// Issue 8 // may 2013

SBM Offshore / Currents 1

Currents ISSue 8 // May 2013

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SBM Offshore / Currents 2

4 Champagne on ice for SBM’s firstlaunchof Generation 3 FPSO

10 New,all-in-one, state-of-the-art installer

12 FizzleoutflaringonFPSOs

14 NewSBMtechnology wins OTC 2013 award

16 One-Stop-ShopatSBMfor Semi-submersible and Tension Leg Platform technology

20 Extendingtheoperating envelopeoflarge mooringsystems

On the cover: FPSO Cidade de Paraty.

We want to hear from you: If you have comments about any of the articles in this issue or any ideas for future issues, send them to currents@sbmoffshore.com.

Currents is issued by the Group Communications Department.

Currents ISSue 8 // May 2013

4

14

10 SBM InStaller

GeneratIOn 3 fpSO

Otc aWard 2013

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SBM Offshore / Currents 3

WelcometothelatestissueofSBMOffshore’scompanymagazine.WearehappytoshareourstoriesandachievementswithourclientsandstakeholdersaswellasvisitorstoourboothattheOTCconferenceinHoustonthismonth.

Firstly,IwouldliketothankthejuryoftheOTCSpotlightonTechnologyforhonouringSBMOffshorewithoneoftheawards.Thisprestigiousaccoladeendorsesourpositionasakeytechnologyleaderintheoffshoreserviceprovidersector.Italsogivesourengineerstheindependentpraisethatmakesthemproudoftheirsuccessesandgivesthemthemotivationtocontinueinnovatingtomeettheevolvingneedsoftheindustry.

It’sbeenabusyfewmonths.WemadethenewswiththeawardbyPetrobrasforadoubleFPSOorderforoperationinthepre-saltprovinceoffshoreBrazil.Thissignificantprojectisarecordbreakerforthecompany,theFPSOsareamongstthelargesteverbuiltbySBMOffshoreandalongwithCidadedeParatyandIlhabelarepresentthesuccessfullaunchofournewGeneration3FPSOs,buildingonourtrustedperformanceandunrivalleduptime.

Enjoythismonth’sissue.

Bruno Chabas CEOSBMOffshore

Welcome

20

12

16

larGe MOOrInG SySteM

SeMI-SuBMerSIBle and tenSIOn leG platfOrM technOlOGy

fIzzle Out flarInG On fpSOS

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ChampagneoniceforSBM’sfirstlaunchofGeneration 3 FPSO

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SBM Offshore / Currents 5

ThingsaredefinitelybuzzingrightnowontheBrazilianfrontforSBMOffshore.The

companyhasinhandnofewerthanfourofthemostcomplexFPSOprojectsyetseenbytheoilandgasindustryanywhereintheworld.Allofthesebilliondollarplusfloatingproductionvesselsaresettohelpdevelopthecountry’shugedeepwaterfieldsintheprolificpre-saltSantosbasin.

Start-upofthefirstofthem-CidadedeParaty–isimminent.Thishighcapacityvesselwastowedouton16ApriltotheLulaNordestefieldfromitsfinalintegrationbaseattheBrasfelsyardinAngradosReis.“NowwehavetwomoremilestonestoachievebeforetheendofJuly,”saysSBM’sProjectManagerPeterdeHaas.

“Withthe28-hourtowtolocationcompleted,wewillhookupthe24-linemooringsystemandrisersonascheduletoachievefirstoilbytheendofMay,”hesays.“Thenwewillstopflaringtheassociatedgasoncewegetthecompressionsystemsupandrunning.

WhileallthisisgoingonforParaty,elsewhereintheworldthesecondofSBM’squartetofleading-edgeFPSOsistaking

shapeatyardsinChinaandBrazil,wherehullconversionandtopsidesconstructionrespectivelyaretakingplace.

ThisisCidadedeIlhabela-withaprocessingcapacity25%higherthanParaty’s120,000bpd,andthelargestFPSOthecompanywillhaveeverbuilt.AsProjectManagerAlexBrigdenpointsout,itisalsothecompany’smostglobalproject,withprojectmanagementcentredaroundateaminSchiedamintheNetherlands.

Andasifthispairwasnotenough,inMarchPetrobrasconfirmeda$3.5billionfast-trackfollow-onordertoSBM.ThiswasfortwomorefloatingproductionunitsofthesamescaleasFPSOCidadedeIlhabela.Theunits-knownasAlphaandBeta-aredestinedfortheLulaAltoandLulaCentrallocationsandneedtobepushedaheadatanunprecedentedlyfastpacetoperformtheirrolesinPetrobras’grandplanforthepre-saltregion.

TheorderfromPetrobrasforAlphaandBetaisthelargestordereverwonbySBMOffshore.Itwillkeepthecompanyanditscontractorsandsuppliersfullyoccupieduntildeliveriesattheendof2015andearly2016respectively.

TheonlywaysuchatargetcanbeachievedisforSBMtobuildthenewvesselsas“carbon-copies”ofIlhabela,squeezingeverylastadvantageoutofthatcloningprocesstoimproveefficiencyandsavetime.

SBM’shugeprogrammeofworkforPetrobrashasalsosparkedseveralothermajorinitiatives.ThefirstoftheseistheBrasayard.

Asfarbackas2011thecompanyembarkedonaplantosetupaconstructionyardinBrazilthatitcouldcallitsownandbesureitsprojectswouldgettoppriority.Intoday’soverheatedconstructionclimateinthecountrythereistheconstantdangerofbeingover-shadowedinayardthatisalsobuildingforotherclients.

TheBrasayardalsoprovidesahugelyvaluablelocalcontentaspectandundoubtedlyhelpedclinchtheAlpha/Betacontract.

AfurtherinitiativebySBMOffshoreisashiftinemphasistoChinaforconversionofthetankerhullswhichprovidethebasisoftheoilandgasprocessingandstorageunitsthatareleasedandoperatedbySBM.

FPSO Cidade de Paraty

Location: BM-S-11 block, Lula Nordeste Field, Partners in Block: Petrobras Netherlands B.V. 65.0%, BG Group 25.0%, GALP 10.0%. Lease & Operating Consortium: Queiroz Galvão Óleo e Gás 20.0%, SBM Offshore 50.5%, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha Group 17.5%, Itochu Group 12.0%

FPSO Cidade de Ilhabela

Location: BM-S-9 block – Sapinhoá Field, Partners in Block - Petrobras (45%), BG E&P BRASIL LTDA (30%) and REPSOL YPF BRASIL S.A. (25%), FPSOs will be owned and operated by a Joint Venture company owned by SBM Offshore with other partners including Queiroz Galvão Óleo e Gás S.A.(QGOG).

FPSOs Alpha & Beta

Location: BM-S-11 Block, Lula Field, Partners in Block: PETROBRAS (65%), BG E&P Brasil Ltda. (25%), and Petrogal Brasil S.A.(10%). FPSOs will be owned and operated by a Joint Venture company owned by SBM Offshore with other partners including Queiroz Galvão Óleo e Gás S.A.(QGOG).

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SBM Offshore / Currents 6

Also,forthefirsttimeinitshistory,SBMismovingtoconversionofapairofdouble-hulledVLCCtankersforAlpha/Beta,insteadofthesingle-hulledtankerswhichhavebeenitsfeedstockuntilnow.

BackinTheNetherlands,SBM’sofficeinSchiedamisattheheartoftheseGeneration3projectsforBrazil.“Wearecarryingtwoandahalfprojects-Paraty,IlhabelaandhalfthescopeforAlpha/Beta,”saysYvesPaletta,ManagingDirectorofSBMSchiedam.TheAlpha/BetaprojectisexecutedjointlywiththeSBMOffshoreExecutionCentreinMonaco.

