How The Future Is Going To Look Like For The FPSO Industry?

What is FPSO?

FPSOs (Floating Platform Storage & Offloading) is a floating vessel. They act as a mobile offshore production and storage facility for produced hydrocarbons.

FPSOs can store a large amount of oil and gas, increasing the commercial viability of hard-to-reach fields. At the same time, they can navigate away from perilous weather conditions.

How does FPSOs look like?

Most FPSOs have processing equipment, or topsides, aboard the vessel’s deck. The produced Hydrocarbon are stored below in the double hull.

FPSOs Procedure

Step 1: Mooring

FPSOs are moored in place by various mooring systems tied to multiple subsea wells. FPSOs are able to rotate freely via a central mooring system. It allows FPSOs to withstand different types of weather conditions.

Step 2: Processing

Hydrocarbons are produced in subsea production wells, which are transported to the FPSO via flowlines and risers.

Step 3: Separation

The hydrocarbons are then separated into oil, gas, water, and impurities via the production facilities on the deck of the FPSO.

Step 4: Storage & Offloading

After processing, an FPSO stores oil in the double hull. They offload periodically to shuttle tankers via a loading hose.

What Is The Future Going To Look Like For The FPSO Industry?

Our reliance on oil is contributing to the emission of Greenhouse gases around the world. When fossil fuels are burned, they release large amounts of carbon dioxide. a greenhouse gas, into the air. Greenhouse gases trap heat in our atmosphere, causing global warming.

The reduction of greenhouse gases is one of the greatest challenges facing operators and service companies in the FPSO industry.

SBM Offshore Fast4ward programs focus on two main sources of greenhouse gas emissions from FPSO, which are energy generation and flaring. They include investigating a carbon capture and storage solution. The Liza Unity FPSO is the first vessel being built under Fast4Ward®, which will reduce cycle time to deliver energy.

At the same time, it is gear up with electrification technology to reduce emissions from the power generators. Digital solutions are applied to analyze data to increase its operational reliability.

SBM Offshore is undertaking a number of innovative approaches to reduce the carbon footprint of its fleet. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bruno Chabas stated that the Company is looking at the possibilities of generating an FPSO with a gas recycling unit as well as linking an FPSO with a renewable source of energy. This could be in the form of wind or solar energy in order to generate power for the FPSO.

Natural Gas Is A Great Backup When The Sun Is Not Shining

Natural Gas produces less carbon than either coal or fuel oil and it has several key advantages. It can be used for heating, cooling, cooking, waste disposal, and transportation. It provides feedstock for chemicals, fertilizers, and pharmaceutical products.

Natural gas is useful when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining. They provide a potential complement to renewable energy.

In another word, Natural gas can provide low carbon backup at peak energy usage times instead of round-the-clock baseload. It might prove to be its greatest contribution from FPSO Industry.