Evolution of the tanker-based floating production, storage and offloading concept

Conference · Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1984 · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5957311

Klein, P; Smulders, L H

Stationary offshore terminal facilities utilizing former trading tankers were employed by the oil industry as early as fifteen years ago. Initially, a tanker was simply connected to a single point mooring (CALM) by conventional hawsers where it served as a combination buffer storage vessel and mooring platform for shuttle tankers. Operational restrictions survival characteristics and high operating costs stimulated the development of the single buoy storage (SBS) and single anchor leg storage (SALS) systems employing rigid arms for permanently mooring the vessel to the SPM. The first terminal of this type became operational in 1973 and it along with half a dozen similar terminals has served efficiently for many years. In August 1977, a further step in the evolutionary process was taken with the startup of a tanker-based, rigid-arm-moored (SALS) floating production facility. This system incorporates concentional separation equipment on the vessel for producing from a single subsea-completed well. A second similar facility also producing from a single well was installed in 1980. Recognizing the need for testing and producing independently from two or more wells and injecting into wells, a program was instigated in 1978 to develop a high pressure, multiple flow path swivel to conduct fluids between the weathervaning vessel and the non-rotating buoy or riser. In August 1981, a facility went into operation using this new high-pressure, multiple flow path swivel producing from the subsea-completed wells in the Philippines.

• Research Organization: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
• OSTI ID: 5957311
• Report Number(s): CONF-8402115-; TRN: 85-007274
• Journal Information: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States), Vol. SPE 12429; Conference: 5. Southeast Asia offshore technical conference, Singapore, Singapore, 21 Feb 1984
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
OIL WELLS
OFFSHORE PLATFORMS
PRODUCTION
STORAGE FACILITIES
TERMINAL FACILITIES
TANKER SHIPS
LOADING
FLOTATION
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
MARINE RISERS
MOORINGS
PHILIPPINES
ASIA
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ISLANDS
MATERIALS HANDLING
PIPES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SHIPS
WELLS
022000* - Petroleum- Transport
Handling
& Storage
020300 - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
024000 - Petroleum- Storage- (-1989)