Supertanker Explodes - Nigeria

[1503-44]

2MM BBL TANKER Explodes

"Trinity Spirit is a floating production storage and offloading unit (FPSO), which is used by the offshore oil and gas industry for producing and processing, as well as storing oil.

It can process up to 22,000 barrels of oil a day, according to SEPCOL’s website.

At the time of the explosion, it had about 50,000 barrels in storage and was not pumping crude from the Ukpokiti oilfield, according to an industry source active in Nigeria’s oil sector.

SEPCOL had its license to produce oil revoked in 2019 by Nigeria’s upstream regulator and is currently in receivership, a form of bankruptcy protection.

This is Nigeria’s second major environmental disaster in just three months, after a huge oil spill from a disused, capped well released 20,000 barrels of oil a day for a month in Nembe, Bayelsa state."

https://nypost.com/2022/02/03/oil-t...million-barrels-explodes-off-coast-of-nigeria

 

[AusG]

46 years old vessel, an ex Conoco-Philips asset servicing the OPL108 production lease is now owned by a Nigerian company SEPCOL aka Shebah Expl & Production Co Ltd, owned by Abbeycourt Petroleum, owned by Ordrec Group Ltd, several directors and senior employees in common. Also involved in Sepcol is the larger Nigerian public company company the similarly named SEPLAT.

 

[TugboatEng]

This seems to be a trend. Old tankers which are no longer insurable for ocean voyages get converted to FPSO.

 

[Alistair_Heaton]

Its a feature of a lot of 70/80's oil gear. Just wait for the Russian can't stand up without perma frost starts falling over.

 

[TugboatEng]

Only 10 people on board. A typical tanker of this size would operate with a crew of 23 and have regular dry dockings. FPSO designated vessels are exempt from many requirements.

https://gcaptain.com/three-trinity-spirit-crew-members-found-alive/

 

[LittleInch]

They don't often go beyond 30 years service as an FPSO as you need a dry sock inspection every 15 years with detailed underwater inspection every 5 years.

Usually the processing plant built on top falling to bits is what consigns them to the scrap yard.

Empty tanks are very dangerous and it's like being in a floating time bomb if the vessel is just idle with no money to spend on maintainence.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[1503-44]

Owners were bankrupt, so there you go.