CALM Buoy

for BHP Billiton Angostura Field Offloading Terminal

Power by People
BHP Billiton Angostura Field Offloading terminal
Project Overview
Bluewater Energy Services B.V. have completed design and fabrication of a Catenary
Anchor Leg Mooring (CALM) buoy and pipelines for the Angostura field in Trinidad
and Tobago.
The CALM buoy is scheduled for installation in 3rd Quarter 2004. It will be moored
about 4 km off the coast in a water depth of 26 m. This new facility will facilitate
tanker berths, servicing the loading of tankers up to 150,000 dwt.
Buoy concept and design
The CALM buoy concept was chosen as a more cost-effective and faster solution.
Bluewater’s turret buoy design offers increased loading and offloading efficiency for
tankers; maximum throughput can be achieved safely, while maintenance and down-
time are significantly reduced.
The concept incorporates:
• A square turret CALM buoy
• A Pipeline End Manifold (PLEM)
• Submarine and floating hoses
• Single 30-inch onshore/offshore pipeline
Pipeline, PLEM and hoses
From the manifold in the tank area of the BHPB Terminal, one 30-inch pipeline will
run to the shoreline and will terminate at the PLEM.
Key elements: Buoy Arrangement
The Bluewater turret buoy consists of a steel turret sus-
pended from a bearing. This is attached to the buoy
body and connected at the lower end to the anchor legs
with ratchet-type chainstoppers, located in the spider
structure.
Arrangement Details:
• The buoy body will be allowed to weathervane
freely through 360° around the turret
• Six anchor legs, in a 3 x 2 confiriguration holds its mooring position
• Two chain hawse pipes will extend from the bottom plating of the buoy
body to the deck
• During offshore installation, the pipes will be aligned with the spider’s
chainstopper assemblies
• The deckhouse wall will form an extension of the hawse pipes, up to
the deckhouse roof level
• An air winch will be fitted in the deckhouse. During installation, the
winch can be rigged to pull in the anchor legs through the hawse pipes
• Open windows in the hawse pipes, at deck level, will allow the chains to
be checked and cut after being locked in the chainstoppers
• Two riser pull-in pipes will extend from the turret bottom plating to the
turret deck level, to allow connection of the submarine hoses to the
turret piping, using the winch
• The 3 x 2 anchor leg pattern provides a chain free sector for the
submarine - specifically designed to withstand extreme storm conditions
• The two submarine hose strings will be
maintained in “Chinese Lantern” configuration,
with flotation collars. It will be connected to the
16-inch turret piping by means of a swivel joint

Special features will include: Product Swivel and buoy Body

• Piggable pipeline and PLEM This configuration will allow stabilised oil to flow through
• PLEM with sliding provision to ease the submarine hose to the dual 16-inch product piping in
hookup to pipeline. the turret. It will then be transferred to the rotating buoy
• Direct oil export from the CALM buoy to body by means of single 16-inch piping, via a pipe-type
the tanker via a floating hose single product swivel. An overboard pipe spool will con-
• Flexible design, to accommodate a future nect the buoy body piping to the floating hose string.
• pipeline extension Within the product swivel, a sealing system will prevent leakage; a leak detection
system will provide continuous monitoring of the pressure between the
seals – providing an important safety feature.