“It’samajortransformationandtodeliverthesecomplexprojectswe’remakingsurewearelearningasfastaswecanfromParatyandembeddingthelearningsintoIlhabelaandAlpha/Betaintermsofefficiency,safetyandlocalcontent.Wearegoingforascheduleof31-33monthsforAlpha/Beta,”hesays,“whichisanextraordinaryachievementmadepossiblethankstothecarboncopyeffectwithCidadedeIlhabela.”

SchiedamcomesfromanengineeringbackgroundratherthanEPCroots,soalongwithOperationsDirectorJohnSchubert,Palettaislookingto“transformthecompanytobecomeaworld-classEPCentity.

“Andwearedoingthisonthebackoffourofthebiggestprojectsthegrouphaseverundertaken,”hesays.“Wearelearningasfastaswecananddoingitreasonablywell.”

Double hull takes centre stage

Therecentmega-contractforAlpha/BetahasresultedinanotherfirstforSBM-theconversionofadouble-hullVLCC

tankertoserveinitsownfleetofFPSOs.

“Thestockofsinglehulltankersforconversionhasliterallydriedup-therearenosuitablehullsleftonthemarket,”saysMikeWyllie,CTO.“Soweandourcompetitorsareforcedeithertobuildnewhullsortostartusingdouble-hulledtankersforourconversions.”

“Wedon’tseeitasabigissue,”hecontinues,“butit’sachangethattheAlpha/Betaprojectintroduces.Wehaveobtainedtwoverygoodidenticalsistershipstostartfrom,anddouble-hullconversionsaresomethingwe’vestudiedalotinrecentyears.”

TheconversionsofAlphaandBetawillrunalmostinparallel,virtuallyasingleprojectratherthantwo.

InthepastthecompanyhasconvertedaSuezmaxsizedouble-hull-forWoodsidePetroleumforitsCossack,Wanaea,LambertandHermesfields-butthisisthefirsttimeithasdonesoatthislargersize,andforitsownfleet.

IlhabelaProjectManagerAlexBrigdennotes:“fromaconversionpointofview,double-hulledtankersdon’toffermanyhelpfuladvantagesanddefinitelyrepresentanincreaseinthechallengecomparedwitholdermildsteelsingle-hulltankers.”

“Youendupwithalotofvoidspacesthathavetobeactivelymaintainedandlargertransversespanswhicharemorecomplexforsupportingmodules.Alsotheygenerallyhavealotmorehightensilesteel.Althoughthisdoesnotaffectoverallstrength,fatiguelifegetsusedupmorerapidly,soyouhavetodomoretocounterthat.”

Double-hullcarriersarealsoalittlelargerthantheirsingle-hullequivalents,sothemooringsystemsonAlpha/BetawillneedmodificationcomparedwithIlhabela.AndtheextradeckspacewillnotbeofasmuchvalueasitmighthavebeenifIlhabela’stopsidedesignwerenotbeingclonedforthenewunits.

Brazilian operations

AswellasbuildingitsnewfleetofGeneration3vesselsforBrazil,SBMischargedwithoperatingtheminthefieldfortheirfullproductionlife.

ThisistheresponsibilityofitsfleetoperatingcompanySBMProductionContractors(PC),whereMikeWyllieiscurrentlyactingasManagingDirector.

DescribingthebiggestchallengesforPChesays:“alotofthemovetothe‘Generation3’FPSOsthatwehavefortheSantosbasin,is

FPSO Cidade de Ilhabela - Artist’s impression

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arounduppingourgametobereadytomanupallthesenewunitswithcompetentpeople.With80%ofthecrewrequiredtobeBrazilianfromdayoneweneedtohirealotofBraziliansandwe’relookingatthingslikestrengtheningourtrainingfacilitiesinthecountry.”

Therewillalsobegeographicalimplications.“WeopenedournewshorebaseofficeinSantosinmid-April,”saysWyllie.Withthestart-upofParatythiswillbeginlifeasasatelliteofSBMPC’sheadquartersforBrazilianoperations,inMacaé.

Nextyear,asIlhabelastartsup,theSantosofficewilldoubleinsize.“Later,whenyouaddAlpha/Beta”,saysWyllie,“thewholecentreofgravityofouroperationsinBrazilwillmovetherefromMacaé.

“Wewillbeoperatingthefourbiggestvesselsinourfleet,allside-by-side,alloutofSantos,”hepointsout.“That’snearly600,000bpdofproductioncapacityandaverysignificantdailyrevenuecomingthroughthatoffice.”

A first for SBM in China

ForIlhabela,SBMhasstruckupanewrelationshipinChina.IthaschosentheChengxishipyardinGuangzhoutoconvertthehull.“Thisisthefirsttimewe’vetakenanFPSOtoChina,”saysIlhabelaProjectManagerAlexBrigden.

Therelationshiphasbeenshapingupwell,andhasexpandedmorequicklythanoriginallyplanned.“Thereisaveryopenstylefromthemanagement,”saysBrigden.

“WeputinalargeteamtosupporttheyardandbringthemuptospeedandwecanseeparallelsfromwhenwefirststartedwithKeppelinSingapore,”hecontinues.“Theyaregoingtobeagoodassetforusinthefuture.”

HecitesanexcellentexamplefromtheverystartoftheIlhabelaconversion.WhentheconversionvesselarrivedinChinaandwasgivenitsclose-upsurvey,itwasclearthatthelevelofcorrosionintheupperdeckcalledforsubstantialreplacementwork.

“OurcontractorisarepairyardintheCSSCgroup-China’slargestshipbuilderandthesecondlargestintheworld,”saysBrigden.“Nearbythegrouphasanewbuildyardaswell.

“Soweseizedtheopportunitytohavetheupperdeckreplacementdoneasnewbuild.Wedidthesamewiththeaccommodationbecause

itdidn’tquitemeetBrazilianregulations.

“Itwasourgoodfortunetohaveselectedaconversionyardthatwaspartofthisbiggergroup”,hecontinues.“NowthishasbecomeathemeforAlpha/Beta:thatwemakeuseofbothyardsandtheirskillsets,withsomenewbuildingandsomeshipconversion.SowhatweareactuallyproducingisanFPSOasahybrid,andthisisnewforSBM.”TheconvertedIlhabelahullwillleaveforBrazilinthemiddleof2013.

TheChineseyardhasalsoachievedanadmirablesafetyrecordofmorethanfivemillionmanhourssofarwithoutalosttimeincident.Thisis

SBM Offshore / Currents 7

Riser balcony - FPSO Cidade de Ilhabela

FPSO Cidade de Ilhabela - April 2013

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SBM Offshore / Currents 8

comparablewithworldnormsandanexcellentachievement.

“Itisdifficultbecausetheyardhadnotworkedunderoffshoresafetystandardsbefore,andhadnothadthatmanyinternationalcustomers,”saysBrigden,“buttheyimproveprogressively,weekonweek.”

Brazil’s new yard

Inlittlemorethanayear,SBMhassetupafabricationyardinNiteroi,justacrosstheBayfromdowntownRio,dedicatedtothecompany’sownneeds.

UndoubtedlytheBrasayardwasasignificantfactorinhelpingwinthecovetedAlpha/Betacontract.“WithoutBrasawewouldn’thavebeeninapositiontowin,”saysPhilippeLevy,whoisactingGeneralManageroftheyardinadditiontohisroleasheadofSBMBrazil’sofficeinRio.“Petrobrasgaveustheawardbecausewehadmorecapacityforlocalcontent”.

Developedin50:50partnershipwithBrazil’sSynergygroup,theyardhasbeencreatedfromaderelictyardthatstoodempty18monthsago.“Weaimtobeseenasayardthatdeliversontime,”saysLevy.“It’sthemarkofSBMandwewanttobuildonthisreputation.”

ThefirstprojectforBrasaisIlhabela:“theyardhasbeenupandrunningsinceJulylastyear”saysProjectManagerAlexBrigden,“anditisbuildingtenmodulesweighingatotalofabout12,000tonnes”.Over1000employeesaretherenowandthatwillriseto2000peopleinthecomingmonths.

