Projects
Shell Gumusut Kakap
Gumusut Kakap is a deepwater oil discovery in offshore Sabah, Malaysia where Sabah Shell Petroleum Company is the designated Operator. This development employs Malaysia’s first deepwater semi-submersible production system. The 44,000 t FPS is to be located about 200 km off the shore of Sabah (East Malaysia) in the South China Sea in water depth about 1,200 m. The project has allowed Shell to share deep-water expertise with Malaysian energy companies, assisting in the Malaysian government’s goal to create an offshore industry hub. The platform was built in Malaysia by Malaysian Marine and Heavy Engineering Sdn Bhd (MMHE). Boskalis was awarded a contract by MMHE for the provision of the Heavy Transport Vessel (HTV) for the load-out, float-off and tow-back package of the Project which includes the load-out of the Integrated FPS from MMHE fabrication Yard onto the HTV, Dry-transport to Desaru, Float-off, Tow-back and Re-delivery at MMHE fabrication yard. Boskalis was responsible for the load-out-, transport- and float-off engineering and execution of the Gumust Kakap FPS. This included the design of HTV grillages, skid beams and seafastening as well as the design, fabrication and delivery of a ground reaction type Buoyance Tank(BT). The scope also included the mobilization and readiness of HTV Blue Marlin, HTV ballasting during the skidded load-out operation and the provision of the marine spread required for the float-off operation and HTV and BT demobilization. HTV Blue Marlin arrived at the load-out yard end of March 2013. The fabrication yard started with the installation of the grillage required for the load-out of the FPS. The outfitting of the HTV main deck was completed mid-April. Since the draft of the FPS, once afloat, would be more than the maximum water depth over the HTV main deck, a draft reduction mechanism had to be designed. For this purpose Boskalis had designed and fabricated a Buoyance Tank (BT). This BT was designed to fit between the FPS bottom plating and the top of the HTV grillage. On the BT fabrication yard the BT was loaded onto a charted barge, transported to Pasir Gudang, where it was loaded-in for storage until the FPS was ready for the load-out. On April 16th 2013 the BT was load-out by SPMT’s onto the barge that would be used for positioning the BT between FPS bottom and HTV grillage. On May 3rd the FPS was skidded to just before the HTV (land-pull) to start the load-out the next day. As a result of the skidding system used, the tolerances were very small, which resulted in a slow skidding speed. The FPS was in its final position in the early morning of May 5th. Once in position the securing of the FPS started, the link beams were removed and the HTV de-ballasted to BT load-out conditions. On May 9th the barge with BT were moored against the HTV. The next day the load-out of the BT started and on May 11th the BT was in the correct position. HTV and BT were now prepared and tested for the dry-tow and the subsequent discharge operations. On May 14th the loaded HTV shifted from Pasir Gudang to the offload location near Desaru where it dropped anchor. Various preparatory work on the FPS and seafastening removal had to be done and on May 21st all was ready for the discharge of the FPS with the BT under it. The FPS and BT were towed off the HTV by 1 AHT and 4 inshore tugs. After this discharge the HTV de-ballasted and shifted back to the yard for main deck reinstatement. The FPS needed to be offloaded from the BT which started early morning of May 22nd by ballasting of the BT. The FPS was towed off the BT that same afternoon and re-delivered to client. The BT was de-ballasted and towed back to Pasir Gudang for reinstatement. To ensure that the FPS could achieve the required float-off draft, the BT, which is technically a ground reaction barge is required for the discharge operation. Boskalis was responsible for ensuring that the BT was designed, constructed and delivered to ensure the safe and successful execution of this complex discharge. The BT design was unique, having its own power, sophisticated ballast system, tank gauging system, ballast air compressors, hydraulics etc. which had to be thoroughly examined and dry tested before the operation. Also, ground reaction barge operations require flat hard seabed. Intensive research was carried out including bottom survey of several areas around the coast before suitable location with hard sand at required depths was found off Desaru area. The success of the project was due to the strong cooperation between all parties. The project had schedule challenges but the close working relationship between the project management teams of MMHE and Boskalis ensured that the project was still executed in a safe, operationally sound and timely manner.
