米国特許番号6584781B2

（2003年7月1日）

　

Methods and Apparatus for Compressed Gas

Biship et al.

　

(54) METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSED GAS

　

(75) Inventors: William M. Bishop, Katy, TX (US);

Charles N. White, Houston, TX (US);

David J. Pemberton. Houston, TX (US)

(73) Assignee: Enersea Transport, LLC, Houston, TX(US)

(^*)Notice : Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.

(21) Appl. No.: 09/943,693

(22) Filed: Aug. 31, 2001

(65) Prior Publication Data

US 2002/0046547 A1 Apr. 25, 2002

　

　

(60) Provisional application No. 60/230,099, filed on Sep. 5, 2000.

(51) Int. Cl. ⁷・・・F17C 5/00; Fl7C 13/02; F17C 13/08; B65B 31/00; B67B 3/24

(52) U.S. Cl.・・・62/54.1; 62/49.1; 62/53.2; 53/403

(58) Field of Search・・・62/45.1, 49.1, 62/50.7, 54.1, 53.2; 53/403; 222/3

　

(56) References Cited

　

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

　

(List continued on next page.)

　

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENT

　

CA  1073399  3/1911・・・201/148

　

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

　

D. Stenning: The Coselle CNG Carrier A New Way to Shop Natural Gas by Sea[online] [Retrieved on Jun. 21, 2000] Retrieved from the Internet: <URL: http://www.coselle.com/tech.html:.

D. Stenning: The Coselle CNG Carrier A New Way to Shop Natural Gas by Sea [online] [Retrieved on Jun. 21, 2000] Retrieved from the Internet:<URL: http://www.coselle.com/tech.html: http://www.coselle.com/tech2.html; http://www.coselle.com/tech3.html; http://www.coselle.com/tech4.html; and http://www.coselle.com/tech5.html.

PCT International Search Report for Appln. No. PCT/USO1/27470, Dated Jun. 26, 2002; (5 p.).

　

Primary Examiner-Wmiam C. Doerrler

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Conley Rose, P.C.

　

(57) ABSTRACT

　

The methods and apparatus for transporting compressed gas includes a gas storage system having a plurality of pipes connected by a manifold whereby the gas storage system is designed to operate in the range of the optimum compressibility factor for a given composition of gas. The pipe for the gas storage system is preferably large diameter pipe made of a high strength material whereby a low temperature is selected which can be withstood by the material of the pipe. Knowing the compressibility factor of the gas, the temperature, and the diameter of the pipe, the wall thickness of the pipe may be calculated for the pressure range of the gas at the selected temperature. The gas storage system may either be modular or be part of the structure of a vessel for transporting the gas to the storage system. Since the pipe provides a bulkhead around the gas, the gas storage system may be used in a single hull vessel. The gas storage system further includes enclosing the pipes in a nitrogen atmosphere. A displacement fluid may be used to offload the gas from the gas storage system. A vessel with the gas storage system designed for a particular composition gas produced at a given location is used to transport gas from that producing location to offloading ports hundreds, or thousands, of miles from the producing location.

　

　

　

U.S.PATENT DOCUMENTS

　

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