Shell Selects Emerson For Prelude FLNG Work

Shell Australia has chosen Emerson to provide automation maintenance and reliability services for the Prelude floating LNG (FLNG) facility, Emerson said in a news release.

Emerson and its partner, Western Process Controls, will provide equipment monitoring, diagnostic services, spares support and maintenance for the facility’s control and safety systems as well as thousands of instruments and valves, the company said. Two Emerson engineers onboard Prelude will work with other team members who remotely monitor the facility’s automation from Shell’s operations center in Perth.

Currently, Prelude FLNG is under construction in South Korea. Once complete, it will move to Australia to begin operations.

The facility is expected to remain on station at least 25 years as Shell and its partners develop gas reserves in the Browse Basin’s Prelude and Concerto fields. Prelude will process natural gas from subsea wells offshore Western Australia.

GustoMSC Introduces OCEAN-HE Series Semisubmersibles

GustoMSC has released a new series of drilling semisubmersibles designed for harsh environments.

Called the OCEAN-HE, the hull shape of the new semisubmersibles has been designed for low motion characteristics and optimum station keeping capabilities, the company said in a news release. The series includes the OCEAN850-HE and OCEAN1600-HE, the company’s largest to date.

Aimed for use in deep water, the OCEAN1600-HE features a maximum displacement of about 70,000 tons, a large derrick, DP3 and a 16-point mooring system for station keeping, combined with a large deck area and large variable deck load.

The OCEAN850-HE is designed for midwater harsh environments, the company said. The semisubmersible has a displacement of about 50,000 tons with a water depth rating of 1,000 m (3,281 ft) and a sixth generation single derrick combined with horizontal riser storage.

Global Maritime Completes Njord A Disconnection

After a 641-km (346 nautical-mile) journey, Global Maritime Consultancy & Engineering said it has successfully led the disconnection and towing operations of the Njord A semisubmersible floating production platform from the Njord Field in the North Sea for Statoil.

The Njord A platform was handed over to Kværner after arriving safely in Klosterfjorden on Aug. 23.

“With a project of such complexity and with the subsea infrastructure still intact, it was crucial that mooring disconnection activities and the towing of the platform took place with maximum precision and care,” David Sutton, CEO of Global Maritime Consultancy & Engineering, said in a news release. “This is what Global Maritime achieved with the platform being disconnected from its moorings, departing the field and arriving in Stord ahead of schedule. We look forward to working with Statoil on future similar projects.”

The accomplishment followed Global Maritime’s successful towing of the Njord B oil storage and offloading vessel Njord B to Sterkoder, Kristiansund earlier this summer.

Wärtsilä Will Supply Regasification System For Höegh FSRU Conversion

Wärtsilä’s water glycol-based regasification system has been chosen for Höegh LNG’s conversion project on a floating, storage, regasification unit (FSRU) vessel. The choice of water glycol provides a solution that is about 15% smaller and lighter than a propane-based system. Wärtsilä will deliver the water glycol regasification module, water glycol/seawater heaters and pumps. Delivery is scheduled for late 2017. Höegh LNG already has relied on Wärtsilä for eight regasification systems.

—Staff Reports

Offshore