By - Uday Kulkarni and Pradeep Jain

03 Sep 2013
Float Over Installation of Topsides 1
Float-Over Installation of Topsides
Copyright & Disclaimer : Some of the material used in this presentation are Technip proprietary items and shall not be
used or reproduced for any purpose without prior written permission from Technip. Some of the material used in this
presentation is taken from public domain (ex. Internet) and is used purely for educational purpose
Content
1. What is Floatover?
2. Types of Floatover Installations
3. Vessels/Barges used
4. Floatover Stages
5. Floatover Engineering & Design
6. Systems and components used in Floatover
7. Recent Floatover Installations
8. Video
9. Floatover Installation Today & Tomorrow


2
Float Over Installation of Topsides - Content
Conventional Installation method
Float Over Installation of Topsides 3
Heavier topsides (typ.> 4000MT)
are installed by dividing it into
number of modules.

Multiple lifts using Derrick Barge
are required to install the
complete Topside




What is Floatover?
Floatover Method
In a floatover, the completed topside module from the yard is transported on a barge








Float Over Installation of Topsides - Introduction 4
The vessel is positioned within or around the legs of a pre-installed substructure
The module is settled onto the jacket legs by vessel ballasting only or by combination
of vessel ballasting and Jacking system
A complete single integrated deck is installed using float-over
Float Over Installation of Topsides 5
Types of Floatover Installations

1. Active Floatover
This is done using Jacks in
addition to Ballasting of
Barge

2. Passive Floatover
This is done only by
Ballasting /
de-ballasting of barge



Floatover using Loose Slot method

This is done using mooring and anchor
lines only. Generally no contact with
sub-structure is involved





Floatover using Tight Slot method

This is done using fenders in addition
to mooring and anchor lines




Floatover Vessels
I. Cargo Barge

II. Self propelled Vessels

III. Multiple vessels in Catamaran configuration
Float Over Installation of Topsides - Vessels 6
Floatover by Cargo Barge
Float Over Installation of Topsides By Cargo Barge 7
P52 Project by Technip for Petrobras Brazil
25000 MT Deck
Semisubmersible Hull
Cargo Barge
Floatover using Self propelled Barge
Float Over Installation of Topsides By Self Propelled
Barge
8
East Area Project by Technip in Nigeria
18000 MT Deck
Preinstalled Jacket
Floatover by Catamaran Barge
Float Over Installation of Topsides By Catamaran Barge 9
Kikeh Spar Project by Technip
4000 MT Topside
Spar Hull
Floatover Stages
Floatover is done broadly in following 5 stages-
Stage-1 : Stand-Off
Stage-2 : Docking
Stage-3 : Pre-Mating
Stage-4 : Mating & Vertical Load Transfer
Stage-5 : Un-docking and Exit

Float Over Installation of Topsides - Phases 10
Stage-1: Stand-Off (Conceptual)
Float Over Installation of Topsides - Phases 11
The vessel is at a safe distance from the substructure but connected to
the mooring system, and final preparations such as preparing the vessels
rapid ballast system or the hydraulic jacks are under way.
Stand-Off (Actual Operation)
Float Over Installation of Topsides -Phases 12
Stage-2 : Docking (Conceptual)
Float Over Installation of Topsides - Phases 13
The vessel enters the substructure
Docking (Actual Operation)
Float Over Installation of Topsides - Phases 14
Stage-3 : Pre-Mating
Float Over Installation of Topsides - Phases 15
Ballasting the vessel to match the leg mating units (LMU) with receptors on top of
the substructure legs and removing the remaining tie downs. No weight transfer
yet occurs.
Stage-4 : Mating & Load Transfer
Float Over Installation of Topsides -Phases 16
The topsides is lowered onto the substructure by either rapid ballasting of
the vessel or by contracting the hydraulic jacks. The topsides weight is
transferred to the jacket completely

Schematic Floatover Installation using Jacks

Float Over Installation of Topsides 17
Barge
Integrated deck
Jacket Legs
Stage-5 : Un-docking and Exit
Float Over Installation of Topsides - Phases 18

Continue ballasting, so that a gap is created between the underside of deck
and the vessels Deck Support Frame (DSF), to ensure vessel motions will not
cause contact between the two. The vessel is withdrawn from the jacket slot.
Float Over Installation of Topsides - Engineering 19
Floatover Engineering & Design
1. Jacket & Deck Configuration

2. Installation Analysis

Float Over Installation of Topsides - Engineering 20
Jacket Configuration for Floatover Installation
Deck Configuration for Floatover Installation
Float Over Installation of Topsides 21
Non-Linear Time domain mating analysis is done for various floatover
scenarios such as docking, mating and undocking condition

