US20110286804A1

US20110286804A1 - System and Method for Secure Offshore Storage of Crude Oil

Info

Publication number: US20110286804A1
Application number: US13/113,658
Authority: US
Inventors: Peter Lovie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-05-24
Filing date: 2011-05-23
Publication date: 2011-11-24

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.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY TO PRIOR APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/347,686, filed on May 24, 2010, entitled “System and Method for Secure Offshore Storage of Crude Oil”, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference into the present disclosure.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

The invention described in this patent application was not the subject of federally sponsored research or development.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to the storage of crude oil, refined petroleum product, other chemicals or products, and/or fresh water; more particularly, the present invention pertains to the strategic storage of crude oil, refined petroleum product, other chemicals or products, and/or fresh water at offshore locations.

BACKGROUND

It is well known that the United States maintains a Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Specifically, the United States uses empty salt domes to store large amounts of crude oil. It is possible that, in critical times, the size of the United States Strategic Petroleum Reserve may not be large enough to meet either projected consumer demand or anticipated national defense requirements. When this occurs, there will be a need to store additional crude oil at other locations to include locations offering increased levels of security.
It is also possible that the existing United States Strategic Petroleum Reserve could be the target of a terrorist attack. In this case, an alternate Strategic Petroleum Reserve offering greater levels of security would become necessary.
In many third world countries, Nigeria being a prime example, the export of crude oil produced from onshore wells has provided a great source of income. It is well known that when the price of oil is high in world markets, the crude oil that has been extracted from wells has great economic and international political value. It is also well known that most crude oil is typically stored before it is shipped to refineries for further processing into a myriad of other products. Should the storage facilities for the crude oil be attacked, or the pipelines delivering oil to these storage facilities, for the purpose of either destroying the stored crude oil, making a political statement or simply theft—the potential revenue or international political leverage associated with the control of a large store of crude oil would be lost.
Probably the most dramatic example of the destruction of oil producing facilities was the loss of millions of dollars of value associated with crude oil when the Kuwaiti oil wells and oil storage facilities were set ablaze during the departure of the Iraqi forces from Kuwait before the Gulf War in the early 1990's. It took years for the country of Kuwait to recover from this savage attack.
Since the Iraq's destruction of the Kuwaiti oil fields, terrorists have learned that smaller quantities of crude oil can provide an opportune target of choice to draw attention to a political cause or to create an atmosphere of terror among the citizenry by the effect of a large explosion and the resulting fire.
Furthermore, dangers in the Strait of Hormuz have increased the potential risks of shipment of crude oil and hydrocarbon products from the Persian Gulf. This has caused a boom in building oil storage in areas, such as the port of Fujairah, just outside of the bottleneck of the Strait of Hormuz. Many Chinese oil companies such as PetroChina and Unipec have sought to increase oil storage in the Fujairah port as part of an overall strategy of establishing a worldwide presence. Such oil storage facilities need protection from attack.
In response to the vulnerability of stored crude oil to attack, the governments of many countries, to include the United States, have become increasingly concerned about the security of large quantities of stored crude oil. These countries have a great need for systems in which crude oil may be stored so that the crude oil is protected from those who are motivated to either divert or destroy the crude oil before it can either be exported to another country or shipped to refinery or an end user. Many other problems, obstacles, limitations and challenges of the prior art will be evident to those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the prior art.
There is therefore a need in the art for a secure storage system and method for liquid products which might become the target of attacks.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a secure storage system and method for liquid products which might become the target of attacks.
The offshore secure crude oil storage system and method of the present invention provides for the secure offshore storage of crude oil to protect it against those who are motivated to either divert or destroy the crude oil before refining, export or shipment to an end user. While the disclosure of this invention is written around crude oil those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the system and method of the present invention can also be used to store refined petroleum product, other chemicals or products, and/or fresh water in addition to crude oil.
The primary function of the disclosed system and method for the secure storage of crude oil is to provide a means of secure storage at a location beyond the easy reach of militants or others whose goal is to disrupt either the transport of crude oil either locally or internationally.
The disclosed system and method establishes a remotely located secure offshore strategic crude oil storage reserve that will enable the continued flow of crude oil to refineries, exports or shipments to end users despite disruptions at onshore facilities or the exhaustion of the storage capacity of onshore crude oil storage facilities.
Further, the disclosed system and method will provide redundant storage for export terminals. Such redundant storage will serve as a deterrent to the plans of militants and others intent on disrupting the export or shipment of crude oil as there will be additional routes through which countries may export crude oil products.
A secondary function for the disclosed system and method is the enablement of the strategic secure storage of crude oil reserves that will provide a way of profiting from short-term demand spikes or unanticipated price movements; specifically, crude oil will be quickly available for export or shipment during short-term demand spikes or unexpected changes in commodity prices.
A byproduct of the configurations shown is that they provide export infrastructure to enable economic development of smaller offshore oil reserves, and export of oil and gas production of these in a country such as Nigeria, much akin to how the pipeline infrastructure in US Gulf of Mexico provides the ability for smaller crude oil reserves to be developed and production transmitted through these pipelines for sale onshore. That enhance export capability may align with national policy to encourage indigenous oil companies to produce national assets instead of this being accomplished by traditional development by International Oil Companies (IOCs).
The disclosed system and method envisions the use of a group or groups of large floatable gravity based structures. These floatable gravity based structures are concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks that are first positioned and then caused to rest on the ocean bottom at one or more predetermined offshore locations. Each floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tank or groups of crude oil storage tanks may be connected together by a subsea piping and manifold system.
To assure security of the concrete offshore storage tanks, each group of concrete offshore storage tanks will have its own security system to protect it against militants or others intent on disrupting the storage, export or shipment of crude oil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the disclosed system and method for secure offshore storage of crude oil of the present invention may be had by reference to the drawing figures wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic of the system and method of the present invention including a group of floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks;

