Offshore staff
HOUSTON –The cooperation of three companies jointly developing solutions for deepwater installation has led to the introduction of a new system capable of handling heavy loads at depths of well over 3 km (9,842 ft).
The companies involved are Deep Tek, which provides services to the oil and gas, salvage, scientific research, and deepwater mining sectors; Lankhorst Ropes, a manufacturer of high-performance synthetic ropes; and DSM Dyneema, the producer of Dyneema ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fiber.
Working together, the companies have developed a fully integrated system based on Deep Tek’s drum winch technology for deploying and recovering payloads in deepwater. Deep Tek has developed and patented a spooling pattern that allows multiple layers of synthetic fiber rope to be spooled onto a load-bearing winch drum with no risk of cutting in. Lankhorst has created a new rope design with optimized fatigue and load-bearing characteristics for use in the deepwater lowering system. This rope is based on DSM Dyneema’s DM20 XBO fiber and a proprietary coating technology.
The new fully integrated and monitored system makes use of a rope condition management system and it enables vessel owners to maximize their vessel output by dispensing with the weight of steel wire. It is currently being qualified by DNV GL, using Assurance Case methodology, which enables introduction of new technology without relaxing certification requirements.
The system has two orders from Jaya, an offshore energy services group that is now part of the Mermaid Marine Group of Companies. Jaya will fit the system to 110-metric-ton (121-ton) cranes designed by J.J. Offshore for two new 88-m (289-ft) ships.
11/20/2014
