The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 21, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 16, 2000
Peter John Burbage, Rue hector Otto, MC;
Robert Pucnik, Monaco Cedex, MC;
Imodco, Inc., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A barge ( ) that stores liquid hydrocarbon (oil) from a producing facility ( ) and offloads it perhaps once a month to a shuttle taker ( ), is constructed for unmanned operation except during the once-per-month unloading. The barge has a permanent nonadjustable ballast ( ) and has a solar powered system for communication with a central center for normal operation and emergency shutdown. The barge avoids a “hotel system” for a permanent crew (up to 50 people) by avoiding seawater ballast tanks, ballast pumps and related systems. The only person-operated equipment is an engine-generator set ( ) and pumps ( ), to be operated only during offloading for perhaps 3 days every month. The barge is unpowered except by solar energy or batteries, and is left unmanned except during offloading, so only temporary crew quarters are provided. The barge has a tank assembly ( ) with rows of tanks connected in series so oil can be loaded and unloaded from the frontmost tank in each row. The barge is ballasted so the bottom walls ( ) of the tanks extend at a slight downward-forward tilt so the last amount of stored oil can flow downhill to the frontmost tank for offloading onto the shuttle tanker.