World's OFFSHORE VESSELS

[pakarang]

I suddenly realize that there are so many things I had no clue about when it comes to oil ships, oil installations and pipelaying operations... I therefore find these new images in this thread both extremely educational and interesting.

I'm grateful to all that is contributing to this thread, whether it is a little or a lot. Keep it up, I read all your stories over and over again, and check out the images more times than I have fingers on both hands.

Thank you all.... !

[pilotdane]

Very interesting. Thank you once again for the pictures and the education. It is like having the Discovery Channel on CV.

[ombugge]

Ombugge- this is absolutely fascinating. How deep is the area where the pipeline is being covered?

I'm not sure what it was at the time these pics were taken, but they were covering pipelines from several platforms in to the Processing Plant on shore so the depth would have been between maybe 40-50 m, to as little as maybe 5 m., or as close to shore as they could get at the landfall.
(I only inspected the vessel for her next assignment, as a dive support vessel)

As for the maximum water depth this type of operation can be done in, I'm not sure. It is getting deeper as the demand for this type of service move with the rest of the industry, into deeper and deeper water. Drilling is now routinely done in up to 10,000 ft. of water, but I don't think that stone dumping has been required in that water depth YET. (Watch this space)

Here is a link to the website for the company that owns Jan Steen: http://www.vanoord.com/gb-en/our_tec...ctor/index.php
You should get answer to most of your questions there.

[ombugge]

Next episode of the Offshore Discovery Channel commence:

This is pics taken while I was Marine Superintendent for Total during the Hook-up and Commissioning of the Yadana Field, offshore Burma in 1998.

Yadana Processing Platform (YP) seen from the Quarters Platform


Yadana Living Quarters Platform (YLQ)seen from the Processing Platform.


Flare Stack. Remote Well Head Platform WHP-2 seen in the distance.


Well Head Platform 1 (WHP-1) with Drilling Rig "Marine 305" alongside.


Marine 305 drilling production wells through WHP-1.


Gas Turbine Generator on YPP. Supplies power for the complex, incl. Gas Compressors, which "pushes" the gas through the pipeline to Thailand.


Pig Launcher at the pipeline termination. "Pigs" are used to clean the pipeline internally. So called "Intelligent Pigs" are sometime used inspect the condition of the pipeline.


Satellite disks for the entertainment system. (We are close to equator, hence pointing skyward)


Platform Support Structure (Jacket) with a simplified "Boat Landing" for transfer of personnel by Fast Rescue Craft (FRC).


The Boat Landing seen from above. Try picture yourself boarding a FRC in anything but flat calm from this contraption.


When the field was completed and the pipeline to Phat Camburi in Thailand installed, nothing happened. There were nothing ready at the other end of the pipeline to utilize the gas. Production finally commenced 3-4 years later when a Power station was built there.

[pakarang]

Incredibly fascinating to both read about and see those images.

An oil rig and oil installations, including pipe layers and such, are amazing feats of engineering!

[pilotdane]

Seeing the gas turbine and all the equipment makes me think it was a very noisy place. Was there a quiet spot anywhere on the rig? I suppose the constant sound of machinery would sing you to sleep after a long day.

[Sterkoder]

"Ocean King" in Kristiansund early this morning

[ombugge]

Seeing the gas turbine and all the equipment makes me think it was a very noisy place. Was there a quiet spot anywhere on the rig? I suppose the constant sound of machinery would sing you to sleep after a long day.

The Living Quarters are well insulated against sound and heat, with "Air Locks" at the entrances facing the Processing Platform, so the noise level in the quarters were low.

Hearing Protection is mandatory in any area with high noise level (75 db), which is much lower than the noise level in most discos, I believe?

Actually, during the time I was there, no gas were being produced, except enough to fuel one Gas Turbine at low power.

I have only been back once since 1998. In 2005, to place a Drilling Rig on a new Wellhead Platform. They needed to drill more production wells, as a second pipeline was installed, this time to Rangoon.

[ombugge]

It is week end and time for another installment on CV's Offshore Discovery Channel again.
The subject this week is a type of vessels which is rarely seen in any port, except where they are being built/converted; "Floating Storage and Off-loading" vessels (FSO) and "Floating Production, Storage and Off-loading" vessels (FPSO).

It is mostly converted old Tankers, built in 1970's, but with some newbuildings. Once deployed they stay on location for anything up to 15-20 years without ever going into port, or need for dry docking.

They are widely used in benign areas of the world, with some purpose built units in the North Sea and other rough weather regions.
The first FPSO will be installed in the Gulf of Mexico later this year.

Here is the "FSO Yetagun". A very simple conversion. Only a metering skid on deck and an external Turret for 9 mooring chains and one Product swivel.

Now on location in Burma.

Here is FSO "Rong Doi MV12" under construction in the building dock at Yantai, China.

Now deployed off Vietnam.

This is "FPSO Serpentina", Ex Esso Kawasaki, ex Amazon Eagle, 307,000 DWT, now on location in Zafiro Field, Offshore Equatorial Guinea in 435 m. water depth.

