(Raphaël Poquet, Trelleborg Oil & Marine product manager) With a surge in the need for energy to meet global demand, the order book for Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels is climbing. This trend can be seen in the global expansion of new, often remote, and challenging regions. As a result, the need for proven equipment to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operations is ever present. The pressure on operators and owners is increasing to meet this demand and deliver safe solutions.
One key component for FPSO operations is the transfer hose. Selecting the appropriate hose can significantly impact operational costs and the marine hose’s anticipated lifespan. Therefore, making an informed decision when selecting hoses for the project can lead to substantial savings while ensuring the hose type meets its expected productive life.
With decades of industry experience, Trelleborg Oil & Marine product manager Raphaël Poquet draws on his expertise to provide top tips for delivering reliable, cost-efficient solutions to optimize your specific operation.
Choosing the correct hose
Each location offers unique challenges, requiring different hose solutions. Failure to recognize this could lead to shortened service life and the need to replace hoses earlier, increasing unaccounted expenses.
FPSO hose configurations need to adapt based on the suitable floating hose configuration. The Trelleborg Oil & Marine team can help you select the optimum hose solution to meet specific operating environment and performance needs. For instance, with extensive testing, finite element analysis (FEA) calculations and service life computations, the team can help you choose the optimum hose for the operation.
One option designed for the most demanding of operations and environments is the REELINE hose range with its compact design, reinforced nippleless flange, and integrated bend stiffener.
Operational lifetime
From a design and manufacturing perspective, Trelleborg is always exploring new ways to deliver customer value. Sustainability is not an obligation but an opportunity to enhance operational cost efficiencies. Focusing on aspects that create long-term value with minimum impact on operations could benefit the end customers. This includes assessing the potential cost efficiencies of using carbon-neutral steel for the components within the hose.
Ultimately, selecting a hose with a long operational life that requires intervention beyond the operation’s preventative maintenance procedures will save costs over the project’s lifetime. Any hose that fails will require urgent Offshore Support Vessels (OSVs) on charter, which not only adds cost but also increases global greenhouse gas emissions.
Typically, this is where the Trelleborg Dual Carcass hose offers a range of distinct proven benefits, which include longer service life and minimal intervention.
Think total lifecycle costs
Capital expenditures (CAPEX) and operating expenditures (OPEX) are important in the cost analysis of projects. Some would emphasize CAPEX instead of OPEX but consistently taking this approach can be a false economy as this can lead to increased and less predictable operational costs over time. Reeling operations are one area where quality performance can reduce project lifecycle costs. As an industry, we can seize the initiative and consider lifecycle as an ingredient of invested appropriation. Improved operational cost performance can also reduce supply chain CO2 emissions associated with scrapping equipment and reduced maintenance operations. Taking a holistic approach to choosing the right hose with the right partner can, therefore, reduce operating expenditure, improve safety and extend the lifecycle of assets.
Proven solutions
Having access to reliable proof of performance data makes decisions easier.
At Trelleborg, we can provide this evidence. Firstly, our rigorous in-house testing processes, such as conducting vacuum and hydrostatic tests, generate essential insight for evaluating hose integrity and pressure performance. This test data is combined with learnings from decades of real-world application. As FPSO owners and operators around the globe have been using our solution, we have demonstrated the operational life cycle of the Trelleborg Dual Carcass hose and the OPEX opportunities this presents compared to typical double carcass alternatives.
Brazil Energy Insight 
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