Safety and Efficiency on FPSOs: The Role of ATEX Lighting in Offshore Operations
ATEX/IECEx-certified lighting ensures safety and visibility under demanding offshore conditions aboard an FPSO platform.
Operating in oceans around the world, Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels face some of the harshest environments known to industry. From stormy seas to potentially explosive atmospheres, safety and efficiency are critical requirements. ATEX/IECEx-certified lighting plays a pivotal role in ensuring that key work areas stay safely illuminated, hazards are minimised, and operations run smoothly under extreme conditions.
Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessels are at the heart of today’s offshore oil and gas industry. These massive structures are essentially floating factories—capable of extracting, processing, storing and offloading crude oil and gas in some of the world’s most remote and challenging environments. With global energy demand still relying heavily on offshore production, FPSOs have become indispensable.
From the pre-salt fields off Brazil to the
deep waters of West Africa and the harsh environments of the North Sea, these vessels enable operators to reach resources that would once have been inaccessible.
To help operators and engineers navigate these challenges, Wolf Safety has released a new FPSO Ex Lighting Solutions brochure showcasing how our ATEX/IECEx certified products can support safe, efficient illumination across the full lifecycle of the vessel.
Download the brochure here
Click the image to download our new brochure
The Role of FPSOs in Global Energy
Flexibility is a key strength of FPSOs. Unlike fixed platforms, they can be redeployed to different fields, making them a cost-effective option for marginal or remote reserves. They can operate in deep waters, withstand extreme conditions, and store hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude oil before transferring it to shuttle tankers.
Today, FPSOs are active across the globe, supporting major projects such as:
- Sangomar (Senegal) – West Africa’s first offshore oil development
- Stabroek (Guyana) – one of the most significant oil discoveries of the last decade
- Mero and Peregrino (Brazil) – showcasing Brazil’s deep-water expertise
- Johan Sverdrup (Norway) – a cornerstone of Europe’s energy supply
- Kaombo (Angola) – a multi-FPSO project supporting high output
These projects highlight not only the importance of FPSOs but also the technical demands placed on them.
Regional Perspectives on FPSO Growth
South America – Brazil at the Forefront
Brazil has long been a global leader in deep-water oil production, thanks to its vast pre-salt reserves in the Santos and Campos Basins. Operators like Petrobras have invested heavily in FPSO technology, with units such as Mero and Búzios producing hundreds of thousands of barrels per day. The scale of these operations requires highly reliable infrastructure, including Hazardous Area lighting and power systems able to withstand the corrosive offshore environment.
West Africa – Emerging Powerhouse
Offshore West Africa is another hotspot for FPSOs, with Angola and Nigeria leading the way. In Nigeria, Shell’s Bonga Field has been a landmark project since 2005 — one of the first deep-water FPSOs in the country — and Wolf equipment has supported safe operations there for many years. The Kaombo Field off Angola, meanwhile, uses two FPSOs to handle production from a cluster of subsea fields, and in Senegal, the Sangomar Field represents a new chapter for the region, as international operators expand into frontier areas. Together, these projects highlight the importance of modular, redeployable production facilities — particularly in regions with developing infrastructure.
Just some of the offshore oil and gas locations where FPSOs can be found
Northern Europe – Harsh Environments, High Standards
In the North Sea and Barents Sea, FPSOs are used to unlock reserves in harsh, cold-water environments. Projects such as Johan Castberg in Norway and Penguins Field in the UK require vessels that can operate year-round in some of the toughest offshore conditions. Here, safety standards are especially stringent, with a strong emphasis on ATEX/IECEx-certified equipment for Hazardous Areas, ensuring the highest level of compliance.
Asia-Pacific – LNG and Beyond
Australia has emerged as a hub for offshore LNG projects. At Ichthys, a central processing facility (CPF) and the FPSO Ichthys Venturer operate together within one project; elsewhere, standalone FLNG units like Prelude process gas offshore for export. The region is also home to oil-focused FPSOs, such as Ngujima-Yin off Western Australia, highlighting the versatility of these floating production systems. Elsewhere, projects in Malaysia and the Philippines - such as Kikeh (Malaysia's first deep-water FPSO) and Galoc (Philippines) - underline the long-standing role of FPSOs in Asia-Pacific energy supply.
The Americas – New Frontiers in Guyana and Mexico
Guyana has become one of the most exciting new regions for offshore oil. The Stabroek Block, operated by ExxonMobil, has revealed over 11 billion barrels of recoverable resources, with multiple FPSOs planned to handle production. In Mexico, the Area 1 project in the Bay of Campeche is another example of FPSOs enabling development of fields that might otherwise be uneconomical with fixed infrastructure.
Safety in Hazardous Offshore Environments
While the geography may vary, the safety challenges remain consistent across all regions. Working on an FPSO is unlike any other industrial setting. Many parts of the vessel — particularly the topside process systems, riser decks, and storage tanks — are classified as Hazardous Areas where flammable gases or vapours may be present. Safety is therefore paramount, with international standards requiring ATEX/IECEx-certified equipment in Hazardous Areas to minimise the risk of ignition.
Lighting plays a particularly critical role. Safe, reliable illumination is needed for:
- Daily operations and inspections
- Planned shutdowns and maintenance
- Hook-up and commissioning phases
- Tank cleaning and confined space entry
Without properly certified safety lighting, routine checks and essential repairs could put personnel and assets at risk.
Meeting the Challenge: Reliable Hazardous Area Lighting
Illuminating an FPSO is not straightforward. Offshore conditions are harsh, with salt spray, corrosion, vibration, extreme weather, and limited space adding to the challenge. Lighting must not only be explosion-protected but also durable, efficient, and adaptable.
Advances in LED technology have made it possible to achieve high-output, low-glare illumination that improves visibility while reducing energy consumption. Temporary and portable lighting allow safe access during shutdowns or tank work, while installed LED systems provide long-term reliability for production operations. Increasingly, smart solutions — such as voltage monitoring and intelligent emergency back-up — are helping operators boost both safety and efficiency.
Wolf Lighting supplied to projects Globally
The scale of FPSO projects means they draw on expertise and equipment from across the world, with Wolf's Hazardous Area certified lighting, ventilation and power distribution systems being used globally. Our solutions are trusted by operators not only because they meet international standards, but because they are proven in the field—supporting operations in Brazil, West Africa, Australia, the North Sea and beyond.
Looking Ahead
As the offshore sector adapts to shifting energy demands, FPSOs will remain a central part of the equation. New projects in Guyana, Senegal, and the Barents Sea are already pushing boundaries, while existing fields continue to rely on FPSOs for efficient production.
At the same time, the sector faces new challenges: reducing environmental impact, incorporating digital technologies, and ensuring safety in ever-more complex operating environments. In this context, Hazardous Area lighting isn’t just equipment—it’s a cornerstone of safety and operational continuity.
Conclusion
FPSOs represent the cutting edge of offshore energy, combining engineering innovation with the ability to produce oil and gas in some of the world’s most demanding locations. As projects expand across South America, West Africa, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, the need for safe, reliable ATEX/IECEx-certified lighting will continue to grow.