First Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading Vessel in U.S. Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

Abstract This paper is based on work performed during design, implementation and operation of the Cascade and Chinook fields in ultra-deep waters of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. It describes how Regulatory compliance was accomplished for this the first Floating Production Storage and Offloading System in the Gulf of Mexico and the decision making towards selecting a disconnectable Floating Production Storage and Offloading System and critical activities from award to operation of this innovative disconnectable Ultra Deep Water FPSO in over 8,200 feet of water, making it the deepest moored FPSO. It is an Early Production System (EPS) that will establish production potential prior to installing the full production facility for the production potential anticipated. Crude is offloaded by tandem offloading to Jones Act shuttle tankers. Introduction The path Petrobras took, from applying for approval from the U.S. Regulatory Agencies for the use of a Floating Production Storage and Offloading system (FPSO) with tandem offloading to purchase of the Cascade and Chinook (C&C) fields and to produce both fields with a FPSO, was challenging in many ways. Petrobras accepted the challenges of having to incorporate new technology, breaking records in the process to achieve production in these ultra deep water fields, complying with Regulatory Agencies requirements that did not necessarily have language in the regulations that were specifically applicable for an FPSO in U.S. waters and to install an EPS FPSO to produce in gulf of Mexico where no FPSO had ever produced before. FPSO technology for use as a production facility was considered state-of-the-art worldwide but was not yet accepted in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico (USGoM), when Petrobras embarked on the project to install the first FPSO in USGoM, realizing it would be a challenge. Petrobras development strategy was to produce C&C fields from a common facility. Petrobras successfully achieve their goal of producing the C&C fields with the first FPSO in the USGoM. The EPS FPSO, BW Pioneer, is currently producing from both these fields. This paper will provide insights into the path taken to successfully complete this challenging project that included; close cooperation with US Regulatory Agencies to accept FPSO production facilities, changes in ownership of the fields, submission for approval of concept to the MMS and USCG, steps in the project to get the leased EPS FPSO to the field and tools to assist operations and production. Subsequent to completion of the C&C project, the US Regulatory Agencies preference has shifted from a permanently moored FPSO (as evaluated in the EIS) to a disconnectable FPSO (as approved for C&C fields).