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The development and implementation of floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) technology for BHP's Jabiru Challis and Skua oilfield offshore Australia are described. Two different design approaches were taken. For Jabiru and Skua a disconnectable Riser Turret Mooring was used while for Challis a permanently moored FPSO vessel was employed. The rationale behind the decision making is presented. Two different hull design philosophies were also employed one being a conversion approach the other a new build. Based on the Australian experience the potential for using FPSO technology in the Gulf of Mexico is discussed.

The development design and fabrication of the crude oil process facilities for the Liuhua Field in the South China Sea are described. A crude oil tanker was converted into a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel known as the Nanhai Sheng Li. The vessel will process up to 65000 barrels of oil per day generated by 20 subsea wells located 1.7 miles away. It has the capacity to store up to 715000 barrels. The FPSO is permanently moored on-site by a ten-point "soft" mooring. Both the FPSO and the mooring system were designed to survive a 100-year typhoon. Several unique aspects of the conversion the process facility and the mooring system are discussed including the ability of the process facility to handle wide variations in the ratio of produced water and oil.

In August 1997 Conoco marked its inaugural use of an FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offtake) system in British waters with its Centre North Sea MacCulloch field and Amerada Hess brought onstream its Durward / Dauntless fields using the FPSO Glas Dowr.

The floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel Ocean Producer was formerly the crude oil tanker M.T. Baltimore Sea. The vessel was converted during 1991 in Port Arthur Texas and was then installed in the Gombe Beta oil field off Gabon West Africa. Located in 50 feet of water Ocean Producer is the shallowest FPSO installation in the world. The vessel's design and conversion is reviewed in terms of its mooring system offloading facilities process system and safety. Details of the installation are highlighted and experience from the first year of operation is discussed. The lessons learnt during this time have helped to improve the day-to-day operation of the vessel reduce operating costs and maintain high crew morale.

Safe efficient and reliable production of oxygen using air separation units (ASU) on floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) units is considered. The gas to liquid conversion is discussed and the challenges that this presents offshore are briefly reviewed. Technical and safety challenges are discussed including the layout of the ASU the effect of marine motion and design considerations. It is concluded that oxygen can be provided by air separation offshore and that while safety considerations are critical they are feasible.

Processes for converting natural gas to liquid fuels frequently use oxygen to generate the synthesis gas feedstock mixture which feeds the process. Pure oxygen has advantages over air because it allows smaller more compact equipment to be used reducing recycling flows and minimising vent losses. For large quantities of oxygen cryogenic separation of air is the most efficient technology. The challenges of achieving safe and reliable operation of this technology on an FPSO are discussed.

NOTE - This is a BMT duplicated conference holding thus papers abstracted in Chapter 26 are: Seismic survey ship conversions Living with the ISM Code Safety of ships under repair in a shipyard - ship and yard measures/responsibilities Cost savings over the life cycle of the ship generated by optimal surface preparation Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) conversions After the ISM Code The disposal of toxic anti-fouling (TBT) waste Structural requirements for safe and effective HBL operation Ballast tank protection - black magic or black hole? How big is the large tanker fifth special survey market? Shiprepair and conversion - the global outlook The restructuring of Lisnave's Mitrena Shipyard The benefits of Syncrolift over graving and floating docks Independent survey techniques

Pemex is conducting a major upgrade and expansion of the Cantarell oil field in the Gulf of Mexico to increase crude oil production and exports curtail gas flaring and improve the reliability of existing facilities. This expansion includes implementing two floating storage and offloading systems (FPSOs). A review is given of the existing crude oil export system the need for more storage and export tanker berths to handle the planned increases in oil exports and the concepts of the two FPSOs. Also a look is taken at the selection engineering procurement conversion commissioning and initial operational experience of the first FPSO Ta'Kuntah.

An introductory section examines the structure of typical FPSO projects and emphasises their unique features. Significant issues to be addressed in documenting the contractual structure of FPSO projects are identified with discussion of- the need for adequate negotiation between the parties (Field Operator Head Contractor Subcontractor); identification of risks by all three levels of participant; mitigating the risks in the contract ( by specification or scope of work payment against schedule and basis of pricing); and issues specific to the Head Contractor notably the technical and commercial interfaces. Significant conceptual distinctions between contracts for newbuildings and those for conversion are considered with particular attention to the Vessel Risk a specific Technical Risk of the vessel not being in the condition and otherwise as expected.

The potential of gas conversion and LNG processes on floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) units is evaluated. The key drivers for adopting such technology on FPSOs are presented and the principal gas to liquid technologies are briefly outlined. A business case for deploying a gas conversion or LNG process offshore is presented. The challenges that still have to be met are discussed.

