FPSO ALVHEIM

• Latitude: 59.567
• Longitude: 1.9963
• UK Coast & Atlantic
• Offshore Terminal in Norway

Location: North Sea Norway

The Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel Alvheim is a key facility situated in Norway's North Sea, serving the roles of production, storage, and offloading of hydrocarbons. The vessel operates as a critical component in the offshore oil and gas industry, allowing for the processing of extracted hydrocarbons and temporary storage until they can be offloaded onto shuttle tankers for transportation to shore.

General Specifications

• Operator: Aker BP
• Location: Alvheim field, North Sea, Norway
• Type: Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel
• Start of Operation: The Alvheim field began production in June 2008.

Vessel Design and Features

• Hull Type: Ship-shaped
• Hull Material: High-strength steel capable of withstanding harsh offshore conditions
• Length Overall (LOA): Approximately 252 meters
• Beam (Width): Approximately 42 meters
• Storage Capacity: Around 560,000 barrels of oil
• Production Capacity:
  • Oil production: up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd)
  • Gas production: significant capacity for gas compression and handling

Onboard Facilities

• Oil Processing System: Comprises separation and stabilization facilities to process crude oil.
• Gas Processing System: Includes gas compression and treatment units to handle associated gas.
• Water Injection System: For enhanced oil recovery, facilitating reservoir pressure maintenance.
• Accommodation: Onboard living quarters for crew and operational staff, typically accommodating up to 100 personnel.
• Helideck: Facilitates helicopter transportation for crew changes and supply deliveries.

Safety and Environmental Features

• Safety Systems: Comprehensive safety and emergency response systems, including fire suppression, lifeboats, and muster points.
• Environmental Controls: Designed to minimize environmental impact with systems for zero-flaring during normal operations, produced water management, and effective waste handling.

Mooring and Offloading

• Mooring System: The FPSO Alvheim is moored using a turret mooring system, allowing it to rotate freely to respond to wind and wave conditions.
• Offloading System: Equipped with tandem offloading capabilities, where shuttle tankers can moor at the stern of the FPSO to receive oil.

Operational Context

• Field Development: The Alvheim field includes several subsea wells connected to the FPSO via manifolds and pipelines.
• Reservoir Information: The field primarily taps into the Heimdal and Hermod formations, which contain light crude oil.
• Subsea Infrastructure: Extensive subsea infrastructure including pipelines, risers, and umbilicals linking the subsea wells to the FPSO.

The FPSO Alvheim represents advanced offshore technology, enabling efficient extraction and processing of hydrocarbons in the challenging environment of the North Sea. Its strategic importance to Norway's oil and gas industry underscores its operational and economic significance.