Steel Catenary Risers News

Global engineering company BMT announced a partnership with Sonardyne to deliver to Subsea 7 its proven ‘Riser Monitoring System’ (RMS).The subsea integrity monitoring solution has been adopted by the world’s largest spar platform, Aasta Hansteen.The Aasta Hansteen Spar platform is operated and owned by Equinor ASA, the Norwegian multinational energy company.Located 300 kilometres west of Sandnessjøen on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) in water depths of up to 1,300m, the deepest field development on the NCS, the Aasta Hansteen Spar is installed in a harsh environment utilising highly robust deepwater Steel Catenary Risers (SCR).Neil Charles…

Brazil’s Petrobras has been one of the leading players in deepwater, subsea development projects since the turn of the century. These projects include pre-salt and post-salt plays, which require extensive and complex subsea engineering and construction efforts. It would be impossible for Petrobras to develop all of its projects alone, therefore much is done by specialized companies, mostly of foreign origin. “We could not have advanced in this project (pre-salt) conventionally, developing the production individually. We needed a global vision of the projects, starting from a high level plan,” said José Formigli, Petrobras’ Executive Director of E&P, speaking of the primary plan for the development of the pre-salt at the Santos Basin, the Plansal, which was created in 2008.

Petrobras’ P-55 Floating Production Unit (FPU), the largest and the first of this kind entirely built in Brazil, is on its way to the Roncador Field, Campos Basin, where it will be installed in a water depth of 1,790 metres. The column stabilized semi-submersible has a capacity of 180,000 bopd and 6,000,000 cu m of gas. The unit is classed by Bureau Veritas. BV group companies also provided a wide range of verification and support services which made the major project possible.

To understand how ABS and DNV participate in Brazil’s complex and challenging Maritime and O&G industries, MR spoke to ABS’s João Carlos Ferreira , DNV’s Tommy Bjørnsen and their colleagues in Rio de Janeiro. The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) is a non-profit classification society founded in 1862. ABS has been present in Brazil for more than 40 years, with more than 200 employees distributed between six offices in Brazil. “We have been providing classification services to the offshore industry longer than any other class society, and we are the current market leader in worldwide MODU classification and also market leaders in floating production units (FPI)…

BMT Scientific Marine Services (BMT), a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, has been granted a patent for its strain measurement system and unique attachment scheme that can be integrated into the insulation layer on ultra-deep water Steel Catenary Risers (SCRs). U.S. Patent No. 7,891,254 recognizes the device and method, invented by BMT’s riser engineers, that monitors strain on steel pipes with reduced or eliminated disruption of the insulation layer that covers the pipe. The attachment scheme is less intrusive than previous strain monitoring solutions.

Technip wins a lump sum contract for development of subsea infrastructure for the Cardamom field located in the Gulf of Mexico, Garden Banks block 427. The field is at a water depth of approximately 830 meters, and the project consists of a subsea tie-back to the Auger tension leg platform, wholly owned by Shell Offshore Inc. The contract covers the project management, engineering, fabrication and installation of the East and West Loop 12.8 kilometer pipe-in-pipe flowlines with associated PLETs and steel catenary risers. Technip's operating center in Houston, Texas will perform the overall project management. The flowlines and risers will be welded at Technip’s spoolbase in Mobile, Alabama.

The Aasta Hansteen Spar will be the first Spar in Norwegian waters, the first Spar concept chosen by Statoil and the largest ever built with a total hull length of 195 meters. (A 'spar' is a cylindrical, partially submerged offshore drilling and production platform that is particularly well adapted to deepwater). Aasta Hansteen (previously named Luva) field development, offshore Norway, in approximately 1,300 meters (4,250 feet) of water depth, and the project will be led by Technip in a consortium with Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).

Aker Solutions has been awarded a FEED (Front-End Engineering and Design) contract from Statoil to design the world's largest Spar platform for the Aasta Hansteen field development in the Norwegian Sea. With a total hull length of 193 meters and a draught of 170 meters, the Aasta Hansteen (formerly named Luva) Spar platform will be the largest of its kind. A Spar platform is a cylinder shaped floating offshore installation. Aasta Hansteen will be the first Spar platform on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS), and also the world's first Spar platform with condensate storage capacity - a so called Belly-Spar. The Belly-Spar concept is an exclusive Aker Solutions design.

