Flare boom design

Since FG International Holland BV is a specialist in flare maintenance activities and is being appreciated for its innovative solutions with regard to its customer’s flare problems, it does not come as a surprise that more and more clients contact FG International Holland BV in order to give them advice on the design of a flare boom or tower.

Most of these inquiries are being made by offshore clients, such as Technip, Shell, Woodside, KBR, McDermott etc. These clients prefer the FG method of replacing flare tips. The mechanical handling of flare tips is a specialist job, since the status of the flare boom, flare tower and flare platform is most of the time not exactly known before the start of a shutdown.

The method FG International Holland BV uses with regard to replacing a flare tip involves a flexible lifting arrangement, which FG calls a Lifting Arch Frame (LAF). This LAF is being operated by special winches (air powered or hydraulic). The biggest advantage of the LAF system is that it can be brought on board before a shutdown. Before shipment all equipment and material is tested and certified and ready for immediate installation once on board. By means of this method the client can be certain a working lifting arrangement is available to replace their flare tips and the shutdown time will be limited to 4 or 5 days.

At the customer’s request FG International Holland BV can be involved in an early stage of the platform design in order to give advice on the design of the flare boom, flare tower, flare tip platform and lay down area, to make sure mechanical handling of the flare tip is possible for the next flare tip replacement. This advice comprehends for example:

• Advice on the position and installation of the guiding rails for guiding the flare tips to and from the platform or supply vessel with a trolley.
• Advice on the design of the flare tip platform. The structural beams of the flare tip platform should be positioned in such a way to support the lifting device.
• Advice on the position of the tie in points for both winches (on deck level) and the lifting arrangement on the flare tip platform.
• Advice on the position of the flare tips in their final position.
• Advice on the mechanical handling arrangement on deck level.

The advice on the design, position and installation of the flare boom system are then layed down in a user manual, a so called “Method Statement”. This method statement describes the flare tip replacement procedure in detail, including safety plan, equipment list, 3D pictures of the lifting procedure and all other issues that can occur during the flare tip replacement process.

FG International Holland BV is always willing to provide platform designers, structural and mechanical engineers with the best possible advice. Please contact FG International Holland BV for more information and enquiries.