Wintershall RAVN and A6-A
Wintershall Noordzee B.V. installed a new remote platform RAVN as a crude production tie-back to A6-A. RAVN is a remote and unmanned crude well unit. Utilising a dry-tree design, all control, power and metered injection for the well will be via the 18.2-km control umbilical between the new satellite platform RAVN in the Danish sector and the operational platform A6-A in the German sector. The umbilical forms the entire link between the remote platform, supplying and controlling all functions and ensuring continual feedback and monitoring of RAVN. The umbilical supplies all the necessary input data, control and feedback to eliminate the usual day-to-day requirements of direct human contact. The umbilical was installed from RAVN first end to second end pull-in at A6-A end. Platforms are located in the Danish territorial waters in the North Sea (RAVN) and German territorial waters in the North Sea (A6-A). The umbilical was connected/pulled into RAVN via a J-tube and internal conductor to the RAVN topside -TUTA. RAVN - first end with pull-in to topside deck via a J-tube - was laid in corridor separate from the 8-inch pipeline between RAVN and A6-A and second end pull-in using the quadrant method at the A6-A platform. SCOPE OF WORK Prepare project planning for Boskalis’ scope of work. Survey work, including post-burial survey. Perform route engineering and installation engineering to optimize the performance of the installation scope, including Orcaflex analysis for laying, pull-ins, loads and dynamics, as well as a detailed burial assessment study (BAS). Prepare platform on RAVN and A6-A. Define umbilical length together with the client. Umbilical load-out at Hartlepool (UK) onto the installation vessel Ndurance. Installation and hang-off of umbilical termination heads – topsides. Crossing 36- & 40-inch live gas pipelines. Pull-in at RAVN & A6-A platforms – direct from vessel as part of SIM-OPS. Umbilical lay and bury scope – minimize on seabed exposure. Mobilize and demobilize all installation spreads for Boskalis’ scope. Provide engineering support during the offshore umbilical installation, including simultaneous burial. Provide QHSE management for Boskalis’ scope. Process and deliver as-built data. Mobilize and demobilize all installation spreads for Boskalis’ scope.
Wintershall L8-P4
Wintershall Noordzee B.V. installed a new remote platform at L6-B as a gas production tie-back to L8-P4. L6-B is a remote and unmanned gas well unit. Utilising a dry-tree design, all control, power and metered injection for the two wells will be via the 19.5-km control umbilical between the new satellite platform L6-B and the operational gas platform L8-P4. The umbilical forms the entire link between the remote platforms, supplying and controlling all functions and ensuring continual feedback and monitoring of L6-B. The umbilical supplies all the necessary input data, control and feedback to eliminate the usual day-to-day requirement of direct human contact. The umbilical was installed from L8-P4 first end to second end pull-in at L6-B remote end. Both platforms are located in Dutch territorial waters in the North Sea. The umbilical was connected/pulled in to L6-B via a J-tube and internal conductor to the L6-B topside - TUTA. The umbilical will be installed from L8-P4 - first end with pull-in to topside deck via a J-tube, laid in corridor separate from the 8-inch pipeline between L8-P4 and L6-B. FACTS AND FIGURES Water depth 30-35 meters Challenging North sea conditions. Challenging soft seabed. Fast-track project, with a short lead-time between award and installation – Feb 2014, July/Aug installed. Stepped phase process of pull-in, laying and burial ops. Completed on time, with no incidents. Umbilical loaded quickly and safely. Umbilical length 19.5 km. Burial scope of single pass burial of umbilical minimum requirement of 1m TOC (top of cover). SCOPE OF WORK Prepare project planning for Boskalis’ scope of work. Survey work, including a pre-burial, as-laid and post-burial survey. Perform route engineering and installation engineering to optimize the performance of the installation scope, including a detailed burial assessment study (BAS). Prepare platform on L8-P4 and L6-B. Define umbilical length together with the client. Umbilical load-out at DUCO Newcastle (UK) onto the installation vessel Ndurance. Hang-off of umbilical end. Crossing 36-inch live gas pipeline Callantsoog. Pull-in at L6-B & L8-P4 platforms – direct from vessel as part of SIM-OPS. Mobilize and demobilize all installation spreads for Boskalis’ scope. Provide engineering support during the offshore umbilical installation, including burial. Provide QHSE management for Boskalis’ scope.
