Production of hydrocarbons

Abstract

The present invention relates to a floating production platform for oil and/or gas production in a marine environment, the floating production platform comprising: a floater for providing buoyancy, the floater having suitable motion characteristics for supporting a dry tree riser, at least one riser support point constructed and arranged for supporting at least one dry tree riser which extends between the floating production platform and a seabed, a rotary communication assembly constructed and arranged for providing communication between the floating production platform and a vessel for: transferring a product fluid coming out of the at least one riser to the vessel, and/or transferring other fluids between the floating production platform and the vessel, and/or transferring electrical power via one or more electrical lines between the floating production platform and the vessel, transferring control signals via one or more electrical lines or fibre optic lines between the floating production platform and the vessel, the rotary communication assembly comprising: a circumferential communication line which in top view extends around the at least one riser support point, bridge communication line being in connection with the circumferential communication line at one end and comprising an end coupling at the other end for connection with the vessel, the bridge communication line constructed to bridge a gap between the floating production platform and the vessel, wherein the bridge communication line is movable along the circumferential communication line such that when in use the vessel weathervanes around the floating production platform, the bridge communication line rotates around the floating production platform with the weathervaning vessel, such that the rotary communication assembly maintains communication between the riser and the vessel.

1 . Floating production platform for oil and/or gas production in a marine environment, the floating production platform comprising:
 a floater for providing buoyancy, the floater having suitable motion characteristics for supporting a dry tree riser,   at least one riser support point constructed and arranged for supporting at least one dry tree riser which extends between the floating production platform and a seabed,   a rotary communication assembly constructed and arranged for providing communication between the floating production platform and a vessel for
 transferring a product fluid coming out of the at least one riser to the vessel, and/or 
 transferring other fluids between the floating production platform and the vessel, and/or 
 transferring electrical power via one or more electrical lines between the floating production platform and the vessel, and/or 
 transferring control signals via one or more electrical lines or fibre optic lines between the floating production platform and the vessel, 
   the rotary communication assembly comprising:
 a circumferential communication line which in top view extends around the at least one riser support point, 
 a bridge communication line being in connection with the circumferential communication line at one end and comprising an end coupling at the other end for connection with the vessel, the bridge communication line constructed to bridge a gap between the floating production platform and the vessel, wherein the bridge communication line is movable along the circumferential communication line such that when in use the vessel weathervanes around the floating production platform, the bridge communication line rotates around the floating production platform with the weathervaning vessel, such that the rotary communication assembly maintains communication between the riser and the vessel. 
   
     
     
         2 . Floating production platform of  claim 1 , comprising at least one drilling derrick, wherein in top view the circumferential communication line extends around the at least one drilling derrick. 
     
     
         3 . Floating production platform of  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential communication line comprises:
 an annular swivel comprising an inner ring comprising a inner fluid conduit and an outer ring comprising an outer fluid conduit, the inner fluid conduit being in fluid connection with the supply opening, wherein the inner ring and outer ring are rotatable relative to one another and wherein the inner fluid conduit and the outer fluid conduit are in fluid connection with one another, wherein the bridge communication line is connected to the outer fluid conduit, or   a reel, wherein the bridge communication line and the circumferential communication line form an ongoing line which is flexible and is spooled partly on the reel and extends partly from the reel to the vessel.   
     
     
         4 . Floating production platform of  claim 1 , wherein the floating production platform comprises a plurality of riser support points and wherein the circumferential communication line extends around the plurality of riser support points. 
     
     
         5 . Floating production platform  claim 1 , wherein the floating production platform comprises primary drilling equipment and primary production equipment and wherein in top view the circumferential communication line extends around the primary drilling equipment and primary production equipment. 
     
     
         6 . Floating production platform of  claim 1 , wherein in top view the circumferential communication line extends substantially along an outer circumference of the floating production platform. 
     
     
         7 . Floating production platform of  claim 1 , wherein the rotary communication assembly is constructed to allow rotation of the vessel around the floating production platform over a plurality of revolutions. 
     
     
         8 . Floating production platform of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of circumferential communication lines above one another in order to allow a plurality of fluid connections between the floating production platform and the vessel. 
     
     
         9 . Floating production platform of  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential communication line is shaped by a reel which is substantially flat and comprises a vertical rotation axis. 
     
     
         10 . Floating production platform of  claim 1 , wherein the floater is a turret like construction constructed to be positioned in a moonpool of a vessel. 
     
