General information
Moored side-by-side (or side-to-side) operations and lightering operations with forward speed are important options for the offloading of oil offshore. Nowadays, they are also considered seriously for the LNG offloading from LNG FPSOs or FSRUs (Floating Storage and Regassification Units). The loads in the mooring lines between the two vessels, the loads in the floating fenders and the relative motions at the manifold location are the most critical issues during this operation. These are determined by the wave, wind and current loads on the two vessels in close proximity, as well as by the strong hydrodynamic interaction between the vessels. Even in head waves the two vessels are jack-kniving (relative yaw motion of the vessel out of phase) as the waves run between the two hulls. The resulting motions and mooring loads determine the operability of the operation in certain environmental conditions.
Moored side-by-side (or side-to-side) operations and lightering operations with forward speed are important options for the offloading of oil offshore. Nowadays, they are also considered seriously for the LNG offloading from LNG FPSOs or FSRUs (Floating Storage and Regassification Units). The loads in the mooring lines between the two vessels, the loads in the floating fenders and the relative motions at the manifold location are the most critical issues during this operation. These are determined by the wave, wind and current loads on the two vessels in close proximity, as well as by the strong hydrodynamic interaction between the vessels. Even in head waves the two vessels are jack-kniving (relative yaw motion of the vessel out of phase) as the waves run between the two hulls. The resulting motions and mooring loads determine the operability of the operation in certain environmental conditions.
Services & Activities
The Offshore Department has a lot of experience in the testing and numerical modelling of side-by-side and lightering operations for oil and LNG. It has dedicated tools that take into account the observed interactions as good as possible. These tools were developed and validated based on inhouse research and can be used to optimise the side-by-side operations in close co-operation with engineers and operational experts of the client.
The Trials and Monitoring Department can be involved in full-scale measurement of side-by-side offloading operations.
The Offshore Department has a lot of experience in the testing and numerical modelling of side-by-side and lightering operations for oil and LNG. It has dedicated tools that take into account the observed interactions as good as possible. These tools were developed and validated based on inhouse research and can be used to optimise the side-by-side operations in close co-operation with engineers and operational experts of the client.
The Trials and Monitoring Department can be involved in full-scale measurement of side-by-side offloading operations.
Facilities & Tools
Side-by-side model tests are carried out in the following MARIN facilities :
Side-by-side model tests are carried out in the following MARIN facilities :
- Offshore Basin: DP model tests in combined current, waves and wind
The following tools are used to study side-by-side offloading :
DIFFRAC: 3-D potential theory including wave diffraction
DRIFTP/DBDRIFT: Second order wave excited (drift) forces
DRIFTP/DBDRIFT: Second order wave excited (drift) forces
Software Sales
Some software tools are available for commercial use outside MARIN. A complete overview of these software tools for sale can be found under Software Sales.
Some software tools are available for commercial use outside MARIN. A complete overview of these software tools for sale can be found under Software Sales.
Experience
The list below gives a review of side-by-side offloading projects carried out at MARIN:
The list below gives a review of side-by-side offloading projects carried out at MARIN:
- Soft Quay Mooring (SQM) side by side model tests (SBM, 2005 and 2006)
- Cabrillo Port FSRU simulations (BHP Billiton, 2005)
- Lightering operability study (ExxonMobil/OCIMF, 2004)
- NnwaDoro LNG FPSO simulations (Statoil, 2003)
- Shell LNG FPSO side-by-side simulations and model tests (Shell, 2000)
- Sunrise LNG FPSO side-by-side simulations and model tests (Shell, 1999)
- LNG transhipment tests (Kawasaki, 1996)
Most recent side-by-side offloading papers presented by MARIN
(complete overview of papers can be found under Publications)
(complete overview of papers can be found under Publications)
Safe transfer of Liquefied Gas in the Offshore Environment
M.A. Newby (ConocoPhillips), W.H. Pauw (MARIN), OTC Conference, Houston, TX, 2010
Advances in the Hydrodynamics of Side-by-side Moored Vessels