ImmediatelyoncemoduleconstructionworkforIlhabelaisfinished,Brasawillgostraightintofabricationoftenofthe18modulesrequiredforAlpha/Beta,startingnextyearandrunningtotheendof2015.

“Ourintention,atleastinitially,wastouseahighproportionofsub-contractorsforworkintheyardandmovetoagrowingproportionofdirectemployees,”saysBrigden.“Thatprocessisgoingwell,andwearefindingthattheproductivityofemployeesunderdirectmanagementisexcellent,whichisaverypositivedevelopment.”

TheRioarea,andespeciallyNiteroihasagoodpoolofwell-trainedlabourtochoosefrom,hepointsout.“Anditisimportanttoemphasisethataswellascompetitivesalaries,Brasaalsoofferslong-termprospects,withIlhabelaandotherprojectscomingthrough.”

Paraty leads the way

Asfirstofthefarmorecomplex‘Generation3’breedofFPSObeingbuiltbySBMinBrazil,CidadedeParatyispioneeringthepathnowbeingfollowedbyIlhabelaandAlpha/Beta.AlthoughthosethreelaterunitswillnotbeclonesofParaty,theywillbenefitgreatlyfromthelessonslearnedthere.

SummarisingtheParatystory,ProjectManagerPeterdeHaasspeaksofanaggressivestarttotheproject,pushingengineeringandprocurementtogainasmuchfloat-timeaspossibleinthe36-monthoverallschedule.ThiswasfollowedbyaperiodofforcemajeuredelaysandsetbacksduringthefabricationworkinBrazilwhicheliminatedmuchofthatfloattime.

AfterajointalignmentmeetingwithPetrobras,BrasfelsandSBMOffshorethepacepickedupsteadily,finishinginahighlysatisfyingpushtoachievethesail-awaydateon16thApril.

“Byverythoroughpreparationoftheintegrationphase-fromthemomentthelasttopsidemodulewasplacedonthevessel,tothemomentitcouldleavethequayside-wehavemanagedtocompletethatworkinfiveanda

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halfmonths,”saysdeHaas.“EveninanexperiencedSingaporeyardthatwouldbequiteaneffort,”heremarks.“Itwascertainlychallenging,butveryrewarding.”

“ItisquiteajumptoGeneration3,”saysdeHaas,“ParatyreallyisthemostcomplexunitdeliveredbySBMtodate”.Aswellasvesselsize,“thecomplexitycomesinthegasconditioningandcompressionsystems,”hepointsout.“ItisthefirsttimewhereweremoveCO2 withmembranetechnology,andthefirstwherewedodeepdehydrationofgas-removingthewaterwithmolecularsieves.Also,weprovidegasandCO2 compressionupto550bar-attheforefrontoftheindustry.”

ModuleconstructionstartedinMarch2011,sixteenmonthsbeforethehullarrivedfromitsconversionbyKeppelinSingapore.Therewere15topsidesmodules,weighingatotalof12,500tonnes,withtwelveofthembuiltinBrazil-sixbyBrasfels,fourbyEBSE,andtwobyEnaval.

“ThedifficultyhereinBrazil,”saysdeHaas,“withsomuchworkbeingpushedintothiscountry,therearetremendousconstraintsonresources,especiallyskilled

manpower.”Inaddition,therewerethreeweeksofstrikesattwoofthesitesinMaylastyear.

AmongtheverypositivesurprisesforSBMwastheliftingcampaigntoplacemodulesonthevesselatBrasfels.“Withthesecomplex,congestedunitswehaveastruggleforplotspace,”saysdeHaas.“Yetalltwelveheavyliftswentverysmoothly,withoutanysignificantclashes.”

Amajorrequirement,successfullymetontheParatyprojecthasbeentoachievetherequired65%valueofBraziliancontent.“Wehavetakenthisseriouslyfromdayoneandevenexceededthistargettoreach68%,”saysdeHaas.

“ItisveryimportanttostaffupwithBraziliannationalsandtohaveagoodpresenceincountry.WehavealsoputquitesomeenergyintoadjustingourdesignsinordertobuyBrazilian.”

ItwascertainlyaveryfruitfulstrategybySBMtoestablishanofficeinRio-headedbyGeneralManagerPhilippeLevyaslocalcontentchampionandkeyclientcontact.Thishasevolvedtoprovideareallystrongsupportingfunctiontothecompany’sprojectsinBrazil.Itdealswitheverythingfromvital

topicslikelogisticsandcustomsclearancetolocaltransportandaccommodation.

Asforthechallengeof coordinatingaglobalprojectlikeParaty,deHaasreflects:“thekeyistoestablishpersonalcontactsbetweenkeyindividualsatallsites”.

HeunderlinesthevalueoftheSBMcompanyslogan“workasone”,introducedwhenChiefExecutiveOfficerBrunoChabascameonboardearlylastyear.“Thatsloganreallyworks,”hesays.“Itisdefinitelyimprovingresults,anditisalsoinstillinganiceworkingatmosphere.”

AmongthelessonsofParatypassedontoIlhabelaanimportantoneconcernsmaterialshandlingonabigcongestedtopsideandthescopeforoptimisinglayoutandergonomicstoimprovethat.

Asforthevessel’sreadinessatitsmid-Aprilsail-away,SBMSchiedam’sOperationsDirectorJohnSchubertremarksthat“wehadconsiderablecarryoverworkduetodelaysinengineeringandthenequipmentdelivery;however,bythetimeofherdeparturewehadachievedagoodbalancewithaclienthappytohavethevesseloffshoretostarthook-upofmooringsandrisers.”

SBM Offshore / Currents 9

FPSO Cidade de Paraty at quay side at Brasfels

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What’sbetterthanonestate-of-the-artinstaller?Quitesimply‘two’.

TowardstheendofthisyearSBMOffshorewilladdanotherhigh-techvesseltoitsinstallationfleet,givingSBMOffshoreareasontobeproudandclientsareasontobecontentthatshewillbeupandreadyforservice.

ThenewlybuiltSBMInstaller(SI)willraisethebarinhigherstandardsforthenewgenerationofDiveSupport&Constructionvessels.Herdesignwasinresponsetoacallfromclientsforincreasedversatilityincapacityanda‘do-it-all’vesselinordertoeliminatetheneedforseparateelementssuchasadivingsupportandacrane,whichnormallyhavetoaccompanyaninstaller.SBMengineersdrewon40yearsofexperienceinoffshoreinstallation,divingworksandconstructionactivitiesworldwideinallkindofwaterdepths.Theconstructionoftheinstalleriscurrentlytaking

placeintheKeppelSingmarineinSingapore.

WhatdifferentiatestheSIfromthecompetitionisherexclusivecombinationofafullyintegratedsaturationdivingsystemwithstrongconstructionandchainhandlingcapabilitiesinaDynamicPositioning(DP)classIIIvessel-withthehigherclassofredundancy-givingherunrivalledversatilityandefficiencywithinasafeworkingenvironment.

The key components

The111-metrevesselisequippedtocarryoutoffshoreconstructionandinstallationworkinwaterdepthofupto1,700metreswitha275tSWL(SafeWorkingLoad)knuckleboomcraneandanactiveheavecompensated150tSWLwinch.Tohandleandstoresafelylonglengthsofmooringlegs,sheisalsoequippedwitha200tSWLdouble-drumwinchandfourlargestorageareascalledchainlockersof135m³each.

Thepatenteddouble-deckconcept,alreadytestedandprovenontheNormandInstaller,providesalargestorageandconstructionareaontheupperdeckwhilekeepingtheconventionalmaindeckunobstructedtorunchainsorwiresoverthesternundertension.ArnaudAnnebicque,OperationsManageroftheNormandInstaller,saysthatclientsareunanimousintheircomments“Thedoubledeckconceptbringsarealplus,SBMmadeasmartdesign,whichiswellfittedtodeepwaterconstructionworks.”

