News

J. Ray McDermott has recently been awarded a multi-million dollar contract to fabricate two offshore wellhead jackets for the Qatargas II Development ("QG II"). Contracts of this type are typically valued at approximately US million.

"We are extremely pleased to have been awarded this contract by QGII and to be able to add to our backlog of projects offshore Qatar," said Hafez Aghili, president J. Ray McDermott Middle East.

The jackets are destined for the WH4 and WH5 platforms, approximately 90km offshore from Ras Laffan Industrial City. Weighing about 1,500 tons and 1,300 tons respectively each jacket will consist of four piles and a temporary drilling deck. "WH4 jacket was designed by J. Ray McDermott's Dubai based structural and marine group," explained Richard Withers, J. Ray's project manager for QGII. "This really signifies the continued development of J. Ray's engineering design capabilities at the Dubai office, which compliments our US based Houston engineering group, who have been working on the design of WH5."

WH4 is a fast track fabrication project due for delivery and installation offshore Qatar in 3Q 2004. The second jacket is scheduled for installation in late Spring 2005. Both jackets will be installed using J. Ray's derrick barge DB27.

The first steel plates for WH4 have already been cut and fabrication is underway at J. Ray's Jebel Ali fabrication yard.

Source: RZ

The Integrated Remote Technologies (IRT) division of, Subsea 7, successfully completed its involvement in the replacement of the first out of two stern thrusters on the Balder FPU (Floating Production Unit). Subsea 7 was contracted to perform the subsea ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) operations associated with this project. The work was planned and executed by a specialised team from Esso Norge AS and a number of equipment suppliers and contractors including Subsea 7 IRT. The thruster change out was part of the 2004 maintenance program for the Balder FPU.

The work performed by Subsea 7 was executed under an existing frame agreement with Esso and included: active involvement in the design and provision of an ROV operable subsea rigging system for connection of cross hauling lines to the thrusters, cleaning and inspection of the thruster connections, and close monitoring during cross hauling and lifting of the thruster to surface. Subsea 7 IRT was responsible for all underwater ROV execution tasks, utilising the Warrior workclass ROV and Seaeye Tiger observation ROV systems during the removal and reinstallation of the replacement thruster. Each step of the operation required close coordination to avoid potential damage to the thruster or vessel.

Subsea 7 IRT's Vice President, Ian Cobban, commented, "Subsea 7 IRT performed safely and efficiently in the execution of this project and with no ROV stoppage time, which earned us great praise from our client. We feel that this work is a major achievement for Subsea 7 IRT as similar operations in the past have required the vessel in question to be relocated to an inshore location for assistance by divers, diver assistance in the field (offshore) or performance in dry dock. The methods and equipment designed for the operation on Balder, however, made it possible to do the work without divers on location which proved to be a safer, lower risk procedure as well as cost-effective for the client." The Integrated Remote Technologies (IRT) division of, Subsea 7, successfully completed its involvement in the replacement of the first out of two stern thrusters on the Balder FPU (Floating Production Unit). Subsea 7 was contracted to perform the subsea ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) operations associated with this project. The work was planned and executed by a specialised team from Esso Norge AS and a number of equipment suppliers and contractors including Subsea 7 IRT. The thruster change out was part of the 2004 maintenance program for the Balder FPU.

The work performed by Subsea 7 was executed under an existing frame agreement with Esso and included: active involvement in the design and provision of an ROV operable subsea rigging system for connection of cross hauling lines to the thrusters, cleaning and inspection of the thruster connections, and close monitoring during cross hauling and lifting of the thruster to surface. Subsea 7 IRT was responsible for all underwater ROV execution tasks, utilising the Warrior workclass ROV and Seaeye Tiger observation ROV systems during the removal and reinstallation of the replacement thruster. Each step of the operation required close coordination to avoid potential damage to the thruster or vessel.

Subsea 7 IRT's Vice President, Ian Cobban, commented, "Subsea 7 IRT performed safely and efficiently in the execution of this project and with no ROV stoppage time, which earned us great praise from our client. We feel that this work is a major achievement for Subsea 7 IRT as similar operations in the past have required the vessel in question to be relocated to an inshore location for assistance by divers, diver assistance in the field (offshore) or performance in dry dock. The methods and equipment designed for the operation on Balder, however, made it possible to do the work without divers on location which proved to be a safer, lower risk procedure as well as cost-effective for the client." The Integrated Remote Technologies (IRT) division of, Subsea 7, successfully completed its involvement in the replacement of the first out of two stern thrusters on the Balder FPU (Floating Production Unit). Subsea 7 was contracted to perform the subsea ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) operations associated with this project. The work was planned and executed by a specialised team from Esso Norge AS and a number of equipment suppliers and contractors including Subsea 7 IRT. The thruster change out was part of the 2004 maintenance program for the Balder FPU.

The work performed by Subsea 7 was executed under an existing frame agreement with Esso and included: active involvement in the design and provision of an ROV operable subsea rigging system for connection of cross hauling lines to the thrusters, cleaning and inspection of the thruster connections, and close monitoring during cross hauling and lifting of the thruster to surface. Subsea 7 IRT was responsible for all underwater ROV execution tasks, utilising the Warrior workclass ROV and Seaeye Tiger observation ROV systems during the removal and reinstallation of the replacement thruster. Each step of the operation required close coordination to avoid potential damage to the thruster or vessel.

Subsea 7 IRT's Vice President, Ian Cobban, commented, "Subsea 7 IRT performed safely and efficiently in the execution of this project and with no ROV stoppage time, which earned us great praise from our client. We feel that this work is a major achievement for Subsea 7 IRT as similar operations in the past have required the vessel in question to be relocated to an inshore location for assistance by divers, diver assistance in the field (offshore) or performance in dry dock. The methods and equipment designed for the operation on Balder, however, made it possible to do the work without divers on location which proved to be a safer, lower risk procedure as well as cost-effective for the client."

Source: Subsea 7

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