FLNG Hull Structures

Farshid Fardi
Principal Naval Architect

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for a safer world

LLOYDS REGISTER Who are we?

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and over 9000 employees

We provide independent assurance to companies

operating high-risk, capital-intensive assets in the
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Four business streams: Marine, Energy,

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and advance transportation and engineering education and research
FLNG Hull Structures

LLOYDS REGISTER Who are we?

FLNG Hull Structures

Assigned class to the worlds first FPSO: Shell Castellon

Assigned class to the worlds largest FLNG: Shell Prelude

LR is financially and technically independent of any government or

commercial interests and has been so since the foundation

Overseen by a general committee of industry representatives

INTRODUCTION

FLNG Hull Structures

Typical structural arrangement of a ship-shaped unit

Plated steel stiffened panels

Stiffener spacing of 800 900 mm

Transverse frames every 4 - 5 m

Transverse bulkheads every 30 - 40 m

Full length longitudinal bulkheads

FLNG Hull Structures

FLNG HULL STRUCTURE COMPARED TO TANKER

FLNG Hull Structures

FLNG hull structure compared to tanker

The majority of FLNGs are ship shaped units:

Design of ship type FLNGs therefore should follow these rules?

Typical tanker

FLNG Hull Structures

FLNG hull structure compared to tanker

Most visible differences
The need to accommodate structures and equipment on deck imposes significant static and dynamic
loads not present in a trading tanker.
Typical topside structures:
Process equipment;
Cranes;
Flares;
Helicopter decks;
Accommodation spaces;
Etc.

FLNG Hull Structures

FLNG hull structure compared to tanker

Less visible differences

Permanent mooring system

Riser connections to sea-bed

Designed to site specific environment

Requirement to stay on location

More complex legislation

Etc.

FLNG Hull Structures

FLNG hull structure compared to tanker

Site-specific environment
Trading tanker rules (CSR) are based on North Atlantic values.
FLNGs need to be designed for site specific environment (wind, waves, current, air temperature).

FLNG Hull Structures

FLNG hull structure compared to tanker

Site-specific environment
Steel weight
Over designed
(expensive)

FLNG - Efficient design

Tanker design (CSR)

Under designed
(risk of structural failure)

Benign

Moderate

Harsh
Environmental loads

FLNG Hull Structures

FLNG hull structure compared to tanker

Other relevant differentiating features
The statistics and nature of the loads on the
unit:
different load return periods considered;
different heading statistics.
The requirement to stay on location in all
the weather conditions:
driven by economics / gas production;
consideration needs to be given to in water
surveys and on site repairs.

FLNG Hull Structures

FLNG hull structure compared to tanker

Typical environmental criteria
Location

Hs (metres)

Nigeria

4.0

Australia (non-cyclonic) 6.0 - 7.0

Australia (cyclonic)
10.0 -14.0
Brazil
7.0
U.K. Central
13.0
Gulf of Mexico
14.5
Nova Scotia
16.0
West of Shetland
17.0
Data relates to the 100 year storm
Gulf of Mexico includes hurricane waves.
FLNG Hull Structures

FLNG hull structure compared to tanker

Mooring arrangement

FLNG Hull Structures

FLNG hull structure compared to tanker

Heading probability
CSR considers an Omni-directional wave environment
Each wave heading relative to the ship has an equal probability
of occurrence.

FLNGs do not operate in an Omni-directional wave

environment:
Weathervaning units predominately see waves
between head sea and beam seas.
Spread-moored units predominately see waves from
one or two quadrants.
FLNG Hull Structures

FLNG hull structure compared to tanker

Site-specific heading analysis
The MetOcean reports provide the input environmental data for the heading
analysis;
The mean vessel heading is determined for each sea state;
The long-term heading probability distribution is used to determine extreme loads.

FLNG Hull Structures

FLNG hull structure compared to tanker

Vessel Heading Analysis Results

Rel. Heading (deg.)

Vessel Relative Heading to Wind Sea

180
150
120
90
60
30
0
-30
-60
-90
-120
-150
-180
0

Wind Sea Hs (m)

FLNG Hull Structures

10

11

12

13

14

FPSO hull structure compared to tanker

Vessel Heading Analysis Results

Relative Heading (deg.)

Vessel Relative Heading to Swell

180
150
120
90
60
30
0
-30
-60
-90
-120
-150
-180

4
Swell Hs (m)

FLNG Hull Structures

FLNG hull structure compared to tanker

FLNG Extreme Response Analysis
Metocean data
Hydrodynamic database (RAOs)

Relative Vessel Heading to swell

Short Term
Motion Responses per sea-state
Relative Vessel
Heading to wind sea
Long Term Response
FLNG Hull Structures

FLNG hull structure compared to tanker

Change of Fatigue Damage due to WeatherVaning:

FLNG Hull Structures

FLNG hull structure compared to tanker

Some factors affecting the hull structural arrangement:
cargo type: oil or LNG;
production/offloading rate and required storage capacity;
single or double bottom;
stability aspects;
collision loads;
Internal fluid motions (sloshing)
loads from on-deck structure / equipment (topsides);
access for inspection maintenance;
mooring arrangement:
Internal or external turret
Spread mooring
etc.
FLNG Hull Structures

FPSO hull structure compared to tanker

Lloyds Register Rules
Based on IACS CSR (delivering the full benefit of the latest tanker
technology) the ROU Rules address the differences between FPSO/
FLNGs and Tankers:
Transparent methods based on sound engineering principles;
Flexible to suit field development requirements (owner defined
corrosion margins, load cases, etc.);
ROU Rules address all types of offshore structures (Semisubmersibles, TLP, Barges, Buoys, etc.).
Not only structural issues also Moorings / Electrical / Machinery /
Safety systems.

