Vessel hull for use as a hull of a floating hydrocarbon storage and/or processing plant, method for producing such a vessel hull, vessel comprising such a vessel hull, as well method for producing such a vessel having such a vessel hull

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a vessel hull (1) for use as a hull of an FPSO or FSO, comprising producing a vessel hull with a stern portion (2), a bow portion (3) and a central portion (4), arranging a deck (6) on the hull, for supporting processing modules, arranging hydrocarbon storage tanks inside the hull, providing the hull with an anchoring connection arrangement (7), characterized by arranging process module reinforcements (8) in the deck for supporting the hydrocarbon process modules, providing both longitudinal hull sides with mooring line connection reinforcements (9) at or near the bow portion, arranging riser connection reinforcements (10, 14) on one or more longitudinal hull sides, in between the mooring line connection reinforcements in longitudinal direction, for a riser balcony (28, 29), and providing the bow portion with turret reinforcements (11, 12).

Claims

1. A method for producing a vessel hull for use as a hull for a floating hydrocarbon storage and/or processing plant, comprising the steps of: producing a vessel hull stern portion, a bow portion and a central portion in between the bow and stern portions, the vessel hull being provided with longitudinal hull sides comprising the longitudinal hull sides of the stem portion, the bow portion and the central portion, arranging a deck on the hull suitable for supporting hydrocarbon processing modules, arranging hydrocarbon storage tanks inside the hull, for storing hydrocarbons to be obtained from a seabed-based wellhead, providing the hull with an anchoring connection arrangement for connection with anchor lines suitable for mooring the vessel hull to a seabed, arranging process module reinforcements in the deck, suitable for supporting hydrocarbon process modules, and at least two of the following steps: providing both longitudinal hull sides with mooring line connection reinforcements near or in the bow portion and stern portion for connecting mooring lines to be used in a spread-moored anchor line arrangement, and arranging in between the mooring line connection reinforcements in longitudinal direction, riser balcony connection reinforcements in one or both longitudinal hull sides suitable for supporting a riser balcony for connecting risers, providing the bow portion with turret reinforcements suitable for receiving an internal turret, providing the bow portion with turret reinforcements suitable for receiving an external turret, wherein the turret is provided with anchor line connection points and riser connection points.

2. A vessel hull for use as a hull for a floating hydrocarbon storage and/or processing plant, comprising: a stern portion, a bow portion and a central portion in between the bow and stern portions, the vessel hull provided with longitudinal hull sides comprising the longitudinal hull sides of the stern portion, the bow portion and the central portion, a deck, arranged on the hull, suitable for supporting hydrocarbon processing modules, hydrocarbon storage tanks, arranged inside the hull, for storing hydrocarbons to be obtained from seabed-based wellheads, an anchoring connection arrangement for connection with anchor lines suitable for mooring the vessel hull to a seabed, wherein the deck comprises process module reinforcements suitable for supporting hydrocarbon process modules, and at least two of the following elements: both longitudinal hull sides comprise mooring line connection reinforcements near or in the bow portion and stern portion for connecting mooring lines to be used with a spread-moored anchor line arrangement and one or both longitudinal hull sides comprise riser balcony connection reinforcements arranged in between the mooring line connection reinforcements in longitudinal direction, suitable for supporting a riser balcony for connecting risers, the bow portion comprises a turret reinforcement suitable for receiving an internal turret, the bow portion comprises a turret reinforcement suitable for receiving an external turret, wherein the turret is provided with anchor line connection points and riser connection points.

3. (canceled)

4. The vessel hull according to claim 2, wherein a transverse bulkhead is arranged between the bow portion and the central portion, the central portion comprising two longitudinal central portion bulkheads extending in longitudinal direction (X) from the stern portion to the transverse bulkhead, being spaced-apart at a transverse distance D1, the bow portion comprising two longitudinal bow portion bulkheads extending in longitudinal direction from the transverse bulkhead to the bow, being spaced-apart at an internal turret position at a transverse distance D2, wherein, when seen in top view, D2 is larger than D1.

5. The vessel hull according to claim 4, wherein D2 is equal to or larger than the transverse diameter of the turret reinforcements.

6. The vessel hull according to claim 4, wherein the two longitudinal central portion bulkheads and the two longitudinal bow portion bulkheads are comprised by two continuous longitudinal bulkheads extending from the stern portion to the bow.

