Global engineered heavy lifting and transport company Mammoet has successfully completed the jacking, loadout, and floatover of a 19,600-tonne offshore platform in the Caspian Sea.
Completing the work for the Azeri Central East (ACE) project, the next phase in the development of the BP-operated Azeri-Chirag-Deepwater Gunashly (ACG) field, Mammoet’s scope of work included the weighing jack-up, load-out and floatover installation operations of the 19,600-tonne production, drilling, and quarters (PDQ) platform.
Utilising its engineering capabilities, Mammoet ensured the precise transfer of the platform’s topsides unit from the quayside onto the transportation barge STB-1 and subsequently onto the jacket foundation offshore. Prior to its departure, the topsides unit underwent meticulous commissioning and operational testing onshore, significantly reducing offshore installation and start-up activities.
“As we continue to redefine industry standards through our innovative solutions and steadfast commitment to safety, the successful loadout of this massive topsides unit stands as a testament to Mammoet’s dedication to excellence in engineered heavy lifting and transport,” said Dan Kempin, Business Development Manager for Mammoet.
How Mammoet completed the feat:
At the quayside, the topsides unit was jacked up to a height of 17m and then gently lowered onto a custom loadout support frame, utilising Mammoet’s largest jacking system – Mega Jack 5200. The unit was then skidded onto the barge, where it was sea-fastened and prepared for its voyage to the ACG field. The skidding operation onto the barge’s deck was accomplished using four 900-tonne strandjacks, break-out jacks, high-capacity ballast system, load monitoring quay jacks comprising of six 600-tonne jacks and mooring winches.
Upon its arrival at the designated field location, Mammoet executed the installation of the topside unit onto the jacket foundation through a floatover operation. The barge was precisely positioned over the substructure and the topsides unit was then lowered onto the substructure, while maintaining the barge’s position. The barge’s internal ballasting and winching system was enhanced with Mammoet’s float-over winches and configurable high-flow rapid ballast system. This enhancement added an additional flow capability of approximately 32,000m3/hr. This centrally controlled and monitored ballast system ensured real-time oversight, guaranteeing operational continuity and a safe floatover process.
Throughout the construction of the 19,600-tonne topsides unit, more than 21 million hours were worked injury-free – a testimony to the attention to safety across the operation. The PDQ unit, comprising vital oil and gas processing facilities, an integrated drilling rig, a gas compressor, and living quarters, was constructed by Azfen in the Bayil fabrication yard, utilising local infrastructure and resources.
Drilling is expected to commence in the coming months with the delivery of ACE’s first oil projected to begin in early 2024.
READ MORE: New Mammoet jacking system capable of lifting 1,000 tonnes.