Fugro Geos Ensures Stella SPM Leads The World
Fugro GEOS has implemented new technology on 'Stella', the Bonga SPM (Single Point Mooring) Buoy - the largest in the world. The project, offshore Nigeria, has recently seen the installation by Fugro GEOS of a real-time meteorological, oceanographic (metocean) and upgraded tension monitoring system that ensures Stella leads the world in SPM technology. Powered by integrated solar power systems, and with telemetry and remote data display units, the system allows data to be monitored and displayed in real-time for use by approaching tankers.
Contracted to Single Buoy Moorings (SBM) of Monaco, who were working for the Bonga field operators SNEPCo (Shell Nigeria), Fugro GEOS was approached by Shell to design, build and install an accurate real-time metocean monitoring system, in support of tanker approach, berthing and offloading operations from the Bonga SPM and FPSO (Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading). In addition, the existing hawser and anchor tension system was upgraded and integrated to the metocean system. Logged data were to be archived for support of design analysis of FPSO and SPM moorings and risers for the life of the field and for future field developments. "In this project we made the first use of surface-recoverable ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler) deployment frames; cross-turntable real-time radio modem links for all anchor tension and current profile data; a downward looking ADCP on an SPM; and an H-ADCP (Horizontal ADCP) deployed on a rotating turntable to acquire near-surface current speed and direction, all corrected for turntable heading," explains Michael Quinnell, Fugro GEOS Seasystems Manager.
