US3975167A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transportation of natural gas as a hydrate
Assignee: Chevron USA Inc
•
Filing: 1975-04-02
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Granted: 1976-08-17
•
Expires: 1995-04-02
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus is described for transporting a natural gas in the form of a hydrate. The method utilizes the pressure and temperature conditions of a submerged vessel to facilitate the formation and maintenance of natural gas as a hydrate during the subsea voyage and the subsequent reconversion of the hydrate to a natural gas when the destination of the vessel is reached. The submarine vessel can have: supplementary refrigeration, a hold or void in which a natural gas is hydrated, and a membrane pervious to gas and water within the hold. In the vicinity of the hold bottom are situated gas conductors with spargers through which the natural gas is pumped into the hold. Adjacent to them are cold-water distributor pipes through which water is pumped into the hold for forming a gas hydrate and for removing the heat of formation. The membrane is spaced from the interior wall of the hold so that a gap around and within the hold is formed. This gap provides a path for the water and gas to travel upward to an exit conduit located near the top of the vessel. From this conduit, the gas and water is recycled to form a hydrate.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert J. Nierman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:39
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10L; C10L3/00; C10L3/06; F; F17; F17C; F17C11/00; F17C11/007; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for transporting a natural gas from a well to a point of use while utilizing the effect of pressure and temperature at the specific water elevation of a submarine vessel as an aid in hydrating said gas, comprising the steps of: supplying gaseous hydrate-forming hydrocarbons from a source of said gas to a submarine vessel while simultaneously pressurizing and cooling said gaseous hydrocarbons on said vessel to a temperature and pressure at which said hydrocarbons hydrate; hydrating said hydrocarbons in said vessel; submerging and moving said submarine vessel to the vicinity of a point of use while maintaining said natural gas in a hydrated form; raising said submarine vessel to the surface and thereby reducing the pressure and increasing the temperature of said vessel; providing additional heat to said vessel so that said hydrated hydrocarbons in the presence of said reduced pressure and raised temperature gasifies; and transferring said gasified hydrocarbons to a point of use.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for transporting a natural gas from a well to a point of use while utilizing the effect of pressure and temperature at the specific water elevation of a submarine vessel as an aid in hydrating said gas, comprising the steps of: supplying gaseous hydrate-forming hydrocarbons from a source of said gas to a submarine vessel while simultaneously pressurizing and cooling said gaseous hydrocarbons on said vessel to a temperature and pressure at which said hydrocarbons hydrate; hydrating said hydrocarbons in said vessel; submerging and moving said submarine vessel to the vicinity of a point of use while maintaining said natural gas in a hydrated form; raising said submarine vessel to the surface and thereby reducing the pressure and increasing the temperature of said vessel; providing additional heat to said vessel so that said hydrated hydrocarbons in the presence of said reduced pressure and raised temperature gasifies; and transferring said gasified hydrocarbons to a point of use.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of transporting the gaseous hydrate-forming hydrocarbons of claim 1 wherein the step of cooling said submarine vessel is further characterized by allowing the water surrounding said vessel to circulate through the hull of said vessel as a heat-transferring medium to said gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of transporting the gaseous hydrate-forming hydrocarbons of claim 2 further characterized by the step of removing from said gaseous hydrate-forming hydrocarbons butane, propane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide before hydrating said hydrocarbons.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of transporting the gaseous hydrate-forming hydrocarbons of claim 1 wherein said step of submerging said submarine vessel in said water is characterized by lowering said vessel to a depth in the range 1300 feet to 2000 feet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of transporting the gaseous hydrate-forming hydrocarbons of claim 4 wherein said step of cooling said submarine vessel is characterized by cooling said gaseous hydrate-forming hydrocarbons to the range of 35°F to 125°F; and increasing the pressure to the range of 150 to 1038 psia.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of conveying a natural gas from a natural gas field to a point of discharge near a marketing area in a submarine vessel without using pipelines comprising the steps of: transferring natural gas into at least one fluid-tight compartment in said submarine vessel; lowering said submarine vessel to an ocean depth in the range of 1300 feet to 2000 feet; bringing said gas into intimate contact with a quantity of fresh water inside said vessel at said depth so as to convert a substantial portion of said gas into a hydrocarbon hydrate; maintaining the gas at a pressure condition and at a temperature condition necessary to keep said natural gas in a hydrated form; and moving said submarine vessel toward said point of marketing activity.