Van Oord completes offshore protective measures for West White Rose concrete gravity structure
Van Oord has completed ballasting operations for the Cenovus Energy-operated West White Rose Field development in the Jeanne d’Arc Basin offshore Newfoundland, according to an Aug. 28 Van Oord news release.
The company deployed two flexible fallpipe vessels, Nordnes and Stornes, for the campaign, and it also installed a protective scour edge around the platform’s recently installed concrete gravity structure (CGS) to counter the effects of seabed erosion.
The project, which is 350 km offshore eastern Newfoundland, is an expansion of the White Rose Field development. The CGS for the fixed drilling and production platform is 122 m high, with a base diameter of 122 m.
Project began in 2024, final phase will start in late 2025
Van Oord's workscope comprises four main phases:
- Seabed preparation
- Solid ballasting
- Scour protection
- Flowline protection
During the Phase 1, which finished in September 2024, the company installed a seabed preparation layer that acts as the foundation for the CGS. The placement, conducted from Stornes, followed extensive material testing, quality control of quarried rock and full-scale trials.
In Phase 2, Van Oord performed ballasting of the CGS to ensure sufficient weight for its seabed stability prior to the tow-out from the yard for installation at the offshore location.
Nordnes and Stornes approached the CGS simultaneously in DP mode, with one vessel on each side of the CGS. They deployed boom belt-conveyors to insert MagnaDense iron ore into the structure’s outer ring compartments.
While moving around the CGS to ensure all 24 compartments were filled evenly, the vessels were constantly positioned 180 degrees from each other. The structure has now been positioned on top of the seabed preparation layer.
For Phase 3, Van Oord used Nordnes to place a protective scour edge around the CGS.
Phase 4, due to take place in the fourth quarter, involves stabilizing the pipelines from the drilling platform on the seabed.
Upon completion, preparations can start to bring the platform into operation.
Allseas vessel sets down topsides
In July of this year, Allseas’ Pioneering Spirit heavy-lift vessel installed the 23,000-metric ton topsides for the West White Rose development.
The single-lift operation was the vessel’s first topsides installation onto a CGS and its first big heavy-lift assignment outside northwest Europe.
About the Author
Jeremy Beckman
Editor, Europe
Jeremy Beckman has been Editor Europe, Offshore since 1992. Prior to joining Offshore he was a freelance journalist for eight years, working for a variety of electronics, computing and scientific journals in the UK. He regularly writes news columns on trends and events both in the NW Europe offshore region and globally. He also writes features on developments and technology in exploration and production.