FIG. 2 is a schematic of the system and method of present invention using three groups of four floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks each;

FIG. 3 is a schematic of a typical arrangement of an array of floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks with respect to an on-shore pumping station.

FIG. 4 is a typical design and arrangement for one of the floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks 20.

FIG. 5 is a typical elevation view for one of the floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks 20.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2, the secure offshore storage system and method of the present invention 10 will take on the form of a group of floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks 20. The floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks 20 may be arranged in a single group where the concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks are from about 2 miles to about 5 miles apart, as shown in FIG. 1, or in multiple groups 40, 42, 44 where the floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tank groups are from about 20 miles to 50 miles apart as shown in FIG. 2. The common characteristic is that each group of floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks located about 20 to 50 miles away from the coastline, to be beyond the range of small watercraft, is connected to onshore storage locations (not shown) and/or to other offshore crude oil storage locations by pipeline assemblies 30 (typically subsea) to load or unload each of the floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks 20 and provide safe, secure and redundant routes for the transport of crude oil. Included within each group of floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks may be a fixed structure for controlling the amount of crude oil temporarily stored in each concrete offshore storage tank 20 as well as controlling the security system for the group of concrete offshore storage tanks.
In the preferred embodiment and for the reliability and safety of the transfer of crude oil product to tankers for export to other locations, each of the crude oil storage tanks 20 will be first positioned and then located at ocean depths of from about 100 feet to about 145 feet. Transfer of the crude oil from the floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks 20 to export tankers will typically employ the use of a pumping system well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, such pumping systems may employ tandem (via a CALM buoy) or side-by-side mooring of the export tankers.
The disclosed system and method connects and arranges the floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks to both provide security and to provide strategic storage of quantities of crude oil.
The floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks 20 shown in the preferred embodiment are equipped both for the storage of crude oil produced from a variety of different locations and for the transfer of crude oil to transport tankers for transport. Each floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tank 20 or groups of crude oil storage tanks may be equipped with its own set of floating barriers to prevent small hostile vessels from coming too close to the floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks 20.
As shown in FIG. 2, each group of concrete tanks may include its own security perimeter 62. Still other security measures, such as those considered for use in the Gulf of Mexico after the 9/11 attacks in the US at fixed offshore platforms will be installed on and around each floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tank to enable monitoring of adjacent waters and detect any vessel movements therein. When a vessel is detected which represents a potential threat to a concrete offshore crude oil storage tank, interdiction forces or methods may be used to first warn and then stop intruders. Such methods may include deterrence means such as high intensity sound beams, focused electromagnetic beams and others, recognizing both.
It is envisioned that as the system and method of the present invention may be adopted for use around the world, specialty floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks may be designed specifically for use in the disclosed system and method may be used depending on the nature of the offshore locations in which the storage tanks are to be located. Such floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks may be manufactured onshore. The concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks are made to float when not storing crude oil. Thus, large crude oil storage tanks can be moved from their onshore manufacturing location to a predetermined location offshore. Following arrival at their predetermined offshore location, the floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks are secured to the ocean floor and in one embodiment are secured so that the top of the floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tank remains above the water line.
Each fleet or group of floatable offshore concrete crude oil storage tanks will have a central operational and security command center located either near one concrete offshore crude oil storage tank or divided up for enhanced security on multiple tanks. The central operational and security command center will provide several functions for the group of floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks.
Specifically, the central operational and security command center will:

- determine which individual floatable concrete offshore storage tank 20 in the group of floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks is to be filled or emptied;
- determine how much crude oil is to be added to or removed from each individual concrete offshore crude oil storage tank 20 in the group of floatable concrete storage tanks either from an on-shore source or from another concrete storage tank;
- move security assets as needed within the group of floatable concrete offshore storage tanks to include patrol boats, electronic surveillance, air/underwater surveillance etc.

