Saipem start subsea pipe-lay to connect Africa with Europe
MEDGAZ has announced that the initial phase of the construction process for the Algerian-European offshore pipeline is due to begin with the arrival of one of the two semi-submersible pipe-lay vessels. The Castoro Sei, equipped with the most cutting-edge technologies for welding and assembling pipes, reached its destination at the port of Almeria this morning from Rotterdam and will start pre-fabrication of the pipes.
The Castoro Sei is one of the flagship vessels owned by the Italian oil and gas industry contractor, Saipem, a global leader in building sub-sea infrastructures. The vessel has been used in numerous construction projects around the world during the last 25 years, noteworthy being the Greenstream natural gas pipeline between Libya and Italy and the GME pipeline connecting Morocco and Spain.
More than 300 people will be working on board this ship over the next few months. The Castoro Sei is 152 meters long, 70.5 meters wide and 30 meters high. During 2Q2008, the vessel will begin laying the gas pipeline along the areas closest to the coastline, starting with the Almeria portion and followed by the Algerian portion.
S-lay method
The construction method to be used by MEDGAZ is the so-called S-lay method which involves welding pipe sections of 12 meters each horizontally and continuously “feeding” the jointed sections over the barge’s pipe-lay stinger in such a way that the pipeline forms an “S” shape from the barge’s exit-point up to the touchdown point on the seafloor.
Overall, the construction process in shallow waters (up to a depth of 550 meters) will last roughly 4 months. A second semi-submersible vessel, the Saipem 7000, will be in charge of completing the pipe-lay operations in deepwater areas (down to 2,160 meters) during 3Q2008.
