Section
1 General
1.1 Application
1.1.1 The requirements of this Chapter apply to units engaged in production
and/or crude oil or liquefied gas bulk storage and offloading at offshore locations.
Production units have specialised structures and plant installed on board for
production and/or processing crude oil or gas.
In general, oil storage units have integral tanks for the storage of
crude oil in bulk and the Rules are primarily intended for units which are to store
flammable liquids having a flash point not exceeding 60°C (closed-cup test).
Ship units with bulk storage tanks for liquefied gases or liquid
chemicals are to comply with Pt 3, Ch 3, 1.1 Application 1.1.4 and Pt 3, Ch 3, 1.1 Application 1.1.5 respectively. Other unit types with bulk
storage tanks for liquefied gases or liquid chemicals will be specially considered
on the basis of Pt 3, Ch 3, 1.1 Application 1.1.4 and Pt 3, Ch 3, 1.1 Application 1.1.5 as applicable.
1.1.2 Column-stabilised and self-elevating units which are intended to operate
only at a fixed offshore location are to comply with this Chapter, but reference
should be made to Pt 3, Ch 1, 1 Rule Application.
1.1.3 Ship units are to comply with this Chapter, in addition to Pt 10 Ship Units.
1.1.5 Ship units required for the storage of liquid chemicals in bulk are to
comply with Pt 3, Ch 3, 1.1 Application 1.1.3, and in general with the International Code for the
Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk
(IBC Code), as interpreted by LR.
1.2 Class notations
1.2.2 In general, units complying with the requirements of this Chapter and
the relevant Parts of the Rules will be eligible for the assignment of one of the
following class type notations:
- Floating production unit.
- Floating production and storage and offloading unit.
- Floating storage offloading unit.
Other type notations may be assigned when considered appropriate by the
Classification Committee.
1.2.3 Type class notations for units with bulk storage tanks for liquefied
gases or liquid chemicals will be specially considered by the Classification
Committee.
1.2.4 When a unit is to be verified in accordance with Regulations of a
Coastal State Authority/National Administration, an additional class notation may be
assigned in accordance with Pt 1, Ch 2 Classification Regulations.
1.2.6 When a PPF notation is not assigned to a unit with a process
plant facility, classification of the unit will be subject to the process plant
being certified by LR, or by another acceptable organisation.
1.2.8 Units with an installed drilling plant facility, which comply with the
requirements of Pt 3, Ch 7 Drilling Plant Facility, will be eligible for the assignment of the special
features class notation DRILL.
1.2.9 When a DRILL notation is not assigned to a unit with a drilling
plant facility, classification of the unit will be subject to the drilling plant
being certified by LR, or by another acceptable organisation.
1.3 Scope
1.3.1 The following additional topics applicable to the class type notation
are covered by this Chapter:
- General arrangement.
- Structural arrangement of the unit.
- Supporting structures below production and process plant
equipment, flare structures, and marine risers.
- Deckhouses and modules related to production operations.
- Loading of hot oils.
- Structural arrangement of oil storage tanks, cofferdams and
pump-rooms.
- Access arrangements.
- Compartment minimum thickness.
- Hazardous areas and ventilation.
- Pollution prevention.
1.3.2 Where the unit is fitted with drilling equipment, the requirements of
Pt 3, Ch 2 Drilling Units are to be complied with.
1.4 Installation layout and safety
1.4.1 In principle, production units are to be divided into main functional
areas to ensure that the following areas as applicable are separated and protected
from each other:
- Production area:
- Wellhead area.
- Processing area.
- Drilling area:
- Drill floor area.
- Mud circulation and treatment area.
- Auxiliary equipment area.
- Living quarters’ area.
1.4.4 Living quarters, lifeboats and other evacuation equipment are to be
located in non-hazardous areas and be protected and separated from production and
wellhead areas.
1.4.5 In general, production units with crude oil bulk storage tanks are to be
designed so that the arrangement and separation of living quarters, storage tanks,
machinery rooms, etc., are arranged in accordance with the
SOLAS - International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
as amended, Regulations 11-2/56. Where this is not practicable owing to the
unconventional design construction of the unit, special consideration will be given
to other arrangements which provide equivalent separation and protection. See
also
Pt 1, Ch 2, 1.1 Application. For ship units and surface type
units with crude oil bulk storage tanks, the general arrangement and separation of
spaces are to comply with Pt 4, Ch 9 Double Hull Oil Tankers of the Rules for Ships, or equivalent arrangements
provided.
1.4.6 The position of the process plant in relation to storage tanks for crude
oil, gas or other products will be specially considered, and consideration will be
given to the requirements with regard to the provision of effective separation,
methods of storage, loading and discharging arrangements.
1.4.7 Provision is to be made for purging, gas freeing, inerting or otherwise
rendering safe crude oil bulk storage tanks, process plant and process storage
facilities before the unit moves to a new location.
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