The Danish company Maersk Supply Service and the Scottish company MDL have executed a complex technical and methodological operation after installing a set of dynamic risers in Brazil. The intervention took place in the Mero field, in the Santos pre-salt basin, and consisted of the deployment of a complex set of dynamic risers and subsea cables connected to PRM (Permanent Reservoir Monitoring) sensors.
Installation of simultaneous dynamic elevators
To meet the demanding requirements of the project, MDL designed a customized solution that allowed the simultaneous handling of five pre-terminated lines: a dynamic riser, a DUTA unit, pigtails and two types of trunk cables. The entire system was deployed from 9.2 meter reels, optimizing space and efficiency.
The deployment was carried out from the Skandi Involver vessel, equipped with a wheeled horizontal laying system(WHLS), an upgraded version of the reel drive system(RDS) and four hydraulic tensioners with pulling capacities of up to 110 tons. This equipment was complemented by new-generation winches developed by MDL Winches & Lifting Solutions.
The operation reached depths of up to 2500 meters, making it particularly challenging because of the need to maintain product integrity during stringing in demanding conditions. However, the integration of the WHLS with a high-capacity tensioner allowed for reduced friction during deployment.
The design of the deck system included customized deflectors that facilitated installation without interference between lines, reducing stresses and risks of structural damage. This configuration was the result of a joint effort between Maersk Supply Service and MDL engineering teams.
The activities were carried out under a contract with the consortium led by Petrobras (38.6%) together with Shell Brasil, TotalEnergies, CNPC, CNOOC and PPSA. This consortium operates in one of the most strategic areas of the Brazilian offshore, key to the country’s energy development.
Yuri Martins, Country Manager of MDL Brazil, mentioned that the success of the project reflects the company’s ability to apply proprietary technologies in highly complex environments, combining UK solutions with a growing local base in Brazil.
This project strengthens MDL’s position in the South American market and consolidates its global experience in flexible flex-lay operations and integrated(flex-lay) operations and deployment of integrated systems at great depths. For Maersk Supply Service, it represents further validation of its operational and engineering capability for complex projects in offshore environments.
Source and photo: CDM
