T&T Bisso salvages drill barge capsized by Hurricane Gustav
Offshore staff
NEW ORLEANS -- T&T Bisso has salvaged a 2,000-ton (1,814 -metric-ton) inland drill barge capsized by Hurricane Gustav in southern Louisiana.
T&T Bisso salvage engineers designed a method to right and refloat the inland drill barge using four derrick barges and a pull barge.
TheCappy Bisso, Lili Bisso, Big T, and Ajax were strategically positioned around the drill rig to each apply approximately 250 tons (227 metric tons) of force, the company says. To support the derrick barges, the crane barge Bayou Chief was outfitted with two 600-ton (544-metric-ton) pulling block sets.
Crews connected the pulling blocks to the dry side of the drill rig and, in concert with the lifting derrick barges, righted the rig from the capsized position. The derrick barges then were reconfigured to help in the pumping process to lift the deck of the drill rig above the water.
The rig was refloated at the site and safely towed to its owner's base.
04/23/2009