Appomattox: Connecting Seabed to Surface

Shell Appomattox SURF

Final Video Transcription

80 MILES OFF THE LOUISIANA COAST, THE LATEST FEAT OF ENGINEERING IN THE SHELL DEEP WATER PORTFOLIO IS UNDERWAY.

THE SHELL APPOMATTOX FLOATING PRODUCTION SYSTEM IS IN ITS FINAL STAGES OF INSTALLATION…

BUT THE CURRENT TASK IS MISSION CRITICAL

CONNECTING SEABED TO SURFACE.

Asim Modi

Shell Installation Lead

For the last 7 months we’re installing equipment on the seabed., which is going to allow the produced fluids to come to Appomattox.

Sally Simmers

Shell Installation Lead

We’ve already reached the point of no return, in which case we need to keep moving and complete the riser.

Asim Modi

Shell Installation Lead

We’ve actually gone to a position where we have to continue laying this pipeline and this riser. Because we don’t have enough space in front of us to keep going and lay the pipeline down.

Sally Simmers

Shell Installation Lead

So the team’s fabricating all the pipe joints and all the appropriate quality control measures are in place.

Asim Modi

Shell Installation Lead

The two pipes have to line up so there’s no more than half a millimeter difference between the fit up. We’re talking about half a meter on 20-inch pipe in the Gulf of Mexico on a vessel that’s moving. For four years we do engineering design to get to that stage and it comes down to half a millimeter. It’s kind of astonishing.

Asim Modi

Shell Installation Lead

That’s what we’re allowed. Yeah, it’s right at the seam. Ok, so on this occasion, that weld is good to go. Ok, I’ll call the tower and let them know we’re good to go.

Sally Simmers

Shell Installation Lead

Once we’ve completed installing all of the riser section, the next job to do is to transfer the riser to the host.

Noah Smithwick

Shell Riser Lead

The transfer is dramatic. It’s a really heavy load being transferred from one vessel to the host. We pay our chain out so the bilge can recover the chain. The Bilge and Balder both connect the chain to the riser. Then basically they lower the riser into the water until we take the load.

Tessie Simar

Shell Installation Engineer

With the Balder moving in close to the platform, the guys actually in the control room are having to actually stay in communications with their control room. We want to make sure they don’t come into contact with our platform

GFX

THE CHOREOGRAPHY AT THIS STAGE INVOLVES SIMULTANEOUS OPERATIONS.

THE STAKES COULD NOT BE HIGHER.

Mitch Camp

Offshore Installation Mgr.

There’s a lot of SIMOPS risks that have to be managed. You’ve got this very large crane vessel coming in close proximity to the host.

Michelle Brunkenhoefer

Shell Deepsea Operations

You have to make sure that the facility is positioned in the right direction that the vessels need in order to place the riser in the basket.

Paul Hatty

Versabar Operator

If you miss one step, if one of the chalks doesn’t close properly, then you have a potential problem that everything can take off on you. 

Noah Smithwick

Shell Riser Lead

We’re walking it in slowly. Every step is very smooth and slow, but things can clash so we constantly have people spotting so we make sure we don’t have any steel touching. 

Sally Simmers

Shell Installation Lead

This is a point where most of the interfaces we’ve been working as a team for the last few years all come together. 

Paul Hatty

Versabar Operator

Alright Stephen, we’re all stop. All right, good job. Riser’s in the basket. Good job, Paul. Way to go, Stephen.

Michelle Brunkenhoefer

Shell Deepsea Operations

When you can safely get it in the basket and there’s no incidents and the day is done. It’s a good feeling.

Mitch Camp

Offshore Installation Mgr.

It has been a tremendous learning opportunity for everyone because we have a lot of things that we really had to figure out as we went along.

Noah Smithwick

Shell Installation Engineer

A lot of variables play into these offshore operations and you never know what you’re gonna get thrown at you. But the nice thing is that on eachone of these vessels you have very capable people.

Shell Pecten with mnemonic

TRT – 3:29