The vessel, known as Haiyang Shiyou 122, is also Asia’s first cylindrical FPSO, integrating the tasks of producing crude oil, storing it, and transmitting it to the outside world.
China’s new self-developed floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel has finished building its main hull structure, according to China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), marking a breakthrough in the nation’s ability to develop and produce extremely large offshore oil and gas equipment.
The vessel, known as Haiyang Shiyou 122, is also Asia’s first cylindrical FPSO, integrating the tasks of producing crude oil, storing it, and transmitting it to the outside world.
The ship, which has a maximum diameter of around 90 meters and a main deck space equal to 13 regular basketball courts, can store a maximum of 60,000 tonnes of oil and can operate continuously at sea for 15 years without docking.
According to Nie Jiaqiang, the ship’s building manager, “The Haiyang Shiyou 122 utilizes a revolutionary cylinder structural design, which lowers steel consumption but outperforms in overall stability and the capacity to handle adverse sea conditions.
The project team also employed 3D simulation in the building phase, according to Shu Wei, head of the project general contracting, enabling the successful closing of hull parts in a single step with a dimensional tolerance of less than 6 millimeters, surpassing the global advanced norm.
The ship is now undergoing final assembly and construction, and it will likely be put into service at the Pearl River Mouth Basin in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong the following year after delivery.
The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) is a major state-owned energy company in China focused on offshore exploration and production of oil and natural gas. Established in 1982, CNOOC is one of the largest national oil companies in the world. It plays a crucial role in China’s energy security strategy by developing offshore resources to meet the country’s growing energy demand.
CNOOC’s operations include exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas reserves, both within China’s territorial waters and in international waters through partnerships and collaborations with other companies. The company operates various offshore platforms, rigs, and vessels to extract and process hydrocarbons.