FPSO Steam Boiler Module Structure

Houlder was contracted by John Zink Hamworthy Combustion Engineering to develop and verify the structural design of an open sided FPSO module. This was to house two super heated, high pressure boilers and associated equipment. The FPSO has an operating and design life minimum of 10 years and is moored through a forward turret. This allows the vessel to weathervane around the turret securely in 78m water depth. The Boiler Module is designed to operate within its Zone 2 hazardous area, exposed to harsh environment and vessel motions. Its structure primarily comprised pancake grillage interfaced with the vessel support structure and topside structures providing access to the economisers, burners and other equipment. A full detailed design package comprising structural verification, fatigue and buckling calculations and reports was prepared for Class. A complete package of Scantling Design drawings suitable for Class approval was also produced in Autocad. The drawings were to a level of detail to allow the fabricator to procure materials and develop their work packages. The module was designed to comply with LR Floating Offshore Installation at a fixed location Rules and Regulations 2008. It was fabricated in Singapore with all the primary equipment installed, loaded onto and sea fastened to a vessel for transportation to Hamburg for installation. The module weight at lift and installation onto the vessel support structure was approximately 812 tonnes. After installation the FPSO was transferred to the Tyne for final commissioning and hook up of the service supplies and pipe supports.

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