Patent ID: 6932121

Claim:
A method for offloading and storage of liquefied compressed natural gas, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a. identifying a salt dome; b. installing a platform over the salt dome; c. constructing a storage cavern in the salt dome; d. inserting piping into the storage cavern; e. connecting piping to a platform offloading manifold disposed on the platform; f. using a flexible offloading conduit comprising a platform end connected to the platform offloading manifold and a vessel end connected to a vessel offloading manifold located on a vessel; g. connecting the vessel offloading manifold to a transport container of liquefied compressed natural gas disposed on the vessel; h. using a flexible displacement gas conduit including a displacement platform end and a displacement vessel end, wherein the displacement platform end is connected to a displacement gas platform manifold located on the platform, wherein the displacement vessel end is connected to a displacement gas vessel manifold located on the vessel, and wherein the displacement gas comprises a pressure greater than a pressure of the liquefied compressed natural gas and a temperature of from about 80 degrees Fahrenheit to about 120 degrees Fahrenheit; i. connecting the displacement gas vessel manifold to the transport container; j. flowing the displacement gas from the source into the transport container to initiate offloading of the liquefied compressed natural gas from the vessel to the storage cavern, wherein the liquefied compressed natural gas is at a pressure of from about 750 psi to about 1100 psi and a temperature of from about −80 degrees Fahrenheit to about −110 degrees Fahrenheit; and k. mixing the liquefied compressed natural gas with gas vapor in the storage cavern, wherein the gas vapor in the storage cavern is at a geostatic temperature and at a pressure lower than a pressure of the liquefied compressed natural gas.