Main Pass Block News

The U.S. Coast Guard will next week hold a formal public hearing to consider evidence related to the April 2021 capsizing of the liftboat Seacor Power and the death of 13 of its 19 crewmembers in the Gulf of Mexico.The Seacor Power liftboat capsized, April 13, 2021, about seven miles south of Port Fourchon, La., in the Gulf of Mexico with 19 crewmembers aboard. Six crewmembers were initially rescued, and six were recovered unresponsive during the course of the response. Coast Guard boat and aircrews…

Salvage crews have removed all diesel fuel from the tanks of capsized liftboat Seacor Power in the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. Coast Guard said on Wednesday.Salvors removed approximately 20,363 gallons of diesel fuel from the overturned vessel using the hot tapping method, which involves drilling into the fuel tanks, making a hose connection, and transferring the fuel to portable tanks, the Coast Guard said.Approximately 4,500 gallons of hydraulic fluid still on board will need to be removed after the vessel is raised as the tanks are currently inaccessible…

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Tuesday published a preliminary report as part of its ongoing investigation into the fatal capsizing of the liftboat Seacor Power last month near Port Fourchon, La.There were 19 people on board when the U.S.-flagged Seacor Power overturned in extreme weather conditions in the Gulf of Mexico. Six people were rescued by the Coast Guard and Good Samaritan vessels, six people died in the accident and seven remain missing.According to the NTSB, the vessel departed Port Fourchon at about 1:30 p.m.

An inadequate preload procedure was found to have led to the overturning of a liftboat in the Gulf of Mexico in September 2019, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed in an accident brief report on Tuesday.The accident occurred while the self-propelled, self-elevating, liftboat Kristin Faye was elevated above the sea surface to provide service to an oil production platform in 35-feet of water in Main Pass Block 64, located about 18 nautical miles east of Venice, La.

Bisso Marine Co. Inc. of New Orleans has recently put its new 250-ton revolving crane, the D/B BOAZ, into service. The American R-40 Crane has 175 ft. of boom and three blocks with lift capacities of 250 tons, 80 tons and 20 tons. The barge is 250 ft. x 76 ft. x 17 ft. with an operating draft of 10 ft. The D/B Boaz is ABS classified and has living quarters for 34. The derrick has completed the swap out of a 90-ton compressor at an elevation of 125 ft. on a platform at Grand Isle Block 102 in 225 ft. of water. The D/B Boaz removed two multiple pile platforms in 40 and 60ft. of water in Eugene Island Blocks 128 and 119. The derrick was…

A unit of Williams has announced that it has commissioned a new production handling platform in federal waters approximately 60 miles south of Mobile Bay, Ala. Gas production from approximately 35,000 acres of federal leases is dedicated to the platform. Construction of Williams' Canyon Station -- a fixed-leg platform in 300 feet of water in East Main Pass Block 261 -- was completed on schedule at the end of June. The jacket was installed in October 2001, followed by the deck and all of the topsides equipment in May 2002. Phil Wright, president and chief executive officer of Williams' energy services unit, said, "The deck is set, the generators are running and we're raring to go.

Global Industries, Ltd. has attained the offshore marine construction business of its Mexican joint venture CCC Fabricaciones y Construcciones, S.A. de C.V. and sold its interest in CCC to the other principal shareholder of CCC, Grupo Consorcio de Fabricaciones y Construcciones. Under these terms, Global is acquiring four marine vessels and the marine support base at Cuidad de Carmen, Mexico, in addition to the existing offshore marine construction contracts totaling more than $72 million. Another transaction in the works is a definitive purchase agreement that was signed for the attainment of ETPM, SA, an international offshore construction company.

Global Industries, Ltd. has attained the offshore marine construction business of its Mexican joint venture CCC Fabricaciones y Construcciones, S.A. de C.V. and sold its interest in CCC to the other principal shareholder of CCC, Grupo Consorcio de Fabricaciones y Construcciones. Under these terms, Global is acquiring four marine vessels and the marine support base at Cuidad de Carmen, Mexico, in addition to the existing offshore marine construction contracts totaling more than $72 million. Another transaction in the works is a definitive purchase agreement that was signed for the attainment of ETPM, SA, an international offshore construction company.

Magnum Hunter Resources, Inc. has significantly expanded its drilling program in the Gulf of Mexico through several recent acquisitions and the commitment of new capital. Magnum Hunter acquired a 25 percent working interest in four Gulf of Mexico offshore prospects from Remington Oil and Gas Corporation. The first well in this new drilling program is scheduled to commence during the first week of January on East Cameron Block 364. The company also acquired a 100 percent working interest in Main Pass Block 178 from Union Pacific Resources Group, Inc.Two recently drilled wells on this block have indicated pay and are currently suspended. The company is reviewing development plans for this project in the first half of 2000 after the recent acquisition of 3-D seismic.

Global Divers & Contractors, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Industries, rerouted a 20-in. pipeline through an in-line booster pump station platform this summer at Main Pass Block 69 in the Gulf of Mexico. The operation for Equilon Enterprises LLC involved what is believed to be the largest series of mechanical pipeline connectors ever used in one project application. The project was completed to increase flow volumes in the 20-in. line. In the first phase of the project, Global Industries' Offshore Construction Division used derrick barge Arapaho to install the four-pile pump station platform in 33 ft. of water. The platform - with a 180-ton jacket, 570-ton deck, and 650-ton pump module - was installed approximately 140 ft. from the 20-in. pipeline.

Global Divers & Contractors, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Industries, rerouted a 20-in. pipeline through an in-line booster pump station platform this summer at Main Pass Block 69 in the Gulf of Mexico. The operation for Equilon Enterprises LLC involved what is believed to be the largest series of mechanical pipeline connectors ever used in one project application. The project was completed to increase flow volumes in the 20-in. line. In the first phase of the project, Global Industries' Offshore Construction Division used derrick barge Arapaho to install the four-pile pump station platform in 33 ft. of water. The platform - with a 180-ton jacket, 570-ton deck, and 650-ton pump module - was installed approximately 140 ft. from the 20-in. pipeline.

Stolt Offshore in Houston has successfully completed a deepwater subsea to subsea installation, including one flowline and one umbilical, for Shell’s single well Einset project in the Gulf of Mexico, reports Bjorn Koi, Stolt’s project manager. “Subsea to subsea installations are ‘rare’ in the industry but may become more prevalent as we move into deeper waters. To date, most subsea tie-backs have been supported by host platforms in shallower water. “In the case of Einset, we tied back a new deepwater well to existing subsea infrastructure, also located in deepwater. This achievement demonstrates how the industry is applying proven technology while effectively utilizing deepwater construction vessels, such as Stolt’s ‘Seaway Falcon’,” said Koi.

Rowan Companies, Inc. completed an initial aerial survey of its 22 rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. All of the company's rigs were located, with the exception of the Rowan-New Orleans. The company is undertaking efforts to locate the rig and fears it may have capsized and sunk offshore Louisiana. Rowan's other rigs in the area appear to have sustained minimal damage but a complete evaluation of their condition will require a closer inspection upon the return of the company's drilling personnel. The Rowan-New Orleans was a LeTourneau 52-class slot jack-up rig. The rig had been secured at its pre-storm location in Main Pass Block 185 and all personnel were evacuated prior to the arrival of Hurricane Katrina.