Saipem 7000

History
Name	Saipem 7000 Micoperi 7000(1987–1995)
Operator	Saipem
Ordered	1985
Builder	FincantieriMonfalcone Yard
Laid down	1985
Launched	1986
Completed	1987
In service	1988-to date
Identification	Call signC6NO5 IMO number:8501567 MMSI number:309461000
Status	In service
General characteristics
Class and type	Semi-submersible crane vessel
Displacement	172,000t(heavy lift)
Length	198 m (overall)
Beam	87 m
Height	43.5 m (keel to deck)
Draft	10.5 m (34 ft) (transit) 18.0 m (59 ft) (survival) 27.5 metres (90 ft) (heavy lift)
Installed power	70,000 kW
Propulsion	12 thrusters
Speed	9.5 knots (17.6 km/h; 10.9 mph)
Crew	Up to 700 persons

TheSaipem 7000is the world's third largestsemi-submersiblecrane vessel,after theSSCVSleipnirand theSSCVThialf.It is owned by the oil and gas industry contractorSaipem S.p.A.

Construction

The vessel was designed byGusto Engineeringduring 1984.

The vessel was built between 1985 and 1987 by Fincantieri-Cantieri Navali Italiana S.p.A. at their Monfalcone yard,Triestein north-easternItaly.The vessel was built in two halves in a longdry dock.The halves were then floated out from the dry dock and mated. During the mating operation the halves were supported by temporary pontoons.

The hull mating was complete in early 1987 and the two cranes built byOfficine Meccaniche Reggianeunder subcontract toAmerican Hoist & Derrick Company(Amhoist) were installed in sections by the Saipem crane vesselCastoro Ottoin April of that year. The sea trials, which took two months, started in September, and on 15 December the vessel was handed over to Micoperi.

The cost of the vessel was not released by Micoperi but it was estimated in the technical press as being up to US$400 million.

Description

Concept

TheSaipem 7000,originally named theMicoperi 7000,was conceived in the mid-1980s by its original ownersMicoperias a multipurpose offshore oil platform installation vessel that would be able to install very large oil production platform decks (known as integrated decks) as well as the decks' supporting structures (known as jackets) using its two very large fully revolving cranes. It would also be able to support the offshore completion of the platform by providing hotel and workshop facilities for large construction crews. Saturation diving facilities would support subsea connection work. The vessel's size and semi-submersible form would allow it to operate in worse weather conditions than smaller and conventionally shaped vessels.

The huge cost of a vessel of this size would be offset by the cost and time savings made by the oil company as the large integrated decks could be completed, tested and commissioned onshore. Prior to the introduction of the large crane vessels, offshore oil platforms were made up of 1000 - 2000 tonne modules which were lifted into place individually by smaller SSCVs or monohull crane vessels and then connected together offshore, tested and then commissioned; this often took over a year. Other savings in the installation of the jackets could also be made.

Original specification

Heavy lift

TheSaipem 7000has twoNOV Lifting and HandlingAmClydemodelSaipem 7000fully revolving cranes. Each has a 140-metre-long boom fitted with 4 hooks. Each crane is capable of lifting up to 7,000 tonnes at 40 m lift radius using the main hook. The auxiliary hook capacities are 1st Auxiliary 2,500 tonnes at 75 m radius and 2nd Auxiliary 900 tonnes at 115 m. The whip hook has a capacity of 120 tonnes at 150 m. The 2nd Auxiliary hook can be deployed to a water depth of 450 m. The two cranes are capable of a tandem lift of 14,000 tonnes.

Each crane was fitted with 15,600 hp (11,630 kW) engines to power the boom and load hoists, 9 tugger lines and the crane slewing system. The cranes use 48 miles (77 km) of wire rope of various diameters.

