Safe Offloading from Floating LNG Platforms (SAFE OFFLOAD) R. V. Ahilan Noble Denton Europe

Safe Offloading from Floating LNG Platforms (SAFE OFFLOAD) R. V. Ahilan Noble Denton Europe

Overview Background Project Objective Partners Work Scope Key Developments Deliverables Schedule Additional Participation Summary

FLNG Floating LNG Brings together 3 established concepts in FPSO: FPSO LNG Tanker LNG Plant

Background LNG becoming increasingly important energy source LNG fleet set to increase in next few years with larger vessels (>150,000m 3 ) FLNG plants attracting considerable interest as means of extracting gas from remote offshore locations Safety concerns for onshore terminals Imported gas will need FSRU

Issues FLNG hull design LNG containment systems Fabrication Offloading

SAFE OFFLOAD Challenges System optimisation to maximise operability and safety - Environmental conditions - Vessel response during approach, offloading and disconnection - Minimisation of relative motions between large FLNG vessel and LNG shuttle tanker - Station keeping

Project Objective Maximisation of Weather Windows for offloading from FLNG Optimisation of hull Physics of vessel behaviour during approach and offloading Enhancement of interaction hydrodynamics Decision support for operations Long term response models coupling environment, hydrodynamics and statistics

Partners Shell Instituto Superior Tecnico DHI Water & Environment Det Norske Veritas Imperial College Noble Denton Europe Oxford University Ocean Wave Engineering Ocean Wave Engineering + Shipyard

Scope 1. State-of-the-art Study Market review Design and operational requirements for LNG Offloading systems and configurations Examination of existing FLNG design concepts 2. Preliminary Analysis Based on Existing Design Solutions Selection of hull shapes based on the existing FLNG concepts Vessel motion analysis using today s hydrodynamics technology LNG shuttle tankers positioned side-by-side and in tandem (stern to bow) Limiting environments for approach and connection 3. Environmental Modelling Spectral and probabilistic models Directional spectra for wind-sea and swell, very long waves Joint models of wind, wave and current Development and verification using data from normally mild locations

Scope contd. 4. FLNG Configuration Development Selection of improved FLNG hull designs for further detailed study Hydrodynamic analyses and model tests Minimisation of relative motions Consideration of wave directionality, wind-sea and swell etc Guidance on optimal hull shape 5. Hydrodynamic Modelling Development of advanced hydrodynamic models 2 nd order diffraction model for two vessels in close proximity Fully nonlinear boundary element method (time domain vessel motions) Code for low speed manoeuvring 6. Wind Tunnel Tests Wind loading on FLNG and LNG tanker superstructures Aerodynamic interaction between vessels (shielding effect)

Scope contd. 7. Wave-tank Model Tests FLNG configuration development Hydrodynamic model verification Large-scale tank tests with 2 vessels subject to current, wind and waves 8. Solutions for Offloading Approach manoeuvre of LNG shuttle tanker Side-by-side and tandem (stern-to-bow) offloading Simulation of vessel relative motions Station keeping (FLNG mooring, shuttle tanker DP) 9. Decision Support Tools for Offloading Operations 10. Risk and Availability Assessment of Production and Offloading Operations

Key Developments Enhanced environmental models for LNG offloading Optimised hull design through analysis and model tests Capability to predict vessel behaviour during approach and offloading Enhancement of interaction hydrodynamics Decision support methodology for operations Long term response models coupling environment, hydrodynamics and statistics

Deliverables Environment Floater Configuration Offloading Solution Operational Decision Support Publications

Schedule Planned kick-off January 2005 Duration 3 years Project Cost: 3.5 million Euro 211 man months

Additional Participation Additional Participation is welcomed Benefit of euro funding accrues to the members Meetings transmit knowledge gained immediately Membership allows data gathered to be made available Membership can help to focus the examples towards an issue of contemporary project interest

Participation Fee Oil Companies: 25,000/annum Contractors: 15,000/annum Regulators: 10,000/annum

Summary SAFEOFFLOAD has got project sanction Will kick-off in January 2005 Already comprises a team which contains an oil co, model test tank, class society, engineering consultants and universities. Improve availability of offloading through enhanced environmental, hydrodynamic and naval architectural expertise