The requirement to determine the vessel's structural integrity prompted the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) to update its existing rules and guidelines for FPSOs by extending its patented SafeHull methodology to include the structural evaluation of newbuild ship-type FPSOs as well as the conversion of existing tanker-type vessels into FPSOs.

An overview of post 1984 deep water oil field discovery and development in the Campos Basin offshore Brazil introduces the work of Petrobras in oil production by Semi-submersible and Floating Production Systems and provides outline details of all units currently installed or planned. Recent conversion (from existing hulls) and installation (during 1998) of the semi-submersibles P-26 and P-27 in the Marlim and Voador fields and the Floating Production and Storage Systems P-31 and P-33 in the Albacora and Marlim fields are discussed with attention to their main innovative features- the FPSO unit Seillean first of its type equipped with Dynamic Positioning and destined for testing in the Rocador field is also mentioned. Progress in design development of the Barracuda Field Exploitation System which comprises one well head DCU (Dry Completion Unit to be either a TLWP or a SPAR) exporting through multiphase flow to a FPSO is described in detail. Selected technologies that have been developed by Petrobras in order to facilitate deep water hydrocarbon winning are considered and include- DICAS (Differentiated Compliance Anchoring System); VLA (Vertically Loaded Anchor); taut leg mooring systems; polyester ropes; SCR (Steel Catenary Riser); ESP (Electrical Submersible Pump); and Slender Well technology.

5th Int Conf in London on 11-12 December 1989 Papers are North Sea FPSO - concept and strategy Analysis of flexible riser systems Low frequency damping - it's prediction and influence upon the motions of floating production systems Proms - a simple safe and cost-effective concept for FPV conversions Offshore loading - Norwegian sector development and experience with offshore loading tankers and loading facilities Factors affecting the size of a tanker FPSO and its shuttle tankers for North Sea operations Monohulls for North Sea floating production Dynamic positioning of tankers - design aspects and recent development Control of subsea production wells in deep waters using cost effective solutions Flexible production rise system for subsea completions using ESP's SOLS for floating production systems Optimization of subsea and floating production systems utilising flexible pipe technology 5th Int Conf in London on 11/12 December 1989 Papers are Concept for conversion of associated gas to methanol on a floating production vessel Design considerations for tender assisted drilling platforms for North Sea operation Integrated control of floating production systems

The company's world leading positions in the design and build of jackups and conversion of floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) and floating storage and offloading (FSO) vessels has earned Keppel Offshore & Marine Group its outstanding international reputation.

Conf held in London Sept 29 - 30 1983 Papers are Economics in fixed platform design construction and installation using composite concepts Maximum inshore completion of offshore structures as an aid to marginal field development Enhancing recovery and profitability of marginal offshore fields Factors affecting the choice of vessels for use as floating production facilities Permanent moorings - a rational approach The design aspects of production facilities on floating production and storage units Utilisation of produced gas on floating production systems Conversion techniques New developments in SPMs for FPSOs The key to opening marginal fields where potential for improving technology lies Underwater support for marginal oilfield development Power plant conversion - optimum economy and operation Finance for marginal oilfield development New developments in HP flexible pipes for production applications A development scheme for the central North Sea area Packaged SPM and FPSO units Safety and anti pollution systems

Statoil will develop its Lufeng 22-1 field in the South China Sea using five subsea horizontal wells connected by two flexible flowline risers to an FPSO. The five wells will be drilled through a single template and completed with subsea production trees mounted with electrically-driven booster pumps to provide artificial lift.

Stolt Comex Seaway (SCS) has purchased the Seaway Eagle Seaway Hawk and Discovery to provide service and support to deep water drilling operators. Such services include flexible umbilical and riser installation FPSO anchor system installation subsea construction and seabed surveys.

Three gas utilization alternatives for a Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) concept based project are considered and evaluated - (1) LNG production (2) methanol production and (3) gas-to-liquids conversion. The evaluation of these alternatives is based on a first pass screening type of study which looks into the technical and economical benefits of each alternative.

The Dirch Maersk has been converted to the floating production storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) Uisge Gorm. Work was carried out be AESA in Cadiz and by McNulty Offshore Services South Shields.

In 1995 77% of the oil output capacity of new fields brought onstream from the North West Europe Continental Shelf was based on Mobile Production Units (MPUs). Floating production projects include Petrobas 32 (converted from the VLCC tankers Cairu) the conversion of the trading tanker Dagmar Maersk Statoil's newbuilding using Maritime Tentech 900S and Elf Aquitaine's use of the largest prestressed concrete barge as the main production facility to carry the equipment for oil and gas treatment.