Gulf of Mexico—Deepwater Experiences

 

8 June 2005 Aberdeen Evening Meeting

Chairman Les Dickson, UMAX 

Report by Chairman Les Dickson

 

Overview

The UKCS has been a major ground over the years for the development of subsea technology that can take on, and beat, the challenges which our industry throws out on a regular basis. Of course the UKCS itself lacks the deep water element, which is the prerogative of the "Golden Triangle" of West Africa, Brasil and the US Gulf of Mexico, but many of the people and assets involved in the deep water projects in these areas have been exported from the North Sea. The June 2005 evening meeting brings the experiences from the deep water provinces right to your doorstep, with Technip and Heerema Marine Contractors delivering recent case history presentations in their ultra deep water operations.

 

Presentations

Jan Groot, Heerema Marine Contractors

An update to the enhanced capability of the Deepwater Construction Vessel Balder, relating specifically to the project experience from the Mardi Gras Project, plus a highlight of the installation of the Thunderhorse semi, the flowlines and SCR's. Further, HMC will highlight the Benguela Belize Project, which has the distinction of being the first Compliant Tower in West Africa.

 

Stephen McKeown, Technip

Technip's Reel Lay Vessel Deep Blue has conducted some of the most challenging pipelay operations of recent time and this presentation will deliver an insight into the systems used in ultra deep water (predominantly in the US Gulf of Mexico). The presentation will focus on one recent and particularly challenging project located off the West coast of Africa. The Baobab Project, located 85km off Côte D'Ivoire, consists of 8 gas lifted production wells tied back to two manifolds in water depths of 1100 - 1200m. The Deep Blue's scope of work on this project was to install three pipe-in-pipe production pipelines, a gas lift pipeline and their related structures. The presentation will discuss the many challenges associated with this type of field development.

 

5 Minute Technology Bite

Forcasting Loop Currents

Tim Mawhood, Nowcasting International

Mr Tim Mawhood of Nowcasting International presented his company’s involvement in forecasting loop currents in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. He demonstrated how this method of using high resolution data can assist greatly in reducing down time for vessels actively engaged in these waters.