Operational Experience with the FPSO Ocean Producer

Abstract

This paper describes and analyzes the operational experience of an FPSO (floating production, storage and offloading system) that has been onstream offshore West Africa for over eight years. The FPSO was designed for efficient production of smaller and marginal oil fields. It was converted on a stringent budget at an U.S. Gulf Coast shipyard and has been operated so as to be cost-effective at production rates ranging from 10,000 bopd to less than 5,000 bopd. Despite the economic constraints that have characterized its operation, it has achieved excellent results for safety and for overall vessel and process system uptime.This paper discusses the design of the FPSO, it's operating history and operational results. The operating philosophy and procedures are examined in detail to illuminate their relationship to the successful results that have been achieved.The operations philosophy, systems, procedures, and safety programs that are in place to help achieve the safety, uptime, and OPEX goals are presented. A case history of the FPSO is also presented.