China Offshore Oil Engineering Company’s (COOEC’s) internal turret buoy single-point mooring system, which is controlled by China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), has earned two approvals in principle (AIP): one from the China Classification Society (CCC) and another from Bureau Veritas.

Considered the first of its kind in China, the single-point mooring system reportedly enables floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) units to maintain stable production operations at sea by functioning as a so-called weather vane, thereby assisting in vessel positioning.

Source: COOEC

Its developers explained that when impacted by wind, waves and currents, the FPSO device will rotate around the single-point mooring system, thus making it less vulnerable to external forces. Meanwhile, the system can also be used for electricity and communication transmission, as well as for transporting fluids.

Further, the system’s quick-release function allows the inner turret single-point mooring system to withstand even a strong typhoon.

Additionally, the system is appropriate for water depths of up to 500 m, thereby making it ideal for the deepwater oil and gas equipment industry.