Deepwater offshore loading apparatus

Abstract

The deepwater offshore loading system is especially suited for transferring petroleum from a floating storage and loading terminal to a marine tanker and for providing for relative movement between the tanker and the terminal. The system comprises a support boom mounted on the deck of a terminal, a pair of fluid conduits extending generally horizontal along the boom from risers at the deck, a pair of vertical fluid conduits and a first coaxial swivel joint connected between the outboard ends of the boom conduits and the upper ends of the vertical fluid conduits. A pair of horizontal conduits are mounted one above the other in a generally horizontal position with the inboard ends of the horizontal conduits connected to a header which is pivotally connected to the lower ends of the vertical fluid conduits. Another header is connected between the outboard ends of the horizontal conduits and a dual universal joint. Another coaxial swivel joint connects the dual universal joint to a pair of manifold ports on a marine tanker. The system provides a pair of separate and distinct fluid paths between the marine tanker and the deck of the floating storage terminal, one path for transferring the fluid and the other path for returning vapor to the fluid supply area.