Asia's first FPSO facility delivered in E China

(ECNS) -- China's self developed cylindrical floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) facility, Haikui 1, was delivered in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province on Friday, marking a major breakthrough in the country's deepwater oil and gas equipment development.

With a designed displacement of 100,000 metric tons, Haikui 1, the Asia's first FPSO facility, has a maximum oil storage capacity of 60,000 metric tons and is capable of operating for 15 years at the sea without returning to the dock.

Composed of 600,000 components, the facility has a diameter of about 90 meters with a dock area equivalent to 13 standard basketball courts, a height of 30 stories and total weight of 37,000 metric tons. It has a designed lifespan of 30 years and can process 5,600 metric tons of crude oil per day.

Compared with conventional ship-type structures, the cylinder-shaped vessel is smaller, more compact and efficient in oil storage, with a strong ability to withstand harsh sea conditions and effectively reduce oilfield development and operating costs, according to Liu Huaxiang, general manager of Shenzhen branch of China National Offshore Oil Corporation.

After delivery, Haikui 1 will be towed to a depth of 324 meters, and deployed with Haiji No. 2, Asia's first deepwater jacket platform, in China's first deepwater oilfield - Liuhua 11-1 oilfield, providing new options for offshore oil and gas exploration.