Deep Blue J-Lay commissioning
Commissioning a bespoke 770Te J-Lay system on the multi-role Deep Blue vessel
Client or Program Owner
The vessel was owned and operated by Coflexip Stena Offshore (Later Technip). I had dual reporting lines, one to Arthur McEwen VP Projects based in Aberdeen regarding the commissioning and David Dickson, VP Operations in Houston Tx for ongoing USA projects.
Region
Gulf of Mexico
Timeframe
2002 to 2003
Context
Coflexip Stena purchased a bespoke lay system from Huismann in the Netherlands capable of installing flexible lines as well as either reeled or J-Layed rigid pipe or pipe-inpipe. All but the the J-Lay system was accepted and operating but the J-Lay system was still being fabricated, installed and commissioned.
The Situation
The vessel delivery had been delayed during build and outfitting, consequently Coflexip Stena took delivery prior to the J-Lay design/install/commissioning to service non-J-lay projects in the Gulf of Mexico.
She had just completed her first project after delivery.
When I joined the team, the vessel was in Corpus Christi undergoing modifications and upgrades with work continuing on the lay tower installing and commissioning J-Lay equipment.
The vessel was late for a technologically challenging pipe-in-pipe project in the Gulf of Mexico for one of the oil majors, had an inexperienced multi-national construction crew and very few standard construction operating procedures.
What He Did
A broad focus was required, the first to interact with the onboard Marine, Technical & Construction teams and manage the relationship with the OEM personnel continuing to work on the system/s.
The second was resolve crewing issues and build three competitive construction teams that worked on a 2-on-1-off rotation. (Later changed to four teams on a 1 on 1 off rotation).
In parallel the local (USA) business Unit and the VP in Aberdeen needed regular updates, schedule estimates and occasionally client facing meetings to provide almost real time status updates.
With support from the VP of Operations in Houston, we set up the schedule such that every time the J-Lay system completion stalled, we would load and execute reel-lay projects, therefore avoiding needless stand-by awaiting components from Europe or local machine works.
The Outcome
Between January and November 2003 I stayed with the vessel, either on board or in Mobile, Alabama as we continued to execute projects between periods of intense building, testing and commissioning.
The vessel sailed with a fully operational J-Lay system in November 2003, starting the complex project late, but completing without delaying first oil.
Key Detail
Being Captain of the CSO Apache (1997), (the first rigid reeled pipe lay vessel), transferring from Marine to Construction and becoming the Offshore Construction Manager (2001) on the same vessel was a huge leap, via flexible installation, diverless inspection and trenching vessels. When the opportunity arose to transfer from the Apache, I leapt at the challenge in 2002 and stayed with the vessel until late April 2005 when she had been running like a well-oiled machine for over two years. Subsequently, as Director of Marine Operations for Technip USA, I built an operations team that took full technical and economic advantage of the Deep Blue’s capabilities, not only in the Gulf of Mexico but also the Mediterranean and Brazil.
