Abstract:
A system achieving a high density of transported natural gas by compressing it to high pressures typically above 5 MPa to transport the gas in a modified composition that permits a very low compressibility factor at near ambient temperature either above or below. This reduces greatly the size of the cooling systems that are required. In some cases cooling of the compressed gas may be achieved in a simple heat exchanger cooled by air or water. The transport of the gas takes place in self propelled ships or non-self propelled barges fitted with a cargo containment system capable of storing the cargo at high pressures, typically above 5 MPa and usually not above 25 MPa. The transport vessel may carry a store of higher molecular weight gases (c2 through c7) that when mixed with the incoming cargo results in a molecular weight of the mixture of at least 22 and possibly as high as 28 or higher. The store of higher molecular weight cargo may be gained from gases that condense during discharge of the vessel at its destination due to the adiabatic cooling of the cargo during discharge. These liquids may be retained aboard and transported back to the origin. If insufficient quantities of heavy gases are available at the origin they may be loaded at the destination. If required, the composition of the heavy gases transported back to the origin may be changed through partial discharge or partial receipt of additional hydrocarbons or a combination thereof at the destination point.
Abstract:
A fluid swivel permitting a large number of revolutions, such as 20, and permitting a large number of fluid, power, and signal paths. The swivel is leak proof and capable of resisting large internal pressures in the conveyed fluid such as 70 MPa. The pipes of the swivel are spooled between two cones in such a manner that the pipe on one cone is spooled from the top down and on the other cone from the bottom up. This method of spooling ensures a constant distance between the unwinding point on one cone and the winding point on the other cone. By providing cones with the apex pointing up, the spooled flexible pipe on either cone is prevented from falling down. An alternative embodiment spools between two cylinders with a common axis. In this embodiment the pipe spooled on one cylinder is supported by a structure resting on the pipe spooled on the other cylinder, thereby preventing the pipe on either cylinder from falling down. Yet another embodiment spools between two cylinders provided with helically formed shelves. In this embodiment the pipes spooled on the cylinders are supported by the helically formed shelves. The invention removes the limitation on existing type 5 swivels of only being able to practically store two wraps of pipe on each spool to permitting 10 or more wraps on each spool thereby making the number of revolutions end to end 20 or more.
Abstract:
In a book binding apparatus, a book to be bound is clamped between a pair of plates, the distance between the clamps controlling the distance between a pair of groove bars engaging a cover to be bound to the book. A backup roll is positioned to engage the cover on the side opposite the groove bars, and to be movable along the cover to form grooves therein. A glue assembly is movable with the backup roll and includes a glue tube which is moved across the cover transversely of the direction of movement of the backup roll. The extent of transverse movement of the glue tube is controlled in response to the thickness of the book. A positive displacement pump supplies glue to the glue tube.
Abstract:
In hydrate-based desalination or other water purification conducted using naturally buoyant or trapped-gas-assisted buoyancy hydrate in a hydrate fractionation column, a portion of fresh or purified product water is extracted from an upper, hydrate dissociation region of the fractionation column and reintroduced into a lower portion of the fractionation column at a point above but generally near a product water/saline water interface. The difference in density between the reintroduced product water and the fluid in the hydrate fractionation column above the point of reintroduction (water, hydrate, and gas) drives a natural circulation system which enhances the rate at which hydrate rises into the hydrate dissociation region.
Abstract:
A mooring system preferably for oil transport, production, and drilling vessels in the ocean, and a method of using the system. The mooring system combines a submerged buoyant element anchored to the seabed with a retrieval system aboard the vessel and a mechanism to secure the submerged mooring element to the hull of the vessel by reducing the hydrostatic pressure in a volume isolated from the sea by the mooring element and the hull of the vessel. The mooring element may by non-circular, to allow use with smaller vessels while still providing sufficient retaining forces. The mooring element can be configured so that the mooring element aligns with the hull of the vessel as it is hoisted by the vessel.
