General information
In recent decades the use of ship-type offshore units for the production and storage of oil has become a common method, even in harsh environments. Moored permanently at a certain location at sea, these Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units should be able to survive the most critical environmental conditions occurring. In recent years FPSOs have become the major floating production units for shallow and deep water in mild and harsh environments.
In recent decades the use of ship-type offshore units for the production and storage of oil has become a common method, even in harsh environments. Moored permanently at a certain location at sea, these Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units should be able to survive the most critical environmental conditions occurring. In recent years FPSOs have become the major floating production units for shallow and deep water in mild and harsh environments.
Services & Activities
The Offshore Department is specialised in FPSO model tests and numerical simulations in the field of motions, mooring loads, riser behaviour and tandem or side-by-side offloading. The group has even been involved in the Dynamic Positioning (DP) of new FPSO concepts. The impact of green water and slamming on FPSOs is part of the expertise of the Offshore Department as well. Finally the towing of FPSOs from the Far East to the fields and possible fishtailing instabilities is their scope of work.
The Trials & Monitoring Department has been involved in full-scale measurements on several FPSOs, for instance during the Joint Industry Project FPSO Integrity. Vessel motions and hull loads were measured and analysed. Special attention was paid to the fatigue problems in the hull.
The Offshore Department is specialised in FPSO model tests and numerical simulations in the field of motions, mooring loads, riser behaviour and tandem or side-by-side offloading. The group has even been involved in the Dynamic Positioning (DP) of new FPSO concepts. The impact of green water and slamming on FPSOs is part of the expertise of the Offshore Department as well. Finally the towing of FPSOs from the Far East to the fields and possible fishtailing instabilities is their scope of work.
The Trials & Monitoring Department has been involved in full-scale measurements on several FPSOs, for instance during the Joint Industry Project FPSO Integrity. Vessel motions and hull loads were measured and analysed. Special attention was paid to the fatigue problems in the hull.
Facilities & Tools
FPSOs are tested in the following MARIN facilities:
FPSOs are tested in the following MARIN facilities:
- Offshore Basin: DP model tests in combined current, waves and wind
- Shallow Water Basin: DP model tests in combined current, waves and wind
- Seakeeping and Manoeuvring Basin: towing ransportation tests in waves
- Deep Water Towing Tank: towing resistance tests
The behaviour of FPSOs is simulated with the following tools : (DIFFRAC, DRIFTP and GREENLAB for MARIN internal use only)
DIFFRAC: 3-D potential theory including wave diffraction
DRIFTP/DBDRIFT: Second order wave excited (drift) forces
GREENLAB: Green Water Analysis
DYNFLOAT: Assessment of dynamic mooring system loads and tanker motions
DRIFTP/DBDRIFT: Second order wave excited (drift) forces
GREENLAB: Green Water Analysis
DYNFLOAT: Assessment of dynamic mooring system loads and tanker motions
Software Sales
Some software tools are available for commercial use outside MARIN. A complete overview of these software tools for sale can be found under Software Sales.
Some software tools are available for commercial use outside MARIN. A complete overview of these software tools for sale can be found under Software Sales.
