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FPSO
FPSO (Floating Production, Storage and Offloading) is an oil
& gas plant built on a ship-like structure
Process facilities or topsides on deck; Oil storage tanks in hull
Built to 2 differing standards or philosophy - Process and
Marine
FPSOs stay in location for field life, 7-20 years. Process standards
Axial
Rotational
Static
X, Longitudinal
Surge
Roll (3-4)
List (1)
Y, Transverse
Sway
Pitch (2-3)
Trim (1)
Z, Vertical
Heave
Yaw
Transient Rotational Motions
Roll- Side to side rotation, about the fore-aft axis
Pitch- Rotation about beam/ transverse axis, fore and aft ends rise & fall
Yaw- Rotation about vertical axis, fore and aft ends to swing from side to side
Stable Tilt
Listing- Lasting, stable tilt, lean or heel, along longitudinal axis, due to
flooding or improperly loaded or shifted cargo
Trim- Ship's hull to waterline tilt
Heave
y
Swa
Y
Yaw
P or
t Si
Sta
rb o
ard
Pitch
Bow, Fore
List
de
Trim
GDU Reboiler: High pressure drop distributor for rich glycol; higher level
Line slope: Pitch and roll + list and trim affects free draining of liquids
Drain system:
Static slope due to FPSO trim affects gravity flow / self-draining. May lead to
backflow and overflow
Provide check valves in liquid outlets. Provide baffles in tank. Check seal loop
levels
Flare header liquid hold-up may reduce blow down capacity and increase
Compressor:
Compressor KOD could get flooded momentarily, by liquid hold-up in
Foundation
Hull Deck
Transverse Frame
Provide 3 point mounting with gimbals or soft support towards hog/ sag
Provide inclinometers or accelerometers for equipment protection
PAU (Pre-Assembled Units) structures & supports
Excessive vibration of Recip compressors and pumps transfer noise to hull, flexing of
compressor supports, excessive PAU stiffness
Cracks in deck, pipework stresses due to moving independent of PAU
Design for vessel movement, machinery vibration, vessel roll, wind and live liquid load
and construction tolerances
Elevated Deck
Piping supports
Topside Modules
Poor mounting, failure to fit bellows and flexi hoses may result in potential leaks and
failures
Vibration affects drive motors with isolating pads coming loose and damaging rotors.
Noise is also a problem for personnel
Layout Issues
Hull might be to shipyard codes and topsides to IP/ Other
codes. Main deck classification conflict. Use a single approach
Generators close to LQ, exhaust and flare radiation
Module overcrowded vis--vis others
Poorly placed vents
Access and escape routes restricted by cable and pipework
Poor workshop and store locations
Safety Issues
Topsides Safety
There are 2 different school of thoughts:
1. North sea: UK/North sea/ Australia go by goal-setting' regulations
- that all hazards are identified, risks evaluated, and measures taken to
reduce risks to persons to as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP)
2. Gulf of Mexico: US and rest of the world go by risk-based as
identified in API and other codes/ standards
Compliance to codes is not enough to meet North sea regulations
Northsea regulations
HVAC Issues
HVAC design by shipyards is not adequate for a production facility
Maintenance Issues
Submersible pumps
Debris in tanks, pipework and leaks in pipework
Blanketing:
Hydrocarbon to replace inert gas
Eliminates venting or flaring
Reduced use and maintenance of inert gas generator
Maintenance Issues
Tanks:
Internal cracks between tanks: stiffening and fatigue analysis
Maintenance Issues
Sea chests:
Ideal location for marine growth and difficult to clean
Difficult to blank off sea chests when main seawater valve
leaks
Fitting blanking plate: Time consuming and weather
sensitive. Relying on a single blanking plate may be
unacceptable.
Review if sea chests, good in ships, are required in FPSO.
Submersible pumps in a caisson are OK
Slops tank: Install one for high solids & drop out
Route paint stripping or tank cleaning solids to this tank
Provide jetting lines and solids/slurry handling pumps for
easy cleaning
Power Generation:
Diesels are reliable and flexible but not good for dual fuel; high
Shape:
Sharp bow reduces mooring loads but less space for machinery, storage.
