Upon completion of the second successful pipelay, 22,000’ x 6” in the Ship Shoal area, BISSO MARINE pipeline division reconfigured the DLB BIG CHIEF to recover 14,000’ of 20” pipeline in the Main Pass area. The 20” pipeline, which was crossed by three trunklines, had been uncovered, kinked and moved about during
Hurricane Ivan, leaving the line in a condition which prevented any opportunity to pig the pipeline prior to the removal.
Due to the pipeline being “hot”, BISSO MARINE devised a plan to pull the pipeline onto the barge’s “recovery line”, purge and cold cut. The cut piece of pipeline was then encapsulated and placed onto the materials barge for transport to a facility for cleaning and disposal.
The customization of the DLB BIG CHIEF included the fabrication of a large pollution containment area; a heavy duty frame to support the hydraulic cutting machine and heavy wall pipe rollers to support the pipeline while on deck. The recovery of the pipeline was completed without incident and on schedule.
The DLB BIG CHIEF is currently engaged in additional pipelay projects in the western gulf.