Offshore technology supplier Osbit Ltd has reached a milestone in the assembly of a new well intervention tower system for international oilfield firm FTAI Ocean.
The subsea engineers, based at Riding Mill, Northumberland, have been working on the FTAI Ocean Smart Tower System on Teesside.
The tower is now standing at its full height of 40m (131ft) after the top section was installed onto the lower section in a complex lift operation.
The lifting operation, which took place at Wilton Engineering Services at Redcar where the tower has been fabricated, involved lifting the top section of the tower by crane and holding it in place on the lower section, while the sections were welded together.
The completed system will weigh 1,300 tonnes, and operate in water depths up to 1,500 metres, to support well stimulation and integrity as well as end-of-life activities.
Jon Attenburrow, managing director at FTAI Ocean said: “This is a great achievement, for all involved in the design, build and assembly of the Smart Tower System, in these difficult times. We are pleased the build has been carried out safely and professionally to date, and look forward to the successful completion of the world class Well Intervention Tower.”
Steve Bedford, director at Osbit, said: “The achievement of this important milestone is a real testament to the capabilities of our team, close collaboration between Osbit and FTAI Ocean, and the dedication of our North East England supply chain, particularly during the challenges of the current pandemic.
“This system is the culmination of our extensive expertise and strong reputation in the design and build of cutting-edge well intervention and offshore handling systems. We remain committed to utilising our capabilities to support our clients in enabling safer and more efficient offshore operations.
“As a business, it is rewarding for us to see this world-class piece of kit successfully coming together and we are very much looking forward to delivering the completed system to FTAI Ocean.”
Steven Pearson, managing director of Wilton Engineering, said: “We are very proud to be working with Osbit to produce the Well Intervention System. It is a very impressive structure, which is now dominating the skyline at our riverside facility, highlighting to everyone that can see it the innovation, ingenuity, engineering and manufacturing capabilities of North East England’s offshore energy supply chain.”