     
         11 . Combination of the floating production platform of  claim 1  and a vessel, wherein the at least one bridge communication line is connected at one end to the floating production platform and at the other end to the vessel. 
     
     
         12 . Combination of  claim 11 , comprising a rotary mooring assembly constructed to bear a mechanical load and configured to allow weathervaning of the vessel about the floating production platform, the rotary mooring assembly comprising:
 one end which is connected with the floating production platform,   an opposite end which is connected with the vessel,   a rotary coupling at the end which is located at the floating production platform, which rotary coupling is constructed to allow weathervaning of the vessel around the floating production platform, the rotary mooring assembly being constructed for maintaining the vessel at a substantially controlled distance from the floating production platform.   
     
     
         13 . Combination of  claim 11 , wherein the floating production platform comprises primary production equipment and wherein the vessel comprises auxiliary production equipment and supplies which are auxiliary to the primary production equipment on the floating production platform. 
     
     
         14 . Combination of  claim 11 , wherein the circumferential communication line comprises a first reel, and wherein the vessel comprises at least one second reel, wherein the at least one bridge communication line is spooled on both reels, allowing a part of the bridge communication line which is spooled from the reel on the floating production platform during weathervaning to be spooled onto the second reel on the vessel and vice versa, thereby maintaining the length of the bridge communication line between the floating production platform and the vessel substantially the same. 
     
     
         15 . Combination of  claim 11 , wherein the circumferential communication line comprises a reel for spooling the bridge communication line, allowing a part of the bridge communication line to be spooled from the reel during weathervaning of the vessel around the floating production platform, and wherein an end of the bridge communication line is connected to a discharge point on the vessel, wherein the circumferential communication line and the discharge point are constructed to allow an excess length of the bridge communication line to be suspended in the water between the floating production platform and the vessel. 
     
     
         16 . Combination of  claim 11 , wherein the floating production platform is a Tension leg Platform (TLP), a Spar or a Dry Tree Unit (DTU) and the vessel is a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel or a Floating Production and Offloading (FPO) vessel. 
     
     
         17 . Combination of  claim 11 , the rotary communication assembly comprising a return fluid line configured for transferring a fluid back to the floating production platform, wherein the production platform comprises a support point for supporting a riser of an export pipeline which extends from the floating production platform to a remote location, the combination being configured to convey oil and/or gas from the vessel back to the floating production platform through the return fluid line and subsequently through the export riser and the export line to a remote location. 
     
     
         18 . Method for producing oil and/or gas, the method comprising:
 1. providing a floating production platform for oil and/or gas production in a marine environment, the floating production platform comprising
 a floater for providing buoyancy, the floater having suitable motion characteristics for supporting a dry tree riser, 
 at least one riser support point constructed and arranged for supporting at least one dry tree riser which extends between the floating production platform and a seabed, 
 a rotary communication assembly constructed and arranged for providing communication between the floating production platform and a vessel for:
 transferring a product fluid coming out of the at least one riser to the vessel, and/or 
 transferring other fluids between the floating production platform and the vessel, and/or 
 transferring electrical power via one or more electrical lines between the floating production platform and the vessel, and/or 
 transferring control signals via one or more electrical lines or fibre optic lines between the floating production platform and the vessel, 
 
 the rotary communication assembly comprising:
 a circumferential communication line which in top view extends around the at least one riser support point, 
 a bridge communication line being in connection with the circumferential communication line at one end and comprising an end coupling at the other end for connection with the vessel, the bridge communication line constructed to bridge a gap between the floating production platform and the vessel, wherein the bridge communication line is movable along the circumferential communication line such that when in use the vessel weathervanes around the floating production platform, the bridge communication line rotates around the floating production platform with the weathervaning vessel, such that the rotary communication assembly maintains communication between the riser and the vessel, 
 
   2. providing a vessel and mooring the vessel to the floating production platform via a mooring assembly which allows weathervaning of the vessel about the floating production platform, and coupling the rotary communication assembly to the vessel,   3. conveying substantially untreated oil and/or gas hydrocarbons upwards through the production riser to the floating production platform,   4. transferring the oil and/or gas through the rotary communication assembly from the floating production platform to the vessel.   
     
     
         19 . Oil or gas, obtained via the method of  claim 18 . 
     
     
         20 . Vessel constructed and arranged to be connected to the floating production platform of  claim 1 , the vessel comprising:
 a coupling for connection with the bridge communication line of the rotary communication assembly of  claim 1 ,   a mooring assembly coupling for coupling with a rotary mooring assembly.