Feasibility Study for Off-shore Multi Product Loading/Unloading Facilities

This study comprised local investigations and an evaluation of possible alternatives with the aim of determination the feasible loading/unloading facilities for liquid petrochemical products.

The products to be transported between vessels and the petrochemical plant near the coast are the hydrocarbon products propylene, butane, ethylene, hexane, octane and carcinogenic products EDC and VCM.

After the collection of all necessary data concerning existing topographic and land use conditions of coastal area and the natural sea conditions with regard to meteorology, bathymetry and sea bed geology, and the sizes of the anticipated vessels for product transport, the following four alternatives were investigated:

• A 4 km full length jetty with berth
• A combined 2.5 km dam and 1.5 km jetty with berth
• Off-shore loading platform with submarine pipelines
• Submarine pipelines with hose ends and mooring buoys

For each of these alternatives all the necessary structures, installations and utilities were roughly designed and their costs estimated, also taking account of the transfer compatibility of certain products, as well as batch operation, safety, navigational and environmental aspects.

Considering investment and operating costs, possible operation hazards, safe mooring of vessels and the loading/unloading operation, the evaluation of the alternatives led to the conclusion that the off-shore loading platform with submarine pipelines represented the most feasible solution for the required facilities.