Major deepwater pipelay vessel starts work in North Sea

Journal Article · Mon May 04 04:00:00 EDT 1998 · Oil and Gas Journal

OSTI ID:597056

Heerema, E P ^[1]

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1. Allseas Group S.A., Chatel-St. Denis (Switzerland)

Industry`s deepwater pipelaying capability has received a boost this year with the entry into the world`s fleet of Solitaire, a dynamically positioned pipelay vessel of about 350 m including stinger. The converted bulk carrier, formerly the Trentwood, will arrive on station in the North Sea and begin laying pipe this month on Statoil`s Europipe II project, a 600-km, 42-in. OD gas pipeline from Norway to Germany. Next year, the vessel will install pipe for the Exxon U.S.A.`s Gulf of Mexico South Diana development (East Breaks Block 945) in a water depth of 1,643 m and for Mobil Oil Canada as part of the Sable Island Offshore and Energy Project offshore Nova Scotia. Using the S-lay mode, Solitaire is particularly well-suited for laying large lines economically, including the deepwater projects anticipated for the US Gulf of Mexico. Table 1 presents Solitaire`s technical specifications. The design, construction, pipelaying, and justification for building vessels such as the Solitaire are discussed.

• OSTI ID: 597056
• Journal Information: Oil and Gas Journal, Journal Name: Oil and Gas Journal Journal Issue: 18 Vol. 96; ISSN OIGJAV; ISSN 0030-1388
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
INSTALLATION
MATERIALS HANDLING
NATURAL GAS
NORTH SEA
PIPELINES
SHIPS
SPECIFICATIONS
WELDING