FPSO is an acronym for Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel. It refers to a vessel that is used by the oil and gas industries where a floating vessel is more cost effective than the costly installation of pipelines. Maintenance of an FPSO is an ongoing procedure that follows an inspection and any necessary repairs. The inspection, repair and maintenance cycle is often known by the acronym of IRM.
An FPSO vessel has the advantage over a fixed installations because it is able to release its moorings and riser turret and either steam away under its own power, or be towed away. There are many reasons why this may be necessary. In places where typhoons and cyclones are common, an FPSO can avoid the danger if one comes too close. In colder waters, off Canada for example, icebergs may pose a danger, and an FPSO can again avoid the danger by moving away.
FPSO vessel maintenance is essential as it needs to be seaworthy; it also has to be fully capable of doing the job it is designed to do. For this reason FPSO maintenance is often necessary following a routine inspection and possible repair routine. Much of the important inspection routine of FPSOs takes place underwater as this is where any risk to continued operations may exist. This involves the use of divers trained in recognising potential damage or corrosion problem areas. Their subsequent reports usually determine what repair, if any, is necessary.
FPSOs can be subject to the occasional collision from docking vessels, especially when there is bad weather. These collisions are not usually severe and violent high energy collisions, but even what may appear to be a fairly gentle collision can cause damage greater than first appearances might indicate. Because FPSOs are floating storage vessels, often full of oil or gas, even gentle low energy collisions have to be taken seriously and inspected, with any repairs carried out as soon as possible. This can of course be incorporated into a maintenance routine that includes looking for the results of any minor collision damage. In addition, FPSO maintenance routines should include the inspection of mooring lines. These can take a lot of hard wear and tear during the winter months, especially in areas like the North Sea.
Inclement weather can cause of problems for FPSOs, especially in the North Sea where violent storms are fairly common in winter. In the offshore industry, more work is being carried out to mitigate damage to FPSOs (particularly bow and deck structures) caused by the impact of waves in steep storm wave conditions. Such “green water incidents” are occasionally responsible for above water-level damage. If sea water breaks over the vessel, it can cause serious damage to essential working equipment. FPSO maintenance and inspection routines with possible repairs should always be carried out following any notable green water incidents.
C. J. Rose writes on the subject of FPSO/tank and vessel cleaning for Sureclean, global industrial waste management solutions. Topics include HP & UHP water cutting/water jetting, tank/vessel cleaning, vacuum transfer and pumping, industrial painting and surface cleaning and preparation, asbestos management and removal, HVAC/duct management and NORM decontamination. For tank and vessel cleaning in action, see Sureclean’s suite of waste management videos.
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