The Browse JV, led by Woodside Energy Ltd. (WEL), intends to develop the Browse field using two large gas FPSOs, exporting the produced gas through a pipeline to LNG facilities onshore Northwest Australia. Advisian and IntecSea were contracted as owner’s engineers to develop an integrated hull and topside concept.
The Challenge
The project was a fast-tracked priority project for Woodside with the following objectives:
- Meet the import requirements for the LNG onshore, but minimising the facilities required offshore.
- Develop sufficient technical definition to support the company decision to enter a Definition Phase (BOD) phase, including development of execution plans, cost, and schedule estimates.
- Identify and mitigate risks at the appropriate level for the concept select phase
- Support key decisions for the gas FPSO design
Our Approach
Advisian and IntecSea multidisciplinary teams are collocated and therefore uniquely placed to deliver an integrated hull and topsides engineering study team in an efficient and convenient manner for the client, thus shortening the design spiral between the disciplines, eliminating the need for management of several interfaces and opening opportunities by having non-competing goals.
Results
The team produced a high degree of design definition with many valuable insights and recommendations for further studies – all delivered in a very short time frame. By having the integrated hull and topsides team, the client didn’t have to manage the interface between substructure and topsides. The team collaboration allowed carrying out optimisation studies, such as evaluating hull space utilisation and feasibility of accommodating selected topsides equipment in the hull, or looking for other novel solutions, all of which required close interaction between several engineering disciplines. The project objectives for the conceptual phase were achieved with successful outcomes delivering conceptual design of the substructure and topsides along with associated fabrication and installation cost estimate and schedule.