Abstract
This paper will cover the evolution of offshore systems over the past 20-25 years, starting with the use of zinc and vinyl or chlorinated rubber systems, and moving to the currently used high solids systems.
Consideration will be given to all the key regions of offshore production, including Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, Arabian Gulf and Asian fields, and how different construction processes, and arguably environmental conditions, drove a divergence of specifications which may now be converging again.
The strengths and weaknesses of various systems will be reviewed in terms of both New Construction and Maintenance.
Finally, the painting of Floating Production Facilities (e.g. FPSOs) will be considered, and how painting specifications for these have had to diverge from traditional approaches because of vastly different construction processes when compared to fixed platforms.