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of conveying a natural gas from a natural gas field to a point of discharge near a marketing area in a submarine vessel without using pipelines comprising the steps of: transferring natural gas into at least one fluid-tight compartment in said submarine vessel; lowering said submarine vessel to an ocean depth in the range of 1300 feet to 2000 feet; bringing said gas into intimate contact with a quantity of fresh water inside said vessel at said depth so as to convert a substantial portion of said gas into a hydrocarbon hydrate; maintaining the gas at a pressure condition and at a temperature condition necessary to keep said natural gas in a hydrated form; and moving said submarine vessel toward said point of marketing activity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the steps of: bringing said gas into intimate contact with a quantity of water is further characterized by said gas being sparged into a volume of water in said compartment of said vessel to form said hydrate; and jetting additional chilled water into a region where the step of sparging is taking place in order to absorb heat given up in hydrating said natural gas.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of moving a normally gaseous hydrate-forming hydrocarbon from one location to another in a body of water comprising the steps of: transferring said gaseous hydrate-forming hydrocarbon in a gaseous state to a hold in a vessel capable of submerging in the water, said vessel located on said body of water; lowering said vessel to a water depth where there is proper pressure and temperature to promote hydration of said hydrocarbons; sparging said hydrocarbons and fresh water in said hold to form a hydrate; freezing an outer layer of water situated adjacent to the interior surface of said hold and said hydrocarbons to form a slush; maintaining said temperature and pressure while simultaneously relocating said vessel; raising said vessel to a depth so that said hydrate converts back to a gas; and transferring said gas to a second location.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of moving a normally gaseous hydrate-forming hydrocarbon from one location to another in a body of water comprising the steps of: transferring said gaseous hydrate-forming hydrocarbon in a gaseous state to a hold in a vessel capable of submerging in the water, said vessel located on said body of water; lowering said vessel to a water depth where there is proper pressure and temperature to promote hydration of said hydrocarbons; sparging said hydrocarbons and fresh water in said hold to form a hydrate; freezing an outer layer of water situated adjacent to the interior surface of said hold and said hydrocarbons to form a slush; maintaining said temperature and pressure while simultaneously relocating said vessel; raising said vessel to a depth so that said hydrate converts back to a gas; and transferring said gas to a second location.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the step of raising said vessel to a depth so that said hydrate converts back to a gas is further characterized by circulating warmer sea water through said frozen water layer so as to facilitate converting said hydrate to a gas.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for transporting a natural gas in a body of water from a field site to a market site which comprises: transferring natural gas to a vessel towable under water, said vessel being insulated to minimize heat losses; lowering said vessel to a depth at which said natural gas forms a hydrate due to the increased pressure and reduced temperature at said depth; cooling said natural gas with the body of water surrounding said vessel by circulating said water through said gas; transferring said vessel to said market site while maintaining said natural gas in said hydrate form; raising said vessel in said water to an elevation where the pressure and temperature are conducive to reconverting said hydrated form to a natural gas; reconverting said hydrated form to natural gas; and discharging said natural gas at said market site.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for transporting a natural gas in a body of water from a field site to a market site which comprises: transferring natural gas to a vessel towable under water, said vessel being insulated to minimize heat losses; lowering said vessel to a depth at which said natural gas forms a hydrate due to the increased pressure and reduced temperature at said depth; cooling said natural gas with the body of water surrounding said vessel by circulating said water through said gas; transferring said vessel to said market site while maintaining said natural gas in said hydrate form; raising said vessel in said water to an elevation where the pressure and temperature are conducive to reconverting said hydrated form to a natural gas; reconverting said hydrated form to natural gas; and discharging said natural gas at said market site.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
154 words
A submergible vessel for hydrating and transporting a natural gas, comprising: a hull capable of being submerged and relocated while submerged in a body of water so as to utilize the effects of pressure and temperature at a submerged location to assist in the forming of a hydrate from natural gas resulting in less energy consumption; means for controlling flow of hydrate-forming natural gas into and out of said hull; means for controlling flow of cold water into and out of said hull located on said vessel; means for selectively jetting said water in said hull, said jetted means connected to said means for controlled flow of cold water; and means for sparging said gas through said cold water being jetting into said hull so that said natural gas forms a hydrate while at the water depth of said vessel and is storable therein while said vessel is relocated in said body of water.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
154 words
A submergible vessel for hydrating and transporting a natural gas, comprising: a hull capable of being submerged and relocated while submerged in a body of water so as to utilize the effects of pressure and temperature at a submerged location to assist in the forming of a hydrate from natural gas resulting in less energy consumption; means for controlling flow of hydrate-forming natural gas into and out of said hull; means for controlling flow of cold water into and out of said hull located on said vessel; means for selectively jetting said water in said hull, said jetted means connected to said means for controlled flow of cold water; and means for sparging said gas through said cold water being jetting into said hull so that said natural gas forms a hydrate while at the water depth of said vessel and is storable therein while said vessel is relocated in said body of water.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