Willemijn H. Pauw (MARIN), Rene H. Huijsmans (Delft University of Technology) and Arjan Voogt (MARIN), OMAE Conference, San Diego, 2007
Time Domain Simulations of Side-by-side Moored Vessels - Lessons Learnt from a Benchmark Test
Mamoun Naciri (SBM); Olaf Waals and Jaap de Wilde (MARIN), OMAE Conference, San Diego, 2007
Hydrodynamics aspects of Gravity Based Structures as LNG import terminal in shallow water
Buchner, B., Loots, G.E and Forristal, G.Z, OTC Conference, Houston, 2004
The Interaction Effects of Mooring in close Proximity of Other Structures
Buchner, Bas, de Wilde, Jaap and de Boer, Gerrit, ISOPE Conference, Toulon, 2004
M.A. Newby (ConocoPhillips), W.H. Pauw (MARIN), OTC Conference, Houston, TX, 2010
Advances in the Hydrodynamics of Side-by-side Moored Vessels
Willemijn H. Pauw (MARIN), Rene H. Huijsmans (Delft University of Technology) and Arjan Voogt (MARIN), OMAE Conference, San Diego, 2007
Time Domain Simulations of Side-by-side Moored Vessels - Lessons Learnt from a Benchmark Test
Mamoun Naciri (SBM); Olaf Waals and Jaap de Wilde (MARIN), OMAE Conference, San Diego, 2007
Hydrodynamics aspects of Gravity Based Structures as LNG import terminal in shallow water
Buchner, B., Loots, G.E and Forristal, G.Z, OTC Conference, Houston, 2004
The Interaction Effects of Mooring in close Proximity of Other Structures
Buchner, Bas, de Wilde, Jaap and de Boer, Gerrit, ISOPE Conference, Toulon, 2004
Most recent side-by-side offloading articles written for MARIN Report
(complete overview of articles can be found under Publications)
(complete overview of articles can be found under Publications)
Pulling together in ROPES JIP
With the increase of ship size and the planning of new terminals along waterways and port entrances, the effects of passing ships on the motions and the mooring loads of berthed vessels have become an important issue for...
INPEX's eternal flame in Indonesian Arafura Sea
During drilling of the first exploration well in 2000, the Japanese operator INPEX discovered a large gas accumulation in the Masela block in the Indonesian Arafura Sea. Subsequent drillings in 2002 confirmed that the gas find...
2009: The year of LNG
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) has become the fastest growing sector of the world’s gas market. With many large LNG offloading projects planned this year in the Offshore Basin, 2009 can be proudly proclaimed “The year of LNG”....
Shuttle tool now ready for side-by-side Offloading Operations
The Shuttle tool for the sim- for side-by-side Off loading Operations ulation of complex, offloading operations is now capable of side-by-side offloading and offloading from a jetty or Gravity Based Structure (GBS). This tool...
Side-by-Side mooring study for the Sanha
Difficult environmental conditions led ChevronTexaco to ask MARIN to study their effects on the LPG FPSO Sanha and to set up an operational window.
With the increase of ship size and the planning of new terminals along waterways and port entrances, the effects of passing ships on the motions and the mooring loads of berthed vessels have become an important issue for...
INPEX's eternal flame in Indonesian Arafura Sea
During drilling of the first exploration well in 2000, the Japanese operator INPEX discovered a large gas accumulation in the Masela block in the Indonesian Arafura Sea. Subsequent drillings in 2002 confirmed that the gas find...
2009: The year of LNG
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) has become the fastest growing sector of the world’s gas market. With many large LNG offloading projects planned this year in the Offshore Basin, 2009 can be proudly proclaimed “The year of LNG”....
Shuttle tool now ready for side-by-side Offloading Operations
The Shuttle tool for the sim- for side-by-side Off loading Operations ulation of complex, offloading operations is now capable of side-by-side offloading and offloading from a jetty or Gravity Based Structure (GBS). This tool...
Side-by-Side mooring study for the Sanha
Difficult environmental conditions led ChevronTexaco to ask MARIN to study their effects on the LPG FPSO Sanha and to set up an operational window.
Contact
For more information on how MARIN can help your organisation with the issue of side-by-side offloading, please contact:
For Offshore Structures: Offshore Department
For Ships: Ships Seakeeping Department or the Manoeuvring Department
For full-scale measurements: the Trials and Monitoring Department
For more information on how MARIN can help your organisation with the issue of side-by-side offloading, please contact:
For Offshore Structures: Offshore Department
For Ships: Ships Seakeeping Department or the Manoeuvring Department
For full-scale measurements: the Trials and Monitoring Department