cdc – the heron
TRANSCRIPT
Heron’s Application for Wind
Industry - Gorillas Need Not
Apply
Iain Steven, Technical Director, CDC Ltd
All Energy, May 2016
This presentation is given with minimal text projected. The
“story” of the “Gorillas need not apply” is provided by the
presenter
Speakers Notes
Over the next few minutes I’d like to offer a Darwinian
perspective on the brief history of jack-ups.
And I’m going to be bold by suggesting that the current
evolutionary trend for bigger and bigger – isn’t
necessarily in your favour
Bigger isn’t necessarily going to satisfy your operation &
maintenance needs.
Why?
Because as Darwin himself suggested, adaptability is
the key to survival
Scorpion.
Zapata. 1st lattice
leg Jack-Up
MODU. 1956.
80ft WD.
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All Energy, May 2016
The Scorpion was the first jack-
up with the now familiar lattice
leg design, built way back in the
days of black and white telly,
with a maximum operating water
depth of 80ft (24m)
(image source:
http//petrowiki.org/History_of_offshore_drilling_units ) 4
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Image Gorilla 1
Rowan Gorilla 1.
350ft WD with
500ft legs.
1983
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Fast Forward to 1983 and we
have the introduction of the first
music CDs in the UK alongside
the Gorilla 1. Water depth 350ft
(106m)
(image source:… http://versatel.nl/the_sims/rig/gorilla1.htm )
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Rowan
Companies’
Rig
“Bob Palmer”
A LeTourneau
Super Gorilla
XL. 490ft WD.
Leg length
647ft
Circa 1999
All Energy, May 2016
16 years later, in 1999, we have the
opening of the Scottish Parliament
coinciding with the launch of the super
gorilla XL class of jack-up, with a
design water depth of up to 550ft
(167m) Bit of controversy with water depth, between
designer claims and what continental shelf
regulators will Permit as working water depth.
Somewhere between 450ft and 490ft.
(image source:.. http://www.rowan/our-fleet/rig-
details/?rig=Bob%20Palmer ) 8
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Rowan
Companies’
Rig
“ROWAN
GORILLA 7”
At Forties-E
A LeTourneau
Super Gorilla
400ft WD
(North Sea).
607ft Legs
All Energy, May 2016
Here is another super gorilla, the
Rowan Gorilla 7 this time.
This is the Rowan Gorilla 7 at
Forties Echo
(image source:…. http://www.rowan.com/our-fleet/rig-
details/?rig=Rowan%20Gorilla%20VII )
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MAERSK XLE
Class
A GUSTO
CJ70
500ft WD.
675ft Legs
Circa 2009
All Energy, May 2016
2014, and coming in at >$600m we have the
MAERSK XLE class of jack-up, with a design
water depth of up to 492ft (150m) operating year
round in the North Sea and legs 678ft in length (Image source:….. http://maersk.com/en/hardware/xle-rigs )
But even today, with 56 years of technological
advances in jack-up design, achieving these
water depths doesn’t come cheap.
Or – would something smaller, more flexible,
more capable of reaching the parts other jack-ups
cannot reach do a better job instead?
So – let’s talk about reaching the parts other jack-
ups cannot reach - 12
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The Heron,
470ft Leg
And how a Heron, rather than a super-sized Gorilla
might represent the next step in jack-up evolution.
With a nod to the super Gorillas, the brave and bold
Terns and the Scyllas, the installation of foundations,
towers and turbines is already well catered for within the
jack-up market.
But when it comes to the maintenance of these same
towers and turbines is bigger really better?
The super jack-ups are limited in supply, pressures on
demand will push their day rates higher. Do you want to
pay for more when less will do?
On the other hand, the Heron is purpose built to meet
the maintenance needs of offshore wind.
Image source: CDC
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With cantilever
Up to 400ft WD
470ft Leg
If you do need an installation vessel, for smaller
turbines, in developing markets – our Chameleon
variant will do the trick
Image source: CDC
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The Heron,
470ft Leg
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But for maintenance, the Heron, with its second elevating deck – is the only jack-up, in
fact the only support vessel capable of providing walk-to-work environment at nacelle
height.
As well as reaching the parts other jack-ups cannot reach, the Heron overcomes many
of the constraints due to weather and sea conditions experienced by other support
vessels. There’s no bump and jump here.
With an ability to operate in greater wind speeds than large boom cranes – and greater
wave heights than barges – your window for planned maintenance is no longer confined
to just the summer months.
Imagine being able to provide controlled conditions for inspection and repair – safety is
increased, planned operations are no longer at the mercy of the weather and your costs
are reduced.
The Heron is purpose built for providing heavy maintenance. Gearbox, generator and
blade repair and maintenance can all take place without the need to wait on – or pay for
– a more expensive crane barge.
In fact blade repair and maintenance can take place on foot – with the Heron second
deck providing a safer working environment by replacing the need for rope access.
Capable of handling up to 250 tons – more than enough t handle the gearbox, generator
or blades of even the largest turbines you’re no longer reliant on the services or
associated costs of, the large boom cranes.
And with the second extending deck providing a safer working environment, you can
eliminate the need for, the risks of and the cost of helicopter services.
In fact, with he ability to scan blades with an industrial MRI, rather than a hand held
device, inspection and repair will become more proactive, reducing the likelihood and
cost of forced outage All Energy, May 2016
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The Heron is purpose built to provide in-field central accommodation. As more wind
turbine generators are developed further offshore, you know more offshore maintenance
strategies will be required.
The Heron can house >120 personal on a stable non-moving platform. Its daughter craft
enables the in-field servicing of local turbines while the vessel itself attends to heavier
scheduled or unscheduled activities.
The Heron is a self propelled DP2 jack-up designed to MODU class. It has lots of wind
related letters after its name. The MODU class extends its competitiveness and its
market appeal, allowing the Heron to step over to work in the oil & gas sector.
It was designed specifically with offshore wind in mind.
It was designed specifically to meet your operation and maintenance needs.
And we believe it offers the next successful step in jack-up evolution.
My colleagues are handing out brochures, please take one.
And if you have any questions, we’d be delighted to answer them. Thank you.
Image source: CDC
All Energy, May 2016