Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) vessels are major offshore oil and gas production facilities, and they generate significant greenhouse gas emissions throughout their lifecycle. Although emissions from the Engineering, Procurement, Commissioning, Installation (EPCI) phase may not represent the largest contribution in terms of total lifecycle footprint; they are considerable and frequently overlooked in sustainability strategies. A detailed emission study with selected vendors and fabrication yards was completed to track emissions from the supply chain, raw materials, fabrication processes, and logistics. The study revealed that the emission intensity of EPCI activities is around 4.8–5.9 kg-CO2 per kg-FPSO dry weight. This paper outlines strategies to integrate emission reduction considerations from the initial design through commissioning. Key elements include optimising hull and topside designs for reduced material consumption; leveraging advanced simulation tools to minimise waste; optimising fabrication process sequence to reduce transportation during construction; prioritising lower-carbon materials such as recycled steel and sustainably sourced components from local market; deploying green energy generation; and implementing innovative construction techniques that reduce on-site energy demand. Furthermore, the strategy emphasises decarbonising through digitalisation in warehousing, automated fit-up/welding/assembly processes, and robotic or AI-enabled inspection and quality control. Collectively, these measures reduce lifecycle emissions while not disadvantaging schedule, cost, and safety, reinforcing the value in incorporating these concepts in project execution plans.
Tan et al. (Thu,) studied this question.