FLNG Hull Structures

FPSO hull structure compared to tanker

Lloyds Register Rules Structural arrangements
OIL FPSO Hulls

LNG FPSO Hulls

FLNG Hull Structures

EXAMPLES OF FLNGs

FLNG Hull Structures

Examples of different FPSOs

Shell FLNG (LNG FPSO)
Western Australia (Cyclonic)
New build hull
Largest floating unit ever built
Lbp = 488 m, B = 74 m, > 600,000 tons
Turret moored
LNG stored at -163 C

FLNG Hull Structures

GLOBAL HULL LOADING

FLNG Hull Structures

Global hull loading

When vessel loading goes wrong

FLNG Hull Structures

Global hull loading

Global shear

Global bending

Loads comprise: still water loads + wave loads;

Must be evaluated at every point along vessel;
Must remain below capacity of hull structure;
Operation On-site, Maintenance, Transit/Disconnected and Flooded conditions to be
considered.

FLNG Hull Structures

Global hull loading

Still water global loads
Still water global loads comprise:
Cargo loads;
Empty hull weight;
Buoyancy loads.
Still water loads of FLNG to consider:
Maintenance conditions;
All cargo arrangements;
Inspection conditions;
Weight of turret / mooring / risers etc.

FLNG Hull Structures

Global hull loading

Global wave loads on FLNG hull

Wave loads are:

site specific (require detailed knowledge of wave environment);
complex to evaluate (compared to loads on ships).
FLNG Hull Structures

Global hull loading

Global hull design

Global bending loads determine (mostly)

longitudinal material in deck and bottom;

Global shear loads determine (mostly)

material in vertical longitudinal bulkheads;

Vertical longitudinal bulkheads ideally to be

continuous through vessel length to avoid
problems with shear loads.

FLNG Hull Structures

OTHER LOADS AND MODEL TESTS

FLNG Hull Structures

Other loads and model tests

External wave pressure

FLNG Hull Structures

Other loads and model tests

Inertia loads
Harsh location typical values of acceleration
transverse: 0.5g
vertical: 0.5g
longitudinal: 0.2g

FLNG Hull Structures

Other loads and model tests

Why model tests?

Highlight unusual or unpredictable phenomena;

Prediction of green sea, slamming loads and other

loads not readily calculated from analyses;

Verification of mooring system analysis;

Verification of roll damping values;

Wind tunnel testing for wind/current coefficients;

Sloshing model testing (particularly LNG membrane

tanks).

It is strongly recommended that the testing is

considered following and in conjunction with the
analyses.

FLNG Hull Structures

Response to waves: 1

FLNG Hull Structures

Wave impact event

Response to waves: 2

FLNG Hull Structures

Response to waves: 3

FLNG Hull Structures

Response to waves: 4

FLNG Hull Structures

Green water event

Wave impact loads both on-site and in transit

FLNG Hull Structures

Other loads and model tests

Sloshing
Sloshing is the dynamic magnification of pressures within cargo/ballast tanks.
Partial fillings the norm for FLNGs (NOT so for trading LNG tankers)

Influencing Factors:
Tank size
Hull form
Environment / Weathervaning
Natural periods of both vessel and fluid
Tank fill levels

FLNG Hull Structures

Other loads and model tests

Ice Loading
Additional weight on deck and significant loads at waterline;
Terra Nova FPSO designed for 1.5 m thick sea ice and 2000 tonnes weight on deck.

FLNG Hull Structures

Other loads and model tests

Other loads and accidental loads
Collision due to supply vessel / shuttle tanker /
iceberg;
Dropped object;
Explosion / blast;
Largest wave in 10,000 years;
Emergency helicopter landings;
Etc.

FLNG Hull Structures

HULL STRENGTH ASSESSMENT

FLNG Hull Structures

FATIGUE ASSESSMENT

FLNG Hull Structures

Fatigue assessment - Introduction

Due to cyclical loads (not a strength issue)

Influenced by:

size, shape and design of the component/connection;

condition of the surface or operating environment;

The output of a fatigue analysis is life (in years).

FLNG Hull Structures

Fatigue assessment - Issues

No obvious warning:
a crack forms without appreciable deformation of
structure making it difficult to detect the presence of
growing cracks.
Fractures usually start from weld connections due to a
localised concentration of stress (SCF).
Attention must be given to:
Structural detailing;
Fabrication and construction tolerances;
Corrosion protection and coatings;
Inspection regime and inspectability.
FLNG Hull Structures

Fatigue assessment - Typical fatigue prone locations within hull

FLNG Hull Structures

Fatigue assessment - other fatigue prone locations

Mooring integration structure;

Topsides support and integration structure:

Flare tower support structure;

Crane pedestals and support structure;

Helideck structure.

Any other key structure which experiences high

dynamic loads

FLNG Hull Structures

Fatigue assessment

Fatigue life assessment:

Identification of critical areas;

Detailed finite element analysis of critical areas;

Site specific analysis (+ previous service).

FLNG Hull Structures

Fatigue assessment - typical safety factors

Inspectable /
Repairable

Consequence of Failure
Non substantial*

Substantial*

Yes, dry

Yes, wet

No

10

*Substantial consequences of failure are defined as loss of life, uncontrolled outflow of hazardous
products, collision or sinking and should include for progressive failure scenarios.
FLNG Hull Structures

CORROSION

FLNG Hull Structures

Last but not least: corrosion

FLNG Hull Structures

General advice for FLNG structural design

FLNG Hull Structures

Farshid Fardi Principal Naval Architect

Contact for more Info: Farshid.Fardi@lr.org

Working together
for a safer world