEAVY IND CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-23
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-30
Smart Images
Figure KR2026001447_30072026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
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] Floating offshore structures are moved to the production area by tugboats. Conventional floating offshore structures have a hull that is entirely box-shaped. Consequently, when moving floating offshore structures to the production area by tugboats, resistance from ocean currents and waves, such as increased drag due to the generation of vortices, occurs relatively significantly, and towing stability is reduced.
[0005] The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a floating offshore structure in which resistance caused by ocean currents and waves is reduced and towing stability is improved during movement at sea by a tugboat.
[0006] 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.
[0007] One aspect of the floating offshore structure of the present invention for achieving the above objective comprises: a hull including a storage section comprising a storage tank, a bow section disposed in front of the storage section, and a stern section disposed in rear of the storage section; and a topside section disposed on the hull for receiving raw materials and producing a product, wherein the bow section may include a bow slope section that is inclined upward from the bottom of the bow section to the front end of the bow section.
[0008] Another aspect of the floating marine structure of the present invention for achieving the above objective includes a hull comprising a storage section including a storage tank, a bow section disposed in front of the storage section, and a stern section disposed in rear of the storage section; and a topside section disposed on the hull and receiving raw materials to produce a product, wherein the stern section may include a stern slope section that is inclined upward from the bottom of the stern section to the rear end of the stern section.
[0009] Another aspect of the floating marine structure of the present invention for achieving the above objective is a hull comprising a storage section including a storage tank, a bow section disposed in front of the storage section, and a stern section disposed in rear of the storage section; and a topside section disposed on the hull and receiving raw materials to produce a product, wherein the stern section may include a first stern slope section inclined upward from the bottom of the stern section toward the rear end of the stern section, a flat section connected to the first stern slope section and extending parallel to the bottom from the first stern slope section toward the rear end of the stern section, and a second stern slope section connected to the flat section and inclined upward from the flat section toward the rear end of the stern section.
[0010] Specific details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and drawings.
[0011] The floating offshore structure according to the present invention can reduce resistance caused by ocean currents and waves and improve towing stability when moving at sea by a tugboat.
[0012] 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.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a side view of a floating offshore structure according to some embodiments of the present invention.
[0014] Figure 2 is a side view of the bow of the floating offshore structure of Figure 1.
[0015] Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view of the bow of the floating offshore structure of Figure 1.
[0016] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line I-I' of Figure 3.
[0017] Figure 5 is a side view of the stern of the floating offshore structure of Figure 1.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a side view of a floating offshore structure according to some embodiments of the present invention.
[0019] Figure 7 is a side view of the stern of the floating offshore structure of Figure 5.
[0020] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the stern of the floating offshore structure of Fig. 5.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a side view of a floating offshore structure according to some embodiments of the present invention.
[0022] Fig. 10 is a side view of the stern of the floating offshore structure of Fig. 9.
[0023] 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.
[0024] FIG. 1 is a side view of a floating offshore structure according to some embodiments of the present invention.
[0025] 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.
[0026] 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.
[0027] 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.
[0028] 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.
[0029] 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). For example, four 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), 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.
[0030] 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.
[0031] 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 necessary 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.
[0032] FIG. 2 is a side view of the bow of the floating offshore structure of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the bow of the floating offshore structure of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along line I-I' of FIG. 3.
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the bow section (120) may include a bow slope section (121). The bow slope section (121) may be formed on the lower front side of the bow section (120). The bow slope section (121) may slope upward from the bottom of the bow section (120) to the front of the bow section (120). The bow slope angle (θ) is the angle formed by the bow slope section (121) with the bottom of the bow section (120). b ) can be between 25 degrees and 35 degrees.
[0034] Angle of inclination of the player (θ) b If ) is less than 25 degrees, resistance due to ocean currents or waves may increase when the floating offshore structure (10) is moved on the sea by an unillustrated tugboat. In addition, the angle of the bow inclination (θ b Even if the angle is greater than 35 degrees, resistance to currents or waves may increase when the floating offshore structure (10) is moved on the sea by a tugboat.
[0035] Meanwhile, the bow section (120) may further include a chamfer section (122). The chamfer section (122) may be formed on each side of the bow slope section (121) in the width direction of the hull (100). The chamfer section (122) may be formed by having a shape in which at least a portion of each upper corner of each side of the bow slope section (121) is removed. Due to the chamfer section (122), when the floating offshore structure (10) is moved on the sea by a tugboat, vortices generated as waves are incident obliquely on the bow section (120) may be suppressed, thereby reducing resistance. The chamfer section angle (θ), which is the angle formed by the chamfer section (122) with the front section (PF) or side section (PS) of the bow section (120). c ) can be between 40 degrees and 50 degrees.
