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: 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
DYNFLX: Simulation of lines, pipes and flexible risers
DRIFTP/DBDRIFT: Second order wave excited (drift) forces
GREENLAB: Green Water Analysis
DYNFLOAT: Assessment of dynamic mooring system loads and tanker motions
DYNFLX: Simulation of lines, pipes and flexible risers
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)
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
Advances in the Hydrodynamics of Side-by-side Moored Vessels
Willemijn H. Pauw (MARIN), Rene H. Huijsmans (Delft University of Technology) and Arjan Voogt (MARIN), OMAE Conference, San Diego, 2007
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
Advances in the Hydrodynamics of Side-by-side Moored Vessels
Willemijn H. Pauw (MARIN), Rene H. Huijsmans (Delft University of Technology) and Arjan Voogt (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)
MARIN advances model thruster control technology
Thruster load measurements, combined with advanced control systems, give insight into the operational aspects of dynamically positioned vessels. MARIN has developed technology to better assess the performance of multi-thruster...
Sloshing impacts captured in 110 full-scale tests
Report unveils the innovative techniques MARIN has developed for measuring full and large-scale sloshing impacts within the Sloshel project.
MARIN and Oceânica work in tandem on project
MARIN and Oceânica recently joined forces to study the tandem offloading operation of the first FPSO in the Gulf of Mexico for the Petrobras Cascade/Chinook development. MARIN performed the model tests in its deepwater...
ComFLOW used for green water assessment Ningaloo Vision FPSO
MARIN has been awarded a contract by Prosafe Production Services Pte Ltd to perform a numerical study for the green water assessment of the Ningaloo Vision FPSO. Part of the study involved the design of a breakwater...
The flight of the condor
A Condor computer cluster is increasingly frequently being used to help analyse downtime events in the LNG sector. Report explains this new method.
Thruster load measurements, combined with advanced control systems, give insight into the operational aspects of dynamically positioned vessels. MARIN has developed technology to better assess the performance of multi-thruster...
Sloshing impacts captured in 110 full-scale tests
Report unveils the innovative techniques MARIN has developed for measuring full and large-scale sloshing impacts within the Sloshel project.
MARIN and Oceânica work in tandem on project
MARIN and Oceânica recently joined forces to study the tandem offloading operation of the first FPSO in the Gulf of Mexico for the Petrobras Cascade/Chinook development. MARIN performed the model tests in its deepwater...
ComFLOW used for green water assessment Ningaloo Vision FPSO
MARIN has been awarded a contract by Prosafe Production Services Pte Ltd to perform a numerical study for the green water assessment of the Ningaloo Vision FPSO. Part of the study involved the design of a breakwater...
The flight of the condor
A Condor computer cluster is increasingly frequently being used to help analyse downtime events in the LNG sector. Report explains this new method.
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