7. The vessel hull according to claim 4, wherein the bow portion comprises a vertical plane of symmetry (P) extending in longitudinal direction, wherein, when seen in top view, the longitudinal bow portion bulkheads are each arranged on one side of the vertical plane of symmetry, wherein the longitudinal bow portion bulkheads extend from the transverse bulkhead to the bow in such a way, that a first section of each longitudinal bow portion bulkhead diverges away from the vertical plane of symmetry and a second consecutive section extends substantially parallel to the vertical plane of symmetry forming a reception space for the internal turret at the internal turret location (ITP).

8. The vessel hull according to claim 7, wherein a third consecutive section converges towards the vertical plane of symmetry.

9. The vessel hull according to claim 8, wherein the first, second and third sections of the longitudinal bow portion bulkheads extend at such angles with respect to the vertical plane of symmetry, and have such dimensions that, when seen in top view, the longitudinal bow portion bulkheads each resemble an arc having a centre of curvature coinciding with a centre point of the internal turret receivable in the reception space.

10. The vessel hull according to claim 2, comprising one or more removable propulsion units.

11. The vessel hull according claim 10, comprising one or more removable generator units associated with the one or more removable propulsion units.

12. The vessel hull according to claim 2, wherein the deck comprises reinforcement suitable for supporting a flare stack and reinforcements for supporting one or more pedestrial cranes.

13. A method for producing a vessel for use as a floating hydrocarbon storage and/or processing plant using a vessel hull comprising a stern portion, a bow portion and a central portion in between the bow and stern portions, and provided with longitudinal hull sides of the stern portion, the bow portion and the central portion; a deck arranged on the hull, the deck comprising process module reinforcements suitable for supporting hydrocarbon process modules; hydrocarbon storage tanks arranged inside the hull; an anchoring connection arrangement for connection with anchor lines suitable for mooring the vessel hull to a seabed; and further comprising at least two of the following: both longitudinal hull sides comprise mooring line connection reinforcements near or in the bow portion and stern portion for connecting mooring lines to be used with a spread-moored anchor line arrangement and one or both longitudinal hull sides comprise riser balcony connection reinforcements arranged in between the mooring line connection reinforcements in longitudinal direction, suitable for supporting a riser balcony for connecting risers, the bow portion comprises a turret reinforcement suitable for receiving an internal turret, the bow portion comprises a turret reinforcement suitable for receiving an external turret, wherein the turret is provided with anchor line connection points and riser connection points. the method comprising the steps of: arranging the hydrocarbon process modules on the deck, at the location of the process module reinforcements, selecting a desired riser and anchor line arrangement, and configuring the vessel hull for use with the desired anchor line and riser arrangement.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of: transferring the vessel for use as a floating hydrocarbon storage and/or processing plant to a location near the seabed-based wellhead, and connecting the anchor lines to the anchor line connection points and the risers to the riser connection points.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the vessel hull is produced at a first location, and the method for producing the vessel for use as a floating hydrocarbon storage and/or processing plant using the vessel hull is carried out at a second location different from the first location, the method comprising transporting the vessel hull from the first location to the second location.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein one or more removable propulsion units are connected to the vessel hull prior to transporting the hull from the first location to the second location, and the vessel hull is transported from the first to the second location by using the propulsion provided by the one or more removable propulsion units.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein one or more removable generator units are disconnected and removed from the hull after transportation from the first location to the second location.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of transporting the hull from the first location to the second location comprises transporting the hull from a dry dock to a quay side suitable for receiving the vessel hull.

19. The method according to claim 16, and further comprising disconnecting and removing the one or more removable propulsion units from the hull after transportation from the first location to the second location.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of configuring the vessel hull for use with the desired anchor line and riser arrangement comprises configuring anchor line connection points and riser connection points.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] Embodiments of a vessel hull according to the invention will by way of non-limiting example be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0058] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a vessel hull having pre-installed reinforcements;

[0059] FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the bow portion of the vessel hull as shown in FIG. 1;

[0060] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of an embodiment of a vessel hull according to the invention, at a typical longitudinal vessel hull position where the anchor line arrangements to be used with a spread-moored arrangement are to be found;

[0061] FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-section of the embodiment according to FIG. 3, at a typical longitudinal vessel hull position where the riser balconies are to be found; and

