Almost ready: two ONGC platforms at 98/2
By early May 2024, ONGC expects EPC contractor McDermott International to complete the delayed installation of significant platforms at the Cluster 2 fields at the landmark KG-DWN-98/2 development.
On March 22 (2024), McDermott-hired barge Holmen Pacific, working in water depths of about 30 metres, began the technically challenging crane-less 'float-over' installation of the Control and Process Platform (CPP) topside onto the jacket installed by Sapura Energy in 2021. "Holmen completed the 'float-over' on March 24 (2024)," says a source connected to the project.
"Welding the topside legs with the jacket was completed in the first week of April (2024)." On March 26 (2024), McDermott-hired barge Eastern Orbit collected the 2036-tone technical unit, the fourth and last module of the Living Quarters and Upstream Platform (LQUP) from Sapura's Lumut yard in Malaysia.
Four days earlier, on March 22 (2024), the 138-tonne helideck was loaded onto Eastern Orbit. After the crew fastened both structrures on the barge, Eastern sailed out of the Lumut yard on March 27 (2024) on a sea journey to India, usually taking 20 days.
When Eastern reaches 98/2, she will join barges Lanpan CB7 and QSA333. Lanpan CB7 sailed out of the Lumut yard on March 11 (2024), carrying the LQUP's 2443-tonne Main Support Frame (MSF).
Barge QSA333 sailed out of the Lumut yard on March 17 (2024) carrying the 2822-tonne living quarters. Work barge DB-50 will install the MSF, living quarters, technical unit and helideck atop the LQUP jacket this month (April) as soon as workers on other barges complete hammering eight skirt piles (two for each leg to provide stability) for the LQUP jacket.
A crane will first install the MSF directly on the jacket. Then, the crew will weld both structures over five days.
McDermott will install the crew living quarters, covering 60% of the area above the MSF, while the technical unit will cover 40%. Above the living quarters, the crew will install the helideck.
Welding the structures will likely take until early May 2024.