Lng Transportation Vessel and Method For Transporting Hydrocarbons

Abstract

A vessel for transporting liquefied natural gas is provided. The vessel generally includes a gas transfer system for on-loading and off-loading natural gas to and from the vessel at essentially ambient temperature. The vessel further includes a gas processing facility for selectively providing liquefaction and regasification of the natural gas. The vessel also includes a containment structure for containing the liquefied natural gas during transport. The vessel may be a marine vessel or a barge vessel for transporting LNG over water, or a trailer vessel for transporting LNG overthe-road. A method for transporting LNG is also provided, that provides on-loading of natural gas onto a vessel, condensing the natural gas, storing the gas on the vessel in liquefied form, transporting the gas to an import terminal, vaporizing the gas, and off-loading the gas at the terminal.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60 / 625,388, filed 5 Nov., 2004.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field of the Inventions[0003]Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the transportation of hydrocarbons. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to an integrated design for a liquefied natural gas transportation vessel. In addition, embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for combining liquefaction, transportation and regasification processes.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]Clean burning natural gas has become the fuel of choice in many industrial and consumer markets around the world. However, natural gas sources are often located in remote locations relative to the commercial markets desiring the gas. This means that the natural gas must sometimes be produced in remote geographic locations, and then transported across oceans using large-volume marine vessel...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019]Preferably, the power generator is configured to selectively provide power to propel the vessel when the natural gas is stored in the containment structure, and to provide power to the gas processing facility when the natural gas is being cooled or heated. Optionally, the vessel may further have an ancillary compressor for circulating and cooling the heat exchanger fluid while the vessel is transporting the LNG in order to recondense any natural gas that becomes vaporized during transport, or to generally keep the heat exchanger fluid and system equipment cool.

Problems solved by technology

However, natural gas sources are often located in remote locations relative to the commercial markets desiring the gas.

The transportation of LNG to the importing nation or locale is expensive.

In many locations, natural gas resources are present in insufficient quantities to justify the expense of building a gas liquefaction processing facility in the producing country or at the producing site.

In addition, the transfer of cryogenic material, particularly from an FPSO, is difficult.

Alternatively, consumer demand at the importing location may not economically justify the fabrication of a regasification facility.

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