The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has awarded the world’s first REMOTE-CON Notation to the Liza Unity floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, it said in a May 7 release. Dutch floater specialist SBM Offshore delivered the vessel for the ExxonMobil-operated Stabroek Block.
The REMOTE-CON notation demonstrates the vessel’s alignment with remote-control functions and signifies that the design and construction of the offshore asset are assessed against and adhere to the ABS Requirements for Autonomous and Remote Control Functions, ABS said.
The American maritime classification body hailed the Liza Unity as a repeat collector of industry firsts, given that the FPSO was also the first to receive the SUSTAIN-1 Notation, signifying its alignment with key elements of the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) requirements outlined in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Liza Unity is the second FPSO to be built for Exxon for Guyana and the first delivered under SBM Offshore’s Fast4Ward® program. The FPSO started production in February 2022. It initially targeted oil production at 220,000 barrels per day (b/d), but has demonstrated it can produce up to 260,000 b/d.
Exxon plans to further optimize the vessel’s production later this year.
Representatives from ABS, SBM Offshore, the operator, and ExxonMobil Guyana met at the 2024 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) for an official presentation of the new class notation.
John McDonald, ABS President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), said “Remote control capabilities have the potential to improve the health, safety and quality processes on offshore assets. We are proud to use our extensive expertise in the offshore industry to support SBM Offshore with advanced capabilities like remote-control technologies.”
Alex Glenn, SBM Offshore COO, said “This important milestone in the evolution of our deepwater FPSO operating model has been achieved in close collaboration with ExxonMobil Guyana and ABS. Remote access and control capabilities are a key component of our strategy to maximize the safety, integrity and availability of our assets and progress towards our goal of net-zero.”
