Noordhoek's diamond wire cutting tool ready for testing in the Oosterschelde.Noordhoek Diving has successfully tested its new diamond wire cutting tool in the Oosterschelde, in readiness for a busy well decommissioning program this summer. The tool was designed by the underwater contractor and engineering firm Seatec, with fabrication by IHC Handling Tools.
The cutter has been contracted by Clyde Petroleum for removal of a series of Dutch North Sea wellheads, including the P6-4, P2-9 and P8-5. Noordhoek will also cut PanCanadian's Q13-8.
The wellhead cutting device is operated from a 230HP workclass ROV equipped with a hydraulic power system. Designed and built by Seatec, the ROV locates the wellhead on the sea bottom and makes it accessible. Then the tool is lowered on top of the wellhead and the diamond cutting wire maneuvered into position. Wellheads with sizes up to 36-in. can be cut 6 meters down into the seabed.
Seatec's ROV weighs 6 tons, is 3.5m long, 2.4m high and 2.2m wide. It is equipped with survey equipment, with space for installing various types of workskids, power packs, hydraulics, eight thrusters, four of which are installed horizontally and four vertically, plus manipulators, pumps, cameras and lights.
In July, the ROV was inspecting the Morocco-Spain gas pipeline on behalf of Van Ord ACZ in water depths up to 600m. Pressure tests have demonstrated that the ROV can operate down to 1,500m.
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