77 words
The submergible vessel of claim 11 including: means pervious to gas and water for separating hydrated gas from excess water and gas located within said hull so that a gap is formed between said hull and said pervious means, and means for returning said gas and water respectively to said source of gas and said source of cold water after said excess gas and water flows through said means pervious along said gap to said returning means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
The submergible vessel of claim 11 wherein said means for having controlled flow of cold water into and out of said hull includes means for circulating a portion of the water said vessel is submergible in, through said hull and back to said water so as to preserve said hydrated gas.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The submergible vessel of claim 13 including a refrigeration means for cooling said portion of water circulated through said hull if said portion of water is too warm to preserve said hydrate and supplementary pressurizing means for regulating the pressure within said hull.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
263 words
An apparatus for hydrating and transporting a natural gas as a hydrate, comprising: a vessel capable of submerging to depths in the region of 2000 feet; a hold in said vessel for containing both hydrate-forming natural gas and water; first intake means for introducing said gas from a source of said gas into said hold; first valve means connected to said first intake means for controlling the flow of said gas into said vessel; conductor means connected to said first intake means, said conductor means extending into said hold; spargers connected to said conductor means for sparging said natural gas through water within said hold; means for water flow from an onshore refrigerated water source to said vessel, said water flow means extending to said hold; cold water distributors connected to said water flow means and extending within said hold; nozzle means connected to said distributors for jetting water through said natural gas, said water flowing from said onshore refrigerated water source through said water flow means and cold water distributors so that said water is jetted out through said nozzle means into said gas; second valve means, connected to said water flow means, for regulating the flow of water into said distributors; second intake means for inducing a portion of the water surrounding said vessel through said second intake means; third valve means, connected to said second intake means, for regulating the flow of said water through said second intake means; and pump means for inducing said water through said second intake means, said pump means connected to said second intake means.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
263 words
An apparatus for hydrating and transporting a natural gas as a hydrate, comprising: a vessel capable of submerging to depths in the region of 2000 feet; a hold in said vessel for containing both hydrate-forming natural gas and water; first intake means for introducing said gas from a source of said gas into said hold; first valve means connected to said first intake means for controlling the flow of said gas into said vessel; conductor means connected to said first intake means, said conductor means extending into said hold; spargers connected to said conductor means for sparging said natural gas through water within said hold; means for water flow from an onshore refrigerated water source to said vessel, said water flow means extending to said hold; cold water distributors connected to said water flow means and extending within said hold; nozzle means connected to said distributors for jetting water through said natural gas, said water flowing from said onshore refrigerated water source through said water flow means and cold water distributors so that said water is jetted out through said nozzle means into said gas; second valve means, connected to said water flow means, for regulating the flow of water into said distributors; second intake means for inducing a portion of the water surrounding said vessel through said second intake means; third valve means, connected to said second intake means, for regulating the flow of said water through said second intake means; and pump means for inducing said water through said second intake means, said pump means connected to said second intake means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus for hydrating and transporting a natural gas as a hydrate of claim 15 including: means for regulating the temperature of said water flowing through said second intake means so that said natural gas once formed into a hydrate can be maintained as a hydrate until reconversion into a gas is desired.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus for hydrating and transporting a natural gas as a hydrate of claim 16 including: a collector means for receiving excess gas and water; and a separator means for respectively returning said excess gas and water to the source of each.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
269 words
Method of hydrating and transporting a hydratable natural gas in a vessel capable of submerging to the depths in the region of 2000 feet, comprising the steps of: transferring said natural gas into a hull in said vessel; lowering said vessel to a water depth in the region of 2000 feet; opening a first valve means connected to a first intake so that said natural gas flows through said first intake and into said hull, and through a plurality of conductors connected to said first intake and from there through spargers connected to said conductors into said hull; opening a second valve means connected to plurality of water flow pipes so that cold water can flow from an onshore refrigerated water source to said water flow pipes to said vessel through cold water distributors in said hull and from there through a plurality of nozzles connected to said distributors so that said water is jetted into said hull to form a hydrate of said natural gas; opening a third valve means connected to a second intake so that water surrounding said submerged vessel flows through said second intake through said cold water distributors and jetted through said nozzles and then through said hydrated natural gas so that said natural gas remains hydrated during transit of said vessel to the point of use; raising said vessel in the water while reducing the pressure and increasing temperature of said vessel; providing additional heat to said vessel so that hydrated gas in the presence of said reduced pressure and raised temperature gasifies; and transferring said gasified hydrate to the point of use.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