Transition zone is prone to cracking
Blunt bow increases spray and wave impact and mooring loads
Workshops:
Should be accessible via forklift, same level and close to stores, with
mechanical handling equipment, separate from accommodation (noise) and in
a safe area for welding (forward)
Good environment, access reduce repair costs, as crew gets confident to repair
and service equipment on board
Tank corrosion:
Helicopters:
Forward accommodation and helideck: Not optimum for landing -
Risers:
Swivels:
Good performance, no significant leaks; 2 failures and explosion in the oil filled 11KVpower transfer swivel, due to water entering insulation oil medium
Long term wear and repair worries
Drag Chains:
An alternative to swivel. Simpler. Hose and electric cable failure due to wear from
bending, wear pads worn out, difficulty of access
Drag chain limits free rotation requiring thrusters to be serviceable at all times
High maintenance and operability problems indicate swivels a better option
Thrusters:
Turret Issues
Location:
Vessel with turret at > 75% of hull length, weather-vanes free
At 65%, thrusters are required to maintain/control heading
Thrusters lock turret and reduce bearing / swivel wear. But introduce demand
on thrusters, safety critical items and crew to mange turret repositioning
Lower maintenance and crew demand with free turrets
Safety of accommodation ensured by a firewall
Free turret with swivel and thrusters for offloading only gives lowest Opex
Turret Design:
3 types of bearings
Wheel and rail type - unsatisfactory - high point loading from wheels, excess
construction tolerances, vessel deflection, poor rail heat treatment surface
cracking and inadequate wheel lubrication
Hydraulic turret bearings - pad wear, high starting friction, gripper failures, hydraulic
imbalance and difficulty to access and repair components
Heavy duty rails and multiple bogies with rubber pads spread the load
Hydraulic pads for high mooring loads on a large turret, effective - no downtime but
maintenance has been excessive
Functional Specifications:
Designer and shipyard - unable to interpret correctly. Too little
Inadequate documentation:
Delayed documentation, missing data, paperless systems not running
even one year after start-up, missing as built drawing and loop
diagrams, incompatible tags and poor links to maintenance databases.
Specify documentation requirements at order placement and ensure
before paying suppliers
Presentations on
Process Scheme
Process Engineer
Layout..
Piping Engineer
Structures ..
Structural Engineer
Safety Alerts from similar facilities
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Facility Layout
Type of Facility
Type of Field
Feed
Products
Gas
Condensate
Produced Water
: Onshore
Offshore
: LNG Oil & Gas
Gas & Condensate
: Refinery Petrochemical Chemical/ Fertilizer
: Marginal
Normal
: Oil, Gas and Water
: Gas compressed, dehydrated and exported via pipeline
: Oil stabilized and exported via pipeline
: Condensate injected into gas pipeline
: Water deoiled and locally disposed
: Daily Contractual Quantity (DCQ)
XXX MMscfd
: Max Daily Quantity (MDQ)
YYY (DCQ + 10%)
: Design
ZZZ 125% MDQ
: Normal / Maximum
XX,000 / YY,000 BPD
: Normal / Maximum/ Design XX,000 / YY,000 BPD
Platform
Flare
Pressure
Temperature
Location
If Deep water, familiar with
: Wellhead
Process Platform
: No of Decks XX
No of Piles YY
Weight ZZ,000 t
: Single lift
Modular lift
Float over
: Bridge linked Wellhead
LQ
Flare Tripod
: Helipad on
LQ
on another location
: Unmanned
Manned
: Vertical on platform
Cantilevered from platform
: Separate bridge linked platform
: Highest 165 barg lift gas; 75 barg export gas
: Lowest () 40C HP flare lateral;
: Highest - 550C GT exhaust
: Shallow Water
Deepwater
Owner-Operator
Key Issues
: First Installation
Operates similar units
: Sub-contract operation Operated by own crew
: Isolation standards, including Double Block & Bleed
: Sampling Draining
Venting Philosophy
: PSVs are
spared not spared
: Familiar with Rupture disks, if used
: High Levels of H2S
: First of a kind for client??
Safety Studies
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