Harris Pye Group has recently completed the survey and upgrade of Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc’s (DODI) dynamically positioned drillship, the Ocean Clipper.
All work was completed well within schedule and P Thomas Geiger, P.E., Director, Projects Department of DODI has written to Harris Pye stating: “I want to commend you and your staff on the Ocean Clipper SPS and Upgrade project that was completed in an extremely timely and professional manner.
He continues: “Because of the great workmanship, reliability, and professionalism of your staff and on-time delivery of your workscopes, your company is now considered to be a viable preferred alternative to the traditional shipyards in Brazil…. We look forward to working with Harris Pye as future rig projects come available.”
Totalling 247,235 man hours and utilising a 600-plus workforce, the contract was one of the largest offshore oil and gas projects for the South Wales headquartered company. Despite the time-critical schedule, extraordinarily high man hours and large workforce, safety standards were superb and there were no serious accidents or injuries to any personnel.
The upgrade encompassed accommodation, cranes, steelwork (for which 250 tons of steel were supplied); major pipe renewal in excess of 2 miles (3225metres) of piping); painting; and the removal and replacement of transformers and motors; and four major electrical tasks along with many other, not necessarily less complex, but smaller electrical tasks. Activity was split between dry dock and alongside.
“DODI tasked us with locating a dry dock, suitable for this project” explains Harris Pye’s Managing Director Mark Prendergast . “Arsenal de Marinha do Rio de Janeiro proved ideal for this project. All underwater works had to be carried out during a 40-day period whilst Ocean Clipper was in the dry dock. Once she was back in the water we undertook the rest of the works alongside.
“The scope of the electrical work was huge,” continues Prendergast. “Our four primary tasks were change out of propulsion and ship’s services transformers – in all seven transformers; installation of a new active heave compensation system; complete change out of four group starter panels; and the change-out of the complete gas detection system throughout the vessel. Each one of these was a huge tasks. I am immensely proud of the quality of work done by our hard-working and talented team.
Originally built by Mitsubishi in 1977, Ocean Clipper has a rated drilling depth of 25,000ft and, in 1999, made a name for herself by setting a new record in the Gulf of Mexico in more than 7,200ft of water – she is rated to 7,900ft. She currently has a five-year commitment to Petrobras.
[mappress] Offshore Energy Today Staff, February 28, 2012