Fmc Technologies, Inc.

T.en Loading Systems

Renaud Le Devehat

Nicolas Sylard

Eugène Le Devehat

Stéphane Paquet

Eric Morilhat

Anthony Loyer

Olivier Diana

Orla Ann Kelly

Damien Tortel

Cécile Pastel

The present invention concerns a device for the transfer of cryogenic product from a first floating structure () for storing cryogenic product to a second fixed or floating structure for storing cryogenic product, comprising pipes () configured to transport the cryogenic product between a duct () linked to the first structure and a duct () linked to the second structure. Said pipes () are rigid, carried by buoyancy means () and fluidically connected in pairs by connection means () suitable for transporting the cryogenic product and allowing at least one degree of freedom. The present invention also concerns a method for retracting a device for the transport of cryogenic product.

Device for the transfer of cryogenic products between a floating structure and a fixed or floating structure

A control device for controlling the movement of a coupling located on the movable end of a fluid transfer line of a marine loading system includes at least three actuators which each control movement of the coupling in a corresponding degree of freedom, a device positioned on or adjacent the coupling and/or a target duct for providing information on the positioning of the coupling, and a calculating device for (a) calculating the positioning of the coupling relative to the target duct on the basis of the positioning information, (b) calculating control instructions for each of the actuators which will result in movement of the coupling toward the target duct, (c) applying the control instructions to the actuators to bring the coupling toward the target duct, and (d) repeating steps (a)-(c) as necessary until the coupling is located in a position for connection to the target duct.

Control device for fluid loading and/or unloading system

The invention relates to a system for transfer of a fluid product and its use, comprising at least one tubular arrangement for conveying the product between two locations and having two segments () articulated to each other by a first of their ends, the opposite end of a first of the two segments being rotatably suspended from a support arm () adapted to be installed at one of the two locations and the opposite end of the second segment being able to be connected to a coupling means adapted to be installed at the second location, first means () for turning the first segment () relative to the arm, for the purpose of lowering its first end from a storage position on the same side as the support arm and second means () for pulling up the end of the second segment () which end is adapted to be linked to the coupling means for the purpose of connecting that end to the coupling means () from underneath.

System for transferring a fluid product and its implementation

An offshore fluid transfer system comprising a boom () and at least one movable fluid conveying pipe () attached to the boom, said movable pipe () comprising, starting from its anchorage point, a length for extension, then an outer valve () for coupling to a third party loading pipe, a maneuvering cable called outer maneuvering cable () maneuvered from the boom () being furthermore linked to the free end of the movable pipe at a point referred to as cable anchorage point, characterized in that the anchorage point is rigidly connected to the outer valve (). The invention also relates to the corresponding method.

Offshore fluid transfer system and method

A device for providing information on the positioning of a moveable coupling located on a movable end of a fluid transfer line, the other end of which is fixed to a base, includes a first GPS device which is positioned on or adjacent the coupling and provides information on the absolute positioning of the coupling in space, and a second apparatus which is adapted to cooperate directly with the first apparatus and provides information on the positioning of the base. The second apparatus is disposed on or adjacent the base and provides, on the basis of the information on the positioning of the base and the information on the positioning of the coupling, information on the relative positioning of the coupling directly relative to the base. Alternatively, the first apparatus is adapted to provide information on the absolute positioning of the coupling in space, the base has a fixed position in space, and the device comprises a calculator for calculating, on the basis of the information on the absolute positioning of the coupling and data on the positioning of the base, information on the relative positioning of the coupling directly relative to the base.

Device for providing information on positioning of a moveable coupling of a marine fluid loading system

A valve () is concerned comprising an obturator () maintained in a resting position against a seat () through the action of a first force generated by pre-loading means (), further comprising means () for rotating the obturator () to place the valve in an open or closed position, characterized in that the valve comprises means () for translating the obturator to move the obturator () such that a gap (j) is created between the obturator () and the seat (), the translating means being adapted to drive the obturator () to move in translation independently of the rotational movement of that obturator ().

