A modular future for floating production

Standardisation of offshore FPSO, FSRU and FLNG units are the future according to Lloyd’s Register (LR), but the design demands around gas mean it poses greater challenges compared to oil storage.

There are the more obvious benefits of modular designs, bringing economies of scale, cutting capital expenditure through shorter build times, but LR’s global floating offshore installations director Anna Apostolopoulou points to the innovation that can also be introduced more readily through modularised designs.

According to LR FPSO, FLNG and FSRU designs are entering “a new phase” shifting from custom design to pre-approved concepts.

“The future of floating production will be defined by how effectively the industry combines innovation, repeatability and independent assurance into scalable delivery models that improve confidence across the project lifecycle,” says LR.

These new designs are easier to develop for oil-based FPSO’s, compared to gas units, “We know how to handle oil”, says Apostolopoulou.

“New technologies can be implemented in each module, including some extra mile [technology] and innovation aspects,” she adds, in addition to the efficiencies modularisation brings, including