Penguins FPSO
The Penguins FPSO is a cylindrical hull floating production, storage and offloading vessel deployed on the Penguins oil and gas field in the UK North Sea. Commissioned into service in 2025, it produces both oil and gas and replaces earlier tie-backs to Brent Charlie. Oil is stored onboard and offloaded by tanker; gas is exported via pipeline to shore.
Operator: shell
Status: Operational

Image Source: shell. (All rights belong to the original owner.)
Production: Oil
Operations start: 2025
Water depth: 158 m
Country: UK
Block: 211/13
Type: FPSO
Field
The Penguins field, discovered in 1974 and previously produced via the Brent Charlie platform (2003-2021), lies ~240 km northeast of Shetland in ~165 m water depth. It contains mixed oil and gas resources (~100 MMboe 2P) with Jurassic sandstone reservoirs.
Facilities
The Penguins FPSO features a Sevan cylindrical design with integrated oil separation, gas handling, and storage systems (~400,000 bbl capacity). It receives production from multiple subsea wells tied back via flowlines and manifolds. Crude oil is separated, stabilized, and stored in hull tanks before offloading to shuttle tankers. Natural gas is conditioned onboard and exported via an existing pipeline to the St Fergus gas terminal for entry into the UK gas network. The FPSO's processing plant includes multiphase separators, gas compression and dehydration, produced water management, and vapor recovery systems that recycle vapors reducing emissions. Power generation is provided by onboard gas turbines and generators sized for topside utilities, safety, and accommodation functions. Control and safety systems meet DNV/UKCS standards with redundant fire & gas detection, emergency shutdowns, and dynamic positioning/turret mooring enabling disconnect capability in severe weather. Accommodation modules support ~70 staff with life-support systems.

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