[0036] Chamfer angle (θ c If ) is less than 40 degrees, the vortex generated as waves incident obliquely on the bow (120) is not sufficiently suppressed, so the resistance reduction effect may be reduced. In addition, the chamfer angle (θ c Even when ) is greater than 50 degrees, the vortex generated by oblique incidence of waves is not sufficiently suppressed, so the resistance reduction effect may be reduced.
[0037] Referring again to FIG. 1, 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, which is not illustrated. Utility equipment such as a generator or a compressor may be placed in the stern machine room. Additionally, electrical distribution and supply equipment such as a switchboard that distributes and supplies electricity produced by the generator, which is utility equipment, may be placed in the stern machine room.
[0038] Figure 5 is a side view of the stern of the floating offshore structure of Figure 1.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 5, the stern section (130) may include a stern slope section (131). The stern slope section (131) may be formed on the lower rear end side of the stern section (130). The stern slope section (131) may slope upward from the bottom of the stern section (130) to the rear end of the stern section (130). The stern slope section angle (θ) is the angle formed by the stern slope section (131) with the bottom of the stern section (130). s ) can be between 35 degrees and 45 degrees.
[0040] Stern angle of inclination (θ) s If ) is less than 35 degrees, the generation of vortices is reduced when the floating offshore structure (10) is moved at sea by a tugboat, so resistance to ocean currents or waves may be reduced, but towing stability may be reduced. Stern inclination angle (θ s If ) is greater than 45 degrees, the generation of vortices increases when the floating offshore structure (10) is moved by a tugboat at sea, so the towing stability may be improved, but the resistance from ocean currents or waves may increase.
[0041] When including a stern section (130) of this configuration, the floating offshore structure (10) can be moved along the coastal waters or near sea by a tugboat.
[0042] 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.
[0043] 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 receive utilities such as electricity or compressed air from utility equipment, such as the bow engine room or stern engine room of the hull (100), to produce products such as LNG or crude oil.
[0044] The topside section (200) may include multiple production equipment not shown for producing products. For example, when LNG is produced in the topside section (200), the topside section (200) may include production equipment such as equipment for pre-treating natural gas, equipment for removing impurities or adjusting components in natural gas, and equipment for liquefying natural gas. Additionally, when crude oil is produced in the topside section (200), the topside section (200) may include production equipment such as equipment for separating crude oil, gas, and water from well fluid, equipment for processing and compressing gas, equipment for processing produced water, and equipment for stabilizing crude oil. However, the production equipment included in the topside section (200) for producing products is not limited thereto.
[0045] Meanwhile, in addition to production equipment, utility equipment, etc. may be placed in the top side (200).
[0046] 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).
[0047] 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 not shown that the worker can interface with may be placed in the control room. Instrumentation equipment not shown may be placed in the deck house. The instrumentation equipment may be connected to the controller and the utility equipment or production equipment so that the controller monitors and controls the utility equipment or production equipment. Such instrumentation equipment may also be placed in the stern machine room of the stern section (130).
[0048] FIG. 6 is a side view of a floating offshore structure according to some embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a side view of the stern of the floating offshore structure of FIG. 5, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the stern of the floating offshore structure of FIG. 5.
[0049] Referring to FIGS. 6 through 8, the stern section (130) may include a skeg (132). The skeg (132) may be positioned on each side of the stern slope section (131) in the width direction of the hull (100). By means of such a skeg (132), towing stability can be improved when the floating offshore structure (10) is moved at sea by a tugboat. Accordingly, when the stern section (130) includes a skeg (132), the floating offshore structure (10) can be moved stably by a tugboat even in a sea environment with large waves, such as an open ocean. When the skeg (132) is included, the stern slope angle (θ), which is the angle formed by the stern slope section (131) with the bottom of the hull s ) can be between 15 degrees and 25 degrees.
[0050] Stern angle of inclination (θ) s It may be difficult to manufacture the stern (130) such that the angle is less than 15 degrees.
[0051] Stern angle of inclination (θ) s If ) is greater than 25 degrees, resistance to ocean currents or waves may increase due to the generation of vortices, etc., when moving the floating offshore structure (10) by a tugboat in the ocean or other seas.
[0052] FIG. 9 is a side view of a floating offshore structure according to some embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a side view of the stern of the floating offshore structure of FIG. 9.
[0053] Referring to FIGS. 9 and FIGS. 10, the stern section (130) includes a first stern slope section (133), a flat section (134), and a second stern slope section (135), etc.
