Single-Point Mooring Buoy for Ship-to-Ship Hydrocarbon Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
The offshore oil and gas industry faces challenges in reliably and cost-effectively transferring hydrocarbon liquids from Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units due to adverse weather conditions, which often necessitates the use of expensive Dynamic Positioning (DP) tankers to transport oil to shore, resulting in significant operational costs and delays.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a single-point mooring buoy with a fluid conduit connecting two tankers, one equipped with a dynamic positioning system and the other conventional, allowing for hydrocarbon liquid transfer over long distances in adverse conditions, reducing the need for expensive DP tankers to remain on site.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ship-to-ship transfer is performed in adverse weather conditions, then transfer reliability is improved, but transfer feasibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Single-Point Mooring (SPM) buoy as an intermediary structure between the FPSO and tanker vessels. The buoy provides a stable, fixed reference point that enables reliable hydrocarbon transfer even in adverse weather conditions where direct ship-to-ship transfer would be unsafe. The SPM buoy acts as a mediator that decouples the transfer operation from the relative motion between vessels, allowing continuous operation in conditions that would otherwise prevent transfer.
2Adaptability or versatility
If DP tankers are used to transport oil to shore, then transfer capability is improved, but operational cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the use of conventional tankers (cheaper vessels without expensive dynamic positioning systems) by providing them with the capability to transfer oil at the SPM buoy. Instead of requiring expensive DP tankers for the entire journey, the system allows conventional tankers to perform the critical offshore transfer operation at the buoy, then complete the longer haul to shore. This substitutes expensive specialized vessels with cheaper conventional ones for the majority of the transport distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the oil transport journey into two distinct phases: (1) offshore transfer from FPSO to tanker at the SPM buoy location, and (2) onshore transport from the buoy to the destination port. This segmentation allows optimization of each phase independently - using the SPM buoy for the challenging offshore portion and conventional tankers for the longer onshore portion, rather than requiring expensive DP capability for the entire route.
3Adaptability or versatility
If DP tankers transport oil significant distances to harbour, then offloading capability is improved, but time away from FPSO increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes the SPM buoy as a pre-positioned, permanent infrastructure at the offshore location. This preliminary action creates a ready-made transfer station that eliminates the need for DP tankers to travel long distances to find suitable offloading points. The buoy is already in position, with transfer equipment ready, allowing DP tankers to quickly complete transfers and return to the FPSO without lengthy transits to distant harbours.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables reliable and cost-effective ship-to-ship transfer of hydrocarbon liquids, minimizing the time DP tankers are away from production facilities and reducing operational costs by using conventional tankers for longer distances, thus enhancing operational efficiency and reducing environmental risks.
Implementation Method 1
A DP tanker is equipped with systems that enable the tanker to automatically maintain its position and heading using its own propellers and thrusters
Implementation Method 2
pumping a hydrocarbon liquid between the first and second tankers, via the first hose, the fluid conduit of the buoy, and the second hose
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a system and a method of transferring hydrocarbon liquids between ships. A method for ship-to-ship transfer of hydrocarbon liquids comprises mooring a first tanker (2) to a single-point mooring buoy (10), the buoy (10) having a first port (16) and a second port (18) and a fluid conduit (14) connecting the first and second ports; connecting a first hose string (26) between the first port (16) of the buoy (10) and the first tanker (2); positioning a second tanker (4) near the buoy (10), the second tanker (4) having a dynamic positioning system; connecting a second hose string (30) between the second port (18) of the buoy (10) and the second tanker (4); and pumping a hydrocarbon product between the first and second tankers, via the second hose (30), the fluid conduit (14) of the buoy (10), and the first hose (26).