FPSO conversions risk study

DNV has conducted an FPSO conversions risk study for the Monaco-based French/Dutch company SBM (Single Buoy Mooring) Inc.

DNV has looked at the FPSO (floating production, storage and offloading unit) conversions of Suezmax and VLCC tankers built in the 1980s and 1990s in order to improve SBM`s decision-making process when selecting possible conversion candidates.

Four main areas were addressed in the study:

• Risk identification of the general problems associated with tankers built in the 80s and 90s, compared to tankers built in the 70s.
  
• Risk mitigating measures relating to structural issues.
  
• A generic summary of lessons learnt from project critical activities.
  
• A comparison of new-built FPSOs with tankers built in the 70s, 80s and 90s and a cost-benefit study.

“SBM is impressed by how DNV turned a few questions to DNV Glasgow into this very useful study,” says SBM’s Project Development Director Rik Scott. “We now have a new tool to provide us with information for future decision-making.”

The contract was carried out in close co-operation between Maritime Solutions and DNV Consulting at Høvik and the customer service and project manager for SBM who is based in Glasgow.

SBM operates 17 FSOs (floating storage and offloading units) and FPSOs worldwide and has various current newbuilding and conversion projects in Dubai, Singapore and Malaysia. Other future projects are in the pipeline as well. The company is an important customer, with business covering SEP, ISM, ISO14001, OHS 18001 and SA8000 coming up over the next 4-5 years.