InterMoor, a Moorings and Anchors brand in Acteon’s Engineering, Moorings and Foundations division, was contracted by a major operator to remove the platform and installation chain on a floating production unit in ultra-deep water. The project work scope for engineering, procurement, and fabrication was expanded to include offshore operations. The team used Claxton’s* Diamond Wire Surface Saw. Offshore operations were successfully completed in July 2022.
The project scope was challenging as the chain was installed on the platform permanently with no intention of removal during the operating life. This required extensive research and engineering to identify the optimum removal methodology, tools, purpose-designed and built aids before cutting and removing the chain. Structural aids were designed and fabricated by InterMoor such as to require no modification to existing structures.
The scope of work expanded throughout the project to include most parts of the service line offered by InterMoor across project management and engineering, fabrication, shore base services, logistical support, and offshore personnel. Additionally, two third-party vendors were contracted to support the offshore operations. Coordination of the various service lines and third-party vendors to execute the offshore work with the ongoing challenges of COVID was especially challenging.
The operator’s primary goal for this project was to safely remove nearly one mile (5,200ft) of 5in chain from the platform to increase the available topside payload. The driver behind this goal was to increase the tieback capability of the floating production unit (FPU).
* Claxton is a Cutting and Decommissioning brand in Acteon’s Energy Services division