2H Offshore relocated to new premises within Houston’s Energy  Corridor District at 15990 North Barkers Landing, Suite 200, Houston, Texas 77079. Close to major clients and less than a mile from the previous location, the new office encompasses 32,000 square feet and includes 9 conference rooms, a training room and dedicated video conferencing facilities. 2H’s Houston base has grown steadily over the past few years as a result of increased project work in the Gulf of Mexico. The…

When the ABS-classed ATP Octabuoy semisubmersible, which is intended for installation on the Cheviot Field in the UK North Sea, is completed later this year, it will be the first project for which ABS will have conducted full regulatory compliance services to the UK-HSE scheme.   The unique shape of the semisubmersible's hull provides an extremely deep draft with good motion characteristics. The Octabuoy, named for its octagonal ring pontoon, is designed to minimize the parametric motions (pitch, roll, heave) as a result of the unique geometry of the columns. The unit can accommodate the use of top-tensioned risers for dry-tree completions and provides a favorable platform for the use of steel catenary risers (SCRs).   First production from the Cheviot Field is expected in 2012.

Saipem has been awarded new offshore contracts worth over 1 billion euro. The contracts refer to activities to be carried out between 2010 and 2012 in the main offshore areas where Saipem is present, in particular in the Caspian Sea, both in the Kazakh and Azeri sectors, Brazil, the Middle East, West Africa, the North Sea and Mexico. The operations will be performed by Saipem’s most powerful fleet vessels and include the laying of sealines, field development, as well as platform fabrication and installation. Among the major awarded contracts, in Kazakhstan, Saipem has signed an extension of the ‘Kashagan Trunklines’ contract with Agip KCO for the installation of the pipeline system connecting the offshore production facilities.

BMT Scientific Marine Services Inc., a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, has developed a sensor assembly and installation tool that permits strain sensors to be installed on an underwater pipeline using a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). Known as a Subsea Strain Sensor Assembly (SSSA), it is attached to a pipeline or riser in depths of up to 10,000 ft below sea level. Once secured onto the pipe, the sensor assembly measures static and dynamic tensile and bending strain and alerts offshore operators if the pipe is likely to be strained excessively or to suffer fatigue damage in future.

Technip said it has won a deepwater pipeline installation contract from Callon Petroleum Company for the Entrada oil field development in the . Technip will be responsible for installation of two 6.5-mile steel flowlines in a water depth of 1,364 m (4,475 ft) connected to two subsea wells, plus pipeline end terminations and inline structures and steel catenary risers which will be hooked up to the Magnolia production platform, at a depth of 1,452 m (4,675 ft), reports said. Technip will  provide engineering and procurement for the offshore project, which will use its Deep Blue installation vessel in the third quarter this year.

Coflexip Stena Offshore reported that its new deepwater pipelay and subsea construction vessel, the CSO Deep Blue, has commenced operations for the Williams Banjo/Seahawk project in the Gulf of Mexico after successful completion of her first mobilization at CSO's new spoolbase in Mobile, Ala. The vessel is to install the Boomvang and Nansen fields deepwater export pipelines. The CSO Deep Blue is to undertake the installation contract of the export pipelines from the Boomvang and Nansen fields, located in 3,600 ft. (1,100 m) water depth in the East Breaks blocks 643 and 602, to a platform located in 365 ft. (110 m) water depth in the Galveston area, block 244.

KBR recently completed a conceptual engineering study of a Spar/Deep Draft Caisson Vessel (DDCV) in 10,000 ft. water depth in the Gulf of Mexico. The six-month study was sponsored and funded by the Joint Industry Project DeepStar, which is supported by 15 oil company participants and 48 other contributor companies. KBR is the wholly owned engineering and construction subsidiary of Halliburton. The primary objectives of the study were to assess credible technology alternatives for mooring systems and production risers for a large ultra-deepwater DDCV, and to quantify the total system cost incentives for pursuing synthetic moorings and composite production risers.

KBR recently completed a conceptual engineering study of a Spar/Deep Draft Caisson Vessel (DDCV) in 10,000 ft. water depth in the Gulf of Mexico. The six-month study was sponsored and funded by the Joint Industry Project DeepStar, which is supported by 15 oil company participants and 48 other contributor companies. KBR is the wholly owned engineering and construction subsidiary of Halliburton. The primary objectives of the study were to assess credible technology alternatives for mooring systems and production risers for a large ultra-deepwater DDCV, and to quantify the total system cost incentives for pursuing synthetic moorings and composite production risers.