Ballast system

TheSaipem 7000was fitted with twoballastsystems: a conventional pumped system which could transfer up to 24,000 tonnes of water per hour using 4pumpsand a free flooding system. The free flooding system used 2 m diametervalvesto open certain compartments to the sea thus trimming or heeling the vessel. This allows the vessel to lift cargoes from barges much faster than if just the crane hoists are used.

Power system

The vessel's main power is provided by eight 12-cylinder 8400hpdiesel enginesbuilt by Grandi Motori Trieste, a former Fincantieri company. Later Grandi Motori was purchased by the FinnishWärtsilä.They provide up to 47,000 kW of electric power at 10,000V60Hzfor propulsion and positioning. Auxiliary power is provided by two 6-cylinder 4,200 hp (3,130 kW) GMT diesel engines. There is also an emergency generator.

Total power that can be supplied is 57,000 kilowatts (76,000 hp).

Mooring system

The vessel was supplied with 16 anchor lines, 4 at each corner. Each line consists of 3350 m of 96 mm wire rope, 50 m of 92 mmchainand a 40-tonne Norshore Mark 3anchor.Each line has its own 1,350 kilowatts (1,810 hp) single drum winch. The mooring system can be used in water depths of up to 450 m.

TheSaipem 7000is also equipped with two anchor windlasses equipped with 550m of 130mm chain and 35 tonne anchor.

Thrusters

The vessel was fitted with 12thrusters—6 on eachhull.They are, per hull:

• 1 No. 2,500 kilowatts (3,400 hp) bow thrusters in athwartship tunnels
• 2 No. 3,500 kilowatts (4,700 hp) azimuthing retractable thrusters under the hull
• 2 No. 4,500 kilowatts (6,000 hp) azimuthing thrusters at the stern—these are used when transiting
• 1 No. 5,500 kilowatts (7,400 hp) azimuthing retractable thrusters under the hull (added during 1999 refit)

Dynamic positioning system

The vessel is equipped with adynamic positioningsystem which uses either the thrusters or the mooring system or a combination of both, controlled by a number of computers, to hold the vessel in a predefined location.

Platform installation equipment

• TwoMenckMHU 3000hydraulic hammerscapable of 3000 kJ impact energy.
• Two Menck MHU 1700 hydraulic hammers.
• Two Menck MHU 1000 hydraulic hammers.
• Two Menck MHU 600 hydraulic hammers.
• One Menck MHU 220 hydraulic hammer.
• One Menck MHU 195 hydraulic hammer.
• Two underwater power packs.
• One hydraulic hammer compensator.
• Various Mencksteam hammersand their associated boilers
• Sixteen 35 cm diameter 60 m longcable laid slings
• A containerized 14-mansaturation divingsystem which can be moved to any of the vessel's threemoon pools
• Two leveling systems, range 66 "- 72" diameter; 900 tonne capacity each.
• Two external levelling systems; 1000 tonnes each.
• Abandonment/Recovery system with double capstan winch, 2000 tonne capacity each.

Handling deck equipment

• One Kobelco Crawler Crane 70 tonnes capacity
• One Hydraulic Tyred Crane 35 tonnes capacity
• Two Fork Lifts 5 tonnes capacity each

Accommodation

The accommodation designed for 800 people contains 30 triplecabins,335 double cabins, 35 singles and 5 suites. The accommodation also contains a largegalley andmessrooms, a hospital, cinema and lounges.

1999 vessel re-fit

During the winter of 1999/2000 theSaipem 7000underwent a refit to enhance its positioning and power systems and add a J-lay system.

The power system was upgraded to provide up to 70,000 kW using 12dieselgenerators.To improve the vessel's resilience the generators are distributed between four separate engine rooms.

Two 5,500 kW retractable azimuthing thrusters were added, one below the forward part of each hull. The DP system control computers were also replaced.

The hull, deck and deck structures were modified to accept the Gusto designedJ-laytower and its support equipment. The J-lay tower can lay pipe from 4 "to 32" diameter with a tension of up to 525tonnes(5.15MN) using the tensioners and up to 2,000 tonnes (20 MN) when using friction clamps. The deck can be used to store up to 10,000 tonnes of pipe.

