David Paganie
Managing Editor
OMAE, San Diego -- The future of Technip's floatover method for large deck installations in deepwater is in the Gulf of Mexico, says David Edelson of Technip. The company addressed an audience today, June 14 at OMAE in San Diego.
Edelson first pointed to Technip's recent floatover installation on Murphy'sKikeh spar in Malaysia to support its case in the Gulf.
Technip created a catamaran-type configuration with two barges to execute the floatover. The 4,000-metric ton (4,409-ton)Kikeh topside was offloaded onto the catamaran, transported to the installation site, and set on the hull in 10.5 hours.
Data from the installation was compared to previous feasibility studies carried out for installation of a 32,000-metric ton (35,274-ton) topside in the GoM with the floatover technique. Comparison results indicated that there is no difference in the operating procedures, according to Technip.
"We are talking to barge owners and operators in the Gulf to determine the availability of Jones Act barges in the area capable of performing floatover installation of heavy-weight decks," Edelson says.
The primary advantage of the floatover for large decks, according to Technip, is the reduction in integration time with the hull and offshore commissioning.
6/14/2007
