Module supply chain

Abstract

A system and method of fabricating and assembling of large-sized modules remote from a heavy industrial hydrocarbon processing plant site, and overland transportation thereof to the plant site. The method may rely on a computer-based heavy-haul transportation logistics system.

1 . A method of supplying modules to a hydrocarbon processing plant site, the method comprising:
 establishing a large-sized module assembly site on one side of the US-Canadian border;   receiving raw construction materials at the assembly site;   receiving a standard truck module at the assembly site;   assembling a large-sized module using the raw construction materials and the standard truck module; and   sending the assembled large-sized module by land across the US-Canadian border to the hydrocarbon processing plant site for assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the large-sized module comprises at least one of a pipe rack module and an equipment module. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the standard truck module comprises at least one of a pipe rack module and an equipment module. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the raw construction materials comprise structural steel and connecting hardware. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the large-sized module weighs in the range of about 75 to about 156 tons. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , the large-sized module measures between about 22 ft wide×about 22 ft high×about 85 ft long, and about 24 ft wide×about 25½ ft high×about 120 ft long. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a railcar module at the assembly site, and assembling the large-sized module from the railcar module. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the railcar module weighs in the range of about 30 to 100 tons. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the railcar module measures no more than about 12½ ft wide×about 12½ ft high×about 66 ft long. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon processing plant site is located in the oil sands region in Alberta, Canada. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the large-sized module assembly site is in the state of Montana, United States. 
     
     
         12 . A method of assembling a hydrocarbon processing plant, the method comprising:
 rigging a large-sized module for transportation by land on one side of the US-Canadian border; and   sending said large sized module by land across the US-Canadian border for assembly into a hydrocarbon processing plant.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the large-sized module comprises at least one of a standard truck module, a railcar module and an intermediate-sized module. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the large-sized module further comprise raw construction materials. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the large-sized module weighs in the range of about 75 to about 156 tons. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , the large-sized module measures between about 22 ft wide×about 22 ft high×about 85 ft long, and about 24 ft wide×about 25½ ft high×about 120 ft long. 
     
     
         17 . A heavy-haul transportation logistics system comprising:
 a server connected to a network;   a database accessible by the server, the database comprising heavy-haul transportation logistics information; and   a mobile first client computer connected to the server via the network, the mobile first client computer being adapted to provide a graphical user interface configured to allow substantially real-time updating of the database with information pertaining to land routes suitable for heavy-haul transportation.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the heavy-haul transportation logistics information comprises shipping envelope information for a large-sized module, and at least three of a bridge GVW limit, a bridge width, a bridge rail height, a seasonal transportation pavement GVW weight limit, an overhead traffic signal height, an overhead traffic signal location, an overhead utility line height, an overhead utility line location, a road underpass location, a road underpass height, a road gradient, an acceleration and deceleration limit, a railroad crossing, a road name, a road length, a flag car requirement, a heavy-load signage requirement, a heavy-load transportation permit requirement, a refueling location, a speed limit, and a load lighting requirement. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the mobile first client computer is located in a first country and updates the database with information pertaining to land routes suitable for heavy-haul transportation in the first country; and   the server is adapted to receive substantially real-time updates for the database from a mobile second client computer via the network, the substantially real-time updates from the mobile second client computer comprising information pertaining to land routes suitable for heavy-haul transportation in a second country.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the first country is the United States and the second country is Canada.