To allow space for the increased equipment some items from the original specification were removed, including 2 anchor winches from the bow, all the moon pools, and the boilers used to provide steam for the steam hammers.

Operations

Early projects

The vessel's first work was forPetrobrastheBrazilianstate oil company. The project consisted of the installation of 7 platforms in theCampos Basin.During this project theMicoperi 7000was also involved in the fighting of a well fire on theEnchova Platform.TheMicoperi 7000then proceeded to theGulf of Mexicowhere it installed theJolliet TemplateforConoco.In 1989 theMicoperi 7000arrived in theNorth Seafor the first time where it completed several projects in theNorwegiansector of the North Sea. These were theGyda PlatformforBP,theTogi TemplateforNorsk Hydroand theVeslefrikk platformforStatoil.In 1990 and 1991, the Micoperi was used in the construction and assembly of the Mossgas FA platform off the south coast of South Africa near a town called Mossel Bay.

Whilst the vessel remained busy, Micoperi were struggling financially as the low oil price prevalent in the late 1980s curtailed oil company investment. In 1991 Micoperi were forced to sell a number of their major assets including theMicoperi 7000to anotherItaliancontractorSaipem.Saipem took over the running of the vessel though they retained the vessel crew and the shorebased engineering support. Saipem renamed the vessel theSaipem 7000.

The vessel continued to work, installing oil and gas production platforms, in the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico, off the Canadian east coast and the west coast ofAfricathroughout the nineties. It was also involved in the removal of one platform, theEssoOdin. During the late nineties Saipem planned an upgrade to the vessels DP system and installation of aJ-Laysystem.

Projects

TheSaipem 7000has completed 4 J-Lay pipe projects Diana,Blue Stream,Ormen LangeandMedgaz,but its main work continues to be heavy lift in the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. This includes both platform installation and removal and the addition of modules to existing platforms.

It is currently deployed in the North Sea, approximately 27km east of Montrose, Scotland, installing the 114 jacket foundations forSeagreen offshore wind farm.

Lifting and pipelaying records

TheSaipem 7000set the world offshore lifting record of 12,150 tons for the Sabratha deck in theMediterranean Sea.A local record for theGulf of Mexico(Mexican area) was set with the 10,473 tons of the PB-KU-A2 deck. In July 2010, theSaipem 7000broke another world record by lifting the new BP Valhall Production and Hotel topside of approximately 11,600 tonnes onDynamic Positioning.The previous world record set at Sabratha was performed on the vessel's anchoring system. The first and third records were broken on 7 September 2019 when theSleipnirlifted the 15,300 ton deck module forNoble'sLeviathan.

TheSaipem 7000laid the 24 "pipeline for the Blue Stream project betweenRussiaandTurkeyup to the record depth of 2,150 meters in theBlack Sea.This was broken at the end of 2005 by theBalderwhich laid a pipeline in 2,200 meters of water, yet Balder was outbeat herself in 2014 by another laybarge of Saipem, the FDS2, which laid another 24 "pipeline in 2,250 meters offshore Brazil.[1]

Incident in Norway

On 14 April 2022, the vessel suffered a lifting accident in aNorwegianfjord nearStavangerduring a planned load test of the cranes. The main block wire broke, dropping a barge used as test weight. This caused the vessel to tilt, but was soon stabilized. Nobody was injured during the incident.

References

• Snyder, Robert E.; McCabe, Charles R., "Micoperi 7000:The world's largest SSCV goes to work",Ocean Industry(July 1988)
• Saipem S.p.A.,Saipem 7000Brochure,Saipem S.p.A.

External links

• Official Site
• Seven images of theSaipem 7000in action
• Saipem 7000 sets new lifting record for the Gulf of Mexico (March 9, 2007)
• Saipem during maintenance at Keppel Verolme, Netherlands