Recently, the Offshore Engineering Technology Center of China Classification Society (CCS) issued the first domestic AIP certificate for underwater oil storage equipment to China Offshore Engineering & Technology Co,. Ltd. It signifies the professional certification of China’s independently developed underwater oil storage equipment in terms of technical compliance, safety, and reliability, providing innovative solutions for the development of marginal oilfields in China, and injecting new momentum into the self-development of sub-sea equipment.

Marginal oilfields face long-term commercial challenges due to the disperse reservoir distribution and high development cost. China Offshore Engineering & Technology Co., Ltd. has actively researched and explored the offshore oilfield development technologies fit for China’s national environment and conditions, and successfully designed the underwater oil storage equipment to simplify the existing marginal oilfield development system and mode.

This underwater oil storage equipment approved in principle has adopted a fixed pile foundation, with a cylindrical steel tank as the main body, which consists of the main tank, pile foundation system, central oil guide sleeve, flexible bag, manifold and other main components. This equipment is designed specifically for the urgent needs of marginal oilfield development. By directly storing crude oil on the seabed, it effectively reduces the total cost of oilfield development, minimizes the risks of marginal oilfield development, and accelerates the process of marginal oilfield development.

As a national team in the field of marine and offshore survey, CCS Offshore Engineering Technology Center has actively participated in the whole process of plan approval, inspection and certification for the underwater oil storage equipment, which involves multiple aspects such as structural design and analysis, pile foundation design, load calculation, etc. During the technical review process, CCS Offshore Engineering Technology Center has maintained high-frequency technical communication with the design party and feed back many advice and suggestions on key technologies, such as the pile foundation bearing capacity, load calculation, and main structure verification, etc. to ensure the compliance and safety of underwater oil storage equipment design.

In recent years, CCS Offshore Engineering Technology Center has actively deepened cooperation with universities, research institutes, and industry-leading enterprises, and boosted the transformation of innovative achievements, provided solid support for the high-quality development of the marine and offshore economy. The first AIP certificate for underwater oil storage equipment will effectively facilitate the development of marginal oilfields and promote the self-reliance of subsea equipment.

 In the future, CCS will continue to play a technology-leading role, deepen collaborative industry-university-research-survey cooperation, and provide hardcore support for ensuring national energy safety and building a strong maritime nation.