GDF SUEZ’ G16a-B Platform Built In Record Time
The topside, jacket and piles for GDF SUEZ’ gas production wellhead protection platform G16a-B has left the Rotterdam harbour. The platform moved to block G16, 80 km north of Dutch island Terschelling where it will be installed. On 26 May, load out of the 1250t topside took place at Mercon‘s yard in Gorinchem. It then went on its trip to the Rotterdam harbour, on the way picking up the 950t jacket, subcontracted by Mercon to Nami in Ridderkerk.
Impressive Achievement
“The topside has been built in only eight months time which is quite an impressive achievement”, comments Ruud Zoon, managing director of GDF SUEZ E&P Nederland B.V. “This is a result of good co-operation within the joint GDF SUEZ and Mercon project team and resulted in the successful realisation of this project.” As GDF Suez wished to install the platform this summer, the short fabrication time was a firm requirement and made the complete project a real challenge.
Exciting Venture
Willem Griffioen, managing director at Mercon explains: “Building such a platform usually takes between twelve to fourteen months. In this case we only had eight months time. While Mercon already started building the platform, the power module for the cellar, mezzanine and main decks was still to be supplied and integrated in the platform which was another of the challenges we faced. The very high preservation requirements made the project moreover a truly exciting venture.”
Once the platform is installed, it will be connected to GDF SUEZ’ G17d-AP platform by means of a 14 inch pipeline and a 2 inch piggy-back pipeline.