We have all seen the ship-like vessels that are involved in the process of crude oil and gas but we might not understand what the function of these vessels is and why it is important. These floating facilities are called Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) installations. They are fitted with the necessary hydrocarbon processing equipment that is used to separate and treat crude oil, water, and gas that arrives on board via pipelines or subsea oil wells.
FPSO vessels act as off-shore facilities used by the oil and gas industry for the production, processing, and further storage of hydrocarbons. They are designed to take hydrocarbons, either produced on board or through nearby subsea templates, and then process the oil or gas before storing it until it can later be offloaded onto shuttle tankers or even transmitted through pipeline infrastructures. Instead, vessels that do not process but only store the oil are referred to as Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) vessels.
The functions carried out by an FPSO vessel are completed through the processing and storage equipment housed within it.
The design of FPSOs consists of:
- Equipment or topsides situated on the vessel’s deck
- Hydrocarbon storage or cargo tanks located in the ship’s hull
- Control rooms for emergencies
- Accommodation, offices, dining, and recreational facilities for personnel
Treated oil that is sent to the FPSO vessel’s hull is stored to be exported to shore for companies via the relevant transportation means. The treated gas is utilised on-board as fuel for power generation while the excess is exported to shore or even injected back into the subsea reservoirs. Water is also produced and discharged overboard within environmental limits or injected into reservoirs.
The main function or benefit of an FPSO is its ability to allow production of oil in remote areas or deep waters which is usually not economically viable for oil companies through other structures or technology. Additionally, these vessels have the capacity to store the treated crude oil that it produces and they are also equipped to transfer the crude oil with offloading systems onto shuttle tanks allowing convenient shipment to refineries instead of pipeline networks transferring oil to shore.