Twotypesofdivingsystemsarepossibledependingonthewaterdepth.Upto50m,aconventionalairdivingsystemisoperatedoverthestarboardsideofthevessel.Fordeeperdivingoperations,asaturationdivingsystemallowsworkupto300m.Thedeepwaterdivingisaveryspecificandconstrainedactivity.Thediversstayconfinedinthepressurised

New, all-in-one, state-of-the-art installer

SBM Offshore / Currents 10

TheSBMInstallerhas

reached2.4 million man hoursduringtheconstructionphase

withoutaLostTime

Incident

Three living chambers saturation diving system

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SBM Offshore / Currents 11

atmosphereduringtheentiredivingcampaignupto28days,plusadecompressionphasethatcantake10to12daysdependingonthedepthandpressure.

TheSBMInstallersystemhasa12-mancapacity,evenifoneofthethreechambersisundergoingmaintenance.Eachchambercanbepressurisedindependentlyallowingseveralteamstoworkatdifferentwaterdepths.

Incaseofemergencyaspecifichyperbariclifeboatwillsafelyevacuatethedivers,whilemaintainingthepressurisedenvironment.

Operationswillbesupportedbytwoheavywork-classRemotelyOperatedVehicles(ROVs).BothROVscancarryoutobservationandinterventionworkstoawaterdepthof3,000m.

Safety,versatilityandredundancyarethethreekeyconceptstohavedriventhedesignofSBMOffshoreinstallationvessels.

Thedouledeckconceptallowspreparationforfutureoperationswhiledeployingthesubseaequipment.However,thisbenefitcanmostlybequantifiedintermsofSafety,withanexcellentsafetyrecordclockedupontheNormandInstallerasproof.Ofnoteisthefiringlinelocatedonthelower

deckwherenopersonnelareallowedduringsubseadeploymentoperations.

Thevessel’smanyadvantages:beinganAnchorHandlingVessel(AHV),aDivingSupportVessel(DSV),aconstructionvessel,andalargedeck(thankstotheflatupperdecktoeasilystore,mobilise,anddemobiliseallkindofequipment)givesthevesselgreatversatility.Thecombinationofallthesefeaturesmeansshecanperformcomplexanddiversifiedtaskseliminatingtheneedtomobiliseothervessels.Thetwocranescanbeusedtoplaceequipmentoverboard,toinstall,thentransfertheloadtooneofthedeepwaterwinches.Theheavecompensatedwincheisutilisedifslowmotionisrequiredduringlandingphase;orthedoubledrumswinchisusedifthelandingspeedisnotthatcriticalfortheoperationinhand.

Finally,redundancyofequipmentisfundamentaltobothkeepingthevesseloperationalinthecaseofequipmentfailurebutalsoinallowingthecombinationoffunctionstosavetimeandincreaseefficiency.

Twoyearsfollowingcontractsignature,thevesselisnownearingcompletionandthephaseofheavytestingandcommissioning–includingseatrials–iscurrently

takingplace.OncedeliverytakesplaceinSingaporethissummer,theSIisscheduledtostartworkingonprojectsinQ42013.

HerfirstareaofoperationwillbeWestAfrica,whereSBMOffshoreoperatessixFPSOs.Thentheworldisheroyster.Hertransitspeedandreducedconsumptionwilloptimiseherfastredeploymentallovertheworld,includingBrazil,NorthSea,MiddleEast,SouthEastAsiaandtheGulfofMexico.

TheSBMInstallerwillinstalloffshoreAngolatheFPSON’Goma,theformerFPSOXikomba.ThislifeextensionprojectwasmanagedbytheKualaLumpurexecutioncentreinliaisonwiththePAENALyard.Thefabricationandintegrationyardisinchargeoftwoprocessmodules-aclearexampleoftheseamlessinterfacefulllifecycleserviceprovidedbySBMOffshore.

Versatility,redundancyandsafetyachievinganincreaseinefficiencyarethemainbenefitsoftheSBMInstaller:theseenablehertooutpaceallothervesselsinhercategoryandallowinmostcasesforthemobilisationofonlyonevesselratherthanseveraltoexecutethecompletescopeofwork.

SBM Installer close to completion at Keppel Signmarine

Key facts

lOa 111.2 m

draft ranging from 5.50m to 7.70m

cruise speed 12 kts

Max bollard pull 110t

accommodation 100 paX

diving system 12 men

Offshore crane capacity 275t

Winches 200t double drum + 150t heave compensated

Storage space 1200m²

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SBM Offshore / Currents 12

Whatiftomorrowgasflaringwasevenmorerestricted?AnticipatingthisscenarioSBMOffshoreteamedupwithCompactGTLandfollowingfouryearsof

collaborativedesignandengineeringdevelopment,thetwocompanieshavecomeupwithauniquesolutionforFPSOs,exclusivetoSBMOffshore,whichcouldchangethewayoilandgascompaniesviewnewoffshorefielddevelopments.

Withoilfielddiscoveriesincreasinglylocatedinremoteanddeepwaterstheproblemofassociatedgasdisposalhasbecomeanexpensiveandtrickydilemmaforthebigplayersintheindustry.Usingpipelinestomarketisprohibitivelycostlyforstrandedfieldswherethereisnoinfrastructure.Otheralternativesincludeelectricitygenerationorgasre-injectionintothereservoirorflaring,whichisbecomingincreasinglyofflimitsinsomepartsoftheworld,evenintemporarysettingssuchasforEarlyWellTest(EWT)work.Theindustryiscallingforoiloperatorstoreduceflaringbynaturalgasassociatedwithoilproductionbyafurther30%by2017–equivalenttotaking60millioncarsofftheroad.

Aviable,industryapproved,solutiontoeliminateflaringisofferedbyUK-basedcompanyCompactGTLwhohavedesignedanadaptationofconventionalGastoLiquid(GTL)technologyforsmallerscaleapplications,toaccommodateoperationswhereasmallvolumeofgasisproduced.

ForeseeingthepotentialtoadaptingthispioneeringtechnologyforspecificuseonSBMOffshore’sFPSOs,thecompanysignedanexclusivecommercialagreementlatelastyearwithCompactGTLtocollaborateexclusivelyonoffshoreprojects.TogetherweareadvancingtheGTLtechnologyintandemtofurtherdevelopthetechnologicaledgeofourFPSOs.Acommercialdemonstrationplant(Figure1)providedbyCompactGTLhasbeeninoperationonshoreinBrazilsinceDecember2010,fundedbyPetrobras,furthervalidatingtheimportanceofthistechnology.

Mini-size GTL plants

ConventionalGTLplantsareknowntobeverylargestructures,thePearlGTLprojectinQatarissaidtobethesizeof450footballfields,butnowSBMOffshorewithourpartnerproposeanewsmallerscalesolution,enablingtheGTLplanttofitonanSBMOffshoreFPSOvessel.

Fizzle out flaring onFPSOs

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SBM Offshore / Currents 13

ThisagreementwithCompactGTL–representsaworld-firstforsuchvessels.MikeWyllie,ChiefTechnologyOfficeratSBMsays“CompactGTLhasbroughtthetechnologyto

apointwherewebelieveitcanbeintegratedrelativelyeasilyontoanFPSO.FromourviewpointwearelookingactivelyatanumberofwaysofincreasingthecomplexityofconvertedFPSOs.Wetargetthetop-endofthemarketandGTLisonewayofextendingourcapabilityintomorecomplexunits.We’restartingsmall,usingitforassociatedgasdisposal–wethinkthat’sagoodwaytogetitoffshoreandgainexperienceinoperatingafloatingfacilitywithGTLcapabilities.”

What are the benefits of GTL to FPSO users?

