SPE WA Hosts Successful Industry Event Showcasing Gen3 Ultra-Deepwater FPSO Execution
Perth, Western Australia – On the evening of April 29, 2025, the Society of Petroleum Engineers Western Australia (SPE WA) Facility Group hosted a compelling technical presentation titled “The Execution of a Gen3 Ultra-Deepwater FPSO Project” at RIFF Spacecubed – Townhall, 45 St Georges Terrace, Perth.
Held on the traditional lands of the Wadjuk people of the Noongar nation, SPE WA respectfully acknowledged the custodians of these lands and paid tribute to their Elders, past, present, and emerging.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Jinzhu Xia, an independent offshore engineering consultant, captivated an audience of all the senior engineers, managers, academics, and students with insights from his five-year leadership on a Generation 3 FPSO project recently delivered for Petrobras. Dr. Xia’s deep expertise—spanning over two decades across Perth, Houston, and Kuala Lumpur—provided a solid foundation for a rich and engaging session.
The presentation covered:
- Project background and key challenges
- An inventive hull form design
- Mooring system optimization
- Design assessment process
- Global performance outcomes
With the aid of dynamic visuals, live demos, and technical clarity, Dr. Xia presented complex engineering concepts in an accessible and engaging manner. His thoughtful delivery sparked enthusiastic participation, with over 20 insightful questions raised by attendees from companies such as Technip/Genesis, Chevron, Woodside, Santos, Wood, KPMG, Royal Mechanical, Axiom Edge Solutions, and Kongsberg, as well as academics and students from ECU, UWA, and Curtin University.
Notable exchanges included an in-depth dialogue between Mr. Roumen Sankoff (Santos), Bunthita Phiromphisit (Woodside) and Professor Claus Otto (Curtin University) reflecting the high-calibre technical engagement throughout the evening.
The event was hosted by Mr. Xipo Zhang (Co-Chair of Facility Group), Managing Director of Axiom Edge Solutions with strong support from SPE WA Committee: Jeff Zhang (SPE WA section chair), Mr. Sahil Thathu (co-chair of the facility group), Claus Otto (GAIA), Bunthita Phiromphisit (Young Professional), Neil Mitchell (Mentoring).
Following the presentation, attendees enjoyed an evening of wine, beer, pizza, and productive networking—hallmarks of SPE WA’s commitment to fostering knowledge exchange and community in Western Australia’s energy sector.
About SPE WA
SPE WA is part of the global Society of Petroleum Engineers network, dedicated to knowledge sharing and professional development in the energy industry. Events like this continue to uphold SPE’s mission of connecting professionals through technical excellence and collaboration.
Reviewed by: Jeff Zhang