Shallow-water Installation

Rigorous planning and interface management is imperative.

We are known for our shallow-water installation expertise worldwide – high performance crews and vessels.

Our fleet of moored derrick barges, with heavy lift and/or shallow-water pipelay capabilities, perform fixed platform installations, rig moves and platform removals. Several barges have DP capabilities enabling quality pipelay and above-surface lifting in deeper waters and hostile weather and ocean conditions.

Supporting our vast construction capability is a team of professional divers who assist on worldwide projects. Three saturation diving systems are transferable between our major construction and dive support vessels.

Heavy Lift & Integration

Our primary lifting vessels are DB50, DB30, DB27, DB101.

Our single lifting capacity for lifting or upending substructures, such as jackets, and topsides for fixed platforms, is 4,400 tons. When structures that require lifting exceed our vessel’s capabilities, alternative, economically viable solutions from our installation engineers include jacket launches up to 29,000 tons, dual lifts and float overs for large topsides up to 22,000-tons, in both sheltered waters and exposed offshore installation sites. The versatility of our heavy lift vessels to perform lowering and pipelay operations makes a versatile asset for any shallow water installation project.

Shallow-water Pipelay

Our fleet of installation vessels offers:

S-Lay - primary moored and DP S-Lay vessels are DB26, DB27, DB30, LB32 & KP1. Read More >

McDermott offers engineering and S-Lay installation, a fast and economical method of deepwater pipeline, SCR and in-line structure installation. Deepwater S-Lay requires a high capacity tension and A&R system as well as a long rigid stinger. Installing in a near vertical stinger departure angle limits the over-bend strains and limits tension requirements, which in turn facilitates positioning on uneven seabed areas to reduce free-spans and minimizes structural rotation. Heavy pipelines, such as pipe-in-pipe systems and water-filled pipelines, as well as pipe end manifolds and large in-line structures such as “wye”, “tee” and valve assemblies can be installed reliably and safely by S-Lay.

Reel-Lay - primary Reel-Lay vessel is LV105. Read More >

McDermott offers engineering and reeled installation of rigid pipe, suitable for fields with highly corrosive hydrocarbons or demanding flow assurance requirements, such as high-performance insulated flowlines. Reel-Lay offers economical installation for small-diameter pipes (up to 16 inches) of limited length. In a controlled onshore environment, welding and testing pipe joints, coating pipe, or preparing pipe-in-pipe is carried out before product is spooled onto a reel. During installation, pipe is unspooled, straightened and overboarded as the vessel moves forward. Strategic partnerships provide spool base access on a project basis. Suitable for both shallow and ultra-deepwater installation, reel-lay offers high production rates for installation of Steel Catenary Risers (SCRs), however, pipe diameters are restricted by reel size.

Flex-Lay - primary Flex-Lay vessels are NO102 and LV105. Read More >

McDermott offers engineering, installation and retrieval of flexible product through Flex-lay. Pipe is typically spooled from a reel, bent over a chute and guided into tensioners and onto the seabed. Flexible pipelines are less sensitive to fatigue and this efficient installation method is suitable for both shallow and deep water, offering high production rates for umbilicials, cable and flexible pipe etc.

We offer pipeline engineering and installation of shallow-water pipelines incorporating concrete, FBE, wet-insulation or CRA coated (mechanical or metallurgical bonded) and pipe-in-pipe.

Mooring System Deployment

McDermott’s experienced engineering team employs appropriate analysis tools, a project management structure and installation vessels that enable high technical performance for reliable, cost-effective moorings. Rigorous planning and careful management of design and installation interfaces is imperative. Our expertise covers conventional wire, sheathed wire or polyester moorings and their foundations, employing driven or suction anchors / piles, and top and bottom chains. Applicable to Single Point and Spread Moorings for shallow-water FPSO’s and marine terminals.