Foroffshoresolutionsthegastoliquidtechnologysolvestheproblemoftheassociatedgas–theoffshootofoilproduction–whilstcreatingadditionalsyntheticcruderevenuesfortheoperator.Thisrepresentsasignificantbenefitbyturningwhatwasoriginallyaliabilityintoanassetandatthesametimeeliminatingtheneedforflaring.DeployingaGTLplantonthedeckofanFPSOrepresentsaparadigmshift;firsthanditbecomesaprojectenabler,allowingoilcompaniestoproceedwithfielddevelopment,wherepreviouslyitwasnotcommerciallyviable.AccordingtoIainBaxter,DirectorofBusinessDevelopmentatCompactGTL“withsmall-scaleGTL,becausetheendproductissyntheticoilwhichcanbeeasilymingledwiththeconventionalcrudeoil,theoilcompanyhasasingle,easilyaccessiblemarketfortheproduct,requiringnoseparatestorageortransportation,irrespectiveoftheoilfieldlocation.”

BottomlineforoiloperatorsisthatthenewtechnologyincorporatedtoanFPSOincreasestheproductivitywhilstaddressingthelegislativeissueofflaring.CompactGTLChairman,TonyHayward,says“CompactGTListheclearleaderinacurrentlyuntappedsectoroftheoilandgasindustry,helpingtochangetheperceptionofGTLthroughprovidingagame-changing,economicallyviablesolutiontotheglobalproblemofgasflaring.”

Itisalogicalstepforthetwocompanies,bothleadersintheirrespectivefields,havingsuccessfullyworkedtogethersince2008.Byconsolidatingtheirrespectivestrengthsandexpertiseforthemarketingandexecutionofprojectsinvolvingassociatedgaschallengesforoffshoreoilfieldstheyrepresentapowerfulduointheexpansionofthesector.TheoptimisedFPSOwithanintegratedGTLplantcanbeappliedtoanEWTserviceoronafullfielddevelopment.MichaelWyllieexplains“InanEWTcontext,thistechnologyisperfect.Youcanhopfromfieldtofieldwithoutflaringgas.Wehavedoneextensivestudiesin-houseforsuchavessel.NowthenextstepistogointoFEEDstudywithaclientforaspecificapplicationineitheranEWTorfullfielddevelopmentcontext.”

WithanexclusiveagreementinplaceSBMOffshore,theleaderinthesupplyofleasedFPSOs,increasesitscompetitiveadvantagebyofferingtheworld’sonlyfloatingproductionsystemwithafullyintegrated,modularGTLsolutionallowingforacapacityof25MMscf/d,upto32,000bbl/dcrudeproductionand2,000bbl/dGTLliquidsproduction.MikeWyllie,comments“SBMOffshoreandCompactGTLprovidecomplimentaryexpertise,andbycombiningthiswehavebeenabletodevelopanexcitingnewFPSOproduct,whichwillbeaveryattractivesolutionforassociatedgasdisposalinultradeepwaterfields”.

NicholasGay,ChiefExecutive,CompactGTLsaid:“CompactGTLisdelightedthatwehavebeenabletocementourlongstandingrelationshipwithSBMOffshore.Itisaworldclasscompanyand,combinedwithourexpertiseindeliveringtheworld’sfirstcommercialscalemodulargastoliquidssolutionforassociatedgas,willhavesignificantimpactontheoffshoreoilfieldappraisalanddevelopmentsector.”

The modular gas solution

Figure 1

Artist’s impression of the riser balcony

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SBM Offshore / Currents 14

SBMOffshoreisdelighteditsendeavorstostepupthepaceoftechnologyhaveresultedinsteppinguptothepodium.

DuringtheannualOffshoreTechnologyConference(OTC)thismonthinHouston,SBMOffshorewilljointheline-upofproudwinnersfortheprestigious‘SpotlightonNewTechnology’award.Thecompany’sinnovativeproduct,theDrillingRiserTripSaver™isamong15technologiestoberecognised–havingfulfilledthejury’soverallrequirement‘toprovidesignificantimpactforoffshoreexplorationandproduction.’

Usingarail-mountedtransportsystem,whichrelocatesasuspendeddrillingriserwithadrillingrisertensionersystemandsurfaceblowoutpreventerin-place,theDrillingRiserTripSaver™isaninnovativeapparatusandmethodfordrillingmultiplesubseawellsconsecutively,whilesavingtime,moneyandreducingriskbyavoidingremovalofthesuspendeddrillingriserfromthewellbay.

TheSBMOffshorededicatedteaminHoustoncontributedtothetechnology’sdesigndevelopmentandRandyJordan,VicePresidentFloatingProductionSystems,whoisattendingOTCtomeetwithindustryplayers,developedtheconceptualdesign.

Lastmonthwhenthewinnerswereannounced2013OTCchairpersonSteveBalintcongratulatedwinnersontheirachievements“Theinnovationshownbythisyear’sSpotlightAwardrecipientsdemonstratesthetypeofingenuityandforwardthinkingthatisadvancingtheindustrytonewlevelsofsafety,productivity,andefficiency.”

Winning technologies were selected based on the following five criteria:

1. New:lessthan2yearsold

2. Innovative:original,groundbreaking,andcapable ofrevolutionisingtheoffshoreE&Pindustry

3. Proven:throughfull-scaleapplicationorsuccessful prototypetesting

4. BroadInterest:broadappealfortheindustry

5. SignificantImpact:providessignificantbenefits beyondexistingtechnologies

New SBM technology wins OTC 2013 award

The Drilling Riser Trip-Saver is a winner of

the 2013 OTC Spotlight on Technology

Award. Using a rail-mounted transport

system, which relocates a suspended drilling

riser with a drilling riser tensioner system

and surface blowout preventer in-place, the

Drilling Riser TripSaver™ is an innovative

apparatus and method for drilling multiple

subsea wells consecutively, while saving

time, money and reducing risk by avoiding

removal of the suspended drilling riser from

the well bay.

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SBM Offshore / Currents 15

ThegrainoftheideafortheTripSaversystemwasplantedinmid-2011andinspiration

wasfosteredplayingaroundwithfeedbackfromclients’inefficienciesanddelaysoccurringduringtheiroperations.Thisledtheteamontheinventiveroadtothetechnology’sdevelopmentanditwasfirstintroducedinApril2012inaclientbidrequestforadry-treeTensionLegWellheadPlatform(TLWP)applicationinWestAfricain800metreswaterdepth.

Thismethodofhandlingandtransferringahighpressuredrillingriserfromonewelltoanotheronadry-treeTLWPhasnotbeenpreviouslydeveloped.Thismeetsthemostimportantoftheaward’sfivecriteriathatthetechnologybeinnovativeandcapableofrevolutionisingtheoffshoreE&Pindustry.TheDrillingRiser Trip-Saver™representsasubstantialtimesavingsduringthedrillingcampaignbyalleviatingtheneedtorecoverandredeploythedrillingrisermultipletimesaswellassubstantiallyreducingthewearandteartothedrillingriser,thussavingmoneyaswell.Additionallyandmostimportantly,itresultsinreducedsafetyriskbyminimisingdroppedobjecthazardconcernsduringsimultaneousdrilling&productionoperationswhilelivewellsareinproduction.

Aswithallnewtechnologyconcepts,theirsuccessisjudgedbytheideasinactionandiftheyactuallywork.ThetechnologybehindtheDrillingRiser Trip-Saver™hasbeenprovenbasedonafullscaletestofsimilartechnologydevelopedandcurrentlyinuseonthreedeepwatersemisubmersibledrillingunitssubseaBOPHandlingsystems.

ItisnotthefirsttimeSBMOffshorehasreceivedthisprestigiousaward–previouswinninginnovationsare:

Electrical Swivel – 2011

Cool Hose – 2011

LNG Toroïdal Swivel – 2007

MikeWyllie,ChiefTechnologyOfficercongratulatedtheteamonthisyear’swinsaying“itclearlyshowsthevaluablecontributionthatSBMmakestotheindustryasaTechnologyLeader.”

TheDrillingRiserTrip-Saver™hasgeneratedagreatdealofinterestduetotheadvantagesitoffers.RandyJordan,VicePresidentFloatingProductionSystems,isindiscussionwithseveralpotentialclientswhoareinterestedinadoptingittoimprovetheiroperations.“WearedelightedwiththeSpotlightaward,whichwillfurtherincreasethelevelofinterestinourproduct,”hesays.

OneofSBMOffshore’sclientscommented“whenconductingsimultaneousdrillingandproductionoperationsourcompaniesHSEpolicymandatesthatanyequipmentliftsinexcessof15mtrequireshut-inofliveproducingwellsduetodroppedobjecthazardswithinorabovethewellbay,thissystemremovesthedroppedobjectriskbyalleviatingtheneedtorecoverandre-deploythedrillingriserincloseproximitytoliveproducingwellsinadditiontotheassociatedproductiondowntimeduetowellshut-in&startupconcernsassociatedwithwellfluidscooldownandproductionstart-upcomplicationsthatoccuraftercool-down.”

SummeduptheDrillingRiser Trip-Saver™diminishesmostofthenegativespreviouslyexperiencedbyoperatorsofferingreduceddrillingcycletime,reducedmaintenancetodrillingsystems,reduceddroppedobjecthazards,reducedsafetyriskresultinginreducedshut-inandstart-upofproducingwells,simultaneousdrillingandproductionoperationswithreducedrisk.

TheSpotlightonNewTechnologyAwards,whichareforOTCexhibitors,showcasethelatestandmostadvancedhardwareandsoftwaretechnologiesthatareleadingtheindustryintothefuture.Speakingofthisyear’swinnersSpotlightAwardCommitteeChairHelgeHoveHaldorsensaid“ItisthankstothemthatoffshoreE&Pwillcontinuetoplayakeyroleinsupplyingtheworldwithaffordableenergyinasustainablemanner.”ItsumsupSBMOffshore’sethos.

SBMOffshoreandtheotherwinnersarehonouredinaspecialmulti-pagesectionoftheOTCconferenceprogram.Theawardwillbepresentedon6thMayintheRotundaareaoutsideofExhibitHallBintheReliantCenterduringtheconference.

Thisground-breakingtechnologywillhavebroadappealfortheindustrythankstothetimeandcostreductionachievedwhiledrillingmultiplewellsfromasinglesite,particularlywhencomparedtocurrenttechnology,whichrequiresthedrillingrisertoberecoveredandredeployedmultipletimes.

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One-Stop-Shop at SBM

for Semi-submersible and

Tension Leg Platform technology

SBM Offshore / Currents 16

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SBM Offshore / Currents 17

AtSBMOffshore,werisetothechallengesandstrivetowardsourgoaloffast

becomingthetrustedpartnerofchoiceinthedevelopmentofcompleteoffshorefloatingsolutionsfortheworld’senergycompanies.OurcompetenceinFPSOsiswell-knownhoweverourexpertisealsocoversotherneeds.NotallsituationsareperfectlyadaptedtoanFPSOvesselandcontractingadrillingMODUisoftenanexpensiveoption,hencewhyweofferseveraldiversesolutions.OurGrouphasaproductportfoliothatcanofferarangeofotherfloatingproductionoptionsdevelopedusingourin-houseengineering,procurementandprojectmanagementcapabilities.

Certainsystemsneedtoaccommodatespecificweatherconditionsandharshenvironmentsforoperations.Inaddition,majorplayersareexploringdeeperandmoreremotewaters–sometimes200ormoremilesoffshore-wherenoexportpipelineinfra-structureexists.

Withsomanyfactorsinvolvedinthedecisiontodevelopafielditcanfeellikeanobstaclecoursetoclientswhenchoosingtherightstrategytomoveforwardinanefficientandeconomicalmanner.ForsomefieldsacombinationofeitheraTLPorasemi-submersibleincombinationwithanFPSOistheidealsolutionastheFPSOcanbeanchorednearbyadrytreewellheadunitforprocessingandstoragepurposes.WeareseeingthisoptionnowbeingusedinWestAfricaandinBrazil.

Elementstobeconsideredincludewhetherthefieldhasshort-termorlongtermpotential,full-fieldorphaseddevelopment,flowassuranceandexportmode

(pipelineorshuttle-tankers)andasmentionedweatherconditions. ThebeautyaboutSBMOffshoreisthatweofferall-encompassingsolutions.ClientscanturntoSBMforafullyintegratedcombinedsolutionofwellheadunitandFPSOeliminatingthecomplexinterfacestobemanagedbetweenthetwofloatinginstallations.

Semi-submersible technology

Intheearly1970’s,semi-submersiblesbegantobeusedasfloatingproductionplatformsforproductionfromsubseawells.However,theweaknessintheseearlysystemswastheavailablerisersystemstoproduceoiland

gasfromsubseawells,aswellasforoilandgasexport.Earlysystemsfirstusedtop-tensionedrisers,whichthenevolvedintoflexiblecatenaryrisersystems.Then,inthe1990’s,thefirststeelcatenaryriser(SCR)systemwasinstalledfromaTLP,providingamuchcheaperandgenerallymorerobustrisersystemthanflexiblepipe,butonewhichwasmoresensitivetovesselmotions.Foranumberofyears,semisubmersibleproductionplatformscontinuedtobedevelopedwithflexiblerisersbecauseofthelargermotionsinherentintheseplatforms.

Withthebigplayersintheindustryhavingtoexploredeeperandmoredifficultwaters,theracewasontofindasolutiontoaccommodatetheirevolvingneeds.Focusingonwavemotionresponsecharacteristics,SBMOffshore’sengineeringteaminHoustondevelopedthenewgenerationsemi-submersiblecapableofsupportingtheuseofSCRsindeepwaterapplications.CalledtheDeepDraftSemi®,thisinherentlysafedesignwithitsrobusthullhashasquicklygainedwideacceptanceintheindustry.Weholdtherecordforthedeepestwaterdepthsemi-submersibleFloatingProductionUnit(FPU)intheworld:IndependenceHub,

whichwasinstalledin2007atadepthof2,469metresinMC920intheGulfofMexico(GoM)forEnterpriseProductsPartners.Thisfacilitysetmanyindustryfirstsin engineering designandconstruction,and

isequippedtoprocessgasfromtenfieldswithexcesspayloadcapacitytohandleanadditionaltenfields.AnotherexampleofSBM’sexcellenttrackrecordforthistypeofsemi-submersibleFPUistheThunderHawk,anotherDeepDraftSemi®whichisownedbySBMandleasedtoMurphyOil.ThunderHawkisalsooperatingintheharshhurricaneconditionsoftheGoMatawaterdepthof1,847m.FirstoilwasachievedinJuly2009,anditisequippedtoprocessbothoilandgasfromtheThunderHawkfield.Theproject’sscopeincludedprovidingfullEngineering,Procurement,ConstructionandInstallation(EPCI)servicesfortheTopsides,Hull,

The Thunder Hawk FPU was one of the first to address the new Gulf of Mexico environmental criteria which evolved from the Ivan, Katrina and Rita hurricane experiences

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SBM Offshore / Currents 18

Moorings,Installationandoffshorecommissioning.SBMHoustonalsoprovidedthedetailedsteelcatenaryriser(SCR)designandhelpeddevelopthewaveslamloadmethodologiesutilizedinthisproject.

AkeyfeatureoftheDeepDraftSemi®isitslowmotioncharacteristicstoaccommodatetherequirementsofSCRrisersinacost-effectivemannercomparedtootherFPUconcepts.Anothersignificantadvantageisthesystem’sabilitytomatethetopsidesdecktothehullatquayside,avoidingcostlyoffshoreliftingandsystemcommissioningoperations.Byintegratingthetopsidesontothehullatquayside,theFPUcanbefullypre-commissionedandUSCG‘QuartersHabitable’permitscanbeobtainedpriortomobilisingthefacilityoffshore–soreducingcostly,laborintensive,offshorecommissioningactivities.

