J. Ray Completes PEMEX Maloob-C

Houston-based J. Ray McDermott recently bid farewell to the Maloob-C drilling platform, built under a contract for PEMEX Exploración y Producción, Northeast Marine Region. The project is located in the Ku-Maloob-Zaap field in the Bay of Campeche, Mexico, in 264 feet of water. 

“This was the first project for our fabrication facility at Altamira, Mexico,” said John Nesser, J. Ray’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “Building on the successful completion of the Maloob-C platform and with the facility’s capabilities and deep water access to the Gulf of Mexico, we look forward to expanding our relationship with PEMEX on future projects.” 

Work on the drilling platform began in February 2008.  Fabrication of the two-level, 2,535-ton deck and the 3,527-ton jacket, factory testing, onshore pre-commissioning and operational testing, load out and sea fastening were all performed by J. Ray at Altamira.  Additionally, more than 3,300 tons of piles were fabricated at J. Ray’s Morgan City, Louisiana facility for the project using the facility’s rolling mill. 

Engineers from J. Ray’s Altamira office supervised the detailed engineering, and J. Ray’s procurement group purchased materials, equipment and instrumentation not provided by PEMEX.  At peak construction, J. Ray had more than 500 craftsmen and professionals involved with the project.

J. Ray will mobilize its construction vessels from the U.S. Gulf of Mexico to perform the platform installation, and the project is expected to be completed during the third quarter of 2009.

The Maloob-C Platform is designed to sustain 18 wells. Oil production will require gas lift at first stage, and electro-centrifugal or multiphase pumping systems will be used on future stages. Production will be sent to the Ku-H drilling platform for separation. The objective is to increase oil and gas production of Ku-Maloob-Zaap field in the Bay of Campeche, Mexico.

(www.jraymcdermott.com)