Intellectual Property The HiLoad Unit The HiLoad LNG Regas unit is a floating L-shaped terminal that docks onto the LNG carrier using the patented friction based attachment system eliminating any relative motion between the carrier and the terminal. The hull is divided into three main sections: Pontoon, towers and keel. It is constructed of steel plates and standard profiles for simple fabrication by any yard. The unit is designed according to the DNV’s Rules for Mobile Offshore Units. The General Arrangement is designed with symmetry about the centerline of the unit, which gives redundancy and simpler fabrication. It is equipped with standard regas equipment (LNG load transfer arms, pumps and vaporizers) and can accommodate any LNG carrier, without modifications or special arrangements on the carrier. The HiLoad Unit can be docked onto LNG carriers of any size including the new 250,000 m³ class LNG Carriers. Two standard LNG transfer arms are installed on top of the towers on HiLoad, where each arm has sufficient flow capacity to give the maximum required regas rate. The HiLoad unit is equipped with direct heated shell and tube vaporizers as this type of LNG vaporizer has a unique and robust design with no movable parts. A minimum of maintenance is required, which makes them very suitable for the HiLoad system. The unit is equipped with high-pressure LNG pumps, and submerged seawater pumps for the open loop configuration. For closed loop, intermediate fluid is supplied via flexible lines from a nearby vessel or platform. Docked on to an LNG carrier, it will be possible to connect safely in significant wave heights of Hs=4.5 m (14 ft). Model testing of the HiLoad LNG Regas facility and its mooring system has been successfully carried out under Hurricane Katrina conditions with a significant wave height of Hs=16 m (50 ft), corresponding to a maximum wave height of approximately 30 m (98 ft). The Operations The attachment system consists of six large suction cups. All components of the system have a proven track record, and the complete attachment system has been full-scale tested. Documentation is available showing that the HiLoad will not cause any damage to the ship. The LNG carrier is moored to a Single Anchor Leg Mooring (SALM) buoy and can weathervane 360º around the SALM. For the closed loop configuration, the LNG carrier is typically moored to the aft end of the Floating Regasification Unit (FRU) where the intermediate fluid is also heated. The pontoon and towers on the HiLoad are equipped with soft landing fenders to limit the contact forces between the HiLoad and the carrier during connection. The unit is equipped with a high capacity ballast system in order to keep the time needed to connect to the ship at a minimum (about 2-3 minutes). The tanker interface has been addressed in significant detail during the development, including an assessment of:
The HiLoad Technology is also suitable for other applications, such as crude oil loading (visit www.remoratech.com for more information on this). The first HiLoad for crude oil loading is being delivered from the Aibel yard in Haugesund, Norway in 2009.
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