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Gulfstar, Offshore Reliability
Offshore Reliability, Made in America. Design one – build many. That's the concept behind Williams' Gulfstar FPS,™ a classic spar hull with traditional three-level topsides. Williams' team of expert engineers has designed Gulfstar FPS as a flexible, reliable solution for deepwater producers. In fact, we're building our first Gulfstar FPS for producers in the Gulf of Mexico. Read More »

Gulfstar, Offshore Reliability

They say we don’t make things in America anymore. But at Williams, we’re creating the first floating production system of its kind ever built in the United States.

In fact, our Gulfstar FPS is creating 1,000 jobs in 20 states to create critical infrastructure needed to develop domestic energy resources in the Gulf of Mexico. Fabrication of the hull is taking place in Aransas Pass, Texas, while the topsides fabrication is occurring in Houma, La.

“The Gulfstar FPS approach to field development has certainly created a buzz in the industry,” says Stafford Menard, Williams’ manager of Gulfstar development. “Most of the people I have talked to have really jumped on the concept – particularly the focus on ‘Made in America.’ They’re glad to see the work is being done in the United States.”

Our engineers designed Gulfstar to provide the flexibility producers need and the safety and reliability they expect. Gulfstar’s standardized, core design ensures speed to market, while plug-and-play options allow customization to meet specific needs.

The classic spar hull with traditional three-level topsides can reach water depths of 3,000 to 8,500 feet. Anchoring the facility requires robotic technology, similar to what NASA does in space

When the project is complete in early 2014, Gulfstar FPS will have a capacity of 60,000 barrels of oil per day, up to 200 million cubic feet per day of natural gas production capacity and the capability to provide seawater injection services.

Williams’ master limited partnership, Williams Partners, already has signed multiple agreements with Hess Corporation and Chevron to provide production handling, export pipeline, oil and gas gathering and gas processing services in the Tubular Bells field development.

“These agreements demonstrate the value that deepwater producers place on reducing cycle time and costs,” says Rory Miller, president of Williams’ midstream business. “It also reflects the commercial benefit of our reputation for reliability and our commitment to safety – both in our deployment of innovative solutions and in our operations.”