269 words
Method of hydrating and transporting a hydratable natural gas in a vessel capable of submerging to the depths in the region of 2000 feet, comprising the steps of: transferring said natural gas into a hull in said vessel; lowering said vessel to a water depth in the region of 2000 feet; opening a first valve means connected to a first intake so that said natural gas flows through said first intake and into said hull, and through a plurality of conductors connected to said first intake and from there through spargers connected to said conductors into said hull; opening a second valve means connected to plurality of water flow pipes so that cold water can flow from an onshore refrigerated water source to said water flow pipes to said vessel through cold water distributors in said hull and from there through a plurality of nozzles connected to said distributors so that said water is jetted into said hull to form a hydrate of said natural gas; opening a third valve means connected to a second intake so that water surrounding said submerged vessel flows through said second intake through said cold water distributors and jetted through said nozzles and then through said hydrated natural gas so that said natural gas remains hydrated during transit of said vessel to the point of use; raising said vessel in the water while reducing the pressure and increasing temperature of said vessel; providing additional heat to said vessel so that hydrated gas in the presence of said reduced pressure and raised temperature gasifies; and transferring said gasified hydrate to the point of use.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
48 words
Method of hydrating and transporting a natural gas as a hydrate of claim 18, wherein said method includes the step of regulating the temperature of said water through said second intake so that said hydrate can be maintained as a hydrate until conversion into natural gas is desired.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of hydrating and transporting a natural gas of the claim 18, wherein said method includes the steps of collecting any excess gas and water, separating said excess gas and water, and returning said gas and water to its respective source.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for transporting a natural gas from a well to a point of use while utilizing the effect of pressure and temperature at the specific water elevation of a submarine vessel as an aid in hydrating said gas, comprising the steps of: submerging said submarine vessel; supplying gaseous hydrate-forming hydrocarbons from a source of said gas to said submarine vessel while simultaneously pressurizing and cooling said gaseous hydrocarbons on said vessel to a temperature and pressure at which said hydrocarbons hydrate; hydrating said hydrocarbons in said vessel; moving said submarine vessel to the vicinity of a point of use while maintaining said natural gas in a hydrated form; raising said submarine vessel to the surface and thereby reducing the pressure and increasing the temperature of said vessel; providing additional heat to said vessel so that said hydrated hydrocarbons gasify in the presence of said reduced pressure and raised temperature; and transferring said gasified hydrocarbons to a point of use.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for transporting a natural gas from a well to a point of use while utilizing the effect of pressure and temperature at the specific water elevation of a submarine vessel as an aid in hydrating said gas, comprising the steps of: submerging said submarine vessel; supplying gaseous hydrate-forming hydrocarbons from a source of said gas to said submarine vessel while simultaneously pressurizing and cooling said gaseous hydrocarbons on said vessel to a temperature and pressure at which said hydrocarbons hydrate; hydrating said hydrocarbons in said vessel; moving said submarine vessel to the vicinity of a point of use while maintaining said natural gas in a hydrated form; raising said submarine vessel to the surface and thereby reducing the pressure and increasing the temperature of said vessel; providing additional heat to said vessel so that said hydrated hydrocarbons gasify in the presence of said reduced pressure and raised temperature; and transferring said gasified hydrocarbons to a point of use.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of transporting the gaseous hydrate-forming hydrocarbons of claim 21 wherein the step of cooling said submarine vessel is further characterized by allowing the water surrounding said vessel to circulate through the hull of said vessel as a heat-transferring medium to said gas while hydrating.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of transporting the gaseous hydrate-forming hydrocarbons of claim 22 further characterized by the step of removing from said gaseous hydrate-forming hydrocarbons butane, propane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide before hydrating said hydrocarbons.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of transporting the gaseous hydrate-forming hydrocarbons of claim 21 wherein said step of submerging said submarine vessel in said water is characterized by lowering said vessel to a depth in the range of 1300 feet to 2000 feet.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of transporting the gaseous hydrate-forming hydrocarbons of claim 24 wherein said step of cooling said submarine vessel is characterized by cooling said gaseous hydrate-forming hydrocarbons to the range of 35°F to 125°F; and increasing the pressure to the range of 150 to 1038 psia.