The Holstein Spar is nearing readiness for its mid-September departure from Finland and a month-long trip to the Gulf of Mexico.
BP Interface Manager for the Holstein and Mardi Gras projects David Noble told the Marine Technology Society that the two pieces of the Holstein Spar are slated to mate in mid-October.
"Because our Spar is so large, it's going to be in two pieces," he said. "A very challenging part of this project is to mate the two pieces of the Spar."
The Spar, destined for deepwater Green Canyon block 645, is so large, he noted, that the Horn Mountain Spar almost fits inside. Holstein's Spar is 744 ft long, 150 ft wide, and weighs in at 37,000 tons. The truss alone is 430 ft long. The hull of the Spar is now being outfitted in Pori, Finland, and GMF in Ingleside, Texas, is manufacturing the truss. Dockwise'sBlack Marlin will transport the Spar, due to arrive for mating in mid-October.
"They will be floating when we mate the truss with the hull tank," he said.
The BP-operated Spar will feature 16 mooring lines weighing nearly 2,900 tons to accommodate its position, which is susceptible to the Gulf's loop current.
There are 4,300 tons of chain for the project in 4,300 ft of water. Suction pile installation is scheduled for August.
The topsides is also designed to accommodate large components.
"We have some fairly large modules," he said.
Those include the 8,200-ton process and rig support modules, the 5,00-ton quarters and power module, and the 4,200-ton utility and water flood modules.
The unit is designed to handle 110,000 b/d and 150 MMcf/d, which will be exported through the Caesar Oil Pipeline component of the Mardi Gras Transportation System. Fifteen wells are planned, of which a dozen will be producers and three will be injectors. All will be dry trees.
Holstein, a 50/50 venture of BP and Shell, was discovered in 1999 and sanctioned in 2001. First oil is expected next year, about the same time as first oil is expected from neighboring Spar project Mad Dog.