[0062] FIG. 5 shows a top view of the embodiment of the vessel hull according to FIGS. 3 and 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0063] FIGS. 1-5 will be discussed in conjunction. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a hull 1 of a floating hydrocarbon processing and storage plant (FPSO) having reinforcements pre-installed according to the invention. The hull 1 has a stern portion 2 (shown in the lower right part of FIG. 1), a bow portion 3 (shown in the upper left part of FIG. 1) and a central portion 4 in between the bow 3 and stern portions 2, with longitudinal hull sides 5 comprising the longitudinal hull sides of the stern portion 2, the bow portion 3 and the central portion 4. A deck 6 is arranged on the hull 1 for supporting n processing modules (not shown) like hydrocarbon process modules used for FPSO's or metering skids used for FSO's. Also, hydrocarbon storage tanks (not shown) are to arranged inside the hull 1, for storing hydrocarbons to be obtained directly from seabed-based wellheads (FPSO) or indirectly via another hydrocarbon production vessel (not shown) in case of an FSO. An anchoring connection arrangement 7 (see FIGS. 3 and 5) is to be provided during use for connection with anchor lines suitable for mooring the FPSO or FSO to a seabed. The orientation of the vessel hull 1 as shown in FIGS. 1-5 corresponds with the usual orientation of such a vessel hull 1 during use. The width of the vessel hull 1 (in Y-direction) may for instance amount to 60 m. The vessel length in longitudinal X direction may typically amount to for instance 350 m.

[0064] According to the invention, the deck 6 comprises process module reinforcements 8 for supporting the hydrocarbon process and other modules during use. An example of such a process module reinforcement 8 is shown near the bow portion 3 of the hull 1. Apart from supporting process modules, similar reinforcements can be provided to the deck 6, in particular reinforcements for a flare, cranes (such as the crane pedestal 25 shown in FIGS. 2 and 5) or vent masts.

[0065] Both longitudinal hull sides 5 can comprise mooring line connection reinforcements 9 near or in the bow portion 3 for connecting mooring lines to be used with a spread-moored anchor line arrangement 13. Two of such mooring line connection reinforcements 9 are arranged at both sides of the vessel hull 1 near or in the bow portion 3. Similarly, two of such mooring line connection reinforcements 9 are arranged in a similar fashion at the stern portion 2 of the vessel hull 1. At deck 6 level, above the mooring line reinforcements 9, chain tensioning system reinforcements 26 (see FIG. 2) are preferably provided to provide support for chain tensioning systems 27 to be used for tensioning the chains in case of a spread-moored anchor line arrangement 13.

[0066] Furthermore, one or more longitudinal hull sides 5 can comprise lower riser connection reinforcements 10 and upper riser connection reinforcements 14 arranged in between the mooring line connection reinforcements 9 in longitudinal direction X. The riser connection reinforcements 10, 14 are for supporting lower and upper riser balconies 28, 29 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) for connecting risers 31 (see FIG. 4). The riser connection reinforcements 10, 14 preferably have a length in longitudinal direction X roughly corresponding to the length of the respective riser balconies 28, 29.

[0067] Preferably, the vessel hull 1 comprises ballast tanks 32 at both longitudinal sides 5 of the vessel (as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5). More preferably, the ballast tanks 32 comprise the mooring line connection reinforcements 9, the lower riser connection reinforcements 10, the upper riser connection reinforcements 14 and/or the chain tensioning system reinforcements 26, i.e. these reinforcements 9, 10, 14, 26 are then arranged in the hollow space of the ballast tanks 32. The reinforcements 9, 10, 14, 26 may comprise reinforcement plates that extend in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, for instance over the whole of the cross-section of the hollow space of the ballast tanks 32. The skilled person will understand that the anchoring connection arrangements 7, the chain tensioning systems 27 and the lower an upper riser balconies 28, 29 are also to be connected or arranged on the respective ballast tanks 32.

[0068] According to the invention the bow portion 3 can comprises both internal turret reinforcements 11 and external turret reinforcements 12 for receiving both an internal or an external turret (not shown). The turrets are then provided with anchor line connection points and riser connection points. As mentioned before the hull according the invention can have reinforcements for all 3 types of mooring arrangements (reinforcements for spread mooring, an internal turret and an external turret mooring arrangement) or just for 2 of the 3 mooring arrangements, like reinforcements for a spread mooring arrangement combined with reinforcements for an internal turret mooring arrangement, or reinforcements for a spread mooring arrangement combined with reinforcement for an external turret mooring arrangement or reinforcements for an internal turret mooring arrangement combined with reinforcements for an external turret mooring arrangement.

