Page 39: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (September 1997)

TANKER TECHNOLOGY

Contract To

Production In 20

Months

Bluewater's Latest FPSO Enters

Production

By Greg Trauthwein

Glas Dowr, the fifth Bluewater owned and operated

FPSO, produced first oil from the Dauntless reservoir on

Saturday, August 9, and the first oil from the DurwaMj reservoir on Monday, August 11. This was achieved jus™ one month after the vessel arrived on location and just 20 months after the contract award for the vessel. Glas

Dowr is installed near Amerada Hess' Durward &

Dauntless Fields (Blocks 21/16 and 21/11, UKCS).

Bluewater's role is providing the FPSO, risers and umbilicals, as well as operating the FPSO, including well head control. The lease contract has a minimum period of four years.

During its 20-year life, the FPSO is designed to oper- ate 95 percent of the time in production. In fact, it is capable of retaining certificates without leaving the field for eight years.

The basis for the Glas Dowr was a new 105,000-dwt tanker, which was modified for FPSO duty. The FPSO's turret mooring system and the flare boom are located in the forward part of the vessel, while the main process and utility systems are located on deck.

A highly automated and flexible control and monitor- ing system was chosen based on digital process system technology. Essential alarms of the vessel's existing con- trol systems are integrated into the new control system, and a central control room provides control and display terminals and data management systems. Seawater is used for cooling and for well water injection. Fresh cool- ing water closed loops are provided for diesel engines.

In addition to the vessel's existing power generation plant in the engine room, a topside electrical power gen- eration plant is installed.

The plant consists of one diesel generator set and three gas turbine generator sets. The power plant is located on the main deck. The diesel genset rims on diesel oil and heavy fuel oil delivered by the vessel's existing fuel system.

The gas turbine gensets normally run on fuel gas or gas oil delivered by the vessel's existing fuel system.

Steam generation is provided by the existing steam boil- er and a new topside steam boiler unit. Both boilers are run on LP fuel gas and/or liquid fuel. Glas Dowr has accommodations for 96 persons, but the normal opera-

DURWARD

FPSO popularity and utilization continues to grow, as it provides a fast track to oil production. Bluewater's newest FPSO, the Glas Dowr, is shown at the right, top. The middle photo is the Glas Dowr's production scheme, and the bottom graphic provides an exploded view of the unit.

September, 1997

FLARE TOWER

Turner DECKHOUSE

UWNG

QUARVERS

M0DUL2

SHIPYARD

MODULE FABRICATORS PROCESS

MODULE FABRICATOR UTILITIES

MOORWS FABRICATOR

SPECIAL COMPONENTS FABRICATOR

FLOXUXCS AND RISERS t'X I