Offshore Technology Conference

Houston, Texas U.S.A., 6-9 May 2002

A New Solution for Tandem

Offloading of LNG
Phase (I) - Establish Project Basis (1998)
Phase (II) - Qualification flexible pipe (1999/2002)
Phase (III) - Hydraulic qualification (2001/2002)

Jrgen Eide
OTC Houston, Texas A.S.A., 6-9 May 2002
A New Solution for Tandem Offloading of LNG

The OCL Group

Framo Engineering AS 2002

Project Basis
Vessel Sizes

Turret moored Floating LNG Production and Offloading (FLPO)

FLPO / tanker moored with double crawfoot hawsers
Aft thrust and DP used as required by weather
LNG transfer in flexible pipes
Design flows: 10.000 m3/h LNG and 30.000 m3/h gas return
OTC Houston, Texas A.S.A., 6-9 May 2002
A New Solution for Tandem Offloading of LNG

Framo Engineering AS 2002

Solutions and Equipment

OCL System - Connected
Main parts; stinger, crane, flexible pipes/head, tanker receptor
Detailed design depend on actual FLPO design

OTC Houston, Texas A.S.A., 6-9 May 2002

A New Solution for Tandem Offloading of LNG

Framo Engineering AS 2002

Solutions and Equipment

OCL Design Basis

Relative movements +/- 6 meter (Design Maximum +/- 15 meter)

Relative yaw +/- 15 degrees
(Design Maximum +/- 35 degrees)
Relative roll +/- 10 degrees
(Design Maximum +/- 10 degrees)
OTC Houston, Texas A.S.A., 6-9 May 2002
A New Solution for Tandem Offloading of LNG

Framo Engineering AS 2002

Solutions and Equipment

Pull in Connection Head

OTC Houston, Texas A.S.A., 6-9 May 2002

A New Solution for Tandem Offloading of LNG

Use guide-wires
during pull-in

Pull-in and
connection
similar to subsea operations

Remote
operated
connection and
disconnection

Framo Engineering AS 2002

Verification Programme
Flexible Pipe
FLPO

End termination

Bend stiffener

End termination
CryoFlex pipe

Shuttle tanker
Bend stiffener

Flexible pipe extend from crane tip to tanker

Bending stiffeners in both ends
Bending radius 10 meter
OTC Houston, Texas A.S.A., 6-9 May 2002
A New Solution for Tandem Offloading of LNG

Framo Engineering AS 2002

Verification Programme
Flexible Pipe Design

316 stainless steel material

Corrugated double wall, vacuum insulated flexible pipe
End terminations with bending stiffeners
Outer protective rubber pipe
OTC Houston, Texas A.S.A., 6-9 May 2002
A New Solution for Tandem Offloading of LNG

Framo Engineering AS 2002

Verification Programme
Flexible Pipe Design

Pressure Testing

Dynamic Testing in Rotating Jig

Fatigue testing with

liquid nitrogen

OTC Houston, Texas A.S.A., 6-9 May 2002

A New Solution for Tandem Offloading of LNG

Framo Engineering AS 2002

Verification Programme
Flexible Pipe Design

Tension and compression testing

OTC Houston, Texas A.S.A., 6-9 May 2002

A New Solution for Tandem Offloading of LNG

Testing of torsional properties

Framo Engineering AS 2002

Verification Programme
Theoretical Calculations - Hydraulic Flow

Flow calculated from pumps on FLPO to tanks on LNG tanker

Both static and dynamic situations calculated
Transfer of LNG is unproblematic with correct procedure
OTC Houston, Texas A.S.A., 6-9 May 2002
A New Solution for Tandem Offloading of LNG

Framo Engineering AS 2002

Full Scale Water Flow Testing

Test April 6, 2002

Logging and metering

equipment;
* Straing gauges
* Flow and pressure
* Pressure fluctuations

OTC Houston, Texas A.S.A., 6-9 May 2002

A New Solution for Tandem Offloading of LNG

Framo Engineering AS 2002

Verification Programme
Full Scale Tests - Hydraulic Flow

Flow rates tested from 500 to 2.500 m3/h

Straight pipe and pipe with sag (curvature influence)
Pressure drop measured close to theoretical (+10%)
Flow vibrations eliminated with damper material
OTC Houston, Texas A.S.A., 6-9 May 2002
A New Solution for Tandem Offloading of LNG

Framo Engineering AS 2002

Verification Programme
Model Test FLPO Test Data

Test
No.
3110
3120
3130
3140

Waves
H S (m)

T P (s)

2.5
4.5
4.5
3.7 / 90

12
15
15
15

OTC Houston, Texas A.S.A., 6-9 May 2002

A New Solution for Tandem Offloading of LNG

Wind
(10 min/10 m)

U W (m/s)
W
15
20
20
20

0
0
45
45

Surface
Current
U C (m/s)

FLPO
Cond.

Mooring
System

0.6
1.2
1.2
1.2

Passive
Passive
Passive
Passive

Turret
Turret
Turret
Turret

Framo Engineering AS 2002

Verification Programme
Measured vs. Predicted results

Relative Motion [m]

60
50
40

Mean test
Mean calc.
Max. test
Max. calc.

30
20
10
0
3230 3240 3245 3260
Tests number

Typical result - relative crane tip -manifold motion

OTC Houston, Texas A.S.A., 6-9 May 2002
A New Solution for Tandem Offloading of LNG

Framo Engineering AS 2002

Verification Programme
Model Test - Conclusions

OCL system perform very close

to theoretical simulations

Turret mooring set set less

restrictions compared to spread
mooring

Maximum relative motion

between flexible pipe ends is
within the expected +/-5m
envelope

OTC Houston, Texas A.S.A., 6-9 May 2002

A New Solution for Tandem Offloading of LNG

Framo Engineering AS 2002