Importance

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Abstract

An oil storage, loading and offloading system includes a submerged oil storage tank with multiple vertically placed flexible containers. The system directly connects to the topsides of an offshore oil production platform above water to assist oil loading and offloading operations. During loading, oil is pumped in and stored inside flexible containers, which are expanded to displace equivalent amount of water out of the oil storage tank; during offloading, oil is pumped out from flexible containers and the reduced volume of each contracted container is then filled in by the equivalent amount of water from the surroundings There is no physical contact between water and oil. The submerged tank on-bottom weight has a limited variation during the loading and offloading operations. This disclosed system can be utilized for fixed offshore platforms, especially for shallow water marginal field developments, and for deepwater floating platforms such as SPAR and semi-submersible (SEMI) structures.

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First Claim