Launch of CX-15 buoyant tower platform announced
HOUSTON – Shanghai-based Wison Offshore & Marine Ltd., a subsidiary of the Wison Group, and BPZ Energy announced the successful load-out and sail-away of the world’s first buoyant tower drilling and production platform destined for installation at BPZ Energy’s Corvina field located offshore Peru.
The CX-15 platform was safely completed and successfully delivered to BPZ Energy at Wison Offshore & Marine’s Nantong, China, fabrication facility in a record 11 months from contract signature, without a single lost-time incident. Wison’s scope included the engineering, procurement and construction of the facility’s 2,500-ton buoyant tower hull and 1,500-ton topsides facility. This project represents not only the first use of the design, but also the first implementation of Wison’s integrated international delivery model including members from the company’s three operation centers located in Shanghai and Nantong, China, and Houston, Texas.
The buoyant tower hull for the facility was designed and engineered through a joint venture between Wison affiliate, Horton Wison Deepwater, and GMC Limited and consists of four, ring-stiffened connected cylindrical tubes or “cells” with one central suction pile. Each cell measures 8.4 m in diameter and 60.1 m long, with a total hull length, including suction pile, of 69.9 m. This design, which is similar to proven cell spar technology, was a key enabler for the project due to the fact that it will not require a derrick barge for installation, as it is located in a region with minimal resident offshore construction vessels.
When installed, the buoyant tower will support the three-level topsides facility designed by Audubon Engineering and GMC Limited and equipped to produce 12,200 bpd of oil, 12.8 MMscf per day of gas and inject 3,500 bpd of water. Additionally, the facility will be capable of supporting a drilling rig with 24 well slots.
Both hull and topsides were loaded onboard a single heavy lift transport vessel, the Osprey, which is sailing to Peru for the installation operation.
08/07/2012