New production technologies, enhanced recovery methods and higher oil prices have prolonged the economic viability of many existing oil fields. As a result, there is an industry-wide desire to operate existing floating offshore assets beyond their original design lives. However, the upgrades, modifications, and repairs required to be performed offshore for successful life extension are challenging and costly, even in the best of situations, and involve extensive evaluation and planning. This often requires commitment from the facility Operator to make major investment decisions in extended field viability before any significant or detailed engineering can be completed by conducting a high-level, preliminary assessment of the current condition of the facility or field. This assessment should be holistic, considering all aspects of the facility, not just an analytical assessment of hull strength/fatigue and moorings. It should identify all key longevity drivers or the major features, concerns or uncertainties affecting the structures' ability to remain fit-for-purpose for the extended field life. The risks associated with all identified longevity drivers should be well understood in order to highlight any critical issues or significant unknowns that could impact the continued service decision. The objective of this assessment should be to establish a roadmap for continued study and to develop a set of key activities and goals for the next phase of the continued service evaluation. This paper describes a methodology and considerations for performing an early stage life extension assessment for offshore floating facilities.

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