NGI operates, together with our sub-contractor Frank Mohn (FRAMO) AS, a range of pumping and monitoring equipment dedicated for suction anchor installation.

FRAMO's main expertise is hydraulic and pumping systems for the offshore industry, including equipment support from their large workshop facilities based in Bergen. They have international branches in the Netherlands, Houston and Singapore. Combined with NGI's expertise within suction anchor technology and monitoring services, the know-how and basis for reliable, safe and efficient service can be provided. The services include supervision, engineering and supply of equipment with operators during marine operations related to installation of suction anchor structures.

NGI-FRAMO operates three types of "standard" suction anchor installation systems:

1. Self-contained manoeuvrable pump skid including instrumentation package developed for major installation jobs in deep water. The system includes a launching system and thruster unit on the neutrally buoyant pump skid and can thus be fully operated subsea independent of ROV assistance. Pump capacity: 300m3/hr at dP 4 Bar

Self-contained pump skid system with launching frame and high pumping capacity

 2. Lightweight pump skid unit operated as an external ROV tool (flexible with respect to type of ROV). Developed for smaller suction anchors or single installations where a small installation spread is more important than system capacity. Operational depth is only limited by the ROV. Pump capacity: 100m3/hr at dP 4 Bar.

Light weight pump unit operated by ROV

3. Hydraulic pump skid systems operated directly by hydraulic hoses from the surface. Suitable for water depths down to 200 m with diver assistance available. Large capacity (300m3/hr at dP 4 Bar) and a standard instrumentation package for suction anchor installation monitoring is provided.

The standard interface to all pump skid systems is a docking port consisting of a 20- ANSI 150 Lb flange outlet on top of the suction anchor. The following surface operated functions are standard on all systems described: 

• Adjustable pump speed
• Reversal of pumping direction
• Latching system for docking

NGI-FRAMO also provides installation equipment modified for special functional and capacity requirements (for example installation of subsea templates and jackets with bucket foundations). The equipment specifications for the standard systems are based on overall requirements set by the oil industry in order to perform controlled installation operations without time delaying capacity limitations, including verification of the "as installed" condition for the anchor foundation.

NGI is world-leader in suction anchor design and can in combination with their extensive offshore experience provide useful support in installation engineering and operations as part of the service.
 

References and previous experience

Statoil's Sleipner T jacket being lifted bySaipem's S700

NGI can together with Frank Mohn AS refer to the following operational records and experience related to suction anchor installation. The functional design of the system and components chosen are based on the joint experience from NGI and FRAMO by earlier involvement in operations related to pioneering suction anchor projects such as;

The Gullfaks C full-scale penetration test (22 m long twin cylinders) at 220 m water depth (1985 for Norwegian Contractors), Snorre and Heidrun TLP concrete suction anchor installation at 310 and 350 m water depth (1991 and 1994 for Norwegian Contractors). Suction anchor installation tests in  Åmøyfjord at 100 m water depth (1994 for APL/STATOIL), installation of Europipe 16/11 E and Sleipner T jackets with bucket foundations at 100 m water depth (1994 and 1996 for STATOIL/Saipem).

NGI-FRAMO have since 1995 performed the following suction anchor installations for mooring systems, presently including a total number of 125 large suction anchors installed in various soil conditions and water depths:

1995	First suction pile installation at Elf  Congo's N'Kossa field for SBM using DSV "Dynamic Installer". 14 suction anchors with 5 m diameter, penetrated 12.5 m in soft clay at 200 m water depth.
1996	Full scale fibre rope test at the Tordis field (210 m water depth), installation of suction anchors and fibre ropes from supply boats as part of mooring system to the "Deepsea Bergen" drilling rig for Saga Petroleum. Installation of suction riser base in dense sand at the Fergus field (Bluewater) for Seasteel/Rockwater at 70 m water depth.
1997	20 suction piles with 5 m diameter, penetrated 7-11 m in soft to stiff clay at Norsk Hydro's Njord field (330 m water depth) for CSONOR/DSND using MSV "Maxita" 9 suction piles with 5-7 m diameter, penetrated 12 m in layered clay/sand at Shell's Curlew field (80 m water depth) for DSND using MSV "Maxita" 16 suction piles with 5 m diameter, penetrated 11 m in soft to stiff clay at Norsk Hydro's Visund field (350 m water depth) for DSND using MSV "Nordica"
1997-98	32 suction piles with 4.7 m diameter, penetrated 13 m in soft clay at Petrobras Marlim field, P-19 and P-26 (700 m and 1050 m water depth) for Petrobras/Brasflex using SSCV 'BGL1', AHT 'Normand Neptun' and DSV 'Alliance' 2 suction piles for riser support with 2 m diameter, penetrated 17 m in soft clay at Petrobras Marlim field, P-18 (800 m water depth) for Brasflex using DSV 'Alliance'
1998-99	16 suction piles with 4.7 m diameter, penetrated 20 m in soft clay and sand at 600 to 800 m water depth, Petrobras P-33 and  P-35 Marlim field, using AHT's "Far Sailor" and "Normand Neptun"
1999	12 suction piles with 6.4 m diameter and 30.5 m penetration depth installed in soft clay at 1500 m water depth at Exxon's Diana field in the Gulf of Mexico by Saipem using heavy lift barge 'S-7000'
2001	Installation of APL's 4-cylinder suction anchor for single anchor loading system from CSO Orelia for VEBA at Hanze field.
2002	Installation of 9 mooring anchors at 120 m water depth at Wenchang field, China, from the crane barge Da Li Hao. Installation of 1 wellhead template at the Alba Extreme South Field, Nort Sea, from the vessel CSO Baltica.
2003	Installation of 2 of APL's 4-cylinder suction anchor for Technip Offshore UK at the Ardmore field.
2005	Installation of Trent Annex compression platform at 50 m water depth. Supply and operation of pumping and monitoring system and supervision of seabed installation.
2006	Installation supervision of suction pile foundation platform TPG-500 on Shah Deniz field in Azerbaijan, at 100 m water depth for Technip. Design of detail grouting procedure for underbase cement grouting, and management of grouting work offshore.