About FPSO Vessels
Man has not only harnessed the seas for transportation but for
industrial purposes also. The offshore industry owes all credit to the
development of FPSO’s (Floating Production Storage and Offloading)
units. Over the last 30 years, FPSO vessels have acquired a place of
importance in the area of oil and gas production. They are an essential
to exploit the reserves to the best of their potential. Oil has been
exploited from off shore locations since 1950. The first oil FPSO was
the Shell Castellon, which was built in Spain in the year 1977.
Why FPSO Vessel Over Pipelines
In our section related to deep ocean engineering, we have studied how
underwater pipes are laid in the sea. Yet laying of pipelines is always
not a feasible option. The scale of economics always does not run in
favor of this option. Oil and Natural Gas are an absolute essential for
the industry. Even a small reserve cannot be ignored and for such a
small reserve laying of pipeline may not an ideal option. FPSO’s are the
best alternative in such cases.
An FPSO is a floating vessel that has been designed in a manner that
makes it conducive to receive, process and store oil or natural gas.
These stages are necessary before the produce is offloaded onto a tanker
or a pipeline. Oil tankers may be converted to function as a FPSO.
Vessels may be used for oil storage alone. Such units are termed as
Floating Storage Units or FSU’s.
FPSO vessels are broadly of two types:
- A Converted Oil Tanker
- A Custom Built
The FPSO’s can be permanently moored or diconnectable. It is the area
in which the vessel has to be used that controls the basic design. In
calm waters a simple design can serve the purpose but in case of
volatile waters the structures will be designed accordingly. The basic
difference is in the injection lines, which are external in case of calm
waters and internal any other case. The second factor that is kept in
mind while designing an FPSO structure is the direction of the wind in
that area. The effort is to reduce the effect of the environment.
With increasing environmental and safety concerns the functioning of
FPSO vessels is continuously monitored by international agencies
(International Maritime Organization) The organization has issued
detailed guidelines for carrying out the various functions and handling
of discharge which may be a by product of the processing done on the
vessel. With the very nature of the product stored on these vessels
being inflammable, safety provision and training acquire immense
importance.
The World’s Largest FPSO Vessel
The World’s Largest FPSO Vessel
The Girassol FPSO, is one of the largest FPSO vessel
functioning in the world today. It was constructed in Korea. It has been
constructed as a joint venture between Bouygues Offshore and Stolt
Offshore within a period of 21 months. The vessel has a production
capacity of 200,000 barrels per day and a storage capacity of 2,000,000
barrel storage capacity.
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