Peel Ports Maintenance Dredging
For the Peel Ports Term Maintenance Contract, Boskalis Westminster Limited (BWL) provided maintenance dredging services for all of the Peel Ports facilities in the Northwest of England and Scotland. This entailed the surveying and dredging of the Manchester Ship Canal (MSC) from the approaches to Eastham Locks to Trafford Road Bridge in Manchester Docks including Queen Elizabeth Oil Dock; Liverpool Approach Channel and Docks; Heysham Approach Channel, Harbour Entrance and inner Harbour; River Clyde from Greenock to Glasgow.Originally a three year contract with an option for another two, this contract was developed by Peel Ports in conjunction with BWL as a follow on from the previous two ten-year Term contracts executed by BWL for the maintenance dredging of the Manchester Ship Canal, long term maintenance operations in Heysham and on the Clyde as a result of Peel Ports taking ownership of Mersey Dock and Harbour Company (MDHC). While originally designed to be campaign based the contract was developed to better suit the client’s individual port requirements with more reliance on BWL’s knowledge of the individual ports such as MSC and Heysham; a continued campaign based strategy for Clydeport and Liverpool Approach Channel and targeted maintenance dredging based on Peel Ports’ marketing requirements and priorities for Liverpool Docks. The vessels were deployed as and when required to suit the operational needs of each individual port. Operational information, knowledge and experience gained through the historical contracts was utilised to maximise production.
Cieg GJ1 Cable repair
Channel Islands Electricity Grid, a joint venture between Jersey Electricity and Guernsey Electricity operate several interconnecting power cable systems (power and telecom) between Jersey, Guernsey and France. Both Jersey and Guernsey rely upon the services of these interconnecting power cables and as a consequence there is a demand to reduce the possible effects and impact of failure to these interconnecting power cables. Boskalis were contracted to conduct a preemptive repair replacing a section of cable including the installation two subsea joints on the Guernsey Jersey circuit, close to Havelet bay. SCOPE OF WORK Mobilisation of cable repair vessel and auxiliary equipment Mobilise cable storage pan and turntable onto transpooling barge Load spare cable from the storage pan onto the Ndurance Determine cable cut position along cable route Cut, test and seal operations Removal of sea end cable till jointing location Cut cable and joint to new cable section Lay down joint No.1 on sea bottom and lay new section of cable Recover shore end and joint both cable ends Lay down joint No.2 and omega on sea bottom Post lay ROV survey Having signed a Power Cable Maintenance Agreement (PCMA) in the summer of 2012, Boskalis maintains a long standing relationship with Channel Islands Electricity Grid (CIEG). The parties involved in the agreement have worked together to achieve a quick response method for maintaining and where necessary repairing the subsea assets that are so vital for the islands communities. In November 2014 Boskalis was instructed to mobilise for a preemptive repair after CIEG had detected a potential vulnerability in the subsea cable, which provides a power link to the Island. Extensive and detailed engineering was carried out over the Christmas and New Year period, owing to the very difficult repair area. The large tide range and strong, unpredictable currents around the shallow rocky outcrops of Havelet Bay created a number challenges during the engineering phase. Being a winter repair in the English Channel the planning for the project was critical. Mobilisation of the CLV “Ndurance” started on the 12th January with the cable being loaded from the Boskalis storage only 5 days later. The vessel arrived in Havelet bay, Guernsey on the 21st January to start the repair operations after 48 hours of DP familiarisation along the challenging route. The repair operation was broken into sections to ensure that each operation could be complete once it had been committed to. The repair was completed on schedule and to the satisfaction of all parties on the 5th February 2015. Guernsey Electricity issued a statement which commended the professionalism and efficiency of Boskalis throughout what was a challenging repair in a difficult period.
Dublin Berth 50A Development
Dredging for a new berth to a depth of -11.0m CD. The dredge area contained a proportion of contaminated material.The first phase of the works required the dredging of a reception pit, within the site footprint, to -15.0 CD for the disposal of the contaminated material. The backhoe Manu Pekka and split hopper barges Cork Sand and Long Sand were deployed from the Boskalis fleet. Uncontaminated material was transported to the licensed offshore disposal site at Burford Bank in Dublin Bay. Additional vessels were the Dublin Port tug Poolbeg and survey vessel Depthfinder.