Delmar Systems, Inc. and Shell Deepwater Development, Inc. set another world record for mooring depth when the two companies partnered to moor Transocean Marianas in more than 7,500 ft. in the Gulf of Mexico.
Semi-submersible drilling rig Marianas was moored in 7,569 ft. in
Mississippi Canyon 657 using a Suction Anchor System and Delmar's Single Vessel Installation Procedure. The deepest anchor was set at 7,738 ft.
The mooring system consists of eight 12-ft. diameter by 60 ft. long suction anchors embedded in the seafloor and attached to 10,000 ft. of 3.75 in. wire rope with the specially designed Delmar Sub Sea Connector. The connector allowed mooring line connection by an ROV provided by Oceaneering International, Inc.
The world-record mooring depth installation was accomplished using only one anchor handling vessel, Gary Chouest, owned by
Edison Chouest Offshore, Inc. Eight mooring systems were pre-installed by Gary Chouest. Once on location, the rig was connected to all eight mooring legs in a record-breaking 28-hour total time.