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of conveying a natural gas from a natural gas field to a point of discharge near a marketing area in a submarine vessel without using pipelines comprising the steps of: lowering said submarine vessel to an ocean depth in the range of 1300 feet to 2000 feet; transferring natural gas into at least one fluid-tight compartment in said submarine vessel; bringing said gas into intimate contact with a quantity of fresh water inside said vessel at said depth so as to convert a substantial portion of said gas into a hydrocarbon hydrate; maintaining the gas at a pressure condition and at a temperature condition necessary to keep said natural gas in a hydrated form; and moving said submarine vessel toward said point of discharge.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of conveying a natural gas from a natural gas field to a point of discharge near a marketing area in a submarine vessel without using pipelines comprising the steps of: lowering said submarine vessel to an ocean depth in the range of 1300 feet to 2000 feet; transferring natural gas into at least one fluid-tight compartment in said submarine vessel; bringing said gas into intimate contact with a quantity of fresh water inside said vessel at said depth so as to convert a substantial portion of said gas into a hydrocarbon hydrate; maintaining the gas at a pressure condition and at a temperature condition necessary to keep said natural gas in a hydrated form; and moving said submarine vessel toward said point of discharge.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the steps of: bringing said gas into intimate contact with a quantity of water is further characterized by said gas being sparged into a volume of water in said compartment of said vessel to form said hydrate; and jetting additional chilled water into a region where the step of sparging is taking place in order to absorb heat given up in hydrating said natural gas.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of moving a normally gaseous hydrate-forming hydrocarbon from one location to another in a body of water comprising the steps of: lowering a vessel to a water depth where there are proper pressure and temperature conditions to promote hydration of said hydrocarbons; transferring said gaseous hydrate-forming hydrocarbon in a gaseous state to a hold in said vessel capable of submerging in the water, said vessel located in said body of water; sparging said hydrocarbons and fresh water in said hold to form a hydrate; freezing an outer layer of water situated adjacent to the interior surface of said hold and said hydrocarbons to form a slush; maintaining said temperature and pressure conditions while simultaneously relocating said vessel; raising said vessel to a depth so that said hydrate converts back to a gas; and transferring said gas to a second location.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of moving a normally gaseous hydrate-forming hydrocarbon from one location to another in a body of water comprising the steps of: lowering a vessel to a water depth where there are proper pressure and temperature conditions to promote hydration of said hydrocarbons; transferring said gaseous hydrate-forming hydrocarbon in a gaseous state to a hold in said vessel capable of submerging in the water, said vessel located in said body of water; sparging said hydrocarbons and fresh water in said hold to form a hydrate; freezing an outer layer of water situated adjacent to the interior surface of said hold and said hydrocarbons to form a slush; maintaining said temperature and pressure conditions while simultaneously relocating said vessel; raising said vessel to a depth so that said hydrate converts back to a gas; and transferring said gas to a second location.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the step of raising said vessel to a depth so that said hydrate converts back to a gas is further characterized by circulating warmer sea water through said frozen water layer so as to facilitate converting said hydrate to a gas.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for transporting a natural gas in a body of water from a field site to a market site which comprises: lowering a vessel to a depth at which said natural gas forms a hydrate due to the increased pressure and reduced temperature at said depth; transferring natural gas to said vessel towable under water, said vessel being insulated to minimize heat losses; cooling said natural gas with the body of water surrounding said vessel by circulating said water through said gas; transferring said vessel to a market site while maintaining said natural gas in said hydrate form; raising said vessel in said water to an elevation where the pressure and temperature are conducive to reconverting said hydrated form to a natural gas; reconverting said hydrated form to natural gas; and discharging said natural gas to said market site.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for transporting a natural gas in a body of water from a field site to a market site which comprises: lowering a vessel to a depth at which said natural gas forms a hydrate due to the increased pressure and reduced temperature at said depth; transferring natural gas to said vessel towable under water, said vessel being insulated to minimize heat losses; cooling said natural gas with the body of water surrounding said vessel by circulating said water through said gas; transferring said vessel to a market site while maintaining said natural gas in said hydrate form; raising said vessel in said water to an elevation where the pressure and temperature are conducive to reconverting said hydrated form to a natural gas; reconverting said hydrated form to natural gas; and discharging said natural gas to said market site.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-17 | 1980-02-16 | 1980-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-17 | 1984-02-16 | 1984-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-17 | 1988-02-16 | 1988-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |