Floating exploration and production facilities

Floating exploration and production facilities are sometimes provided on jackup rigs, semi-submersible vessels or ex-crude oil shipping tankers converted to production treatment vessels. These facilities are essentially the same as fixed offshore platform or installations except they are moored in place or provided with a temporary support structure instead of provided with fixed supports to the seabed. The major process fire and explosion risks are identical to the risks produced on offshore platforms. They have one addition major facility risk, that is the maintenance of buoyancy of the installation. Should fire or explosion effects cause a loss of buoyancy (or even stability) the entire facility is at risk of submergence. Adequate compartimization and integrity assurances must be implemented in these instances. 

For this subpart, facilities include all types of offshore structures permanently or temporarily attached to the seabed (i.e., mobile offshore drilling units floating production systems floating production, storage and offloading facilities tension-leg platforms and spars) used for exploration, development, production, and transportation activities for oil, gas, or sulphur from areas leased in the OCS [Outer Continental Shelf], Facilities also include DOI regulated pipelines. 

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