Vessel for producing hydrocarbons provided with means for separation of hydrocarbons into gaseous hydrocarbons and non gaseous hydrocarbons and a method for operating such a vessel

Abstract

A vessel for producing hydrocarbons, the vessel being adapted to be connected to at least one riser for transport of the hydrocarbons from a well on the seabed towards the vessel, wherein the vessel includes a separation station for separation of the hydrocarbons into gaseous hydrocarbons and non-gaseous hydrocarbons, storing elements for storing the hydrocarbons and processing elements for processing at least part of the hydrocarbons. The vessel further includes a positioning system for controlling the position and orientation of the vessel with respect to the seabed, wherein the positioning system includes a Dynamic Positioning (DP) system allowing the control of the position and the orientation of the vessel with respect to the seabed without the use of mooring lines, wherein the DP system is adapted to be driven by at least a portion of the gaseous part of the hydrocarbons separated in the separation station.

1 . Vessel for producing hydrocarbons, the vessel being adapted to be connected to at least one riser for transport of the hydrocarbons from a well on the seabed towards the vessel, wherein the vessel comprises a separation station for separation of the hydrocarbons into gaseous hydrocarbons and non-gaseous hydrocarbons, storing means for storing the hydrocarbons and processing means for processing at least part of the hydrocarbons, wherein the vessel comprises a positioning system for controlling the position and orientation of the vessel with respect to the seabed, characterised in that, the positioning system comprises a Dynamic Positioning (DP) system allowing the control of the position and the orientation of the vessel with respect to the seabed without the use of mooring lines, wherein the DP system is adapted to be driven by at least a portion of the gaseous part of the hydrocarbons separated in the separation station. 
     
     
         2 . Vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein the DP system comprises a plurality of thrusters and wherein the gaseous part of the hydrocarbons separated in the separation station is used for driving the plurality of thrusters. 
     
     
         3 . Vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein the DP system comprises at least an integrated multi-Fuel reciprocating engine generation system. 
     
     
         4 . Vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises at least a first power generator set for energizing the DP system and at least a second power generator set for energizing the processing means for processing at least part of the hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         5 . Vessel according to  claim 4 , wherein the power generated set for energizing the DP system comprises four power generators. 
     
     
         6 . Vessel according to  claim 4 , wherein the power generator set for energizing the DP system is placed in the front part of the vessel for having an air intake at the front of the vessel. 
     
     
         7 . Vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein the processing means comprise means for liquefying at least a portion of the gaseous part of the hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         8 . Vessel according to  claim 7 , wherein the processing means further comprise a nitrogen station for the production of nitrogen, wherein the nitrogen station is linked to the means for liquefying at least a portion of the gaseous part of the hydrocarbons in order to use residual heat produced in the liquefying process to generate electricity for driving the nitrogen station. 
     
     
         9 . Vessel according to  claim 7 , wherein the vessel further comprises a fresh water station for the production of fresh water wherein the fresh water station is linked to the means for liquefying at least a portion of the gaseous part of the hydrocarbons in order to use residual heat produced in the liquefying process for driving the fresh water station. 
     
     
         10 . Vessel according to  claim 1  wherein the vessel is provided with a riser balcony placed at the one side of the vessel, wherein the riser balcony is adapted to be connected via a bearing to the at least one riser. 
     
     
         11 . Vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein the vessel is adapted to be connected to a riser having an upper riser end which is provided with a buoy and a quick disconnect system. 
     
     
         12 . Vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein the vessel is an Extended Well Testing (EWT) FPSO. 
     
     
         13 . Method for operating a vessel for the production of hydrocarbons, wherein the vessel is adapted to be connected to at least one riser for transport of the hydrocarbons produced by said vessel from one or more wells on the seabed towards the vessel and wherein the vessel comprises a separation station for separation of the hydrocarbons into gaseous hydrocarbons and non-gaseous hydrocarbons, storing means for storing the hydrocarbons and processing means for processing at least part of the hydrocarbons, wherein the vessel further comprises a positioning system for controlling the position and orientation of the vessel with respect to the seabed, characterised in that, the method for operating the vessel comprises the steps of:
 controlling the position and the orientation of the vessel with respect to the seabed by means of a Dynamic Positioning (DP) system, comprising a plurality of thrusters,   driving the plurality of thrusters of the DP system by means of at least a portion of the gaseous part of the hydrocarbons separated in the separation station.   
     
     
         14 . Method according to  claim 13 , wherein a further portion of the gaseous part of the hydrocarbons separated in the separation station is liquefied using a gas-to-liquid (GTL) process, wherein the process means on the vessel further comprise a nitrogen station for the production of nitrogen and wherein residual heat produced in the GTL process is used for generating electricity for driving the nitrogen station. 
     
     
         15 . Method according to  claim 13 , wherein the vessel further comprises a fresh water station for the production of fresh water wherein residual heat produced in the GTL process is used for driving the clean water station. 
     
     
         16 . Vessel according to  claim 2 , wherein the DP system comprises at least an integrated multi-Fuel reciprocating engine generation system. 
     
     
         17 . Vessel according to  claim 5 , wherein the power generator set for energizing the DP system is placed in the front part of the vessel for having an air intake at the front of the vessel. 
     
     
         18 . Vessel according to  claim 8 , wherein the vessel further comprises a fresh water station for the production of fresh water wherein the fresh water station is linked to the means for liquefying at least a portion of the gaseous part of the hydrocarbons in order to use residual heat produced in the liquefying process for driving the fresh water station.