Aker-Kværner has found a way to make semis as cost-competitive as dry tree completion units, Henrik Hannus of Aker-Kværner told Deep Offshore Technology attendees in Marseille, France.
The solution, designed for use off West Africa, costs 20% of the traditional dry tree costs, he said. Hannus added that using a semi as a dry tree completion unit is viable, and the company is now working on tensioners for the design.
Doris Engineering has designed a generic FPSO hull based on very large crude carrier (VLCC) hull characteristics. Calling VLCC hulls similar to FPSO hulls, R.J.S. "Digger" Harris said the industry should take advantage of the efficiencies gained in VLCC hull building. FPSO hulls, which typically cost about 25% of an FPSO's total cost, offer few possibilities for reduced costs, he said. Less steel and fewer curves do not make enough of a difference in reducing costs, he added.
Harris said the best way to cut costs is to order early and take advantage of VLCC hull-type savings.
His firm designed a double-sided, single bottom hull for a 2.2 MMbbl FPSO in 1,500 m of water off Angola.