Aker Kvaerner has successfully completed the semisubmersible hull for Chevron's Blind Faith platform. The original engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract was awarded to Aker Kvaerner, Inc. by Chevron, with partner Anadarko, in October 2005. The semisubmersible left the Aker Kvaerner Verdal yard in Norway on June 24 and has been transported to a Gulf of Mexico integration yard to be outfitted with the topsides. The Blind Faith platform was the first use of Aker Kvaerner's deep draft semisubmersible (DDS) concept, which was conceived specifically for the application of steel catenary risers in the ultra-deepwater and current-heavy Gulf of Mexico environment.

Technip has been awarded a contract by Bluewater Industries, Inc. for the flowlines, risers, jumpers and subsea structures for the Mirage field development, in the Gulf of Mexico. This field is located in Mississippi Canyon Block 941, at a water depth of 4,050 feet. ATP Oil & Gas Corporation (NASDAQ: ATPG) is 100% owner and operator of Mirage and Bluewater Industries is managing the project. The contract covers engineering for the installation, welding and installation of two steel catenary risers and two oil and gas export flowlines (31 and 52km long), fabrication and installation of subsea structures and jumpers, and pre-commissioning. Technip's operations and engineering center in Houston (Texas) will execute this contract.

Stolt Offshore S.A. of Mexico. about breakeven. to retire from his position as CEO effective immediately. Vossier will continue to serve as a member of the Board. The Board of Directors has commenced a search for a new CEO and appointed on an interim basis as CEO Niels G. Stolt-Nielsen, a member of the Board since 1999 and currently also CEO of Stolt Offshore's parent company, Stolt-Nielsen S.A. Operational problems have been experienced mainly on three projects. forecasting higher than expected fabrication and installation costs. The company has also seen cost over-runs on the Burullus Scarab and Saffron project in Egypt. defective and also difficulties with a nominated sub-contractor requiring additional engineering, management and supervision costs. pipeline burial problems.

Coflexip Stena Offshore reported that its new deepwater pipelay and subsea construction vessel, the CSO Deep Blue, has commenced operations for the Williams Banjo/Seahawk project in the Gulf of Mexico after successful completion of her first mobilization at CSO's new spoolbase in Mobile, Alabama. The vessel is to install the Boomvang and Nansen fields deepwater export pipelines. The CSO Deep Blue is to undertake the installation contract of the export pipelines from the Boomvang and Nansen fields, located in 3,600 ft. (1,100 m) water depth in the East Breaks blocks 643 and 602, to a platform located in 365 ft. (110 m) water depth in the Galveston area, block 244.

Coflexip Stena Offshore Inc. was awarded by Williams Energy Services a large EPCI contract for the design, procurement, installation and commissioning of two 18-in. export pipelines, totalling 160 miles from the Devils Tower field development, located in 5,700 ft water depth in Block 773 of the Gulf of Mexico, to shallow water tie-in locations at the shelf edge. The contract work scope comprises project management, engineering, procurement and installation of two export pipelines consisting of 160 miles of 18-in. pipeline, 12 miles of 14-in. pipeline and two 14-in. steel catenary risers (SCR). CSO will also be responsible for hooking up of the SCRs to the new-built Dominion Exploration Devils Tower Spar…

Aker Maritime aims to provide cost effective solutions for deepwater drilling and production riser systems through its Riser Solutions Group. The group, which is headed by Jeff Mesamer, provides operators with beneficial solutions for production riser systems for various floating production systems, including semi-submersibles, Spars, TLPs and FPSOs - from initial development through delivery and installation. The group provides companies with many variations of free standing production riser systems, top tension risers and steel catenary risers. Project management is combined with the engineering services of Aker Engineering's Riser and Well Systems division, with Dr. Paul Stanton as vice president.

Chevron, with partner Kerr-McGee, has awarded Aker Kvaerner, Inc. the semisubmersible hull and mooring system contract for their Blind Faith project in the Gulf of Mexico. The contract has a total value of approximately USD 120 million. Aker Kvaerner's scope of work includes engineering, procurement, construction and transportation. The award is a recognition of the deepwater competence in Aker Kvaerner. The Blind Faith platform to be located in the Mississippi Canyon 650 block, approximately 162 miles southeast of New Orleans is part of the ultra-deepwater Gulf of Mexico in 6,500 feet water depth. This contract award follows more than one year of concept studies…