Mariner jacket on its way to North Sea, Statoil says

STAVANGER, Norway -- The steel jacket for the Statoil-operated Mariner A platform on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) has left Spain's Dragados yard and is now on its way to the North Sea.

Construction of the large platform sub-structure started in October 2013 and was completed in May this year. Standing 134 m tall, and with a footprint of 88 m by 62 m, it is the largest steel jacket ever built for a Statoil project. The weight is 22,400 tonnes, including floatation tanks and rigging.

The load-out from the Dragados yard in Cadiz onto the S44 barge took place in late July. On Monday, the main tug Skandi Iceman was connected to the barge, and in the afternoon the jacket safely entered the channel of Bahia Cadiz. The 1,835-nautical mile journey from the southern part of Spain to Mariner field in the North Sea is expected to take around two weeks. 

After it has arrived at the field, the jacket will be launched by the barge being ballasted to a certain angle, enabling the 22,400-tonne structure to slide horizontally into the sea. Subsequently, the structure will be upended and maneuvered into the right position by the heavy-lift vessel Saipem 7000. Finally, the jacket will be secured by 24 piles, ensuring that it is safely fixed for many decades to come.

Topsides installation is planned to take place in 2016.