McDermott International Inc. subsidiary J. Ray McDermott S.A. has completed and handed over the Front Runner spar platform. McDermott has received acceptance from the customer, Murphy Exploration and Production Co.
J. Ray subsidiary SparTEC provided project management of the engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning contract, which included design, engineering, procurement, fabrication, installation, and commissioning of the offshore production facility, in 3,330 ft of water in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Front Runner spar consists of a hull, mooring system, topsides, and production facilities and is designed to work in water depths to 9,000 ft. The hull, which was constructed at J. Ray's Dubai facility, is 587 ft long, 94 ft in diameter, and weighed over 14,000 short tons at the time of installation.
J. Ray completed the offshore lift, setting the topsides on May 27. Hook-up and commissioning followed. The topsides are designed to handle 60,000 b/d of oil and 110 MMcf/d of gas.
The deepwater Front Runner field is in Green Canyon block 338. Murphy operates the field with 37.5% ownership. Partners include Dominion Exploration and Production Inc. with 37.5% and Spinnaker Exploration Co. with 25%.
08/03/04