The buoy body will be connected to the turret via a three-race roller bearing and
fitted with a closed deckhouse. The design solution protects critical equipment
including the bearing, valves, electrical The integrity of the two floating hose string has been carefully considered. When
equipment, grease pump unit and product operational, the strings will be equipped with appropriate lighting and breakaway
swivel. It also reduces maintenance couplings, to avoid spillage in the event of uncontrolled tanker disconnection.
requirements. Such work can be under-
taken safely inside the deckhouse. Additional Equipment
The interior of the buoy body will consist
of watertight compartments, each of which The CALM buoy system will also include:
can be checked or sounded for water • A bilge pump
ingress. Draught marks on the hull exteri- • A rotation stopper system
or will also allow the floating condition of • Rigging equipment
the buoy to be monitored. • Ballast and trim facilities
• Sacrificial anodes
Access to the buoy: • Lifting and towing padeyes
• Pick-up arrangements for the floating hose and mooring hawser
• A boat landing platform and a ladder will
provide access to the main deck
• Overboard work platforms will be Paint
provided, to assist with hose and mooring hawser handling
• The hull will be fitted with fendering On the Angostura CALM, a new type of Polyester Glassflake paint system was applied
to the underwater, hull, deck and deckhouse external areas and does have the fol-
lowing advantages:
Tanker Interface and Mooring Arrangement • High impact and abrasive resistant system.
• Excellent anti-corrosive properties.
The tanker will be moored to the buoy by a dual hawser arrangement, shackled to a
• Marine life will have no or little effect on the coating performance.
mooring uni-joint on the buoy deck. The uni-joint is integrated with the buoy via
• It is environmental friendly since no anti-fouling is needed.
mooring lugs, fitted with bushes to prevent excessive wear. At the tanker end of the
• Based on the above service lifetimes up to 30 years without an overhaul are
hawsers, chafe chains will be provided to prevent damage from the tanker fairlead.
achievable
Hawsers guides and hardwood protection on the buoy deck will minimise the risk of
damage. A load monitoring system will be installed in the mooring uni-joint, inter-
faced to provide audible and visual alarms to prevent hawser overloading. Batteries Special systems
in the deckhouse and solar panels on the deckhouse roof will provide the buoy’s
electrical power. Electrical power will be provided for the telemetry system, naviga- The Angostura CALM Buoy is provided with a Telemetry system will include:
tion aids and instrumentation. • Tanker portable unit
• CALM Buoy unit
• PALM top
Safety • Load pin and associated equipment for load monitoring
• Navigational light and radar reflector
Appropriate safety systems and alarms have been incorporated into the buoy’s
• Real time load monitoring, storage of the mooring load data in the CALM Buoy
design. Deck and overboard platform will be provided, with railing and grating.
unit and the software to provide cumulative fatigue damage information
Navigation Aids include:
The following signals are transmitted from the CALM Buoy unit and to the Tanker
• A marine flashing lanterns Portable Unit:
• A radar reflector • Battery voltage
• Solar panel charging current
In addition to providing normal marine signals, the foghorn will provide an audible • Status of the communication link
alarm for the mooring hawser load monitoring system. An additional flashing bea- • Real time load monitoring and automatic warnings for high loads and
con will also provide a visual alarm for hawser loads. Hand-operated safety items disconnecting criteria
will include fire extinguisher and personal life-saving equipment.
BHP Billiton Angostura Field Offloading Terminal
On completion of the CALM Buoy system for the BHP Billiton Angostura Field, Trinidad and Tobago will have an offshore terminal ranking
among the best in the world

Buoy Dimensions Location

Buoy body (including skirt) 13.5 x 13.5 m 4 km offshore Trinidad and Tobago
Buoy body (excluding skirt) 10.25 x 10.25 m Water depth 26 m
Hull height 4.1 m
Projection of spider below hull 1.8 m
Total height (including fog horn) 11 m
Design Criteria
Weight 200 MT Design life 25 years
Centre of gravity above keel 1.8 m
Installed draft 4.5 m Mooring Equipment
Hawser length 50 m
Certification No. of hawsers 1
The system has been designed and built as an OI 100 AT Single Point Circumference 13”
Mooring and Loading Terminal with Lloyd’s Register of Shipping. Hawser type single
OCIMF Chafe Chain Type B
Anchor System
Anchor legs 6 Buoy Piping System
Pattern 3x2 Design pressure 19 bar
Length 325 m Turret piping 2 x 16”
Chain size (studless links) 76 mm Turret product valves 2 x 16”
Anchor points 6 AHT anchers Swivel 1 x 16”
Pretension angle 45° Buoy body piping 1 x 16”
Buoy body product valves 1 x 16”
Submarine Hose System
Strings 2 Floating Hose System
Size 16” Strings 1
Hose length 35 ft or 40 ft Size 20” / 12”
No. of hoses 3 Hose length 30 ft or 35 ft
Pressure rating 19 bar Pressure rating 19 bar

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