Deepwater GoM truss spar classed

摘要

The ChevronTexaco Tahiti truss spar, destined for deepwater Gulf of Mexico, will be classed by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). Designed to operate in 1280m of water, the Tahiti unit demonstrates the industry's latest innovations - it is for instance the first spar with no drilling capability, and no surface wellheads - and is among the first spar projects to utilise ABS' industry-first guide for building and classing specialised deepwater floating production units. ABS reissued its Guide for Building and Classing Floating Production Installations (FPI) in April 2004 to include specific guidance for spars and tension leg platforms (TLPs), By applying the evaluation techniques contained within this guide, together with future class surveys, ABS can offer an advanced approach to the evaluation of structural integrity and reduced operational risk. These updates have been developed in response to emerging technological advances in spar and TLP design.