Topside winch pull-in system
Challenge
Ashtead Technology was selected to
design and deliver a topside winch pull-in
system to support the installation of two
production Steel Catenary Risers (SCRs),
an oil export SCR, a gas export SCR and
a dynamic umbilical onto the Shenandoah
Floating Production System (FPS), Gulf of
Mexico.
With limited deck space and design loads
approaching 700 tonnes for the oil export
SCR, our customer required a solution that
was both space efficient and would not
exceed the strict weight limits on the FPS
cranes.
Solution
The team at Ashtead Technology engineered a bespoke pull-in system tailored to the project’s requirements:
Custom-built 800Te Intermittent Linear Winch to provide precise, controlled pulls and superior line-pull-to-weight efficiency.
Umbilical Pull‑in Grillages and Horizontal Sheave Grillage, engineered to guide and support both the dynamic umbilical and SCRs during pull-in.
Flagging Sheave designed to manage high-tension loads.
Additional equipment supply included:
1 x ACE 144Te Hydraulic Drum Winch with diesel Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU)
1 x ACE 12.5Te Tugger Winch with diesel HPU
1 x ACE 125Te Reel Stand and Spooling Gear with diesel HPU
1 x ACE 75Te Overboarding Sheave
2 x ACE 75Te Sheaveblocks
Results and impact
- Bespoke equipment package successfully completed the required pull-ins, helping our customer remain on target to start production
- Linear Winch solution allowed for high SCR pull-in capacity vs weight of equipment
- Optimised deck space and streamlined operations
- Full scope of supply included all associated project management, engineering, fabrication, testing, transportation, installation and offshore operation
- Received high praise on operational performance of our personnel, performance on health and safety and performance on installation and commissioning
- Addition of an Ashtead Technology hydraulic shear to support with wire rope cutting during demobilisation of equipment