The present invention relates to a hose loading station, particularly, but not exclusively, to a hose loading station for offshore drilling units.

Conventional hose loading stations are located on the decks of offshore drilling units. However, due to deck space limitations, i.e. available footprint area, on the drilling units to which the hose loading stations are installed, the number of reels that can be provided is often limited.

Furthermore, each hose reel configuration must also be positioned on the deck of the drilling unit to allow the deployed hose to hang vertically from the reel hang-off point. This further limits the number of reels than can be provided.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for an offshore drilling unit for storing and deploying at least one hose for the transfer of fluids and/or powder to a supply vessel, the apparatus comprising:

a first frame member having a lower portion which is attachable to a deck portion of an offshore drilling unit; and

an upper second frame member attachable to an upper portion of the first frame member such that the upper second frame member is vertically spaced from the lower portion of the first frame member, wherein the upper second frame member is adapted to store and deploy a hose for the transfer of fluids and/or powder to a supply vessel.

The first frame member may further comprise a lower third frame member attachable to the lower portion of the first frame member, wherein the lower third frame member is also adapted to store and deploy a hose for the transfer of fluids and/or powder to a supply vessel.

The lower third frame member may be attachable to the deck portion of an offshore drilling unit instead of, or in addition to, the lower portion of the first frame member.

In this arrangement the upper second frame member is vertically spaced from the lower third frame member.

The upper second frame member may also be horizontally spaced from the lower third frame member. This is to allow deployment of the hose from the upper second frame member without interference from the hose on the lower third frame member.

The first frame member may be attachable to a side portion of the deck portion of the offshore drilling unit such that the hose may be deployed over the side of the offshore drilling unit. The lower third frame member may be attachable to the first frame member such that it at least partially overhangs the side of the deck of the offshore drilling unit.

The upper second frame member may be attachable to the first frame member such that it at least partially overhangs the side of the deck of the offshore drilling unit.

The upper second frame member may be attachable to the first frame member such that it at least partially overhangs the lower third frame member. In this arrangement there is no interference between deployment or reeling in of hoses on either upper or lower frame members.

The lower third frame member may be adapted such that it at least partially lies within the same footprint as the first frame member. That is, the lower third frame member is at least partially located within the first frame member.

The upper and lower frame members may each comprise at least one hose storage drum assembly for storage and deployment of a hose for the transfer of fluids and/or powder to a supply vessel. The hose storage drum assemblies may be mounted to the upper and lower frame members in a conventional fashion. The axes of rotation of the hose storage drum assemblies on the upper second frame member may be coincident. That is, the axes of rotation all lie on the same axis of rotation.

The axes of rotation of the hose storage drum assemblies on the lower third frame member may be coincident. That is, the axes of rotation all lie on the same axis of rotation.

The axes of rotation of the hose storage drum assemblies on the upper and lower frame members may be parallel.

The apparatus may comprise a plurality of upper second frame members. The apparatus may comprise a plurality of lower third frame members. The apparatus may comprise a plurality of hose storage drum assemblies attached to the upper second frame member. In this arrangement a plurality of hose storage drum assemblies may be arranged in a line, i.e. side-by-side, on the upper second frame member. The apparatus may comprise any required number of hose storage drum assemblies. In a preferred arrangement, the apparatus may comprise six hose storage drum assemblies.

The apparatus may comprise a plurality of hose storage drum assemblies attached to the lower third frame member. In this arrangement a plurality of hose storage drum assemblies may be arranged in a line, i.e. side-by- side, on the lower third frame member. The apparatus may comprise any required number of hose storage drum assemblies. In a preferred arrangement, the apparatus may comprise four hose storage drum assemblies.

The apparatus may comprise ten hose storage drum assemblies in total split between the upper second frame member and the lower third frame member.

The first frame member may be provided with access walkways and/or handrails.

The upper second frame member may be provided with access walkways and/or handrails.

The lower third frame member may be provided with access walkways and/or handrails. The first frame member may be provided with an access ladder, or steps, between the upper second frame member and the lower third frame member. The access walkways may be arranged to allow access between the hose storage drum assemblies.

The access walkways may overhang the side of the deck of the offshore drilling unit.

The apparatus may further comprise at least one fluid and/or powder hose connection to the offshore drilling unit supply line. In a preferred arrangement the apparatus may further comprise a fluid and/or powder hose connection to the offshore drilling unit supply line for each hose stored thereon.

