Offshore staff
HOUSTON – Petrobras has contracted Kongsberg Maritime to deliver technology packages for 10 new pipelaying vessels. The contracts, valued at NOK 118 million ($19,9 million), include dynamic positioning (DP), position reference systems, propulsion control, and automation.
Six 550-metric-ton (606-ton) laying tension capacity pipelayers will be built at IHC Merwede in the Netherlands for delivery in 2015 and 2016. Three of the vessels, for Subsea 7, are identical designs to the recently launchedSeven Waves, and will feature the same K-POS DP-22 dual redundant DP system, including Kongsberg Maritime’s HiPAP acoustic positioning and other position reference systems. Kongsberg Maritime’s thruster control and vessel management systems will also be supplied.
The 145.9-m-long (479-ft-long), 29.9-m-wide (98-ft-wide) vessels will engage in transportation and installation of flexible flowlines and umbilicals in water depths up to 3,000 m (9,843 ft).
The other three vessels to be built at IHC Merwede will be operated by Seabras Sapura, the partnership between SapuraKencana and Seadrill. Kongsberg Maritime will deliver similar DP and thruster control systems.
Kongsberg Maritime will also supply extensive technology packages to four pipelaying support vessels (PLSVs) operated under aTechnip/DOF Subsea joint venture agreement. Two of these PLSVs are being built by Vard Promar in Brazil and will have a 300-ton laying tension capacity, while the other two (to be built by Vard Tulcea in Romania and outfitted at Vard Søviknes in Norway) will have 650-ton laying tension capacity. The vessels enable the installation of large-diameter flexible pipes in ultra-deepwater environments, such as the Brazilian presalt area.
03/17/2014
