Ashtead finishes subsea job for Ocean Installer

Subsea equipment specialist Ashtead Technology has completed a subsea installation monitoring project for Ocean Installer on Equinor’s Askeladd and Johan Castberg fields off Norway. 

Ashtead said on Monday that the contract saw the company provide its integrated deflection monitoring system (DMS) services and equipment to support the installation of eight integrated template structures (ITS) in Norwegian offshore fields.

During operations, the dual independent DMS systems monitored, calculated, displayed and logged structure deflection, heading, pitch, roll, depth, and suction can differential pressures, in real-time.

The scope of work took place in quick succession over a 25-day period. This saw the project completed well ahead of schedule and resulting in significant cost efficiencies.

Ashtead Technology utilized a range of measurement sensors and positioning tools along with special techniques to enhance the accuracy of the data collected, ensuring maximum performance of the system.

The company also provided field engineers to support the operations offshore which were responsible for analysis of data and compiling of installation reports for each of the structures within 24 hours of completion of each structure installation.

Ross Macleod, technical director at Ashtead Technology, said: “For this project, we utilized our unique DMS service including highly-trained specialists and latest monitoring technologies to deliver all eight installations safely and well within client specifications in just 25 days – well ahead of the planned completion date.”

Jeff Morris, Ocean Installer offshore manager for the Normand Vision, said: “The DMS system proved invaluable for the safe and efficient installation of the ITS structures during the Askeladd and Johan Castberg projects. The data provided ensured that all eight ITS were installed to client specification.”

Askeladd is located 35 kilometers southwest of the Snøhvit field and 175 kilometers from the LNG plant at Melkøya. The water depth is approximately 240 -330 meters. The field will be developed with three wells via two new subsea templates that have space for additional wells in the future.

The Johan Castberg field will be developed with an FPSO production vessel. The development also includes 30 wells, ten subsea templates, and two satellite structures. The 200-meter long FPSO vessel will be producing on the Johan Castberg field for 30 years from the planned production start in 2022.

It is worth reminding that Equinor and Ocean Installer signed a contract in December 2018 that covers the mooring installation, tow out, and hook-up of the Johan Castberg FPSO.

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