The apparatus may further comprise at least one electro/hydraulic power unit to operate the hose storage drum assemblies, i.e. to spool out or reel in the hose.

The apparatus may further comprise one or more further upper frame members, each further upper frame member being attachable to an upper portion of the lower upper frame member immediately therebeneath, such that the further upper frame member is vertically spaced from the lower upper frame member therebeneath, wherein each further upper frame member is adapted to store and deploy a hose for the transfer of fluids and/or powder to a supply vessel.

Each further upper frame member may also be horizontally spaced from the lower upper frame member immediately therebeneath. This is to allow deployment of the hose from the further upper frame member without interference from the hose on the lower upper frame member.

Each further upper frame member may be adapted to store and deploy a hose for the transfer of fluids and/or powder to a supply vessel.

Each further upper frame member may each comprise at least one hose storage drum assembly for storage and deployment of a hose for the transfer of fluids and/or powder to a supply vessel. The hose storage drum assemblies may be mounted to the further upper frame members in a conventional fashion.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an offshore drilling unit comprising at least one apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figures 1 to 3 are representations of a conventional hose loading station; and

Figures 4 to 6 are representations of an apparatus for an offshore drilling unit for storing and deploying at least one hose for the transfer of fluids and/or powder to a supply vessel according to the present invention.

Figures 1 to 3 illustrate a conventional hose loading station 1 mounted to the deck 2 of an offshore drilling unit (not shown). The hose loading station 1 comprises a number of hose storage drum assemblies 3 for storing and deploying a hose 4 for the transfer of fluids and/or powder to a supply vessel (not shown). As best seen in figures 1 and 3, the hose storage drum assemblies 3 are mounted on the deck 2 such that they overhang the side of the deck 1 to allow vertical deployment of each hose 4.

Figures 4 to 6 illustrate an apparatus 10 for an offshore drilling unit (not shown) for storing and deploying at least one hose 12 for the transfer of fluids and/or powder to a supply vessel (not shown) according to the present invention.

The apparatus 10 provides a hydraulically driven hose loading station of a high integral quality developed for the transfer of bulk fluids & powders to supply vessels. The hose loading station may alternatively be

pneumatically or electrically driven.

The station may comprise 10 (ten) hydraulically driven hose storage drums, with c/w hose stored on the drums. The station will be a stacked design mounted on the deck and will operate on 2 (two) levels comprising hose storage reels. However, it should be appreciated that any number of hydraulically driven hose storage drums may be included in the station, for example, as illustrated in the accompanying figures.

As shown in figures 4 to 6, the apparatus 10 comprises a first frame member 14 having a lower portion 14a which is attachable to a deck portion 16 of an offshore drilling unit (not shown) and an upper second frame member 18 attached to an upper portion 14b of the first frame member 14 such that the upper second frame member 18 is vertically spaced from the lower portion 14a of the first frame member 14. The upper second frame member 18 is adapted to store and deploy a plurality of hoses 20 for the transfer of fluids and/or powder to a supply vessel (not shown).

The first frame member 14 further comprises a third lower frame member 22 which is attachable to the lower portion 14a of the first frame member 14. The third lower frame member 22 is also adapted to store and deploy a plurality of hoses 24 for the transfer of fluids and/or powder to a supply vessel. As best illustrated in figure 6, the upper second frame member 18 is vertically spaced from the third lower frame member 22 and the upper second frame member 18 is also horizontally spaced from the third lower frame member 22. This is to allow deployment of the hose 22 from the upper frame member 18 without interference from the hose 24 on the lower frame member 22.

The first frame member 14 is attached to a side portion 16a of the deck portion 16 of the offshore drilling unit such that the hoses 20, 24 may be deployed over the side of the offshore drilling unit.

As illustrated in figure 6, the lower frame member 22 is attached to the first frame member 14 such that it at least partially overhangs the side 16a of the deck 16 of the offshore drilling unit. It should be noted that the lower frame member 22 may alternatively or additionally be mounted to the deck 16 of the offshore drilling unit.

The upper frame member 18 is attached to the first frame member 14 such that it partially overhangs the side 16a of the deck 16 of the offshore drilling unit. Also, the upper frame member 18 is attached to the first frame member 14 such that it partially overhangs the lower frame member 22. In this arrangement there is no interference between deployment or reeling in of hoses 20, 24 on either upper or lower frame members 18, 22.

