Lewek Constellation sets pipelay record

JUNE 8, 2015 — EMAS AMC, the subsea division of offshore contractor EMAS, reports that its flagship subsea construction vessel, Lewek Constellation, has established an industry record for pipelay in the U.S Gulf of Mexico.

In final pipelay trials in 7,368 ft (2,246 m) of water in preparation for the execution of three subsea tie-back projects for Noble Energy, she deployed 3.2 kilometers of 16-in diameter, 28 mm wall thickness pipeline, complete with the second end pipeline end termination (PLET). The tension recorded was 63 tonnes, the highest tension ever recorded in the history of rigid reeled-lay operations.

“Successfully laying the test pipe at this record-breaking top tension during pipelay trials is a significant achievement for EMAS and an industry first,” said Lionel Lee, Chairman, EMAS AMC. “It’s a testament to the experience and expertise of our people combined with the quality of our new vessel built by EMAS Group’s shipbuilding subsidiary Triyards in Vietnam. I want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our integrated project teams in preparation for this important milestone.”

“What this record means for clients going forward is that we can offer a more efficient pipelay solution in ultra-deep water for pipelines up to 16 inch in diameter when compared to traditional S-Lay or J-Lay methods, even with thick insulation coatings, thereby giving our clients more options to consider,” said John Meenaghan, Vice President Global Operations.