Systems and Methods for Offshore Fluid Transfer

Abstract

Systems and methods for fluid transfer between a first vessel and a second vessel that are separated by a body of water. The systems and methods may include extending a deployed portion of a fluid conduit assembly between the first vessel and the second vessel. The fluid conduit assembly includes a fluid conduit and also may include a fluid conduit support; and, in the deployed portion, the fluid conduit may be suspended from and supported by the fluid conduit support. The systems and methods also may include the use of a conformation control assembly to automatically and/or dynamically adjust the length of the deployed portion to regulate a conformation of the deployed portion.

1 . A system for controlling a conformation of a fluid conduit assembly that extends between a first vessel and a second vessel that are separated by a body of water, the system comprising:
 a conformation control assembly configured to automatically adjust a length of a deployed portion of the fluid conduit assembly to regulate a conformation of the deployed portion.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further includes the fluid conduit assembly, and further wherein the fluid conduit assembly includes an aerial fluid conduit assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid conduit assembly is configured to transfer a fluid between the first vessel and the second vessel, and further wherein the fluid includes at least one of a hydrocarbon, natural gas, liquefied natural gas, and oil. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the conformation control assembly is configured to maintain a catenary shape in the deployed portion. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the conformation control assembly is configured to increase the length of the deployed portion responsive to a vertical separation distance between the deployed portion and the top surface of the body of water being greater than a maximum threshold vertical separation distance, and further wherein the conformation control assembly is configured to decrease the length of the deployed portion responsive to the vertical separation distance being less than a minimum threshold vertical separation distance. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the conformation control assembly is configured to increase the length of the deployed portion responsive to the tensile force being greater than a maximum threshold tensile force, and further wherein the conformation control assembly is configured to decrease the length of the deployed portion responsive to the tensile force being less than a minimum threshold tensile force. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the conformation control assembly includes a controller configured to control the operation of the conformation control assembly, and further wherein the controller is configured to detect a variable associated with the fluid conduit assembly, the variable associated with the fluid conduit assembly includes at least one of a length of a portion of the fluid conduit assembly, the length of the deployed portion, an end-to-end distance of the fluid conduit assembly, an end-to-end distance of the deployed portion, a horizontal separation distance between the first vessel and the second vessel, a vertical separation distance between the first vessel and the second vessel, a minimum vertical separation distance from the fluid conduit assembly to a top surface of the body of water, a conformation of the deployed portion, a radius of curvature of the deployed portion, and a tensile force on the deployed portion. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a target conformation for the deployed portion based at least in part on the variable associated with the fluid conduit assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the conformation control assembly includes a biasing mechanism configured to regulate the conformation of the deployed portion. 
     
     
         13 . A fluid transfer assembly configured to transfer a fluid between a first vessel and a second vessel that are separated by a body of water, the fluid transfer assembly comprising:
 a fluid conduit assembly including a fluid conduit support configured to be suspended between the first vessel and the second vessel and a fluid conduit configured to be suspended between the first vessel and the second vessel and supported by the fluid conduit support; and   the system for controlling the conformation of the deployed portion of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         14 . A fluid conduit assembly configured to be suspended between and to transfer a fluid between a first vessel and a second vessel that are separated by a body of water, the fluid conduit assembly comprising:
 a fluid conduit support configured to be suspended between the first vessel and the second vessel; and   a fluid conduit, wherein the fluid conduit is defined by a body, wherein the body is configured to be suspended between the first vessel and the second vessel and supported by the fluid conduit support, and further wherein the body is configured to be operatively attached to the fluid conduit support at a plurality of attachment points.   
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method of controlling a conformation of a fluid conduit assembly that extends between a first vessel and a second vessel that are separated by a body of water, the method comprising:
 automatically adjusting a length of a deployed portion of the fluid conduit assembly to regulate a conformation of the deployed portion.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the fluid conduit assembly includes an aerial fluid conduit assembly and the automatically adjusting includes maintaining at least the deployed portion above a top surface of the body of water. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the automatically adjusting includes maintaining a catenary shape in the deployed portion. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the method includes increasing the length of the deployed portion responsive to a vertical separation distance between the deployed portion and the top surface of the body of water being greater than a maximum threshold vertical separation distance, and further wherein the method includes decreasing the length of the deployed portion responsive to the vertical separation distance being less than a minimum threshold vertical separation distance. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the method includes increasing the length of the deployed portion responsive to the tensile force being greater than a maximum threshold tensile force, and further wherein the method includes decreasing the length of the deployed portion responsive to the tensile force being less than a minimum threshold tensile force. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the automatically adjusting includes maintaining a radius of curvature of the deployed portion above a minimum radius of curvature. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the method further includes detecting a variable associated with the fluid conduit assembly, the variable associated with the fluid conduit assembly includes at least one of a length of a portion of the fluid conduit assembly, the length of the deployed portion, an end-to-end distance of the fluid conduit assembly, an end-to-end distance of the deployed portion, a horizontal separation distance between the first vessel and the second vessel, a vertical separation distance between the first vessel and the second vessel, a minimum vertical separation distance from the fluid conduit assembly to a top surface of the body of water, the conformation of the deployed portion, a radius of curvature of the deployed portion, and a tensile force on the deployed portion. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the method further includes determining a target conformation for the deployed portion, wherein the determining is based at least in part on the variable associated with the fluid conduit assembly. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the fluid conduit assembly includes a fluid conduit and a fluid conduit support, and further wherein the fluid conduit is operatively attached to the fluid conduit support at a plurality of attachment points. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the fluid conduit assembly includes a fluid conduit support and a fluid conduit, and the method further includes suspending the fluid conduit from the fluid conduit support. 
     
     
         32 . A method of supporting a fluid conduit that is defined by a body, wherein the fluid conduit extends between a first vessel and a second vessel that are separated by a body of water, the method comprising:
 attaching the body to a fluid conduit support at a plurality of attachment points;   suspending the body from the fluid conduit support to create a fluid conduit assembly;   extending a deployed portion of the fluid conduit assembly between the first vessel and the second vessel; and   automatically adjusting a length of the deployed portion of the fluid conduit support that extends between the first vessel and the second vessel to regulate a conformation of the deployed portion.   
     
     
         33 . (canceled)