9-point mooring system. Able to process 110,000 BOPD from her own sub-sea wells, plus receiving 185,000 BOPD from a nearby Production Platform.

"FPSO Brasil" getting ready for her voyage from S'pore to Rio under own power. Ex. Esso Saba, 256,000 DWT. Built in japan, 1974


The Main Deck, "FPSO Brasil" seen from the Turret towards the bridge.

This is the Processing Plant, which includes large capacity for Gas Processing and re-injection, Gas Export and Water Injection, as well as Crude Oil processing and stabilizing. (See below)

Now on location in Roncadore Field offshore Brasil in 1290 m. water depth.
This is the most complex FPSO I have been involved with.


"Espadarte FPSO", ex Beaverage, 297,000 DWT, built at Aker Stord, Norway 1975.

Seen here in operation at Espadarte Field, offshore Brasil with an Export tanker moored astern and a Drill ship in the background, drilling more wells for production of water injection.

A look at the Turret and swivel stack of the "Espadarte FPSO" while getting ready for tow from S'pore to Rio.


This is a view of from the upper level of the Swivel Stack, "FPSO Brasil"

May not be directly related, but serves to illustrate the size of these vessels.

This is the view the Master of the Export tanker will have, when coming in to Moore at the stern of a FSO/FPSO to load Crude Oil, which is what they do most of the time these days.

What happened to the romance and adventure of seafaring life?

[Sterkoder]

What happened to the romance and adventure of seafaring life?

Romance and adventure are what it may seem like for "outsiders".

The romance and adventure of seafaring was forever destroyed during the war and early post-war years when the civil citizens and government treated seamen like they were all huge acnes on the societys ass....

Sorry for breaking the thread. That's a hole new discussion....

[pakarang]

Please note that there are also many pictures of supply ships, anchor handling ships and other oil-rig stand by vessels in another thread as well:

Single (Increadible) Maritime Photographs.

[Sterkoder]

Since I'm one who upload such pictures to the other thread, I might as well try to explain why:

I'm not sure about how sharp lines we expect to have, so if it's not a supply- or standby-vessel, I post in the other thread.
(Would've been easier of the thread were named "Offshore vessels" or something....)

[pakarang]

Since I'm one who upload such pictures to the other thread, I might as well try to explain why:

I'm not sure about how sharp lines we expect to have, so if it's not a supply- or standby-vessel, I post in the other thread.
(Would've been easier of the thread were named "Offshore vessels" or something....)

Absolutely no harm at all... so many threads, so much to read and learn... Love it no matter where they are posted!

[Steve.B]

Now we know where old oil tankers go, so nice to see India does not get them all!
But seriously, this is something new i have learn't, i have never stopped to think where the oil goes once it's on the surface, i guess i always assumed it was stored in tanks on the rig itself, then pumped to tankers for transfer to wherever. Very interesting indeed!

[Sterkoder]

Never seen this one here in Kristiansund, but here's "Siem Sailor" moored at dock #9 Vestbase early monday morning.
"Siem Sailor" is yardnr. 26 from Karmsund Maritime Service in 2007 and she's listed as a ROV support/supply vessel

[pakarang]

When Siem Sailor is retired from service some day in the future, she would make a fantastic private yacht-explorer vessel, with a large lap-pool onthe afterdeck...

[Sterkoder]

"Siem Sailor" from a different angle today, as she was moored at Storkaia below the top of my spotterplace at the shopping malls carpark


And then she undocked to sail out to the rigs far off shore


"Esvagt Contender" is a stand-by vessel

Pictures: ©S. Ludvigsen

[ombugge]

Since I'm one who upload such pictures to the other thread, I might as well try to explain why:

I'm not sure about how sharp lines we expect to have, so if it's not a supply- or standby-vessel, I post in the other thread.
(Would've been easier of the thread were named "Offshore vessels" or something....)

The term Supply Vessel is used fairly indiscriminately, especially in Norway, to cover the whole specter of Offshore Vessels, I have interpreting the title of this thread very broadly and used this thread to cover everything offshore or Oil & Gas related, incl. Drilling Rigs, FPSOs and even fixed installations, so far.
Pictures of offshore vessel are posted under other threads as well.
Any sharp lines are probably impractical anyhow, as this is a forum with a wide spectrum of maritime related categories and beyond, I don't think it is necessary to get too specific, but agree that this thread could be better re-named "Offshore Vessels", as there is a very wide range already.

Let's not get too regimental about the categories, but let the threads develop and evolve naturally, within reason.

Since I've been the main sinner in this respect, so far, I intend to post more Offshore and Oil & Gas related material here, if the CV members don't mind.

[Sterkoder]

Let's not get too regimental about the categories, but let the threads develop and evolve naturally, within reason.

Since I've been the main sinner in this respect, so far, I intend to post more Offshore and Oil & Gas related material here, if the CV members don't mind.

Agreed. Can't think of anyone who will mind...
And your reports and pictures are very interesting!

[Sterkoder]

"Edda Fjord" docked at Storkaia inside Kristiansund harbour at 0700 AM thursday morning


Moved to dock #6 at Vesbase just before noon


"Rem Fortune" docked at #3 vestbase