[0054] The first stern slope section (133) may be inclined upward from the bottom of the stern section (130) toward the rear end of the stern section (130). The first stern slope section angle (θ) is the angle formed by the first stern slope section (133) with the bottom of the stern section (130). s1 ) can be between 15 degrees and 25 degrees.
[0055] Angle of the first stern inclination (θ s1 It may be difficult to manufacture the stern (130) such that the angle is less than 15 degrees.
[0056] Angle of the first stern inclination (θ s1 If ) is greater than 25 degrees, resistance to ocean currents or waves may increase due to the generation of vortices, etc., when the floating offshore structure (10) is moved on the sea by a tugboat.
[0057] The flat section (134) is connected to the first stern slope section (133) and may extend from the first stern slope section (133) in the direction of the rear end of the stern section (130) parallel to the bottom of the stern section (130). A thruster (136) may be disposed on the flat section (134). There may be multiple thrusters (136), and multiple thrusters (136) may be disposed on the flat section (134) spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the hull (100). At least some of the multiple thrusters (136) may also be disposed on the flat section (134) spaced apart from each other in the length direction of the hull (100). By means of the thruster (136), towing stability may be improved when the floating offshore structure (10) is moved on the sea by a tugboat.
[0058] The second stern slope section (135) is connected to the flat section (134) and can be sloped upward from the flat section (134) to the rear end of the stern section (130). The second stern slope section angle (θ) is the angle formed by the second stern slope section (135) with the bottom of the stern section (130). s2 ) can be between 15 degrees and 25 degrees.
[0059] Second stern angle of inclination (θ s2It may be difficult to manufacture the stern (130) such that the angle is less than 15 degrees.
[0060] Second stern angle of inclination (θ s2 If ) is greater than 25 degrees, resistance to ocean currents or waves may increase due to the generation of vortices, etc., when the floating offshore structure (10) is moved on the sea by a tugboat.
[0061] A floating offshore structure according to such an embodiment can reduce resistance caused by ocean currents and waves and improve towing stability when moving at sea by a tugboat.
[0062] 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 comprising a storage section including a storage tank, a bow section disposed in front of the storage section, and a stern section disposed in rear of the storage section; and It includes a topside section positioned on the hull above, which receives raw materials and produces products, and A floating offshore structure comprising a bow section that is inclined upward from the bottom of the bow section to the front of the bow section.
2. In Paragraph 1, A floating offshore structure in which the angle of the bow inclination, which is the angle formed between the bow inclination and the bottom of the hull, is 25 degrees or more and 35 degrees or less.
3. In Paragraph 1, A floating offshore structure comprising a bow section further including chamfer sections formed on each side of the bow slope section in the width direction of the hull.
4. In Paragraph 3, A floating offshore structure in which the angle formed by the chamfer portion with the front or side portion of the bow portion is 40 degrees or more and 50 degrees or less.
5. A hull comprising a storage section including a storage tank, a bow section disposed in front of the storage section, and a stern section disposed in rear of the storage section; and It includes a topside section positioned on the hull above, which receives raw materials and produces products, and A floating offshore structure comprising a stern section that is inclined upward from the bottom of the stern section to the rear end of the stern section.
6. In Paragraph 5, A floating offshore structure in which the stern inclination angle, which is the angle formed between the stern inclination and the bottom of the hull, is 35 degrees or more and 45 degrees or less.
7. In Paragraph 5, The above-mentioned stern is a floating offshore structure comprising a skeg.
8. In Paragraph 7, A floating offshore structure in which the stern inclination angle, which is the angle formed between the stern inclination and the bottom of the hull, is 15 degrees or more and 25 degrees or less.
9. A hull comprising a storage section including a storage tank, a bow section disposed in front of the storage section, and a stern section disposed in rear of the storage section; and It includes a topside section positioned on the hull above, which receives raw materials and produces products, and The above stern part A first stern slope section inclined upward from the bottom of the stern section toward the rear end of the stern section, A flat section connected to the first stern slope and extending parallel to the bottom of the hull from the first stern slope in the direction of the rear end of the stern section, and A floating offshore structure comprising a second stern slope connected to the flat section and inclined upward from the flat section to the rear end of the stern section.
10. In Paragraph 9, A floating offshore structure in which thrusters are positioned on the flat section above.
11. In Paragraph 9, A floating offshore structure in which the first stern inclination angle, which is the angle formed between the first stern inclination and the bottom of the hull, is 15 degrees or more and 25 degrees or less.
12. In Paragraph 9, A floating offshore structure in which the angle of the second stern inclination, which is the angle formed by the second stern inclination with the bottom of the hull, is 15 degrees or more and 25 degrees or less.