Experience record
The list below gives a review of FPSO model tests carried out at MARIN :
The list below gives a review of FPSO model tests carried out at MARIN :
- Akpo FPSO (TOTAL/Saipem) 2005
- Agbami FPSO (Chevron/SBM) 2005
- Greater Plutonio FPSO transport towing test (Hyundai) 2004
- Dalia FPSO transport towing tests (Samsung) 2003
- DP FPSO (JIP Izar, FMC Sofec, DnV and MARIN) 2003
Most recent papers on FPSOs presented by MARIN
(complete overview of papers can be found under Publications)
(complete overview of papers can be found under Publications)
Predicting Wind Loads For FPSO Tandem Offloading Using CFD
Koop, A.H., Klaij, C.M. and Vaz, G.N.V.B., OMAE Conference, Shanghai, 2010
Wave Slamming on External Turrets of FPSOs
Bas Buchner and Arjan Voogt (MARIN), OMAE Conference, Honolulu, 2009
On the Application of Selected Wave Group Spectra for the Experimental Investigation of Low Frequency Motions of a Moored Structure
Janou Hennig (MARIN), Antonio Carlos Fernandes (LabOceano, COPPE/UFRJ), Hans Cozijn (MARIN) and Marcio Maia Domingues Jr. (Petro), OMAE Conference, Honolulu, 2009
Worst Sea - Best Sea Wave Group Spectra from Random Sea States
Antonio Carlos Fernandes (LabOceano; COPPE/UFRJ); Janou Hennig (MARIN); Marcio Domingues Maia; Jr. (Petrobras); Hans Cozijn (MAR, OMAE Conference, Estoril, 2008
Time Domain Simulations of Side-by-side Moored Vessels - Lessons Learnt from a Benchmark Test
Mamoun Naciri (SBM); Olaf Waals and Jaap de Wilde (MARIN), OMAE Conference, San Diego, 2007
Koop, A.H., Klaij, C.M. and Vaz, G.N.V.B., OMAE Conference, Shanghai, 2010
Wave Slamming on External Turrets of FPSOs
Bas Buchner and Arjan Voogt (MARIN), OMAE Conference, Honolulu, 2009
On the Application of Selected Wave Group Spectra for the Experimental Investigation of Low Frequency Motions of a Moored Structure
Janou Hennig (MARIN), Antonio Carlos Fernandes (LabOceano, COPPE/UFRJ), Hans Cozijn (MARIN) and Marcio Maia Domingues Jr. (Petro), OMAE Conference, Honolulu, 2009
Worst Sea - Best Sea Wave Group Spectra from Random Sea States
Antonio Carlos Fernandes (LabOceano; COPPE/UFRJ); Janou Hennig (MARIN); Marcio Domingues Maia; Jr. (Petrobras); Hans Cozijn (MAR, OMAE Conference, Estoril, 2008
Time Domain Simulations of Side-by-side Moored Vessels - Lessons Learnt from a Benchmark Test
Mamoun Naciri (SBM); Olaf Waals and Jaap de Wilde (MARIN), OMAE Conference, San Diego, 2007
Most recent FPSO articles written for MARIN Report
(complete overview of articles can be found under Publications)
(complete overview of articles can be found under Publications)
Determining wind loads with CFD
Report highlights how Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) are playing an increasingly important role in the assessment of wind loads.
Complex coupled model tests for Petrobras
Model tests were carried out simultaneously on three floaters in MARIN’s Offshore Basin and these were followed by two-body, coupled VIM tests in the Depressurised Towing Tank. The complexities of this coupled model test...
Managing fatigue in riser systems
Following discussions with the industry and the success of Monitas, a new three-year JIP has launched, designed to provide the offshore industry with specifications and a methodology for Advisory Monitoring Systems for risers....
FPSO Research Forum firmly positioned at the heart of the industry
Report looks back at the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Research Forum’s history with its new Chairman, Marcos Donato Ferreira, a Naval Architect and Senior Consultant of the Petrobras Research Center,...
Bridge simulator training for the Munin FPSO
Bluewater recently started operating the Munin FPSO at the Huizhou 21-1 Field in the South China Sea, after the field’s permanent FPSO suffered Typhoon damage. MARIN provided Bridge Simulation training and once again, this...
Report highlights how Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) are playing an increasingly important role in the assessment of wind loads.
Complex coupled model tests for Petrobras
Model tests were carried out simultaneously on three floaters in MARIN’s Offshore Basin and these were followed by two-body, coupled VIM tests in the Depressurised Towing Tank. The complexities of this coupled model test...
Managing fatigue in riser systems
Following discussions with the industry and the success of Monitas, a new three-year JIP has launched, designed to provide the offshore industry with specifications and a methodology for Advisory Monitoring Systems for risers....
FPSO Research Forum firmly positioned at the heart of the industry
Report looks back at the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Research Forum’s history with its new Chairman, Marcos Donato Ferreira, a Naval Architect and Senior Consultant of the Petrobras Research Center,...
Bridge simulator training for the Munin FPSO
Bluewater recently started operating the Munin FPSO at the Huizhou 21-1 Field in the South China Sea, after the field’s permanent FPSO suffered Typhoon damage. MARIN provided Bridge Simulation training and once again, this...
Contact
For more information on how MARIN can help your organisation with FPSOs, please contact:
For model test and simulation activities: Offshore Department
For full scale measurements: Trials and Monitoring Department
For more information on how MARIN can help your organisation with FPSOs, please contact:
For model test and simulation activities: Offshore Department
For full scale measurements: Trials and Monitoring Department