As shown in FIG. 3 offloading of crude oil to an export tanker 100 may optionally be from a catenary anchor leg moored (CALM) buoy 80 or from a group of CALM buoys for all of the crude oil stored by the group of concrete storage tanks. Provision is made for side-by-side transfer of crude oil from the concrete storage tanks to the export tanker in fair weather conditions. While a group of buoys may be used, it is also possible to empty crude oil from each concrete offshore storage tank 20 through a seabed manifold 90 as shown in FIG. 1. Individually provided adequate security measures are put in place by the central operational and security command center. The concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks 20 may be connected to onshore pumping facilities 110 or to other offshore storage installations 120.
One premise of the disclosed system and method 10 of the present invention is that all stored crude oil is considered to be fungible. However, it is also possible to accommodate the storage of various different grades or types of crude oil within different compartments or tanks of the tanks if such different grades of crude oil are producible from either land or offshore sources. The storage of multiple different grades of crude oil will be managed by the central operational and security command center in the same way that the crude oil is managed.
It is envisioned that the fees charged for storage of crude oil will be on a long term contract service basis. Alternatively, the fees charged for the secure storage of crude oil could be priced in a manner similar to the pricing of an insurance policy. Specifically, a predetermined per unit quantity tariff would be charged based on daily storage amounts.
The disclosed offshore storage system and method 10 could also be used to provide a market calming effect in the case of rapidly fluctuating prices. Specifically, enough quantity of stored crude oil could be released from storage to deter any disruptions in supply (e.g. 600,000 barrels per day reduction in production of crude oil over 50 days or 30,000,000 barrels).
The disclosed offshore storage system and method 10 could also be used to reduce the price of crude oil by reducing the price instability premium that crude oil producers place on their per unit price. In addition, the reputation of the host country to supply large quantities of crude oil when needed would be enhanced as sufficient quantities of those commodities to meet customer demand will be available during any on-shore production interruptions. If multiple countries are involved, the perception of security for the stored crude oil will be increased, thus further calming fears of a disruption in the supply of crude oil originating in a third world country.
The disclosed system in a macro sense is a combination of relatively short delivery components including:

- pump stations;
- pipelines;
- offshore concrete storage tanks;
- offloading buoys.

All of the foregoing are arranged and included in sufficient quantities to continue operation if one or more portions is reduced in capacity or destroyed.
For additional storage needs the group of floatable concrete crude oil storage tanks may be increased in size by the addition of more tanks or by combination with other types of either surface or concrete gravity storage structures whether such storage structures be mobile or stationary. Accordingly, such an increase in the number of tanks will be tied into the central operational and security command center for control and security.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the floatable concrete oil storage tanks may be round or constructed to have multiple flat sides. The size, design and materials used to construct the floatable concrete crude oil storage tanks are dependent on the capabilities and materials available in the countries nearest to the location of the floatable concrete offshore oil storage tanks. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the floatable offshore storage tanks may be sub-divided into multiple compartments for different grades or owners of crude oil.
In particularly dangerous locations, it may be necessary to have multiple layers of security; possibly provided by all those having an interest in assuring the security of the stored crude oil. Such layered security may include various functionalities to include radar monitoring, air and/or water patrols, incident interdiction, communication, line monitoring and emergency rescue. New types of sensors and non-lethal weapons developed after the Sep. 11, 2001, attacks may be used. For example, new surveillance radar, intense focused audio beams such as LRAD, and microwave equivalents 64 can be used as shown in FIG. 3.
Each storage tank should be constructed to protect against suicide attackers, collisions, or missile attacks. This additional protection satisfies regulatory requirements in first world countries such as the United States—so that the most stringent requirements can be met.
Transportation of personnel or equipment within the group of floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks may be by helicopter to helipads located at each tank. Such helipads should be made large enough for use by large helicopters in the event of the need for the movement of large quantities of people or equipment. FIG. 4 is a typical design and arrangement for one of the floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks 20. FIG. 4 shows how internal compartments are intended to store crude oil and other compartments around the perimeter of the tank are used to ballast down the tank once it is on location, and to maintain it on station whether full of crude oil or not. The double sided configuration has the added benefit of reducing the risks of oil spills and of resisting collisions by ships, whether deliberate by militants or accidental. The design of the tank is arranged such that it can be built in a graving dock nearby and floated out, i.e. the “lightship” draft has to be a practical figure to enable delivery to final location and then ballasting down for permanent use. FIG. 5 is a typical elevation view for one of the floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks 20.
Typical dimensions of one embodiment of the invention are indicated for a 4.2 million barrel floatable concrete offshore crude oil storage tanks 20 in Tables 1 and 2 below:

TABLE 1

Oil storage capacity

Cargo volume per tank	m{circumflex over ( )}3	73,150
Total cargo volume @98%	m{circumflex over ( )}3	573,496
Equivalent in barrels	bbl	4,204,516
Concrete volume/storage volume		0.19

TABLE 2

Overall dimensions

Beam, Molded	m	94.40
Length overall, molded	m	244.40
Depth, molded	m	39.80

The disclosed system and method has been disclosed according it its preferred and alternate embodiments. Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that based on the foregoing disclosure other embodiments have been enabled. For example, the disclosed invention could be used to store refined petroleum products, other chemicals or products, and/or fresh water. Such other embodiments shall be included within the scope and meaning of the appended claims.

Claims

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.