Abstract:
A system for mooring oil transport, production, and drilling vessels in sea ice in the Arctic. The mooring system combines a submerged buoyant element structurally connected, for vertical movement, to an anchor structure on the seabed, and is designed to anchor a vessel equipped with a mooring system including a device for evacuating seawater from the mooring area between the hull of the vessel and the mooring element. The system can also be used without a vertically slidable mooring element, so that the vessel is directly fixed to the anchor structure using the device for evacuating seawater.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for off-shore production of oil. Special shuttle tankers with high-pressure cargo tanks capable of containing the produced live crude oil at a pressure close to that of the ambient pressure inside a subterranean oil field, and without any processing of the live crude oil prior to transportation are used. The produced live crude oil from the subterranean oil field is pumped directly into the high-pressure cargo tanks aboard the shuttle tanker. Lighter fractions of the live crude oil stored in the shuttle tanker may be used as a fuel to power the propulsion machinery and the auxiliary machinery aboard the shuttle tanker. The pressures in the tanks are ordinarily above 70 kPa gauge pressure, may be higher than 1.8 MPa gauge, and may range as high as 35 MPa gauge or even higher. The tanker vessel transports the produced live crude oil to an onshore processing plant for separation into gas, water, solids, and stabilized crude oil.
Abstract:
A vessel adapted for mooring to a submerged mooring element comprises a water intake formed in a bottom surface of the hull, wherein a mooring area on the hull surrounding the water intake is adapted to receive an upper portion of a mooring element coupled to the sea floor by a plurality of mooring tethers. The vessel also includes a pump for rapidly drawing seawater through the water intake to reduce the downward hydrostatic pressure acting on the mooring element. The pump produces a first differential between the ambient pressure and the pressure in the mooring area to immobilize the mooring element with respect to the bottom surface of the vessel and a smaller second differential to maintain the mooring element in sliding contact with the bottom surface of the vessel. The vessel also includes means for detecting a displacement of the mooring element from a desired position of the mooring element on the bottom surface of the vessel and a tank coupled to the water intake by a first passage. When a first valve disposed within the first passage is in an open position, the tank and the water intake are in fluid communication via the first passage and, when the first valve is in a closed position, the tank is sealed with respect to the water intake.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for off-shore production of oil. Special shuttle tankers with high-pressure cargo tanks capable of containing the produced live crude oil at a pressure close to that of the ambient pressure inside a subterranean oil field, and without any processing of the live crude oil prior to transportation are used. The produced live crude oil from the subterranean oil field is pumped directly into the high-pressure cargo tanks aboard the shuttle tanker. Lighter fractions of the live crude oil stored in the shuttle tanker may be used as a fuel to power the propulsion machinery and the auxiliary machinery aboard the shuttle tanker. The pressures in the tanks are ordinarily above 70 kPa gauge pressure, may be higher than 1.8 MPa gauge, and may range as high as 35 MPa gauge or even higher. The tanker vessel transports the produced live crude oil to an onshore processing plant for separation into gas, water, solids, and stabilized crude oil.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for off-shore production of oil. Special shuttle tankers with high-pressure cargo tanks capable of containing the produced live crude oil at a pressure close to that of the ambient pressure inside a subterranean oil field, and without any processing of the live crude oil prior to transportation are used. The produced live crude oil from the subterranean oil field is pumped directly into the high-pressure cargo tanks aboard the shuttle tanker. Lighter fractions of the live crude oil stored in the shuttle tanker may be used as a fuel to power the propulsion machinery and the auxiliary machinery aboard the shuttle tanker. The pressures in the tanks are ordinarily above 70 kPa gauge pressure, may be higher than 1.8 MPa gauge, and may range as high as 35 MPa gauge or even higher. The tanker vessel transports the produced live crude oil to an onshore processing plant for separation into gas, water, solids, and stabilized crude oil.