SURF transpooling and installation in Australia

DOF was contracted by an operator in Australia to connect new development wells with an existing gas plant to boost domestic production. The various SURF required for the hook up had to be first collected from the product manufacturers in the United Kingdom. DOF turned to MDL to enable their OSV Skandi Acergy to execute the mission.

The package of support covered provision of two MDL back-deck spreads and experienced field service personnel to operate them. The first spread consisted of a Generation 2 Reel Drive System, deck deflectors in a 200º formation and 6-tonne 2-track tensioner on the bespoke grillage. It was used for the transpooling of umbilicals and flowlines from a total of 10 Coflexip reels between 8.6m and 10.6m diameter onto the under-deck carousel. The operations were carried out in Hartlepool and Newcastle - here the RDS and 2-track tensioner were demobilised, for return to Peterhead by road transport. The vessel then transited to Western Australia to perform the installation from the under-deck carousel, using an MDL Horizontal Lay System with a 51-tonne 4-track tensioner and a bespoke tulip centraliser assembly for optimal product deployment. The spread was operated by MDL’s expert field service personnel.

Besides the provision of mission-enabling equipment, the MDL package also included tailored Project Management & Engineering services. These covered the complete mobilisation of two MDL spreads on board the Skandi Acergy in Peterhead, including sea fastening on-site welding, as well as manufacture of an inclined grillage for the tensioner, carousel loading chute, HLS grillage, two flying lead deployment frames and hang-off collars. Craig Wilson, Senior Project Manager at DOF, said: “As well as delivering fast-tracked fabrication packages on budget and on time, all MDL back-deck equipment was mobilised and operated as promised and without any issues.”