UK based specialized transport and heavy lift service provider ALE has skidded the Malikai Topside about 90m, after jacking it up to a height of 40m in support of the Malikai deepwater oilfield project in Malaysia.
ALE claimed that it is highest jack up and skidding operations at this scale.
The operation was done during execution of the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of a tension leg platform (TLP) for the project at Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering (MMHE) West in Johor Darul Takzim.
The work is a part of the contract awarded to Ale for the Malikai project on behalf of Technip and Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Sdn Bhd (MMHE) joint venture (TMJV).
As part of the contract, ALE will deliver four unit hull blocks, living quarters and mega beams for the Superlift activities.
The company is also responsible for weighing, skidding and jacking up of the topside, skidding at height of the topside over the hull and mating of topside and hull.
ALE is also responsible to remove all equipment using ALE’s 900t strand jacks, skidding equipment and self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs).
Ale project manager Edwin Blösser said: "As both the Mega Jack and skidding systems are operated remotely via a control room and are equipped with computerised controls, which have numerous safety systems implemented, these provided a safe way of working and protected both workers and the client’s equipment being lifted."
The project final stage involves the load-out of the TLP scheduled later in this year.
Sabah Shell Petroleum (SSPC) selected the TMJV earlier to serve as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the Malikai deepwater TLP.
Shell operates the development with 35% stake while other partners in the project include ConocoPhillips with 35% interest and Petronas Carigali with the remaining 30% stake.
Planned to commence production in early 2017, the Malikai project comprises two structures including 14,000t topside capable of accommodating 24 well slots and has the processing capacity of 60,000 barrels per day of oil and 1.4 million cubic meters per day of gas.
The other structure is a 12,000t hull designed to be attached to the seafloor at a water depth of 500m.
Image: The Malikai Topside. Photo: courtesy of ALE.