One of the most challenging questions with regard to the technical part of the LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) supply chain has not been answered satisfactorily yet: How can LNG be safely and reliably transferred between a floating terminal platform (Floating Production, Storage and Offloading -FPSO or Floating Storage and Re-gasification Units -FSRU or comparable) and a shuttle tanker in harsh environmental conditions?The problem consists of two main technical issues: The first is the vessel mooring configuration (e.g. side-by-side (SbS), tandem); the second is the type and appropriate handling of the transfer lines for the cryogenic liquid. As both problems are interacting, no convincing solution has been developed until now. .The innovative offshore LNG loading system "Maritime Pipe Loading System 20" (MPLS20) is proposed by the project partners Nexans and Brugg, leading manufacturers of vacuum insulated, flexible cryogenic transfer pipes, IMPaC, an innovative engineering company that has been involved in many projects for the international oil and gas industry for 25 years and the Technical University Berlin, Department of Land-and Sea Transportation Systems, with great expertise in numerical analyses and model tests.The new concept is based on a unique tandem mooring configuration (see Fig. 1). In comparison to standard operations used in the oil business for about 40 years, the concept introduces a mooring bay for the shuttle tanker. Extensive numerical simulations are conducted to determine the envelope of motions and mooring forces.As the Nexans/Brugg corrugated metal pipes provide a double containment system all relevant safety issues are well addressed, as required by EN1474-2/-3. Thus, LNG transfer can take place even under severe environmental conditions which makes this new concept superior to other approaches such as side-by-side configurations using composite hoses. Fig. 1: Impression of the new offshore LNG transfer system with a LNGC moored to the LNG terminal for loading
Today, the demand of natural gas from offshore fields is on a high level and still increasing. Floating turret moored terminals receive gas directly from the field via risers and liquefaction is achieved by on-board processing plants. The LNG (liquefied natural gas) is transferred to periodically operating shuttle carriers for onshore supply. This paper presents an innovative offshore LNG transfer system, based on newly developed flexible cryogenic pipes of 16″ inner diameter, which allow fast loading/offloading procedures in tandem configuration (see Fig. 1), even in harsh environmental conditions. The motion characteristics of the proposed concept are investigated in detail by the potential theory programmes WAMIT and ANSYS AQWA, respectively, with the focus on the dynamic behaviour of the multi-body system in waves. Each vessel is generating its own radiation and diffraction wave field affecting the motions of the adjacent vessels and vice versa. Results from calculations in the frequency and time domain are compared and show good agreement. Tolerable relative motions between terminal and carrier are limited by maximum torsion and bending of the flexible transfer pipe. Based on given limiting parameters, the operational range of the system and the annual expected downtime is exemplarily calculated for a location in the north sea. Finally, second-order forces — induced by drift motions — on the mooring lines between carrier and terminal are presented as time series for a three-hour sea state.
One of the most challenging questions with regard to the technical part of the LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) supply chain has not been answered satisfactorily yet: How can LNG be safely and reliably transferred between a floating terminal platform (Floating Production, Storage and Offloading -FPSO or Floating Storage and Re-gasification Units -FSRU or comparable) and a shuttle tanker in harsh environmental conditions?The problem consists of two main technical issues: The first is the vessel mooring configuration (e.g. side-by-side (SbS), tandem); the second is the type and appropriate handling of the transfer lines for the cryogenic liquid. As both problems are interacting, no convincing solution has been developed until now. .The innovative offshore LNG loading system "Maritime Pipe Loading System 20" (MPLS20) is proposed by the project partners Nexans and Brugg, leading manufacturers of vacuum insulated, flexible cryogenic transfer pipes, IMPaC, an innovative engineering company that has been involved in many projects for the international oil and gas industry for 25 years and the Technical University Berlin, Department of Land-and Sea Transportation Systems, with great expertise in numerical analyses and model tests.The new concept is based on a unique tandem mooring configuration (see Fig. 1). In comparison to standard operations used in the oil business for about 40 years, the concept introduces a mooring bay for the shuttle tanker. Extensive numerical simulations are conducted to determine the envelope of motions and mooring forces.As the Nexans/Brugg corrugated metal pipes provide a double containment system all relevant safety issues are well addressed, as required by EN1474-2/-3. Thus, LNG transfer can take place even under severe environmental conditions which makes this new concept superior to other approaches such as side-by-side configurations using composite hoses. Fig. 1: Impression of the new offshore LNG transfer system with a LNGC moored to the LNG terminal for loading
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