Ecosse Subsea Systems
Cost Effective Pipeline Fabrication and Lay in
Remote Locations
Australia Oil and Gas Exhibiton and Conference
2015
Presentation Overview
• Typical Pipelay Operations
• ESS’s alternative pipelay philosophy
• Fabrication and Storage
• Lay Operations
• What this means for Operators
AOG Exhibition and Conference 2015
Typical Pipelay Operations
• Pipelay is typically conducted from specialist, heavy construction
vessels or Pipelay Barges using J or S Lay.
• Pipes are fabricated in stalks of up to 4km at Tier 1 Contractor
owned and operated spoolbases located around the world such as
Evanton, Wick and Mobile.
• These spoolbases are not local to the work location and
availability comes at a premium.
• As spooling operations can only be
progressed in 4km steps, this leads to
expensive ‘dead-time’ where the
vessel is on hire but not achieving
meaningful work or is in transit to site.
• This is not sustainable long-term.
AOG Exhibition and Conference 2015
ESS Alternatively Pipelay Philosophy
• ESS understand the concerns of the Pipeline Owners around the
current risks and cost associated with pipelay.
• ESS innovative technologies follow the same principles: safe,
simple, robust and cost-effective:
• If a modular spoolbase can be constructed, following these
principles, near to the pipeline location, owned by the
Operator or Pipeline Owner, the scheduling risks are
significantly reduced and windows of opportunity widened.
• If this can be coupled with a modular lay system that can be
run by a greatly reduced crew off of almost any vessel of
opportunity, the combined cost and time savings can be
revolutionary.
• ESS have patented two technologies that fulfil both of these
criteria: Olympic Spoolbase and PREP.
AOG Exhibition and Conference 2015
Fabrication and Storage
• Olympic Spoolbase (OS) is a patented modular system designed
to harness the elastic property of pipelines and so is independent
of linearity.
• The system allows longer stalks of pipe to be pre-fabricated and
stored in a cassette-type arrangement well in advance of vessel
arrival.
• These longer lengths are conducive to a much shorter spooling
time and decreasing the standby cost of the vessel overall.
• The system supports reeled lay and bundle tow and can be set up
in almost any nearshore location.
• Successfully trialled in Oklahoma by CRC Evans in 2009.
AOG Exhibition and Conference 2015
ESS Olympic Spoolbase Trials
AOG Exhibition and Conference 2015
ESS Alternative Pipelay Operations
• ESS also holds a patent for PREP: Plastic Reeled, Elastic Pipelay
system.
• PREP further exploits the inherent elastic properties of the pipe,
replicating the sag bend between the top tensioner and the
bottom tensioner.
• This reduces the number of strain cycles in the pipeline,
increasing integrity and allowing a lower grade of pipe to be used.
• PREP is fully modular and follows the ESS principle of rapid
mobilisation onto most spot market AHTS or larger PSV’s.
• PREP has been specifically designed to be supported by a crew of
12-16 persons.
AOG Exhibition and Conference 2015
PREP Configurations: Deep and Shallow Lay
AOG Exhibition and Conference 2015
What does this mean for Operators?
• Freedom of availability allows Operators to optimise their own
schedules.
• Location is selected to reduce transit times to and from
spoolbase/field.
• Modular design of OS allows for wide range of pipeline lengths,
diameters and coatings to be accommodated.
• Wide vessel choice to support PREP allows selection of vessel
from local spot market, with a reduced mobilisation fee and
reduced day rate.
• Spooling time is greatly reduced, again reducing significant
mobilisation costs as all welding can be completed in advance.
• These factors combine to greatly reduce the financial and
operational risks and costs of the pipelay operation, returning
control to the Pipeline Owner and Operator.
AOG Exhibition and Conference 2015
Thank You
Mike Wilson
Managing Director
Ecosse Subsea Systems Ltd
[email protected]
www.ecosse-subsea.com
AOG Exhibition and Conference 2015