Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description.

　

For a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

 FIG. 1 is a graph of gas compressibility factor versus gas pressure for a gas with a specific gravity of 0.6;

 FIG. 2 is a graph of gas compressibility factor versus gas pressure for a gas with a specific gravity of 0.7;

 FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the -20°F. curves for the 0.6 and 0.7 specific gravity gases shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

 FIG. 3A is a graph of the efficiency of the gas storage system versus storage pressure at varying operating temperatures;

 FIG. 4 shows how the ratio of the mass of the gas per mass of steel varies with the ratio of the diameter per thickness of the pipe when based on the optimized compressibility factor for a specific gravity gas;

 FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the length of a vessel in accordance with the present invention showing the bulkhead compartments of the vessel with gas storage pipe;

 FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the width of the vessel shown in FIG. 5 in accordance with the present invention showing the bulkhead of FIG. 7;

 FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the hull of the vessel of FIG. 5 in accordance with the present invention showing a bulkhead of cross beams and gas storage pipe;

 FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a pipe support system showing a base cross beam support for supporting gas storage pipe shown in FIG. 7;

 FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a standard cross beam of the pipe support system of FIG. 8 for supporting and torquing down gas storage pipe shown in FIG. 7;

 FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the bulkhead shown in FIG. 7 being constructed in accordance with the present invention;

 FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of a pipe support system;

 FIG. 12 is a schematic, partly in cross section, of a manifold system of the gas storage pipe of FIG. 7;

 FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of a horizontal pipe modular unit having a pipe bundle independent of the vessel structure which can be off-loaded from the vessel;

 FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of the pipe modular unit shown in FIG. 13;

 FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of a vertical pipe modular unit;

 FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of a tilted pipe modular unit;

 FIG. 17 is a side view of a vessel with a pipe modular unit disposed in the hull of the vessel;

 FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view of the vessel shown in FIG. 17;

 FIG. 19 is a side view of a vessel with pipe modular units disposed in the hull and on the deck of the vessel;

 FIG. 20 is a cross sectional view of the vessel shown in FIG. 19;

 FIG. 21 is a side elevational view of a vessel having a rectangular concrete hull and steel bow and stem;

 FIG. 22 is a cross sectional view of the concrete hull of FIG. 21 with a pipe modular unit disposed within the hull;

 FIG. 23 is a side elevational view of a vessel having one or more round concrete hulls fastened to a steel bow and stem;

 FIG. 24 is a side elevational view of a barge having a pipe modular unit disposed in the hull;

 FIG. 25 is a cross sectional view of the barge shown in FIG. 24;

 FIG. 26 is a side elevational view of the barge of FIG. 24 with oil stored in the hull and a pipe modular unit disposed on the deck;

 FIG. 27 is a schematic of a vessel for liquid displacement of the stored gas;

 FIG. 28 is a schematic of a staged off-load of the gas stored in the gas storage pipes using a displacement liquid;

 FIG. 29 is a schematic of the method of transporting gas from an on-loading port having gas production to an off-loading port with customers;

 FIG. 30 is a side view of a storage pipe with a pig in one end for displacing the stored gas;

 FIG. 31 is a side view of the storage pipe of FIG. 30 with the pig at the other end of the pipe having displaced the stored gas;

 FIG. 32 is a schematic of a method for on-loading and off-loading gas from the vessel having gas storage pipes.

 FIG. 33 is a graph of transportation costs per travel distance for LNG, CNG or pipelines for gas having a specific gravity of 0.705; and

 FIG. 34 is a graph of transportation costs per travel distance for LNG, CNG or pipelines for gas having a specific gravity of 0.6.

 While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.