TheDeepDraftDry-TreeSemiisalogicalextensionoftheDeepDraftSemi®.TheDeepDraftDry-TreeSemi-submersibleco-locatesthedrillingactivitiesandwellheadorproductionactivitiesonthesamevessel.Thesemi-submersiblemaintainsitsadvantagesofbeingadesirablerisersupportplatform,enablesquaysideintegrationandquaysidecommissioning.SignificantdesigneffortiscompleteforthemorebenignlocationssuchasoffthecoastofWestAfricaandBrazil.ModeltestsprovideSBMwithawealthofinformationwhichisusedtounderstandandtoimproveontheirdesignapproachforthemoreextremeenvironments.Presently,SBMisperformingaseriesofDeepDraftDry-Treesemi-submbersiblemodeltestsatLaboceanoinRiodeJaneiro,Brazil.Themodeltestprogramisfocused

aroundadrytreeunitslocatedin2,440metresofwaterandexposedtowaveconditionsrangingfrombenigntoextremehurricanes.Riserstrokeandtheeffectoftheriserguideonthemotionsaresomeofthekeyperformancecharacteristicstobeanalysed.

Tension Leg Platforms (TLPs)

SBM’sproductlineincludestheTLPproductsSeaStar®,FourStar®andFourStarXC.TheTLPproductlineprovideswetanddrytreesolutionsuptowaterdepthsof1,500to1,800metresforhurricaneandnon-hurricaneenvironments.SBMdesigned,built,andinstalledthefirstmini-TLP,thefirstEPCcontractorprovidedTLP,andthefirstsubseacompletionTLP.

SBM’sexperienceinTLPsincludesdevelopmentoftheSeaStarmono-columnmini-TLP,with5installedexamplesintheGoMfrom1998through2007inwaterdepthsupto1,300m.Theseareallsmallplatforms,withpayloads(equipment,deckstructure,risers)of4000to12,000tonnes.Forlargerpayloads,andforinstallationsinareaswithouttheinfrastructureavailableinGoM,SBMhasdevelopedseveral4columnTLPconfigurationswhichcanbescaleduptopayloadsof40,000tonnes,andareself-stablefortransportandinstallationwithallequipmentinstalledandcommissionedatquayside.

AkeyadvantageoftheTLPisthatthelargeverticalheavemotioniseliminatedresultinginshortstroketoptensionedrisersystemswhichgivessubstantialcostreductionsforthesesystemsversuslaterallymooredfloatingproductionsystemssuchasSpars.AsaresultTLPsprovideanidealsupportforrisersofalltypes.Anotherkeyadvantageisthecostsavings

relatedtodrillingandproductionhardwareandoperatingcostversuswettreesubseadrilling&productionhardwarecost.Dry-TreeTLP’sequippedwithTenderAssistedDrillingcapabilityorSelfContainedDrillingmodulesallowforthedrilling,work-overandwellinterventionactivitiestobeperformeddirectlyfromtheTLPtomultiplesubseawellsfromonboardtheTLPversuslongtermcontractingofaMobileOffshoreDrillingUnit(MODU)requiredtoperformdrilling,completions,wellinterventionandwork-overactivitiesrequiredforsubseacompletions.ADry-TreeTLPachievesthisdrillingandcompletionadvantagebyutilizinghighpressureTopTensionedDrilling&ProductionRisersconnecteddirectlytoeachofthesubseawellheadsandextendinguptotheTLPlowerproductiondeck,theriserissupportedbythedeckmountedproductionrisertensioningsystems.Thewellsaredrilledandcasedindividuallythroughahighpressuredrillingriserwithasurfaceblowoutpreventer(BOP),thewellisthensecuredtoallowdisconnectionofthedrillingriserinordertoinstallthehighpressureproductionriser.Oncetheproductionriserisinstalledthewellcanthenbeverticallyaccessedinordertoinstalltheproductiontubingsupportedbythesubseawellheadandsurfacewellheadinstalleddirectlyontotheupperendoftheproductionrisertensionjointwhichcanthenacceptthesurfaceproductiontree.Theproductionflow-lineandannulushighpressureflexiblejumpersaretheninstalledalongwiththesurfacetreecontrolumbilical.

AnotheradvantageistheTLP’ssmallfootprint,whichallowsittobeusedinconjunctionwithothermooredsystemsincloseproximitysuchasanFPSOorFSOconnected

SBM Offshore / Currents 18

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SBM Offshore / Currents 19

bycatenaryflow-linesorSBM’sGAPsubseapipelinesystem.InthisfielddevelopmentscenariotheTensionLegPlatformisutilisedasthewellheadplatformhencethetermTensionLegWellheadPlatform(TLWP)astheprocessingoftheproducedfluidoccursontheFPSOwhenstorageandoffloadingispreferredtoexporttopipelines.

SBM’sdevelopmentoftheFourStar®TLPandFourStarXCTLPwasbasedonexperiencewithboththeSeaStar®,andtheDeepDraftSemi®.TheobjectivewastoprovideanimprovementoverthetraditionalroundcolumnTLP,whileincorporatinglessonslearnedfromourotherprojects.Thenewplatformsweretobesimpletodesignandbuild,bescalablefromsmalltolargepayloads,havefullstabilityduringconstruction,transport,andinstallationphasesoftheproject,befullycommissionedatquayside,andincorporatethelessonslearnedfromworkingwithouroperatorsonperformance,marinesystemsdesign,operability,andmaintenance.

WhenevaluatingfielddevelopmentscenariosforaDry-Treesolutionthemaindriversare1)costofcontractingMODU’s,2)typeofreservoir(RecoveryFactor)3)typeofwellintervention,and4)numberofwells.Dry-Treeshavebeenwellproveninmaturefieldsandareatechnologywithwhichoperatorsfeelcomfortable.Inaddition,integrationandcommissioningatquayside,issaferandprotectedfromtheweatherelements,andthereistheabilitytoperformawettowofthecompletedDry-TreeUnit(DTU)tothefieldwhichispreferredbyoperatorstocompetitors’moreexpensiveandriskyoptionsthatrequireintegrationandcommissioningoffshore.

TheDry-TreeSemi-submersiblecomplementstheFPSOproductbyenablingintegratedsolutionswhendry-treesareneeded.

Definitions:

Semi-submersible

Afloatingunit,comprisingofcolumnsandpontoons.Thecolumnssupportthedeckwhilethepontoonsinterconnectthecolumnsbelowthewatersurface.Theopenspacinginbetweenthecolumnsmakestheunitmorecompliantwiththewaves.Stationkeepingforasemisubmersibleistypicallyprovidedbyamooringlineconfiguration–thepreferredsolutionforlongtermstationkeeping-orbyadynamicpositioningsystem.

Tension Leg Wellhead Platform (TLWP)

Afloatingproductionandordrillingplatformwherestationkeepingisprovidedbyverticaltensionelementscalledtendons.Thetendontensionisprovidedbyexcessbuoyancyofthehull.Subjectedtowave,windandcurrentaction,theplatformmoveslaterally,butremainshorizontalduetotheparallelactionsofthetendons.Theverticalmovement(heave)iseliminatedandthefacilityisthereforesuitableforsurfacecompletionofthewells.

SeaStar® - TLPdevelopedbySBMOffshore’sHoustonoffice,isthewellprovenexampleofaTLP,usingamono-columnstructureasopposedtomulti-column(typicallyfour).ThisTLPcanaccommodatewetordrytreedevelopmentuptopayloadsof11,000tonnesfordeepwaterdevelopments.

