InterMoor Completes Conductor Fabrication and Installation for Shell BC-10 Phase 2

Online, September 25, 2012 (Newswire.com) - InterMoor was responsible for the fabrication and installation of four conductors in addition to one spare conductor for the project. Weighing in at more than 70 metric tons, the conductors measured 48 inches in diameter and 60 meters long with a 1.5-inch wall.

Fabricated at InterMoor's 24-acre Morgan City, La., facility, the conductors were installed in water depths up to 5,600 ft. (1,707 m) off the coast of Brazil in the northern Campos Basin. The installation took place the last week of May 2012 utilizing DOF Subsea's Anchor Handling Vessel Skandi Skolten under charter to Shell Brasil Ltda.

InterMoor provided an installation barge with a customized launch system to install the conductors through four corner holes in a template by self-penetration. InterMoor's patented Suction to Stability (STS) operations and driving via MENCK's deep water spread (DWS) subsea hammer and power pack were also utilized.

InterMoor used MENCK's MHU-270T DWS which included a deepwater hydraulic hammer, capable of providing a driving energy of 270 kilojoule at a water depth of 3,281 ft (1000 m) combined with MENCK's girdle-type electro-hydraulic power pack and umbilical support system.. Generating hydraulic power at depth, rather than at the surface, means no hydraulic hose, therefore minimal energy loss at depth and minimizing environmental impact. The tolerance requirements of less than 1.0 degree verticality and within six inches relative elevation were critical and could not be achieved by traditional jetting methods from a semi-submersible. These tolerances were successfully respected utilizing InterMoor's installation methodology in Phase 2, as they were for Phase 1.

"It was a tremendous advantage having personnel on the job associated with the previous BC-10 Phase 1 to ensure lessons learned were carried out successfully. This factor was key to executing the project safely, on schedule and on budget. We have demonstrated a capability which is valid across a number of deep-water projects in the industry," said Fulton.