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Floating Production Systems A Growth Market for Shipbuilders and System Suppliers by James R. McCaul, president IMA Associates, Inc. MAAssociates, Inc. has pub- lished a new study that examines opportunities for builders, system suppliers and engineering firms in construction and conversion of floating production systems. The study looks at business oppor- tunities over the next five to 10 years — and provides detailed information needed for establish- ing position in this rapidly evolv- ing market sector. The following article is an excerpt from the^ report. There are about 100 JJpfttmg production systems onpj'ming in oil fields offshore Brazil, North Sea, Gulf of Mei&co, Southeast Asia and oth^flocations. IMA has identified>miother 70 near- and interm^mate-term offshore pro- jects suited to floating production — and some bullish industry esti- mates cite as many as 200 prospective offshore projects where floating systems would be a suitable option. This is a wide open market that should be of interest to all builders and marine systems suppliers. Offshore production options Three basic methods can be used for offshore oil and gas pro- duction — fixed steel or concrete structures, floating production plants and subsea production. MHBH Each has unique features suitable to specific types of offshore fields. Fixed structures will likely be cho- sen for fields in shallower water with large recoverable reserves. Floating systems are advanta- geous in deep waters and for use in marginal oil fields. Sjjbsga completion is still an^arly tech- nology that is cpwsfaered useful for connectm^femote fields to a fixed oj^ftoating platform. The choje^of technology is driven by iter depth, type and amount of recoverable field reserves, weath- er and sea conditions, area acces- sibility and other factors — some- times including political consider- ations. Ses of floating production systems A wide variety of technical solu- tions are available for floating pro- duction. A common thread run- ning through all options is the ability to tap fields where the cost of fixed platforms would make development uneconomical. FLOATING PRODUCTION SYSTEMS * Tension leg platforms — The UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR PLANNED • — a massive $1 billion structure T SSHIH^1'- No of intended for use in large fields ™ where a fixed platform would not System Units be technically or economically fea- sible. Utilizing buoyancy forces, T . i i j o the huge platform is held in place Tension leg platforms 3 by gt{J t(Tthers to the seabed^per_ FPSO vessels 25 mitting only minimum horizontal FPS semi-submersibles 20 motion. This technology dates n j ,. 0 from 1984 when Conoco installed Production spars J the first TLp in thg North gea FSO barges & ships 10 Hutton field. Five TLPs are cur- Undecided 10 rently in service — two in the Gulf of Mexico and three in the North ...... - . Sea — and three new TLPs are Source; IMA Associates, Construction under construction or planned. and Conversion of Floating Production • Semi-submersibles — There Systems, December 1995 (Continued on page 44) FAX: 1-206-443-8519 THE NEW CHS LISTENING. LEARNING. CHANGING. A> Operating Headquarters: 2401 Fourth Avenue Seattle, WA 98121 (206) 443-8100 1-800-248-8632 Dear Brent, To help me respond, please provide the following: Name: Title: Company: Address: _ City: .State:. .Zip: Circle 216 on Reader Service Card (Continued from previous page) planning efforts for the company's Plexus line of structural methacry- late adhesives. ITW Adhesives is involved in the design, development, and produc- tion of methacrylate bonding agents, which are used for structur- al bonding in the marine and other industries. For more information on ITW Adhesives Circle 3 on Reader Service Card 84-M Incat Vessel Outfitted 4^{ith Ruston Diesels Fivte years after powering the first Incat Tasmania 74-m (242.7- ft.) wav\ piercing catamaran, Rus- ton Diesels, a subsidiary of GEC Alsthomt)iesels, Ltd., was award- ed a contract to supply four 20RK2701 engines and gearboxes for the firlt of a new series of 84-m (275.5-ft.)Bncat vessels. The vessel will be thl 13th to be powered by RK270 engines, and will bring the total number of engines supplied to Incat for plssenger and car carry- ing ferries A> 52. The fast ferry will be supplied Vo Condor for operation between tHp southern coast of England ana the Channel Islands. The contractus the first for the 20- cylinder RK2F0, launched at the Hong Kong Fast Ferry Conference earlier this yetir. The engine was developed to meet the increased power needs <* larger and faster vessels, and reportedly has a low life operating cobt and high power- to-weight ratio, thereby classed as a medium-speed engine. Ruston provides extensive engineering, operating and serVice support expe- rience in the application of diesel engines for fast felries. For more informatiorlon Ruston Diesels Circle 138 on Reader Service Card Ulstein Verft Wils $48 M Support Vessel dontract A Dutch subsidiary of the inter- national group Carl Offshore has placed an order witli Ulstein Verft A.S. for a very larga multi-purpose support vessel, witHI contract costs totaling approximatlly $48 million. The contract includak an option for construction of a sisiership. Due for delivery in January 1997, the vessel isfa new design Ulstein developed I to meet the requirements of tha buyer. Mea- suring 336 ft. (102k m) long and 76.1 ft. (23.2 m) v/ide, the vessel will be equipped with diesel-elec- tric propulsion, providing an in- stalled power of 12,225 kW. High specification equipment will in- clude dynamic positioning, a heli- deck, and a deepwater mooring sys- tem. The design and capacity of the vessel will permit a variety of work roles which require a high dead- weight and DP capability, such as platform supply, pipe carrier, cable layer, flexible pipe layer, diving support, construction support and oil production testing. For more information on Ulstein Verft Circle 137 on Reader Service Card 13
