Page 16: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Sep/Oct 2021)

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FPSOs CLASSIFICATION © Igor Kardasov/AdobeStock

FLOATING

IDEAS

The world’s FPSO feet is getting older, with 55 FPSO units in the global feet reaching the end of their design life in the next fve years, with an additional fve having life extension in place. With 19 more FPSOs currently being evaluated for life extension, safety issues and structural integrity concerns come to the fore? Matt Tremblay, ABS Vice President,

Global Offshore, explains the challenges for FPSO operators, and discusses why a new working group comprised of major players in the FPSO marketplace has been created.

is no stranger to the Floating Produc- The aim is to advance industry best-practice to protect peo- tion Storage and Offoading (FPSO) ple and the environment bringing together industry leaders to market, as it classed the frst FPSO ves- address risks within the current and anticipated FPSO feet.

ABS sel in U.S. waters in 1978 and continues to lead safety and Two over-riding goals of this consortium include: innovation with new technology that supports larger, more 1. I dentifying critical risks posed to the offshore indus- complex FPSOs operating in ultra-deep water and in the pre- try by an ageing global FPSO feet. salt region of Brazil. 2. D etermining the steps to mitigate safety and environ-

With more than 60% of all FPSOs in service classed by mental risks posed by aging FPSOs.

ABS, and more than 70% of FPSOs in Brazil operating under Ageing units require more maintenance effort to maintain

ABS class, including 30 vessels with capacity to handle more in Class, and maintenance needs to increase with age to re- than 100,000 barrels per day, ABS is committed to setting duce downtime. Across industry, it is widely accepted that in- standards for safety and excellence in design and construction. creases in life extensions puts an increased burden on ageing

Focused on the safe and practical applications of advanced asset maintenance issues. technologies and digital solutions, ABS recently brought The new consortium which includes Chevron, Shell, Petro- together leading companies in the FPSO sector to form a bras, MODEC, and SBM Offshore, as well as the Bahamas consortium to help address the safety challenges produced Maritime Authority, the Republic of the Marshall Islands by a feet where more than half of the FPSO vessels are over Registry, and the U.S. Coast Guard 8th District, has created 30-years-old and a quarter are over 40-years-old. fve joint industry projects (JIPs) aimed at using technology to 16 OFFSHORE ENGINEER OEDIGITAL.COM