CUT UK completes partial removal of North West Hutton platform
Oct. 5, 2009
Cutting Underwater Technologies (CUT UK) has completed the partial removal of the North West Hutton platform in the UK Sector of the North Sea, with the advent of new machines and methodologies.
Offshore staff
ABERDEEN, UK -- Cutting Underwater Technologies (CUT UK) has completed the partial removal of the North West Hutton platform in the UK Sector of the North Sea, with the advent of new machines and methodologies.
For the project, commissioned by Heerema Marine Contractors, CUT UK used diamond wire technology to make 77 separate cuts, including those of the corner legs, the two launch runner legs, and other jacket structural elements.
CUT used four specialized Diamond Wire Cutting Machines (DWCM) of 10, 18, 30, and 50 in. (25, 46, 76, and 127 cm) cutting capacity along with the custom-built 60- to 120-in. (152- to 305-cm) Modular DWCM. After the completion of the design and fabrication works for the modular DWCM, extensive onshore tests were carried out to assess the efficiency of the new design.
Some of the equipment was mobilized to Holland for wet testing and WROV familiarization. The full equipment spread was then mobilized to the Heerema heavy-lift vessel Hermod.
For the project, the company developed: • A “castellated’’ form of cutting through the target to maintain maximum stability of the severed structure prior to the lifting operation • A remotely operated wedging system • Electronic feedback and monitoring system to supply real-time cutting information to the surface engineer.
