FPSO

FPSO – Floating Production, Storage and Offloading Unit. A type of floating tank system used by the offshore oil and gas industry.

Oil produced from offshore production platforms can be transported to the mainland either by pipeline or by tanker. When a tanker solution is chosen, it is necessary to accumulate oil in some form of tank such that an oil tanker is not continuously occupied whilst sufficient oil is produced to fill the tanker. Often the solution is a de-commisioned oil tanker which has been stripped down and equipped with facilities to be connected to a mooring bouy. Oil is accumulated in the FPSO until there is sufficient to fill a transport tanker at which point the transport tanker connects to the stern of the floating storage unit and offloads the oil.

Some FPSO have the capability to carry out some form of oil separation process obviating the need for such facilities to be located on an oil platform.

http://www.ukooa.co.uk/issues/fpso/faq.htm