FourStar™ TLP - TLPdevelopedbySBMOffshore’sHoustonoffice,afour-columnTLPdesignthatsupportsfulldeepwaterdrillingand/orproductionriserpayloadsexceeding8,000tonnesandcanbescaleduptopayloadsof40,000tonnesThedesignallowsforefficientquaysideintegrationoftopsidesandhullsystemsandisself-stablefortransportandinstallationwithallequipmentinstalled.

SBM Offshore continually improves TLP and Semi-Sub solutions with state-of-the-art technological advances. Our OTC award-winning Drilling Riser Trip Saver™ is an innovative apparatus and method for drilling multiple subsea wells consecutively, which saves time, money and reduces risk by avoiding removal of the suspended drilling riser from the well bay. It uses a rail-mounted transport system, which relocates a suspended drilling riser with a drilling riser tensioner system and surface blowout preventer in-place. You can read more about this technology on page 14.

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Extending the operating envelope of large mooring systems

SBM Offshore / Currents 20

Manifold and gantry of the Skarv turret

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SBM Offshore / Currents 21

The market demand for turnkey mooring systems is strong, particularly for large,

complex turrets, often located in some of the world’s most severe offshore environments. These complex turrets present many technical challenges, and give us the opportunity to demonstrate our expertise as the world leader in mooring technology.

Atthetopendofthemarket,therequiredoperatingenvelopeofthesecomplexmooringsystemsiscontinuallybeingextended:deeperwater,moresevereweatherconditions,largervesselstobemoored,higherthroughputs,increasedpressuresandlongerdesignlives.Theintroductionofa10,000yearreturnperioddesigncaseisalsobecomingamorecommonrequirement,replacingthetraditionallowerreturnperiodsasthegoverningcaseforthedesign.

Complexityofaturretisdependentuponmanyfactors,butonesimpleindicatoristhediameteroftheturretchaintable,whichisaffectedbyboththemooringloadsresultingfrommetoceanconditionsandvesselsizeplusthenumberofrisers.Theaveragediameterhaseffectivelydoubledoverthelast20years,andSBMhasdeliveredturretswithdiametersupto25m.

Akeycomponentintheselargeturretdesignsisthebogiebearingsystem.Thissystemistheinterfacebetweenthegeostationaryturretandrotatingvessel,anditallowsthevesseltoweathervanearoundtheturretandadoptthepositionofleastresistancetotheprevailingweather.OurSBM’sbogiedesignwasinitiallydevelopedfromin-houseexperiencegaineddesigninglargecranebogiesystems,andwasfirstusedontheSchiehallionFPSOinthesevereenvironmentoftheAtlanticMargin.Thissystemhasnowoperatedfor15years,andthebogieshaveperformedtheirfunctionwithoutincident.

The development and continued

use of the bogie system is based

on its clear advantages over a

traditional roller bearing for large

turrets:

1. All components are above

water and inspectable

2. Individual bogie components

can be replaced while the FPSO is

operating

3. The individual units are

standard components with a

proven service history, and the

number of bogies used is selected

to match the loads that the

system will experience

Manifold section of the Skarv turret

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Tofurtherextendtheuseofthebogiesystemforextremeconditions,wehavedevelopedavariantoftheinternalturretdesignthatfeaturesasetof‘stoppers’nearthelevelofthevesselkeel.Innormaloperationthereisagapbetweenthestopperandtheturretcylinder,andallthemooringloadsaretransferredthroughthebogiesystem.Howeverinextremeconditions,theturretcylindercontactswiththestopper,andthestopperbecomestheloadpathforthesehighmooringloads.Becausethestoppersaresimpleandrobust,andonlyoccasionallyexperienceanyload,theydonotneedtobeinspected,andtheadvantagesofthebogiesystemarepreserved.ThisdesignwasfirstemployedfortheBP’sSkarvFPSOturret,andhas

sincebecomeastandardfeatureofourhighcapacityinternalturrets.

Inadditiontoincreasingmooringloadsonpermanentlymooredsystems,therehasalsobeenasteadyincreaseintheloaddemandondisconnectablesystems.Toaddressthischallenge,SBMhasdevelopedahighcapacityconnectorabletolockadisconnectablebuoyintoaninternalturret,andtobeabletoreleasethebuoyunderloadinlessthanasecond.Likethebogies,theconnectorisagenericdevice,andthenumberusedwillbematchedtotheloadrequirement.Thisgenericcomponenthasacapacityof900tonnesperconnectorwhenlocked,andcanreleasethebuoyundermorethan600tonnes.Bycombininganumberofconnectorsinthismanner,disconnectablesystemscannowbedesignedtobothstayconnectedandthendisconnectunderhigh

mooringloads.Thisopensthepossibilitiesofusingdisconnectablesystemsinicefields,andtowithstand100yearreturnperiodcyclonicconditions,whilstdisconnectingtoavoidthe10,000yearcasewhichmayotherwisegovernthestrengthrequirementsofthemooring,hullandtopsidesstructure.

Inparalleltoincreasingmooringloads,therequirements

forthroughputandpressureofincomingfluidsarealsoincreasing.Thisisthedriver

behindSBMOffshore’scontinuingdevelopmentprogrammetoqualifybothhigherpressureandlargerdiameterswivels.ThequalificationoftheseswivelsisperformedintheSBMlaboratoryinCarros,France,whereweareclosetocompletingthetestprogrammetoqualifyan800bartoroïdalswivel.

AspartofSBM’scommitmenttostayingattheleadingedgeofswiveldesign,anHVACelectricalswivelhasalsobeenqualified,winninganOTCSpotlightonTechnologyawardin2011forthisdevelopment.

Manyofthedevelopmentsaimedatlargeturrets,andthelessonslearntexecutingtheseprojects,havealsobroughtbenefitstothedesignofmid-scalemooringsystems.Forexample,diverlesschainconnectssuchastheARCA(designedtoallowchange-outofthearticulationforsystemswithlongdesignlives),ortheIn-LineMooringConnector(theILMC,developedtomovethetensioningmeansfromthemooringsystemtoaninstallationvessel),bothbringbenefitsinsafety,andresultinamorecompactturretdesign.ResearchanddevelopmentonswivelsealperformancealsobringsbenefitstoswivelsonallofSBMOffshore’sweathervaningsystems.

Wearecommittedtocontinuingourdevelopmentprogrammeformoorings,andindevelopingworldclasstechnologythatwillsatisfyevolvingdemands.Byworkingcloselywithclientstoensureanunderstandingoftheirneeds,thecompanywillcontinuetopushtheboundariesofmooringtechnology,andtodeliverthemooringsystemsofthefuture.

SBM Offshore / Currents 22

Quad 204 turret

// ISSuE 8 // MAY 2013

TheSBMlaboratoryhasalwaysbeenakeyfactorinourabilitytostayattheforefrontofmooringtechnology.Beingabletoprototypeandqualifyourproductsin-housegivesusamajoradvantageoverourcompetition,andtheworkofthelabhasbeenfundamentalinthesuccessfuldevelopmentofourhighpressurefluidswivels,MAGanchors,HVACswivel,cryogenicswivelsandLNGoffloadinghoses.

ThelabwasoriginallyestablishedinStLaurentduVarinFrancein1989aftertheacquisitionoftestrigsfromEMH.In2004itrelocatednearbytothepresentlargerpremisesinCarros,France,whichprovidesatotalareaof1100m2,includinganindoorhallof600m2whichhousesmostofthecomplextestrigs.Monitoringtoolssuchasvideoextensometers,photogrammetryequipment,andhighspeedandinfra-redcamerasareavailableaspartofthelab’sstandardequipment,andpartnershipswithexternalorganisationssuchastheUniversityofNicealsogivesusaccesstotomography,goniometricsandotheradvancedmonitoringandanalyticaltechniques.

SBM Offshore / Currents 23Assembly of test swivel

Test facilities at the SBM lab

ISSue 8 // May 2013

The sole intention of this brochure is to share general information.

www.sbmoffshore.com