3000 Horsepower Offshore Rig Move

Hansa Meyer was awarded a challenging project in the summer of 2017.  The project consisted of many components:

• Performing lifts to "rig-down" an assembled 3000 horsepower offshore drilling rig.
• Measuring and weighing each piece, calculating the center of gravity (COG), and developing documentation for future lifts. 
• Engineering and procurement of proper rigging to be used for "rig-up" activities offshore. 
• Transporting the freight via deck barges and specialized trucks to the Port of Houston. 
• Properly laying out at the port in a "rig-up" sequence to be loaded on to Offshore Supply Vessels (OSVs) and barges.
• Loading out, in sequence for delivery to the platform.   

The rig components then moved in sequence, nearly 500 miles offshore to a waiting platform.  In reverse order from how the rig came down, it will be rebuilt from the bottom up. 

The project was both time critical and sequence critical.  OSVs and barges would be scheduled to be loaded and arrive at the platform within very tight windows.  The loading sequence had to be perfect in order to allow the offshore "rig-up" activities to take place with no double handling or extra equipment, as storage space offshore was minimal.  A wrench was thrown into the works when Hurricane Harvey came into the Houston area and dumped over 50 inches of rain.  However, when the water receded and the skies cleared the team was back to work.

The team performed tandem lifts to fly down the two Seatrax rig cranes

Hauling the nearly 40' crown to the port. 

Nearly 200 truckloads of equipment was hauled to the port.

One section of the Heli-pad arriving at the port.

Not just trucking but 6 barges were loaded at the site and offloaded at the port

Below is the first OSV (offshore supply vessel). It was loaded out with some of the last pieces brought to the port.  The "rig-up" sequence is almost in a complete reverse order. However, due to weight distribution on the platform, the sequence was modified to ensure a balanced rig-up construction.  This OSV takes the first load to the platform nearly 500 miles offshore.  Then a series of barges will finish the deliveries.

A special thanks to everyone involved on this project.  It was a team effort without a doubt!  Our engineers and operators, as well as our project management and commercial teams all did a fantastic job.  This was a very fluid project with scope changes, equipment variables, weather challenges, and a host of situations that took dedication and effort from everyone to overcome.  Another great project for team Hansa Meyer!