scope:

General

Floating production installations (FPIs) are installed at locations with a specific design life usually aligned with the design field life. A typical default structural design life is 20 years, though there are installations installed with design lives greater or less than 20 years. When an installation approaches the end of its design service life, the Owner/Operator may desire to have it remain on its location and continue in operation. In these instances, the Owner/Operator is advised to initiate a life extension process with the Classification Society. This process includes a reassessment of the structure, mooring, tendon systems, stability, machinery and systems, etc., for the entire installation. This reassessment includes engineering and survey activities as outlined in Section 2 of this document.

These Guidance Notes highlighting the process and methodology for life extension are applicable to floating production installations of all hull forms (i.e., ship-type installations, column stabilized installations, tension leg platforms (TLPs), Spar Installations (Spars) and hybrid designs, etc.) with the Floating Production and Storage System, Floating Production, Storage and Offloading System, Floating Storage and Offloading System and Floating Offshore Installation notations. It is not applicable to mobile offshore drilling units.

The requirements for the Life Extension of an installation that remains at the same site are specified in 1-1-2/5.11.5 of the ABS Rules for Building and Classing Floating Production Installations (FPI Rules). The procedure in these Guidance Notes provides further details regarding the steps to be followed in order to assess an installation for a possible life extension, and also covers those cases where there are changes in the original design parameters or arrangements, for continued operations at the same location.

These Guidance Notes are not intended to serve as a design standard, but rather to highlight the primary activities relating to the life extension procedure for floating production installations.

The applicability of this ABS Life Extension process is contingent upon the installation currently being in Class with ABS. Installations with class suspended, unclassed or classed with another society will be considered on a case-by-case basis.