System and Method for Secure Offshore Storage of Crude Oil

Abstract

A system and method for allowing the temporary storage of large quantities of crude oil, refined petroleum product, other chemicals or products, and/or fresh water at an offshore location includes a group or groups of floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks first floated to the secured predetermined locations. The floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks rest on the ocean bottom and may be connected one to another by a manifold. The group or groups of floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks are protected by a coordinated security system.

1 . A secure offshore crude oil, refined petroleum product, other chemicals or products, and/or fresh water storage system comprising:
 a) a group of floatable concrete crude oil storage tanks constructed and arranged for placement on the ocean bottom;   b) said group of floatable concrete storage tanks being connected to a seabed manifold;   c) said seabed manifold being connected to sources of crude oil, refined petroleum product, other chemicals or products, and/or fresh water;   d) a central command center for:
 i) determining which individual tank within said group of floatable concrete storage tanks is to be emptied or filled; 
 ii) determining how much crude oil, refined petroleum product, other chemicals or products, and/or fresh water is to be added or removed from said individual tank in said group of floatable concrete storage tanks; 
 iii) moving security assets within said group of floatable concrete storage tanks, said security assets being selected from a group including but not limited to: patrol boats, electronic surveillance, and air/underwater surveillance; 
   e) each of said floatable concrete storage tanks within said group of floatable concrete storage tanks, having an associated security system.   
     
     
         2 . The system as defined in  claim 1  wherein individual floatable concrete storage tanks within said group of floatable concrete storage tanks offload to an export tanker. 
     
     
         3 . The system as defined in  claim 1  wherein different grades of crude oil, refined petroleum product, other chemicals or products, and/or fresh water may be stored for at least one owner within individual floatable concrete storage tanks within said group of floatable concrete storage tanks. 
     
     
         4 . A method for storing crude oil, refined petroleum product, other chemicals or products, and/or fresh water in a secure manner offshore, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) locating a plurality of floatable concrete storage tanks as a group at an offshore location;   b) equipping each of said floatable concrete storage tanks with a security system;   c) connecting each of said floatable concrete storage tanks within said plurality of floatable concrete storage tanks to a common seabed manifold;   d) connecting said common seabed manifold to sources of crude oil, refined petroleum product, other chemicals or products, and/or fresh water,   e) connecting each of said floatable concrete storage tanks within said plurality of floatable concrete storage tanks to a central command center for:
 i) determining how much crude oil, refined petroleum product, other chemicals or products, and/or fresh water is to be added to or removed from each floatable concrete storage tanks within said plurality of floatable concrete storage tanks; 
 ii) moving security assets within said plurality of floatable concrete storage tanks, said security assets being selected from a group including, but not limited to: patrol boats, electronic surveillance equipment, and air/underwater surveillance. 
   
     
     
         5 . The method as defined in  claim 4  wherein one or more of said of floatable concrete storage tanks in said plurality of floatable concrete storage tanks includes a system for offloading to a transport tanker.