[0069] As shown in the right part of FIG. 5, a transverse (i.e. extending in Y-direction) bulkhead 15 is arranged between the bow portion 3 and the central portion 4. The central portion 4 comprises two longitudinal central portion bulkheads 16 extending in longitudinal direction X from the stern portion 2 to the transverse bulkhead 15, being spaced-apart at a transverse distance D1. The bow portion 3 comprises two longitudinal bow portion bulkheads 17 extending in longitudinal direction X from the transverse bulkhead 15 to the bow 19, being spaced-apart at an internal turret position ITP at a transverse distance D2, wherein, when seen in top view, D2 is larger than a maximum outer diameter of an internal turret to be arranged at the internal turret position ITP in between the two longitudinal bow portion bulkheads 17. D2 preferably is larger than D1, such as 1.5-2.5 times D1, for instance about 2 times D1.

[0070] The two longitudinal central portion bulkheads 16 and the two longitudinal bow portion bulkheads are comprised by two continuous longitudinal bulkheads 18 extending from the stern portion to the bow 19, i.e. these longitudinal bulkheads 18 are each formed as single, integral elements.

[0071] The vessel hull 1 and in particular the bow portion 3 comprises a vertical plane of symmetry P extending in longitudinal direction X. When seen in top view, the longitudinal bow portion bulkheads 17 are each arranged on one side of the vertical plane of symmetry P. The longitudinal bow portion bulkheads 17 extend from the transverse bulkhead 15 to the bow 19 in such a way, that a first section 20 of each longitudinal bow portion bulkhead diverges away from the vertical plane of symmetry P. A second consecutive section 21 extends substantially parallel to the vertical plane of symmetry P. Thus, a reception space 23 for the internal turret is formed at the internal turret location ITP. Preferably, a third consecutive section 22 converges towards the vertical plane of symmetry P. The first 20, second 21 and third 22 sections of the longitudinal bow portion bulkheads 17 extend at such angles with respect to the vertical plane of symmetry P, and have such dimensions that, when seen in top view, the longitudinal bow portion bulkheads 17 each roughly resemble an arc having a centre of curvature coinciding with a centre point 30 of the internal turret receivable in the reception space 23. When seen in top view, the angles as mentioned above may for instance relate to enclosed angles with respect to the vertical plane of symmetry P of 30-60°, preferably about 45°.

[0072] In a particular configuration, the vessel hull 1 comprises one or more removable propulsion units 24, for instance azimuth thrusters or the like, to facilitate transport from the dry dock to the FPSO/FSO quay side and/or from the FPSO/FSO quay side to the offshore production side where the FPSO or FSO will be installed and connected to the mooring lines. Removable diesel-electric or gas-powered propulsion units are also conceivable as well as removable power generators that are associated with the removable propulsion units.

[0073] Thus, the invention has been described by reference to the embodiments discussed above. It will be recognized that the embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms well known to those of skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, although specific embodiments have been described, these are examples only and are not limiting upon the scope of the invention.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0074] 1. Vessel hull [0075] 2. Vessel hull stern portion [0076] 3. Vessel hull bow portion [0077] 4. Vessel hull central portion [0078] 5. Longitudinal hull sides [0079] 6. Deck [0080] 7. Anchoring connection arrangement [0081] 8. Process module reinforcements [0082] 9. Mooring line connection reinforcements [0083] 10. Lower riser connection reinforcements [0084] 11. Internal turret reinforcements [0085] 12. External turret reinforcements [0086] 13. Spread-moored anchor line arrangement [0087] 14. Upper riser connection reinforcements [0088] 15. Transverse bulkhead [0089] 16. Longitudinal central portion bulkheads [0090] 17. Longitudinal bow portion bulkheads [0091] 18. Continuous longitudinal bulkheads [0092] 19. Bow [0093] 20. First section [0094] 21. Second section [0095] 22. Third section [0096] 23. Reception space [0097] 24. Removable propulsion unit [0098] 25. Crane pedestal [0099] 26. Chain tensioning system reinforcements [0100] 27. Chain tensioning system [0101] 28. Lower riser balcony [0102] 29. Upper riser balcony [0103] 30. Internal turret centre point [0104] 31. Riser [0105] 32. Ballast tank [0106] X=longitudinal direction [0107] Y=transverse direction [0108] ITP=internal turret position [0109] P=vertical plane of symmetry