What qualifies an FPSO to be the largest?
What qualifies an FPSO to be the largest?
(OP)
I've read that FPSO designs are based on the storage, production & export capacities, site environment and crew complement. With reference to the Mustang worldwide survey of FPSO units, I've noticed that though an FPSO may be large in terms of hull dry weight and size (length, width & height), its production and storage capacities may pale miserably to another comparable in size. For example: the Belanak FPSO and Kizomba A.
Any ideas? Thanks.
Any ideas? Thanks.
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RE: What qualifies an FPSO to be the largest?
No real point in awarding "points" for length. The HULL size alone is best compared by the product of Length x Beam x Depth (not draught).
If a FPSO has the largest storage capacity AND the largest production capacity (bopd) then it would undoubtedly have the best claim to be the "largest".
Many large FPSOs now have a similar storage capacity of 2m bbls or thereabouts. So many are more or less equal on that count. That generally means that the hull sizes (LxBxD) are also similar.
The "winner" would then be the one with highest oil production capacity - in bopd.
But even that is not clear, as the scope of the topsides depends on gas handling and water injection requirements also. So really tonnes of topsides weight is a good measure of topsides "biggest". 30,000 tonnes would be a really big one.