Offshore gas flare system
US5197826A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 22, 1992 |
| Grant date | Mar 30, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 22, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB63B22/20
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus is described for flaring large amounts of natural gas at a location spaced from an offshore production platform. The apparatus includes a spar buoy structure (32, FIG. 1) anchored at a location on the order of 0.1 kilometer from the platform (12) and coupled through an undersea conduit (44) to the platform. The structure is anchored by catenary chains (71-74), and has a ballasted lower portion and a buoyant upper portion to keep the structure upright so the flare (42) always remains high above sea level. The undersea conduit (44) which carries natural gas to the structure, connects to a buoy pipe (66) that extends along the structure, at a location (64) close to the center of gravity (80) of the structure, or at the bottom (keel) of the buoy, to minimize failure from constant structure pivoting. A wide lower part (34) of the structure includes several individually-sealed air-filled chambers (91-98, FIG. 2) spaced along its height. A mechanism (100, FIG. 4) coupled to one of the chambers varies the amount of gas and water therein to vary the buoyancy of the structure. A water pump (132, FIG. 5) in the spar structure can pump water to hose stations (161-164, FIG. 6) on the …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.