Mating analysis is used to predict following
Lateral forces for design of Jacket
Loads in fenders
Vertical and horizontal motions of stabbing cones
Loads in LMUs and DSUs
Maximum vertical barge motion post mating

Installation Analysis
Float Over Installation of Topsides - Engineering 22
Systems & Components used in Floatover
Float Over Installation of Topsides - Equipments 23
Barge Equipment
1. Control room
2. DSF & DSU
3. Jacking System
4. Ballast System
5. Winches, Mooring Lines and Anchoring Lines
6. Anti Surge Control system
Jacket Equipment
1. LMU (Leg Mating Unit)
2. Jacket Fendering System
Navigation & Position Aids
Environmental Parameter monitoring system
LMU Leg Mating Unit
Float Over Installation of Topsides 28
Topside Weight = 13,000 MT

LMU Height = 3.7m

LMU Diameter = 2.0m

LMU Weight = 24 MT

LMU Installed in Jacket

LMU-Video

LMU
LMU
Recent Floatover Installations
29
More than 20 floatover Installations done by Technip between 1987 to 2013
Installation
Date
Ballasating
(B)
Jacking (J)
PROJECT CLIENT LOCATION DECK WEIGHT LEGS Barge / Vessel
1987 B Bhylene Offshore Terminal EGPC Egypt 2,200 t 8 Giant 12
1988 B Zakum Accomodation Platform ADMA. OPCO Abu Dhabi 6,500 t 8 CB4 + CB1
1991 B Khuff Production Platform ADNOC Abu Dhabi 2, 500 t 8 CB4
1995 B + J COBO - COB P1 ELF Angola 9,500 t 8 Giant 4
1996 B + J Qatargas Compression Platform QATARGAS Qatar 7,500 t 8 LB1
2000 B G.I.P. ADMA OPCO Abu Dhabi 4,200 t 6 LB1
2002 B CAKERAWALA CTOC Malaysia 18,000 t 8 S45
2003 B + J AMENAM - AMP1 ELF Nigeria 11,000 t 8 Mighty Servant 3
2003 B SOROOSH-NOW ROOZ (3 decks) SHELL Iran 9,000 t 0 LB2 / LB1
2003 B SOUTH PARS (2 decks) NIOC / Petropars Iran 6,000 t 0 Iranian Barge
2003 B NIPPON HELANG NIPPON OIL Malaysia 8,000 t 8 S45
2005 B + J EAST AREA EXXON MOBIL Nigeria 18,000 t 8 Black Marlin
2006 B + J AMENAM - AMP2 TOTAL Nigeria 9,600 t 8 Fjell
2006 B P52 (4 Column Semi) Petrobras Brazil 25,000 t 4 Purpose Built Barge
2006 B KIKEH (Spar) Murphy Malaysia 4,000 t 4 Catamaran Barges
2008 B P51 (4 Column Semi) Petrobras Brazil 27,000 t 4 Purpose Built Barge
2009 B North Belut Conoco/Philips Indonesia 13,500 t 8 S45
2010 B GPF Adma.Opco Abu Dhabi 8,000 t 8 LB1
2010 B P56 (4 Column Semi) Petrobras Brazil 27,000 t 4 Purpose Built Barge
2011 B Turkmenistan Block 1 (4 Column GBS) Petronas Capian 5,500 t 4 Purpose Built Barge
2013 B + J OFON 2 TOTAL Nigeria 16,000 t 8 Transshelf
Videos

Floatover video

Float Over Installation of Topsides 30
Floatover Installation Today and Tomorrow
Float Over Installation of Topsides - Advantages 31
Advantages Challenges
A pre-commissioned, integrated, single
piece topside can be installed
Yard facilities have to be adequate to
handle heavier topside for fabrication and
loadout
Can be used in shallow waters where HLVs
cannot be used
Installation windows are small
Reduction in Offshore hook-up and
commissioning time
Heavier Jacket is required due to barge
access slot at the top
The project cost saving is of the order of
2% - 5%
The entire operation from load-out,
transportation and installation has to be
well controlled
The project schedules can be saved to the
tune of 6% - 10%
Experience is the key to success
FUTURE Of Floatover
Potential to install very heavy topsides ( > 35,000 MT) in open sea
Can be used for fixed as well as floating structures
In India this concept has great potential due to scarcity of HLVs for lifts > 4000 MT
Questions ???
Float Over Installation of Topsides 32