Heerema’s Sleipnir breaks lifting record in Norwegian waters

Heerema’s Sleipnir, the LNG-powered world’s largest semi-submersible crane vessel, has set a record for the heaviest crane lift in Norwegian waters.

Heerema said on Wednesday that Sleipnir successfully installed the 12,050-metric ton Johan Sverdrup processing platform (P2) jacket on 18 June, setting a new record for the heaviest lift jacket installation.

This lift by the massive vessel comes after the inshore integration of the three P2 topside modules on behalf of client Aibel at the GMC yard in Gismarvik in May. This mating process included the heaviest crane lift in Norwegian waters, with the main support frame (MSF) module weighing a massive 13,600 metric tons.

Johan Sverdrup is the biggest field development on the Norwegian continental shelf since the 1980s. The Johan Sverdrup Phase 2 development will capture the full potential of the huge Johan Sverdrup oil field on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

The new processing platform, which will be the second of its kind at the field centre, will make for a total of five platforms when the development is completed.

The inshore mating of the P2 topside included integrating three modules weighing 13,500 metric tons, 5,400 metric tons, and 4,300 metric tons.

This operation was the result of close cooperation between Heerema, client Aibel, and the operator of Johan Sverdrup – Equinor. According to Heerema, the modules were built in Thailand, Spain, and Norway and are Aibel’s largest project ever. Now that the lifting operations are complete, the topside has been towed by Heerema’s Kolga to Aibel’s yard in Haugesund.

Then, on behalf of client Equinor, Sleipnir lifted the 12,050-metric ton P2 jacket, which is the heaviest jacket in the world so far to be lifted directly from the transportation barge.

Heerema added that this installation method made it possible to reduce the jacket weight considerably, compared to a more traditional launch jacket, resulting in significant fabrication cost savings.

Michel Hendriks, Heerema’s transport and installation director, said: “We are proud to play a part in Equinor’s Johan Sverdrup P2 development and to achieve two new lifting records in the process is always special.

“Both projects were successful due to the close cooperation with our clients, and we look forward to returning to the Johan Sverdrup field later this year”.