As best seen in figures 4 and 5, the lower frame member 22 is adapted such that it partially lies within the same footprint as the first frame member 14. That is, the lower frame member 22 is partially located within the first frame member 14, i.e. housed within the first frame member 14.

The upper and lower frame members 18, 22 each comprise a plurality of hose storage drum assemblies 26 for storage and deployment of the hoses 20, 24. The hose storage drum assemblies 26 are mounted to the upper and lower frame members 18, 22 in a conventional fashion.

The axes of rotation (not shown) of the hose storage drum assemblies 26 on the upper frame member 18 are coincident. That is, the axes of rotation all lie on the same axis of rotation. The axes of rotation of the hose storage drum assemblies 26 on the lower frame member 22 are also coincident. The axes of rotation of the hose storage drum assemblies on the upper and lower frame members may be parallel.

The frame member 14 is provided with access walkways and/or handrails 28. The access walkways and handrails 28 are also provided on the upper and lower frame members 18, 22. The frame member 14 is also provided with an access ladder 30, or steps, between the upper frame member 18 and the lower frame member 22. The access walkways 28 are arranged to allow access between the hose storage drum assemblies 26, as illustrated in figures 4 and 5. As illustrated in figure 6, the access walkways 28 may overhang the side 16a of the deck 16 of the offshore drilling unit. The apparatus 10 further comprises a plurality of fluid and/or powder hose connections 32 to the offshore drilling unit supply line (not shown). In a preferred arrangement the apparatus 10 comprises a fluid and/or powder hose connection 32 to the offshore drilling unit supply line for each hose 20, 24 stored thereon.

The apparatus 10 includes:

Kone) Hydraulically Driven Hose Loading Station

10-off Hydraulically driven hose storage drums c/w hoses

1 -off Level 1 (lower) hose station skid frame c/w access walkways and handrails

1 -off Level 2 foundation deck c/w stair tower, walkway, handrails and emergency access

1 -off Level 2 (upper) hose station skid frame c/w access

walkways and handrails

The apparatus 10 allows a greater number of hose reels to be installed on the drilling unit. Each hose reel configuration allows each deployed hose to hang vertically from the reel hang-off point. The apparatus 10 allows deployment of the hoses vertically from both upper and lower frame members (hang-off points). A greater number of hose reels can be mounted on the drilling unit within substantially the same footprint as conventional hose loading stations. Modifications and improvements may be made to the above without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the apparatus 10 may comprise a plurality of upper frame members 18. The apparatus 10 may comprise a plurality of lower frame members 22. The apparatus 10 may comprise a plurality of hose storage drum assemblies 26 attached to the upper frame member 18. In this arrangement a plurality of hose storage drum assemblies 26 may be arranged in a line, i.e. side- by-side, on the upper frame member 18. The apparatus 10 may comprise any required number of hose storage drum assemblies 26. In a preferred arrangement, the apparatus 10 may comprise six hose storage drum assemblies 26 on the upper frame member 18. The apparatus 10 may comprise a plurality of hose storage drum assemblies 26 attached to the lower frame member 22. In this arrangement a plurality of hose storage drum assemblies 26 may be arranged in a line, i.e. side-by-side, on the lower frame member 22. The apparatus 10 may comprise any required number of hose storage drum assemblies 26. In a preferred arrangement, the apparatus 10 may comprise four hose storage drum assemblies 26. The apparatus 10 may comprise ten hose storage drum assemblies 26 in total split between the upper frame member 18 and the lower frame member 22. The apparatus 10 may further comprise one or more further upper frame members each further upper frame member being attachable to an upper portion of the lower upper frame member 18 immediately therebeneath such that the further upper frame member is vertically spaced from the lower upper frame member 18 therebeneath, wherein each further upper frame member is adapted to store and deploy a hose 20 for the transfer of fluids and/or powder to a supply vessel. Each further upper frame member may also be horizontally spaced from the lower upper frame member 18 immediately therebeneath. This is to allow deployment of the hose 20 from the further upper frame member without interference from the hose on the lower upper frame member 18. Each further upper frame member may be adapted to store and deploy a hose for the transfer of fluids and/or powder to a supply vessel. Each further upper frame member may each comprise at least one hose storage drum assembly for storage and deployment of a hose for the transfer of fluids and/or powder to a supply vessel. The hose storage drum assemblies may be mounted to the further upper frame members in a conventional fashion.