Engineering Requirements for the Classification Production, Storage and Offloading Units. and Certification of Floating
Authors: Rogers W.S. , Bloomfield J.S.C. 
Published: October 2008

DESCRIPTION:

This paper describes the engineering requirements which need to be complied with for the Classification and Certification of Floating Production, Storage and Offloading Units.

Specific attention is drawn to the problems associated with the processing systems, storage facilities and the utility and auxiliary engineering systems.

In order to ensure flexibility for specific charter requirements, the unit will have to meet a wide variety of site-specific regulations, and the approach to minimizing confusing and sometimes conflicting regulations is discussed.

The paper addresses the above for both new constructions and conversions and discusses the relativemerits of each.

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, when developing oil and gas fields offshore, declining oil prices have meant that developers have had to look away from the concept of fried platforms. Instead of proposing a fixed platform to develop an oil or gas field, the decision is often taken to place a moored or positioned floating production facility on site to develop the field. Floating Production Facility (F. P.F,) is a master phrase for a variety of differently designed floating structures used for storing or processing hydrocarbons from the field to be developed. These "facilities" can range from unpropelled storage or dumb barges to specially designed self-propelled floating production, storage and offloading units.

When an operator decides to go ahead with the development of an oil or gas field, and should the decision be to develop the field with an F. P. F., then such units are either purpose built for the specificlocation or are conversions of existing ships. Semisubmersible units, jack-ups, tension leg units and other specialised types of floating units can also be options pen to an operator. However, should the option be an F; P, F., then-in general the following type may be employed:

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Lloyds Register (L.R.) has been involved with many F.P.F.'s through the years, the most significant are detailed in Appendix 1.

Before the approach to accepting an F.P.F. as fit to operate at an offshore location is discussed it is necessary to outline the principal Conventions, Rules and Regulations governing the approval procedure.

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND REGULATIONS

Conventions:

The International Maritime Organisation (I,M,O) is an organisation devoted to promoting safer shipping and cleaner oceans. Over the years it has developed more than 30 Conventions and Protocols dealing with maritime safety. The two most important Conventions are mandatory for ships engaged in international trade and are: 'The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)' and 'The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).

SOLAS

The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea was convened in the year 1914. as a result of the loss of the White Star liner Titanic with 1500 lives. The latest publication is the 1992 edition which presents a consolidated text of the Convention, it's Protocol of 1978, and all amendments up to and including the 1990 amendments.