An offshore liquefied natural gas structure may receive, store, and process liquefied natural gas from carriers. A structure may be a gravity base structure. A structure may include a system of ballast storage areas, transfer equipment to offload liquefied natural gas from a carrier, docking equipment to allow direct mooring with carriers, platforms to elevate equipment, water intake systems to provide water to the structure, wave deflectors, and/or projections extending from a bottom of the structure. A portion of the structure may be composed of lightweight concrete. Pipelines may be coupled to the structure to export processed natural gas onshore. Living quarters, flare towers, and export line metering equipment may be included on the structure.

Liquefied natural gas structure

An underwater energy storage system includes a tank for storing a compressed gas that is adapted to be stored underwater. The tank includes at least one water opening through which water from surrounding environment can flow into and out of the tank, and at least one gas opening through which the compressed gas is received. The underwater energy storage system further includes at least one duct communicating between the at least one opening for gas flow and a source of compressed gas and a compartment constructed over a roof of the tank, wherein said compartment is adapted for receiving weights at a sinking site of the tank.

Underwater energy storage system and power station powered therewith

A reservoir of prestressed reinforced concrete preferably for storing hydrocarbons, adapted so that it can be submerged in the sea so that it rests freely on the bottom thereof, said reservoir comprising a series of cylindrical walls into which radiating partitions fit so that they bear on a central pillar formed by two circular slabs fitting into the walls and the partitions. The bottom of the reservoir has a reinforcement designed to receive a supporting pad or cushion, and the top of the reservoir carries at least one columnar support having a working platform at its upper end. This platform remains above the surface of the sea after the reservoir has been submerged. Each support is in the form of a hollow shaft and serves to carry means connecting the tank with safety elements on the work platform. Further, each shaft is provided with first means which allow the tank to be submerged in the sea so that it can rest freely on the bottom thereof and second means which allow the tank to ''''breath'''' by enabling the safety elements to be brought into communication with the free atmosphere. Preferably each shaft has a number of cells therein which can be successively flooded with sea water to lower the reservoir to the sea bottom in stages and desirably the reservoir is made from prestressed reinforced concrete.

Concrete reservoir for underwater use

An improved offshore submarine storage facility in the ocean and like water bodies for storing liquified energy gases and similar liquid materials under pressure and at cryogenic temperatures is disclosed. The facility includes a two-part insulated submarine storage tank positioned at a selected depth in the water for storing said materials, wherein the two parts thereof move in a slidably sealing engagement relative to each other to form an insulated compression storage chamber. The tank also includes ambient water pressure transfer means for transferring external ambient water pressure to the materials stored therein. Mechanical pressure transfer devices increase the pressure applied to the materials stored therein to achieve a total pressure which promotes and aids maintenance of liquid state of the stored cryogenic materials. The tank further includes an extensible, seawater impermeable membrane extending between said two parts to form an enclosed space to seal off seawater from surfaces of said parts which slide relative to each other in sealing engagement. A balancing fluid is disposed in said enclosed space at a pressure equalized with ambient seawater pressure for providing further thermal insulation and for isolating the sealing surfaces from contact by seawater throughout the range of slide movement of the two parts of the storage tank. A balancing fluid recirculation jacket surrounding the tank provides another aspect of the present invention.

Tethered submarine pressure transfer storage facility for liquified energy gases

A method and apparatus for storing bulk materials in a marine environment is provided. The apparatus includes a flexible pod configured for fluid communication to a host vessel. The pod stores materials under water.

Variable storage vessel and method

954,395. Gravity separation apparatus. BETHLEHEM STEEL CO. Nov. 7, 1961 [Nov. 18, 1960], No. 39793/61. Addition to 904,126. Heading BID. [Also in Division E1 An oil/water separator disposed in the ballast water outlet from a submerged storage tank (see Division El) comprises a tank 53 having baffles 69 and 70 defining chambers 71, 72 and 73 and a pipe 74, closed at its upper end, communicating between chambers 71 and 72. Chamber 72 communicates with chamber 73 below baffle 70 which is closed at the top by a plate 77. Chamber 73 is provided with a clean water overflow 64. Ballast water enters the tank through a plurality of conduits, e.g. 62, and rises to the level 78 where the oil is removed by suction conduit 79. A vent conduit 80 leads to a pressure/vacuum relief valve 81.

Estes John C

Papers

Underwater storage unit