SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HEADING CONTROL OF A FLOATING LNG VESSEL USING REAL-TIME MONITORED CARGO CONTAINMENT SYSTEM STRAIN DATA

摘要

A system for offshore production of LNG from an FLNG vessel is described. The system comprises: a floating LNG vessel having a hull and a deck; a topsides hydrocarbon processing facility installed at or above the deck of the hull of the FLNG vessel; a FLNG vessel cargo containment system comprising one or more insulated FLNG vessel cryogenic storage tanks installed within the hull of the FLNG vessel; a dynamic positioning control system operatively associated with a system of thrusters onboard the FLNG vessel wherein the dynamic positioning control system maintains the FLNG vessel at a desired heading around a station keeping point during LNG cargo offloading operations; and, a computer processor for receiving a set of real-time monitored environmental data. The computer processer is programmed with a mathematical algorithm to: (i) compare the set of real-time monitored environmental data to a set of stored set points held in a data storage means; (ii) generate a heading control correction signal when the set of real-time monitored environmental data exceeds or falls below one or more of the set of stored set points for the FLNG vessel; and, (iii) transmit the heading control correction signal to the dynamic positioning control system; wherein the set of real-time monitored environmental data includes a set of real-time monitored cargo containment system strain data associated with a level of strain experienced by the FLNG vessel cargo containment system, and, the set of stored set points held in the data storage means includes a set of real-time monitored cargo containment system integrity set points.