McDermott Completes Pipeline Work for Shell’s Whale Development in Gulf of Mexico
(P&GJ) — McDermott has successfully completed the engineering, procurement, construction, installation, and commissioning (EPCIC) work for Shell Offshore Inc.'s Whale development in the Gulf of Mexico. The project, which began in 2021, reached a key milestone last month, marking the start of oil production at the site.
The project required McDermott's marine assets, including the North Ocean 102 vessel and the upgraded Amazon, to perform complex pipelay operations in depths of nearly 2,800 meters (9,100 feet). The work involved installing 50 kilometers (30 miles) of pipeline and 15 kilometers (9 miles) of umbilicals that connect five subsea drill centers to a new floating production platform.
Mahesh Swaminathan, McDermott’s Senior Vice President of Subsea and Floating Facilities, emphasized the importance of collaboration and engineering expertise in the project’s success. “The completion of the Whale project demonstrates the power of collaboration, engineering expertise, and ingenuity,” Swaminathan said. “Our relationship with Shell is one marked by trust, a focus on operational excellence, and solution-oriented project delivery. Together, we overcame challenges and made history with the debut of the Amazon in the Gulf of Mexico.”
The Amazon vessel, designed for complex offshore operations, performed its first ultra-deepwater pipelay operation, installing five steel catenary risers, each 3,350 meters (approximately 11,000 feet) long. This milestone demonstrates the vessel’s high top tension capacity and highlights a significant achievement for subsea infrastructure projects in ultra-deepwater environments.
The Whale development, located 200 miles southwest of Houston, features a semi-submersible production platform capable of remote operations and monitoring. The platform’s design reflects advancements in sustainable and efficient energy production.
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