SBM Offshore has received a Statement of Maturity from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for its seawater-intake riser (SWIR) technology, developed in partnership with Shell. Using its New Technology Qualification program, ABS concluded that the SWIR is suitable for integration with a floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) unit.
The system is designed to lift cold seawater from depths at around 700 m to the FPSO, where it supports process cooling. SBM Offshore and Shell recently outlined the technology in a paper presented at the 2026 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC).
In OTC 36836, the companies note that conventional systems typically pull seawater from depths of less than 100 m, with many operating at around 20 m. At these depths, intake temperatures off the coast of Brazil, where the SWIR was tested, are generally near 25°C. By extending intake to greater depths, the SWIR can access water temperatures between 5 and 10°C.
In addition to cooling, the SWIR could support power generation and improve overall energy efficiency while reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions. The authors from SBM Offshore and Shell also note that these efficiency gains may reduce equipment requirements and personnel onboard an FPSO, lowering both topside weight and operating costs.
“SWIR’s development reflects SBM Offshore’s innovation leadership and its commitment to supporting the emission-reduction journey. SWIR is an important step in our low-carbon roadmap: the project began as an in-house concept in 2014 and advanced through a multiyear, multiparty effort, including a development partnership with Shell and research input from academic institutes,” Laurent Le Touzé, SBM Offshore’s technology and product development director, said in a statement.
The ABS qualification follows a 6-month prototype testing campaign offshore Brazil that involved Shell and Petrobras.
“We are optimistic about the promising results achieved by the seawater-intake system project. The technology will enable significant optimization and performance improvements in FPSO process and utilities plants, while also contributing to the decarbonization of offshore oil and gas production.” Eli Gomes, a technology project manager for Shell’s Brazil unit, said in a statement.