TURRITELLA

• Latitude: 26.4283
• Longitude: -90.8133
• Gulf of Mexico
• Offshore Terminal in Bahamas

Location: Bahamas

The Offshore Terminal TURRITELLA, also known as the Stones FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading) unit, is a state-of-the-art maritime facility designed for oil and gas extraction from deepwater offshore fields. It is notably stationed in the Gulf of Mexico, rather than the Bahamas, and it represents a significant achievement in offshore technology.

Description

1. Function: The primary function of the TURRITELLA FPSO is to extract, process, and store hydrocarbons from subsea oil fields. The facility can process crude oil and gas, separating them from water and other impurities.

2. Design: The vessel is designed to withstand the harsh conditions of deepwater environments. It features advanced technology for mooring, processing, and storing hydrocarbons. It can operate in ultra-deep waters (up to 2,900 meters or 9,500 feet).

3. Capacity:

   • Oil Production: The facility can produce approximately 60,000 barrels of oil per day.
   • Gas Production: It has the capacity to produce around 15 million standard cubic feet of gas per day.
   • Storage: The oil storage capacity is approximately 800,000 barrels.

4. Mooring System: The TURRITELLA uses a sophisticated turret mooring system, which allows the vessel to rotate and stay moored in a fixed position. This is crucial for handling the dynamic environmental conditions of deepwater operations.

5. Subsea Infrastructure: The FPSO is connected to a network of subsea wells through flowlines and risers. These subsea systems include control umbilicals and manifolds that manage the flow of hydrocarbons from the seabed to the processing facilities onboard.

Specifications

1. Dimensions:

   • Length: Approximately 270 meters (886 feet).
   • Breadth: Around 58 meters (190 feet).
   • Depth: About 31 meters (102 feet).

2. Displacement and Weight:

   • Displacement: Over 200,000 metric tons when fully loaded.
   • Deadweight Tonnage: About 160,000 DWT.

3. Processing Facilities: The onboard processing plants include gas compression, water treatment, and oil separation units. These facilities ensure that the extracted oil and gas meet the required specifications for export or further refining.

4. Safety Features: The TURRITELLA FPSO is equipped with state-of-the-art safety systems, including fire and gas detection, automatic shutdown mechanisms, and advanced life-saving equipment to ensure the safety of its personnel and the environment.

5. Accommodation: The vessel has living quarters for the crew, which include mess halls, recreation facilities, and sleeping quarters for up to 100 personnel.

6. Power Supply: The FPSO is powered by onboard generators that utilize the gas produced from the wells, providing a sustainable energy source for its operations.

Operational Highlights

• Location: While the TURRITELLA is often associated with the Gulf of Mexico's Stones field, it demonstrates the capabilities needed for ultra-deepwater oil and gas extraction.
• Deployment: Typically, an FPSO like TURRITELLA can be deployed for decades, providing a flexible and cost-effective solution for offshore production.

Environmental Considerations

• Environmental Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of environmental conditions is conducted to minimize any adverse effects on the marine ecosystem.
• Regulatory Compliance: Adherence to international regulations and environmental standards is a priority in the operation of the TURRITELLA FPSO.

While the TURRITELLA FPSO is situated in the Gulf of Mexico, its advanced design and operational capabilities serve as an illustrative example of modern offshore production technology that could be adapted for other deepwater locations, including potentially those in the Bahamas if suitable oil and gas reserves were found there.