Heerema Marine Contractors (HMC) says it has developed a globally unique, innovative way of lifting that could redefine the boundaries of lifting operations offshore.
The ‘QUAD lifting’ concept enables HMC to integrally install and/or remove oversized topsides or jackets and it’s an important expansion of HMC’s services and guarantees, which it has tested successfully in the Gulf of Mexico.
“With our QUAD lifting method, we definitely enter a new era with more flexibility and efficiency throughout the entire process,” said Koos-Jan van Brouwershaven, CEO of HMC.
“This is from engineering, procurement and construction up to, and including the, commissioning and installation of the jacket and/or the topside – with lower project costs as a result.”
According to van Brouwershaven, the tests were carried out with two dynamically-positioned vessels with four cranes working in parallel – Thialf and Balder, two of the world’s largest semi-submersible crane vessels, both owned and operated by Heerema.
“As soon as Sleipnir, the largest semi-submersible crane vessel ever built, is in full operation, HMC will be ready to perform the ultimate QUAD lift using its two giant cranes with a combined lifting capacity of 34,000 metric tonnes,” van Brouwershaven added.
“The QUAD way of lifting is suitable for installing topsides on any type of foundation – from jackets to floaters.”
The new lifting operation can allow topsides and jackets to be designed in a different way with more freedom for the engineers, in terms of layout in relation to weight and dimensions.
In addition, the QUAD lifting method offers the possibility to build the topside onshore as a total package including the commissioning, which could result in substantially lower overall project costs.