Obturator valve for a coupling device for pipes

A device () for providing information on positioning of at least one moveable coupling () of a marine loading system (), the system comprising at least one fluid transfer line having a line end fixed to a base (), and a moveable line end provided with a coupling () adapted for connection to a target duct, the coupling or a member immediately neighboring the coupling having at least one means for providing information on the positioning of the coupling () either adapted to cooperate directly with a means () for providing information on positioning of the base disposed on the base or on a member immediately neighboring the base to provide, on the basis of the information on positioning of the base, information on relative positioning of the coupling directly relative to the base, or adapted to provide information on absolute positioning of the coupling () in space, and, the base having a fixed position in space, the device has a calculating means making it possible to calculate on the basis of the information on absolute positioning of the coupling and data on positioning of the base fixed in space, information on relative positioning of the coupling directly relative to the base.

A coupler which is adapted to be connected to a complementary device for the transfer of a fluid between the coupler to the complementary device comprises a body through which the fluid is allowed to flow, at least one seal for providing a fluid-tight seal between the coupler and the complementary device, and a protecting device for the seal. The protecting device is movable between a first position before connection in which the protecting device projects beyond the seal in the direction of connection, and a second position after connection in which the protecting device no longer projects beyond the seal. The coupler also includes a damper for urging the protecting device towards its first position.

Clamping assembly and a hydraulic coupler comprising it

An emergency disconnection system for a fluid loading arm includes two valves, a collar which when closed secures the valves together and which when opened allows the valves to disconnect from each other, and an actuator which includes a single rod which is movable axially over a length of travel. A first jack moves the rod over a first portion of its travel to close the two valves and a second jack moves the rod over a remaining portion of its travel to open the collar. The first and second jacks are independently controllable and positioned substantially coaxially relative to each other.

Emergency disconnection system

A coupling for securing a first element to a second element includes an actuation bolt, a clamping jaw mounted on the first element which comprises a bore having a threaded part which defines a nut that threadedly engages the actuation bolt, and a torque limitation device positioned between the actuation bolt and the bore for transmitting the rotational movement of the actuation bolt directly to the clamping jaw to thereby rotate the clamping jaw about the axis. In operation, when an external force acting on the clamping jaw is greater that the force generated against the bore by the torque limitation device, rotation of the actuation bolt will result in translation of the clamping jaw, and when the external force acting on the clamping jaw is less than the force generated against the bore by the torque limitation device, rotation of the actuation bolt will rotate the clamping jaw about the axis.

Coupling with direct transmission of the rotational movement of an actuation bolt to a clamping jaw driven in translation by the latter

Assembly for loading and unloading products, comprising a balanced loading and unloading arm installed at a first location and having a compass-style duct system mounted by one of its ends on a base and provided at the other of its ends with a connection system suitable for connecting the compass-style duct system to a coupling means installed at the second location, this assembly comprising, in addition, a cable joined on the one hand to means integral with the base and suitable for subjecting this cable to a constant tension and suitable for being joined, on the other hand, to the second location, the assembly also comprising guiding means capable of co-operating with the cable so as to guide the connection system along a trajectory materialized by the said cable until the connection system is brought into a position of connection to the coupling means.

Discharge arm assembly with guiding cable

A clamping assembly for a coupler comprises at least one clamping module which includes a clamping jaw () that is designed for connecting the coupler to a complementary means device and an actuating system that comprises a device of the screw/nut type which is driven by a motor. The actuating system is connected directly to the clamping jaw, and the clamping jaw is swivel-mounted to a support about a point that is fixed relative to the coupler.

The invention concerns an assembly comprising balanced loading and unloading arm () installed at a first location and having articulated pipeline arms () mounted through one of its end on a base () and provided at the other of its ends with a system connecting () the articulated pipeline arms to coupling means () installed at the second location. It further comprises a cable () linked through one of its ends to the connecting system () and through the other of its ends to means () adapted to subject said cable to constant tension, and a connecting winch () whereon is wound a connection cable () for bringing the connecting system () in a position to be connected to the coupling means ().

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Thorigny-sur-Oreuse, France

Renaud Le Devehat