South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean has been awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) from Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV), for its standard floating production storage and offloading unit (FPSO) design, which includes advancements in digital solutions to support more energy-efficient operations.
The standard FPSO design measures 340m in length and 62m in width, with a crude oil storage capacity of 2.38m barrels and a production capacity of 190,000 barrels/day. The FPSO is designed to accommodate topsides of up to 55,000t and 17,600m2, with a hull that can operate for up to 20 years without dry docking.
The FPSO will incorporate technologies such as zero-flaring, GHG monitoring, and an energy management system to comply with environmental regulations. Its advanced digital solutions include cybersecurity, digital twin, and predictive maintenance.
Alex Gregg-Smith, SVP Asia Pacific BV Marine & Offshore said: “Bureau Veritas is pleased to have provided approval in principle for standard FPSO design of Hanwha Ocean. The features of this FPSO design are impressive, showcasing Hanwha Ocean’s engineering expertise. Bureau Veritas looks forward to continuing our collaboration with Hanwha Ocean, supporting technological advancements and contributing to the development of sustainable offshore solutions.”
Hanwha Ocean, formerly known as Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, sees a growing demand for offshore plants in West Africa, where the FPSO is being designed for deployment. The AiP award will increase momentum for development of standardised FPSOs that can be deployed in other regions, such as South America.
Image: Hanwha Ocean standardised FPSO design (source: Bureau Veritas)
