Reef Subsea: First pipeline trenching contract for Q1000 ROV (VIDEO)

REEF Subsea has secured its first pipeline trenching project for its Q1000 jet trencher on the Sierra L5 pipeline in Dutch Norh Sea for GDF SUEZ.

This month, Reef Subsea will mobilise its state-of-the-art Q1000 jet trencher on-board the Reef Despina Construction Support Vessel to provide trenching of the rigid pipeline in the Dutch Sector of the North Sea. The Sierra L5 pipeline project, which is located 96 kilometres off the coast of The Netherlands, will see Reef Subsea operate in water depths of up to 42 metres.

Reef Subsea describes the Q1000 jet trencher as an industry-leading jet trenching ROV embracing the latest technologies in jet trenching and ROV design. With 750kW of total installed power and 700kW of variable jetting power, the Q1000 is capable of trenching pipelines, umbilicals and cables up to three metres in the seabed.

Due to client requirements, Reef Subsea will deliver the vessel spread to the operator in a short lead-time, demonstrating the company’s flexibility and fast reaction. The Q1000 will be pre-mobilised on-board the Reef Despina and ready for further workscopes this year.

Although the Q1000 has built a solid track record for the burial of cables, particularly in offshore wind farms, this workscope will mark the first time the jet trencher has performed the burial of a pipeline, Reef Subsea said. This project will come ahead of the Q1000’s secured work with Technip on the Bøyla Development Project in May 2014.

Ivan Coyard, COO of Reef Subsea, commented: “We are delighted to have secured this pipeline trenching project which will enable us to demonstrate the vast capabilities of the Q1000 jet trencher. We will work directly with the operator on this project and look forward to a successful project completion.”